Patriots
“Being a quarterback within the NFL, there’s going to be loads in your plate irrespective of who you play for.”
Patriots QB Drake Maye made his weekly look on “WEEI Afternoons” on Monday, with the second-year professional pertaining to subjects that ranged from his rocky season debut on Sunday to Bill Belichick banning Patriots scouts at his alma mater.
Listed here are three takeaways from his interview:
Does Maye have ‘an excessive amount of on his plate’?
It was a rocky displaying for Maye and the Patriots during their season-opening loss to the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.
Maye accomplished 30-of-46 passes for 287 yards with one landing and one interception within the 20-13 loss. At face worth, that stat line doesn’t map out a disastrous displaying from the younger QB.
However, after Maye accomplished 14-of-20 throws for 150 yards and a landing within the first half, each he and the Patriots’ offense struggled popping out of halftime.
After Maye was knocked for an interception on New England’s first drive of the third quarter, New England’s offense flatlined — with Maye finishing 7-of-12 passes for simply 51 yards over the Patriots’ subsequent 4 drives. New England posted simply two first downs on these 4 drives, with all 4 sequences ending with punts.
Talking on WEEI Monday morning, Mike Vrabel was requested if the Patriots had been maybe placing an excessive amount of on Maye’s plate out of the gate when it comes to the intricate offensive system that Josh McDaniels makes use of because the staff’s offensive coordinator.
“I believe we now have to judge that. Now we have to seek out out, is there one thing there? Now we have to determine what our guys do finest, after which do this,” Vrabel said.
Later that day, Maye pushed again in opposition to the assertion that New England might need to lighten his workload with regards to studying McDaniels’ revamped offense.
“I wouldn’t say that. I believe on the finish of the tip of the day, being a quarterback within the NFL, there’s going to be loads in your plate irrespective of who you play for,” Maye mentioned. “So, simply being higher as a gaggle, being higher with the main points, establishing the run recreation and taking part in off the run recreation.”
Limiting miscues
Probably the most pivotal sequence in Sunday’s recreation was Maye’s turnover within the third quarter — given the clear momentum swing that the Raiders used to attain 13 unanswered factors within the second half.
After holding the Raiders to simply 84 yards and nil factors over their last 5 drives of the primary half, New England’s protection labored after Maye’s interception — relinquishing a five-play, 56-yard drive that ended with a landing run by rookie operating again Ashton Jeanty.
Though Maye gave the impression to be hit as he threw on that eventual choose, he confused on Monday that he can’t sail throws if his staff desires to persistently execute on offense.
“A part of this league is making throws and getting hit. So, I believe whether or not I believe I had [Stefon] Diggs open, I must observe by,” Maye mentioned. “From there, there’s occasions this occurred the place, possibly I can go make a play as a substitute of stepping up there, or possibly settling within the pocket extra and never stepping up into it.
“It’s unlucky. I wouldn’t essentially say it was a miss. I really feel I’d say if I had it again, I’d observe by extra, don’t type of step up and have myself affected by the D line.”
Curbing turnovers stands as a significant hurdle for Maye if he desires to take that subsequent step as a possible franchise fixture in Foxborough. Regardless of the promise that he showcased as a rookie in 2024, Maye was knocked for 16 turnovers (10 interceptions, six fumbles misplaced) over his 13 video games as a starter.
“I believe that he desires to be, at occasions, excellent, and [we] must get previous that,” Vrabel mentioned of Maye on WEEI Monday morning. “All of us need to get previous that. That you must be exact, not excellent.
“For those who make a mistake, it’s the response that it’s important to the error that everyone sees. After which they’re like, ‘Oh wow, that was a mistake.’ Now we have to scrub our reactions up. Our responses need to be a lot better. After which moving into the circulate, since you see actually good timing and precision and accuracy, after which we see another misses.
“I simply need the higher efficiency [to be] extra constant, and proceed to develop as a frontrunner and ensure that there’s a command to what we’re doing — that is the scenario, that is the play. These are the issues that I’m centered on.”
Maye’s tackle Belichick banning scouts at UNC
Given Maye’s standing as a former Tar Heel, it got here as little shock that the Patriots QB was requested about Invoice Belichick’s resolution to ban a Patriots scout from attending UNC’s practices earlier this summer season.
“It’s unlucky for them. But it surely’s coach Belichick’s program, so he does what must do,” Maye mentioned.
Talking after the Tar Heels’ win over UNC Charlotte on Saturday, Belichick — who has developed an icy relationship with the Kraft household since his exit from Foxborough in January 2024 — confirmed the reports that he didn’t allow a Patriots staffer to view practices at Chapel Hill.
“It’s clear that I’m not welcome there round their facility, in order that they’re not welcome at ours,” Belichick mentioned. “Fairly easy.”
Regardless of the animosity between the Patriots and Belichick, Maye mentioned that he’ll nonetheless cheer on his former staff this fall.
“I verify in on them and watch their video games. So simply pulling them for them,” Maye mentioned of the Tar Heels, who at the moment are 1-1 on the season underneath Belichick.
Join the At the moment publication
Get every little thing you must know to start out your day, delivered proper to your inbox each morning.
