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Kraft: Vrabel s playoff win over Belichick convinced him that he d be a fit as Patriots head coach
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Drake Maye shares top lesson he s learned from watching Tom Brady film
FoxBorough From the first day of his tenure with the Patriots, Drake Maye’s physical attributes—his powerful arm, stature, and agility—have been evident.
The Patriots selected him No. 3 overall last year due to those qualities, a necessity at the position, and some of the intangibles that were observed during the pre-draft process.
A week into his second training camp, Maye is already displaying some of the other qualities that skilled quarterbacks develop over time.
He appears to be more precise and decisive. Despite throwing a pass that should have been picked to Jabrill Peppers, he has yet to make an interception in training camp. His ability to read the defense and swiftly identify open receivers has been demonstrated time and time again. His confidence is growing as he steps up in the pocket.
How Maye chooses to use his legs is one element of his game that has been challenging to evaluate thus far in the camp. Last season, he finished third in rushing yards (421), and he topped the club in yards per carry (7.8).
As Maye develops, coach Mike Vrabel said it will be crucial for him to make wise choices about whether to exploit his athletic gifts.
“We shouldn’t try to run over every player on defense,” Vrabel stated. It is essential that we have access to those plays and that we be adept at selecting the right moment.
Then, once they have the football in their possession, they must be able to protect themselves, secure it, and take advantage of the regulations.
Being able to sacrifice oneself is crucial, and I understand that many of these young athletes feel courageous, which is fantastic, but we must ensure that we are making wise choices.
Maye claimed that lately, the coaching staff has been emphasizing such issues to him.
That is significant, in my opinion. Maye remarked, “I believe I dealt with that in college.” It was my first year. With my pads on, I was kind of going around and doing things that I probably shouldn’t have done.
Therefore, I believe that in addition to being intelligent and taking care of my health, I should also be able to recognize when it’s third down and when I’m close to the end zone, such as, “I’m 6 5 and 230 pounds, go get something.”
When he does decide to run, Maye noted that one of his main goals during the offseason is to keep his eyes up and look for targets on the field.
When asked what’s new in his toolkit, Maye responded, “I think that’s big just kind of remaining a passer longer when I scramble.” I’m hoping for some huge plays or scramble plays, so I’m kind of getting out of the pocket and staying a passer longer.
Last year, I seem to have had some enjoyable moments with certain gentlemen, although I might have missed them or chose to run instead. Therefore, just trying to continue honing your footwork and staying a passer. That, in my opinion, is the key. To try to time it up and get a good group, try fresh offensive strategies, play actions, and thoughts.
Numerous poorly executed snaps have been one of the more concerning aspects of Maye’s camp thus far. There has been difficulty getting on the same page with the exchanges with the centers he has been working with, such as Garret Bradbury, Jared Wilson, and Ben Brown.
It’s 95 degrees outside, so I believe it’s camp,” Maye remarked. However, you are unable to place the ball on the ground at the same time. Be on the same page, some of it is a little pre-snap. Apart from that, I believe it is my responsibility to go down there and get the ball. Thus, it’s not a major problem. I believe that these folks have figured it out. They have a challenging job.
Maye compared his start without an interception to a baseball no-hitter so as not to jinx it.
When the Commanders visit town for joint practice and the preseason opener next week, he will have the opportunity to put his skills to the test against an enemy defense.
However, the second-year quarterback is doing well thus far.
Maye stated, “I believe I’m attempting to move past this offense and sort of take the next steps as we go.” And when the games arrive and we start these team sessions, I believe that will be the true test. I feel well, I’m looking forward, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done. I think it’s a good location. However, I believe that much work remains.
Boston.com’s Khari Thompson reports on professional sports. Khari worked as a college football reporter for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, prior to joining the team in 2022.
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