FOXBORO — Put merely, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is connecting on passes he has no enterprise finishing.
The younger quarterback is off to an incredible start in his second NFL season, hitting on a league-leading 75.2% of his passing makes an attempt. He presently has the very best CPOE (completion proportion above anticipated) of any quarterback in a single season, as charted by NFL Subsequent Gen Stats since 2018, with a plus-10.3% mark.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel chalked it as much as “particular expertise” whereas noting that Maye’s receivers have helped, as nicely.
“Staying calm, the issues that they’ve labored on and he’s practiced so far as when he’s on the transfer, to have the ability to nonetheless keep in section, not open up his physique or let issues get free, which might result in an erratic or an errant throw,” Vrabel mentioned.
Maybe essentially the most mind-boggling stat for Maye this season is that his completion proportion on deep throws (20 yards or extra) is definitely greater than his total completion price.
Maye’s 77.8% completion proportion on deep throws additionally leads the NFL. He’s 14-of-18 for 414 yards with 5 touchdowns on these passes this season. He’s accomplished 66% of intermediate throws (10-to-19 yards), 85.4% of quick throws (0-to-9 yards) and 90.6% of throws behind the road of scrimmage.
His 99.9 PFF grade on deep passes couldn’t be greater.
Maye mentioned that belief in his receivers components in whereas making contested-catch throws. Patriots pass-catchers have caught 21-of-30 contested targets this season.
“I believe it simply begins going again to OTAs, going again to 7-on-7s in OTAs with no pads on, goes again to your coaching camp, them after observe, wanting additional routes,” Maye mentioned. “You simply construct a lot belief from me, and belief with me, and carry on making performs and desirous to run routes after observe and go and make a play. Practising 1-on-1, you’ll construct that belief. After which from there, it’s simply get to the sport. it’s no totally different. Give them a ball they’ll attempt to go up and get, they usually’ve accomplished it time and time once more.”
Veteran large receiver Stefon Diggs is an ideal 7-of-7 on contested catches since becoming a member of the workforce this offseason. The four-time Professional Bowl choice leads large receivers with an 88.6% catch price, hauling in 39-of-44 targets for 456 yards.
“I imply talent-level, clearly, after which simply being well-coached, being on his drop, poise within the pocket that I like see from a distance, however don’t know an excessive amount of about,” Diggs mentioned Wednesday when requested about Maye’s accuracy. “I’m too busy making an attempt to run routes, however after I see it on tape that looks as if he’s in a superb area and he’s taking part in at a excessive degree, conserving his cool, not getting too rattled, even when issues type of get shaky. He received some legs on him, so he can run round a little bit bit too to create.”
Maye additionally leads the NFL with a 116.4 passer ranking whereas contributing 200 dashing yards and two extra touchdowns on 44 dashing makes an attempt.
He had an harm scare in Sunday’s win over the Titans, briefly leaving the sport to get checked for a concussion after hitting his head on the turf whereas getting tackled.
Vrabel was requested if there have been ongoing conversations with Maye about sliding extra.
“No, we speak to him about making nice choices, like the remainder of the workforce, and that will be a superb resolution for him to make,” Vrabel mentioned. “However once more, like all the opposite conversations we have now with gamers, these will stay with us, however that’s a part of making nice choices.”
Maye acknowledged that it goes in opposition to his pure tendency as a competitor to get down and slide but additionally famous that he feels the hits he takes the subsequent morning when he wakes up.
There are occasions when it is smart for Maye to attempt to decide up additional yards on third down or close to the tip zone, however in the end, his availability to proceed taking part in is most necessary for the younger QB.
“I believe there’s all the time emphasis on sliding for me,” Maye mentioned. “I believe they mentioned for the reason that starting of the 12 months, I believe from final 12 months, taking hits and figuring out I’ll be on the market for the subsequent play’s most necessary.”
Maye made certain to reward backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs for evading a sack and finishing a 12-yard go whereas Maye was getting checked for a concussion in Sunday’s win. He mentioned he watched the play by way of the highest of the blue tent whereas medical professionals had been deciding if he might re-enter the sport.
