After spending the first five weeks of the 2024 NFL season on the bench, throwing just eight passes in a single relief opportunity, Drake Maye is set to make his debut for the New England Patriots in the week 6 against the Houston Texans.
Is Maye ready to seize this opportunity? Questionable, as he’ll still be playing in front of a bad offensive line with questionable offensive weapons, but that doesn’t mean the North Carolina pride hasn’t worked to get where he wants to be before this debut. . Speaking to reporters during his weekly press session, Maye revealed everything he’s learned from Jacoby Brissett over the past few months and how he plans to translate that into his own game on the field.
“Yes, on the sideline you get more of a view of the defensive structure, trying to see the techniques at the front of the defensive line, trying to see the safeties and trying to see things behind- plan,” Maye told reporters. “At the same time, you have a rear view of what the quarterback is thinking. I try to do that, or I try to stand behind Jacoby. I think that was my mindset, I was trying to get a feel for what it would be like playing behind him, and you don’t get a great view like you do in practice, right behind him him. I’m just trying to replicate that and play the game while I’m on the sideline.
Although Brissett hasn’t had much success for the Patriots in 2024, he has provided veteran leadership under center for a team making the most consequential coaching changes in the last 20 years. If his acumen can help Maye see the field better before his NFL debut, it should play a major role in the Patriots’ long-term future.
Jerod Mayo sees improvements in Drake Maye in training
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So what did head coach Jerod Mayo see from Maye that he liked enough to give him the nod in Week 6? Well, during his own media session, Mayo noted that he’s definitely seen an improvement in how his young QB views the offense over the past few weeks and now feels comfortable in his game.
“I would say Drake is a smart guy, and we saw that throughout the draft process. As far as understanding the offense, language and just his overall football IQ, I think it continues to improve,” Mayo told reporters. “I was actually pleasantly surprised. Even when he got here, the question was never asked, “Was he smart?” But I was pleasantly surprised, just by his work ethic, out of this world, and studying the playbook and trying to get those reps. He continues to improve day by day. Physically, look, this guy definitely gives us a chance to witness some of those off-schedule plays that you always see on TV.
Will Maye fare better than Brissett in Week 6? Questionable. Are the Patriots making a mistake playing him with a bottom-10 supporting cast? Questionable. But hey, if Mayo believes in their young QB, why wouldn’t the fans? At least they’ll get a glimpse of the team’s future, even if the Pats are still a few years away from contention.
