Jerod Mayo is about to take his first big step as the new head coach of the New England Patriots. As first reported Saturday afternoon, Mayo and his club are set to name DeMarcus Covington their new defensive coordinator.As the only domestic option to apply for the position, Covington was at the forefront of the process. The reason is simple.
The 34-year-old has a bright future and his promotion from defensive line coach to coordinator was the next logical step for both him and the Patriots.But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Instead, here’s a quick breakdown of what this move means for your organization from a big-picture perspective.The Patriots choose continuityAs previously mentioned, Jerod Mayo was the only internal candidate Covington interviewed for the defensive coordinator position.
His edge over the other contenders ensures that a key position in one of the best defenses in football is in good hands.After all, Covington has been with the organization since 2017. He started as a defensive assistant, moved to outside linebackers coach in 2019 and moved to his latest position on the defensive line a year later. His familiarity with Mayo and its successful system could be a major factor in him becoming the new DC. Continuity aspects may extend beyond the coordinator position. A top outside coach hired on this side of the ball may bring in some of his own assistants, but Covington will likely retain much of the staff he already has.
From that perspective, the biggest unknowns are, of course, Steve and Brian Belichick. Departed coach Bill Belichick’s sons are two of the most experienced coaches in the state, but their futures are uncertain. a) old Belichick is unlikely to become an NFL head coach until 2024 and b) both are once he becomes an NFL head coach. I got an offer to stay in New England. What they will do remains to be seen, but by hiring Covington as coordinator, the Patriots will at least ensure that the top positions on defense are in familiar hands.
The defensive coordinator title is back.The Patriots have hired coordinator-style assistant coaches in recent years. However, the club has struggled over the last six years, with Brian Flores, Jerod Mayo and Steve Belichick unable to officially fill the position despite their status as leading coaches on the defensive side of the ball. DC remained undersupplied.The last defensive coordinator was Matt Patricia, who served from 2012 to 2017. Covington will now take over the role of Patricia.New England defense recruits rookies in 2024…
Although officially listed as a line coach, Steve Belichick has been calling the Patriots’ defense for the past few seasons. However, even if he does return to the team in 2024 as an assistant coach or senior advisor, it is highly unlikely that he will resume his previous role. This is the New England way, as Covington said, the future of the game is. Their ability to do so has been limited in the past because Belichick is ahead of them on the semi-coaching depth chart. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer a gaming experience.
Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots have trained several members of their staff in offensive and defensive skills, and Covington has been a part of that development process. He was also the defensive coordinator at last year’s Senior Bowl. …and a new defensive line coach.Covington’s promotion leaves the Patriots with a void on the defensive staff. Now available to assume previous role as D-line coach. However, it seems that there are several contenders for the position. Domestically, Keith Jones, Joe Kim and Mike Pellegrino appear to be names to watch.Jones served as a coach on the Patriots staff in 2023 and has experience working on the defensive lines at Arkansas State, Arkansas State and Missouri Southern.
He also served as the Patriots’ assistant D-line coach in the East-West Shrine Bowl last season. He is officially the director of skill development, a position he shares with Kim, who has more experience working with pass rushers.The defensive backs coach in the Shrine Bowl was Pellegrino. The 30-year-old has been coaching since 2019 but could be looking to expand into coaching to further his career.There are also external candidates. For example, adding Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Tem Lukabu as D-line coach makes sense. He also interviewed for a coordinator position and has experience coaching the defensive line.If the Patriots want to make a big swing, they could bring in Mike Vrabel. The former NFL linebacker, head coach and Patriots Hall of Famer coached the defensive line at his alma mater, Ohio State. 2012 and 2013.
