FOXBORO — Begin quicker. Hit the open man. Convert within the pink zone.
These are all priorities for Drake Maye within the wake of the Patriots’ uninspiring Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
New England’s second-year quarterback pinpointed a number of areas he hopes to enhance after his staff discovered the top zone simply as soon as and managed solely 13 factors in its first sport beneath new head coach Mike Vrabel.
“A part of it’s shifting on, and a part of it’s studying from stuff all through the sport,” Maye stated Wednesday. “(We have to) get off on a greater begin. First possession, three-and-out. We had some good area place on that first possession, so we have now to discover a approach to begin quicker. I feel that’s form of a theme for the staff. I feel from there, there’s some throws I’d wish to have again. I really feel like I say that each sport, however significantly ones the place I felt like I had guys open. And from there, simply down within the pink zone. We have to get higher down within the pink zone, whether or not it’s decision-making on my half or accuracy or simply basically. We’ve received to attain touchdowns once we’re down within the pink zone.”
The Patriots went 4-for-14 on third down and 1-for-3 within the pink zone in opposition to the Raiders, and Maye had some points with accuracy, firing passes over the heads of vast receiver DeMario Douglas and tight finish Hunter Henry. He additionally threw an interception whereas absorbing a success from edge rusher Maxx Crosby and confirmed questionable ball safety on a fourth-quarter strip sack.
Total, although, Maye stated he felt inspired by his efficiency. He completed 30-for-46 for 287 yards and one landing with one choose.
“Generally, (I used to be) dashing them,” Maye stated. “I feel I see them and form of rushed it to get it out as fast as I can. The one to (Douglas), he was getting near the sideline … so I attempted to get it out as fast as I can to him to get the primary. However from there, actually, I felt like I used to be throwing it fairly good and seeing it nicely. So I feel typically, it’s simply throws that (make you say), ‘Man, that might have helped us.’ I assumed I made some fairly good throws all through the sport that I felt good about accuracy-wise, so I’m not going to over-harp on an excessive amount of. However on the similar time, you’ve received to hit guys once they’re open. So it’s a fair steadiness.”
Rising pains are to be anticipated in an offense with this many new items — together with coordinator Josh McDaniels, receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, and 4 new O-line starters — however the Patriots have to see enchancment from that Maye-led unit within the coming weeks, starting with this Sunday’s matchup in opposition to the Miami Dolphins.
The loss to Las Vegas was the twentieth consecutive sport wherein New England failed to attain greater than 25 factors. It hasn’t reached 30 factors since Week 5 of the 2022 season.
“I feel it’s one thing we’re working arduous to repair this week,” Maye stated. “That’s one sport that we want we might have had and thought we might have had, and on the similar time, we’ve received items. We’ve received guys that performed arduous and did loads of good issues on Sunday, so we’ll construct off that and attempt to be taught from that and set up the run and construct off that. …
“It’s my job to form of get us going, attempt to begin quick, and from there, take what they offer me and create constructive performs. And from there, I really feel like if we don’t get in our personal method, we’ll be fantastic.”
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