They are looking for signs of greater maturity from Drake Maye headed into Year 2, and the New England Patriots have found one worthy of celebration during training camp. It concerns how the young quarterback protects himself when on the run.
Maye, who is already one of the more dynamic dual-threat signal-callers in the NFL, is “finally” showing a willingness to slide when scrambling out of a broken pocket. The change was noticed by MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian during an intra-team scrimmage on Sunday, August 3.
Although Maye struggled mightily throwing the ball throughout the session, “he made a dazzling slide to assure he wouldn’t take a hit after taking off on one play to run. It was a perfectly executed pop-up slide.”
Guregian explained why this represents a major difference from last season, when “no one was sure if Maye knew how to slide given he tended to take on contact to get extra yards during run plays. That’s not going to fly. The Patriots can’t afford to have him miss any time.”
Coaches should celebrate the face of the franchise not exposing himself to extra hits. Fortunately, “throughout camp, Maye has exhibited much more caution when running with the football. He gets out of bounds, and he gets down as opposed to taking on the would-be tackler.”
Drake Maye Making Necessary Changes for Patriots
Maye needs to make changes for his second season. Changes involving how he spreads the ball around and attacks coverage vertically.
Unfortunately, no such changes bore fruit when Maye tossed a pair of interceptions at Friday’s scrimmage. He “finished the night going 9-of-18,” according to Guregian’s colleague Mark Daniels.
Improvements are still needed as a passer, but the Pats won’t want Maye to diminish his core rushing skills. Not when the third-overall pick a year ago made plays with his legs like these highlighted by Fantasy Life’s Ian Hartitz.
The trick for Maye is going to involve being more selective about when to tuck the ball and run. He already sounds prepared to pick those spots more efficiently.
Maye told reporters at training camp on Thursday, July 31, “My first year I was really kind of running around and doing some stuff I probably shouldn’t have when I’m out there with pads on, but I think just taking care of my body and being smart, also knowing when it’s third down, when it’s near the end zone. I’m 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, go get something,” per Patriots on CLNS.
Deciding when to rush and when to remain static can be easier for Maye if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels makes designed QB runs a part of the playbook.
Patriots Can Keep Drake Maye on the Move
Willingly turning their QB1 loose as a runner was not a feature of how the Pats tried to move the ball in 2024. In fact, the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi estimates “only nine of Drake Maye’s 54 runs last year were on designed plays for him to tuck it and go.”
McDaniels’ predecessor Alex Van Pelt didn’t make special plans for Maye’s versatility, but that should change this year. Especially since, as Giardi recounted, McDaniels “was able to draw up with Covid Cam Newton in 2020. That was a player whose arm no longer functioned at an NFL level. The veteran play caller had to figure out a way to move the ball, and leaned heavily on the 255-pounder’s battering ram of a body.”
Getting Maye involved in similar ways as a runner would not only accelerate his development toward the elite at his position. It can also provide a rebuilding offense with the X-factor it needs to keep defenses off guard.
Provided Maye continues to show he knows how to avoid needless contact, protect the football and slide himself to safety.
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