There’s been plenty of discourse around Drake Maye since the Patriots dropped their season opener to the Raiders on Sunday. We’ll get into that some of that discourse in this week’s Mailbag, which featured a healthy serving of Maye-related questions.
But we’re also turning the page to Miami, where the Patriots will travel this weekend to take on a Dolphins team that fell 33-8 to the Colts in Week 1.
Let’s dive right in:
Hi Phil, do you believe it is fair to compare Drake Maye and his performance(s) to the other second-year QB performances? Some members of his draft class had impressive weeks. – @LosTalksPats
It’s funny, Carlos. Only natural for folks to compare Drake Maye to the others taken in the first round at his position last year. Therefore, I don’t begrudge anyone who wants to engage in that.
I wouldn’t, though. Not yet. The reason is there is no comparing the situation for Maye versus the situations of most of his 2024 draft classmates.
We ranked them before the season began, but it’s safe to say that what Maye has on the offensive line and at receiver is below average. The Vikings, Commanders, Bears and Broncos, meanwhile, all had among the best quarterback situations in football with accomplished play-callers, high-end offensive lines and more-than-capable pass-catchers. (The Falcons, with Michael Penix Jr., ranked in the middle of the pack for their quarterback situation.)
As things stand right now, the Patriots have fallen behind in terms of surrounding their young quarterback with the kind of talent most players in Maye’s position need to be successful. They’re playing with fire, which makes evaluating Maye a complicated — though not impossible — exercise.
Albert Breer and Phil Perry join Arbella Early Edition to discuss McCarthy debut, and if the Patriots got it wrong drafting Drake Maye over him.
Hi Phil! (Jack) Westover took only 2 snaps on offense. Do you feel that’s a reflection of perhaps Westover isn’t fullback-enough, (Josh) McDaniels didn’t want to utilize him/it wasn’t necessary or just didn’t actually utilize the FB position enough in this match up against the Raiders? – @clazzyclare
Good question, Clare. I’m not sure it’s a perfect fit in terms of the skill set Jack Westover has and the role they’re asking him to fulfill. That could be part of it.
I’d also say the flow of the game didn’t help. They bailed on the running game entirely in the second half, meaning a fullback is going to have some time on his hands.
How does Miami D line compare to what the Pats just faced v Raiders? Can we expect a better run outcome v the Fins? – @jmlinfl
Outside of Maxx Crosby, the Raiders feature a bunch of reserve types up front. The Dolphins, on the other hand, have more depth.
Zach Sieler is a legit interior disruptor, making over $20 million per year. They just drafted Michigan star Kenneth Grant in the first round. Jaelan Phillips is a physically-gifted edge rusher with length, while Chop Robinson is a more explosive penetrator.
They’re talented. That group is a strength of theirs. Or… it should be.
The Colts ran for 150 yards and allowed just one sack against Miami last weekend. It’s a get-right opportunity for Mike McDaniel’s group at home against a Patriots offensive line that generated very little push on early downs in their opener.
In hindsight, did Drake Maye need more time on the bench in 2024 to work on his mechanics and footwork after all? – @JChalifour
Hey, Jason. I think a little more time to marinate and learn would do just about any young quarterback some good. The problem for the Patriots last season was that it became pretty clear by the end of training camp that Maye was the best quarterback on the roster. Hard to keep that guy out of action when you’re losing.
To answer your question, then, I’d say this: probably. But they also made the right decision to play him. Can’t say you’re doing what’s best for the team and then not play your best player — raw as he might’ve been — when he plays the most important position on the field.
Please opine re: restrictions on Maye’s scrambling (he seems to be thinking slide B4 he needs….I know they are beating it into him) and designed runs? So many QB’s use these very effectively to extend drives (Hurts, Mahomes, even Herbert and McCarthy). Should they open it up? – @SBussberg
Hard to plan for those scramble-drill plays, Steve. Can’t build them into the script. Those are going to pop up in real time. But I think your question is, how permissive are they when Maye does opt to scramble?
He needs to find the right time to take off, meaning don’t bail from clean pockets. Don’t turn down open receivers to run for one yard (as he seemed to do on the first play of the game Sunday).
That will be a learning process for him and for the coaching staff so they can work together on those moments. They also could potentially build in three or four designed runs per game, in my opinion.
Those runs would leverage Maye’s skill set and keep one of their best weapons — his athleticism — in the game plan without relying on him to make hero-ball they might like to avoid decisions.
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