Patriots
“Leaving your ego on the door after which from there convey it onto the sphere and ending by the whistle.”
Patriots QB Drake Maye made his first weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons” for the 2025 season on Monday.
The second-year signal-caller concerning a range subjects, together with his play throughout New England’s preseason opener on Friday and the strain that comes with taking part in within the post-Brady period in Foxborough.
Listed below are 4 takeaways from his interview:
Embracing Vrabel’s message
The Patriots might need opened preseason motion with a convincing 48-18 win over the Commanders Friday evening, however loads of the discourse postgame revolved round Mike Vrabel’s stern message toward Maye after a costly turnover.
“That’s a nasty choice and I believe we’re going to want higher from him and I believe he is aware of that and I believe that’s apparent,” Vrabel stated postgame of Maye’s fumble on the primary drive of the evening for New England.
Talking on WEEI, Maye acknowledged that Vrabel is setting a excessive normal because the crew tries to proper the ship after back-to-back four-win seasons.
“Simply depth. Bringing it on a regular basis. Leaving your ego on the door after which from there convey it onto the sphere and ending by the whistle,” Maye informed WEEI’s Andy Hart Monday. “Doing the little issues proper. And I believe that’s simply making an attempt to assist us on the sphere. When the little issues — particulars and method — come into play, that’s what he’s making an attempt to determine.”
Talking on WEEI earlier on Monday, Vrabel once more careworn that Maye must be held to a better normal this season if the Patriots are going to make main strides in 2025 and past.
“The expectation is that he’s main this soccer crew,” Vrabel said of Maye on “The Greg Hill Show.” “That’s what the job of the top coach and the quarterback is. That’s just about how this factor goes. And that he can’t take days off.
“I imply, generally the efficiency isn’t going to be extraordinary, however the management and the demeanor needs to be. And I believe he’s studying that. I like the truth that he’s keen to be taught and push and attempt to do these issues to the place he’s demanding of all people and ensuring that everyone’s on the identical web page.”
Maye concurred with Vrabel’s feedback about his expectations as one of many leaders of a rebuilding New England roster.
“He hit it off the tee,” Maye stated of Vrabel’s ideas. “Simply convey it on daily basis. No days off. When the crew of the offense feels such as you’re sort of lagging round, it’s my job to convey them up.”
Past his fumble, Maye logged two whole drives for New England in Friday’s preseason recreation, finishing 3-of-5 passes for 12 yards, whereas additionally dashing for 16 yards on two carries with a landing.
“Felt good to get on the market, sort of get the communication with Coach within the headset, getting out of the huddle, actually transfer the ball,” Maye stated. “As a substitute of out right here in follow, simply sort of having us line up and operating performs. … However no, I assumed the followers confirmed out — what an evening to have fun Quantity 12 [Tom Brady]. After which we obtained the win.”
Enjoying in Brady’s shadow
Brady’s presence was felt on Friday in Foxborough, because the Patriots welcomed again the legendary QB for the disclosing of a 12-foot statue at Gillette Stadium in commemoration of his Hall-of-Fame career.
Despite the fact that Maye will not be the direct successor to Brady in New England, there are lofty expectations positioned on each signal-caller for the Patriots tasked with main the franchise within the post-Brady period.
However, Maye doesn’t consider he’s put at a drawback on the subject of taking part in for a franchise that boasted one of many all-time greats in NFL historical past.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t say strain,” Maye stated. “I believe it’s simply appreciation for what he did, what he did right here, how he performed the place, how he beloved to win and wished to win, and the way they did win. I believe that’s the largest half.”
A youthful O-line
Past Maye’s continued improvement, the Patriots are going to want a revamped offensive line to maintain Maye off the turf and out of hazard if the crew goes to climb up the standings in 2025.
It’s going to require a number of children thriving at soccer’s highest degree, because the left aspect of New England’s O-line would possibly characteristic two rookies in left sort out Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson.
Up to now, Maye likes what he sees from the 2 rookies — even when all events concerned would possibly must cope with some rising pains over the course of this season.
“Jared was dedicated to North Carolina again within the day trip of highschool. He’s from North Carolina. So I knew him again in highschool. He flipped to Georgia, which I don’t blame him,” Maye stated. “However I knew him already. And me and Will — we’re going by the identical factor. Prime-five decide, coming to Boston from the south. Completely different accents. I believe that’s simply going by it.
“The spot Will’s in is sort of one of the best factor for me and him to have the ability to relate and talk and discuss. And I believe each these guys up entrance put the work in. … Happy with what these guys have achieved. I believe they’re studying.”
A crowded wideout room
The early consensus in Foxborough is that gamers like Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, rookie Kyle Williams, and Kayshon Boutte have carved out roles on New England’s Week 1 roster.
However, there are nonetheless a number of intriguing wideouts nonetheless making an attempt to keep away from roster cuts, with gamers like Javon Baker and undrafted rookie Efton Chism making vital strides over the previous couple of days.
It stays to be seen how New England’s crowded receiver corps thins itself out. However, Maye believes it’s an excellent drawback to have on the subject of the abundance of targets that he’s working with throughout camp.
“I believe they’re battling,” Maye stated. “You bought seven, eight guys that convey it on daily basis in that complete room. [Wide receivers] coach Todd [Downing] is doing a terrific job of difficult them and having to be in the correct spots and having completely different performs, completely different ideas.
“They’re studying them nicely and asking me questions … and asking [offensive coordinator Josh] McDaniels, who’s a legend with it. So I believe simply carry on speaking. That’s the largest factor. And I believe the way it performs out, the blokes who carry on being in the correct spot, making performs and are blocking within the run recreation will probably be on the market.”
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