Patriots
“It’s not like he took that subsequent step from his rookie yr into his second yr.”
Add Rob Gronkowski to the massive contingent of followers and media members who have been disheartened by the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Raiders on Sunday.
“I feel lots of people on the market purchased into the hype,” the previous Patriots tight finish stated of the Patriots’ Week 1 exhibiting throughout an look on the “Up & Adams” present. “Everybody thought the Patriots have been gonna come out flying, have been gonna play with urgency. And let me inform you, it wasn’t there.”
Lots went mistaken for Mike Vrabel and the Patriots throughout their 20-13 loss to the Raiders.
The special-teams unit left lots to be desired from each kicker Andy Borregales and punter Bryce Baringer, whereas New England’s protection surrendered 9 performs of 20 or extra yards to Raiders QB Geno Smith.
However, New England’s offense and Drake Maye additionally struggled on the gridiron at Gillette Stadium, particularly within the second half.
Maye had a robust begin, finishing 14-of-20 throws for 150 yards and a landing as New England entered halftime with a 10-7 lead.
However issues unraveled within the third and fourth quarters. Maye threw an interception on New England’s first drive of the third quarter, with New England punting on their subsequent 4 drives because the Raiders constructed a lead that it could not relinquish.
As Maye and the Patriots look to bounce again in Week 2 in opposition to the Dolphins, Gronkowski burdened that he needs to see extra assertiveness from New England’s QB shifting ahead.
“Drake Maye had a fairly respectable recreation, but it surely’s not like he took that subsequent step from his rookie yr into his second yr,” Gronkowski stated. “And often that’s when NFL gamers make their greatest step of their profession.
“It’s from being a younger buck, maturing and going into your second and third yr. However we didn’t see that with Drake Maye. He nonetheless performed fairly good, however he simply seemed a little bit timid on the market as properly.”
Each Maye and Mike Vrabel have confronted questions this week about whether or not or not Maye has “too much on his plate” out of the gate whereas studying Josh McDaniels’ intricate offense.
Talking on Wednesday, Maye stated that he hasn’t seen any main adjustments by way of his prep work and the way a lot his coaches are throwing at him.
“Any crew, we’re attempting to ascertain the run,” Maye said. “So, from that time, I feel you win video games working the soccer and stopping the run, so attempting to set that up.
“I really feel like the blokes, we’ve obtained guys that we will throw to in area and make performs, and we will harm groups within the move. So, I don’t really feel like something’s modified, and I’m simply attempting to do my half in no matter they ask me to do.”
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