“[Williams] was backside 1-on-1 with Gonzo. He made a big-time catch, strong hands. He’s coming along, he’s looking good,” Maye said of Williams’s catch on a back-shoulder fade in Wednesday’s session. “I told Gonzo, I’m going to come at Gonzo. I’m not going to leave [Christian Gonzalez] out here bored at practice, so good for a rookie to make a play like that.”
Individually, Maye also pointed to one element of his game that he’s trying to amplify more this season. The Pats quarterback’s mobility was a standout trait in his first season. Despite only starting 12 games, Maye ranked sixth in scramble yards last season (407). Maye wants to throw more when he extends plays this season, rather than scrambling.
“Remaining a passer longer when I scramble to open up some big plays, scramble plays,” Maye said. “I had good times last year where I may have missed them, or I took off running instead. So, just trying to remain a passer.”
With training camp officially underway, there’s a lot of optimism around the team in Vrabel’s first season as head coach. New England hired a proven head coach and offensive coordinator while they were considered among the winners in free agency and the NFL Draft this offseason. Now, it’s about translating that off-season momentum into tangible results.
“We have guys around here who are tired of losing. We have guys that want to win. That’s what excites me most,” Maye added. “The past two or three years around here, and last year for me, I can only speak for myself, there are guys around here who are tired of losing and want to win.”
The Patriots have a ways to go before they play meaningful games, but Maye and the offense are taking steps in the right direction.
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