What have Patriots coaches told Drake Maye about sliding?

The Patriots have one of many prime younger QBs within the sport in Drake Maye.

However the 23-year-old signal-caller has made it a behavior of placing concern within the hearts of Patriots followers in the case of his knack for exposing himself to damage whereas scrambling for additional yardage.

After working into a couple of bone-crunching hits throughout his rookie yr, Maye had one other damage scare on Sunday towards the Titans — briefly spending time within the blue medical tent after his helmet hit the turf exhausting whereas scrambling for six yards. 

Despite the fact that Maye solely missed a couple of performs whereas present process a concussion take a look at, it additional bolstered the necessity for the younger QB to guard himself — or threat New England’s season fully imploding if he has to spend a major period of time on the shelf. 

Whereas the Patriots don’t wish to discourage Maye from utilizing his legs when wanted to keep away from strain, prolong performs, and burn opposing defenses, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels acknowledged on Thursday that the group has had conversations with the second-year professional about selecting his battles whereas working with the ball.

“Actually, we addressed what we predict the appropriate factor to do is,” McDaniels mentioned. “He’s a aggressive man. I feel definitely ensuring he’s obtainable to the group is a precedence. He’s received to steadiness doing the issues that assist us make actually good performs in these conditions as a result of he’s an athletic man who’s going to make some issues occur when he runs versus ensuring he protects himself ultimately.

“Actually, he’s seen them, too. It’s about making determination within the second every time we do it. Actually, that’s a great way for the quarterback to place the group first in that state of affairs, simply remind your self, ‘if I’m not out right here, I can’t actually assist us win.’ We’ll deal with it, however I feel he is aware of.”

Maye has been candid about how his scrambling skill stays a key a part of his sport — and it’s been a difference-maker for New England’s offense this season.

But when the Patriots wish to each stack wins this season and proceed to say themselves as a rising energy within the AFC for years to come back, Maye should study that preventing for a couple of additional yards on any given play isn’t definitely worth the threat of a significant damage.

“There’s at all times [an] emphasis on sliding for me. They’ve mentioned it for the reason that starting of the yr,” Maye mentioned Wednesday. “From final yr, taking hits and realizing being on the market for the subsequent play is most vital. 

“Credit score to [backup QB Josua] Dobbs, possibly the play of the day. He got here in right here, evaded a sack, and threw a dime. So, it was good to see that from the blue tent. I used to be wanting by way of the little prime of the blue tent and noticed it. However aside from that, no, sliding and realizing when to get down, and likewise realizing whether or not it’s a 3rd down or close to the tip zone.”

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a task he has held since 2023.