New England Patriots
“Nothing worse for an offense than unfavorable performs.”
FOXBOROUGH — Drake Maye’s ascension as a authentic MVP candidate performed a key function within the Patriots’ surprising run to Tremendous Bowl LX final yr.
However even after ending as runner-up in stated MVP voting in 2025, the 23-year-old QB isn’t resting on his laurels forward of his third season within the NFL ranks.
Talking after Wednesday’s minicamp follow, Maye stated that the Patriots’ teaching workers has made a concerted effort towards limiting crucial miscues shifting ahead.
“The perfect factor that we form of have been attempting to deal with is limiting unfavorable performs,” Maye stated Wednesday. “Detrimental performs on this league put you behind the chains, whether or not it’s within the pink zone, in base downs, and simply attempting to remain forward of chains, and understanding that it was actually on me to place us in good performs, get us out of dangerous performs, and keep forward of chains.”
Maye was the conductor of an explosive and environment friendly Patriots offense final season — recording 31 touchdowns and 4,393 passing yards whereas finishing 72 % of his throws. He additionally gained 450 yards on the bottom with 4 dashing touchdowns.
However Maye and the Patriots had been susceptible to some crucial miscues in 2025 — with Maye knocked for eight interceptions and eight fumbles throughout regular-season motion.
His stellar play additionally took successful throughout the playoffs, as Maye threw six touchdowns over 4 postseason matchups with 4 interceptions and 7 fumbles.
A few of that dip in play was a direct results of New England’s offensive line taking over water within the playoffs. Maye was sacked a whopping 21 occasions over that four-game stretch.
However, McDaniels echoed an identical sentiment as Maye earlier on Wednesday when requested concerning the steps that New England’s offense should take to construct off of final yr’s promise.
“Nothing worse for an offense than unfavorable performs,” McDaniels stated. “They put you in dangerous conditions, and we noticed that final yr. When that occurred to us, it’s arduous to beat these issues. I don’t care who you might be. We’re attempting to do what we are able to at every place, not simply at quarterback, however definitely he has a say in all of these.
“And so I believe his consolation stage, I believe his maturity and understanding of how dangerous these issues are for the offense, I believe that’s taken an enormous step ahead. He understands it, he will get it, and so by means of that, hopefully we’ll be a lot improved in that space once we get to the common season.”
Past the expansion that Maye showcased this previous season, this offseason has been one in all stability for the younger QB, who had a unique head coach and offensive coordinator in every of his first two years within the NFL.
“I believe it’s simply naturally night time and day from final yr this time,” Maye acknowledged when requested of constructing a rapport with McDaniels. “I used to be attempting to get issues proper, attempting to get guys understanding the place I used to be making calls and getting guys lined up. Now we’re simply taking the following steps. That’s one of the best factor about this time. You get to work on these issues and in addition work on executing. That’s one of the best factor Coach McDaniels does, pushing me arduous.
“He’s difficult me, and simply attempting to get comfy right here in OTAs, and getting comfy with simply doing issues, being out right here and simply making throws. There’s a motive and there’s a why to it. That’s one of the best factor about Coach McDaniels. He’s so good about explaining why and serving to me get to know that why, so I can play quicker.”
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