FOXBORO, Mass. — Drake Maye struggled when the Patriots first put the pads on throughout coaching camp, however that was a distinct story Friday.
The 2024 third-overall choose bounced again Thursday, however his efficiency throughout padded observe this week had exterior observers questioning how far behind the 21-year-old was.
On Day 8 of Patriots coaching camp, Maye regarded sharper when he went 11-of-14. The North Carolina product did not mild it up, however he did have a pleasant deep throw to tight finish Mitchell Wilcox throughout workforce drills. Maye additionally threw touchdowns to Kayshon Boutte and LaMichael Pettway throughout 7-on-7s.
“It’s psychological for us. Undoubtedly received day, received to take a look at the movie,” Maye stated. “I feel among the finest issues that David Andrews informed me is ‘it’s by no means too good. It is by no means too dangerous.’ Simply studying from it and we’re doing higher operationally. That is what we have been specializing in — not too many false begins and missed assignments. I felt like we did job from that standpoint. Making an attempt to hold in there.”
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Maye’s accuracy was partly as a consequence of throwing quick, and there have been two instances throughout workforce drills when he selected to scramble out of the pocket for further yards. It is one thing that is not essentially dangerous on recreation day, however you’d reasonably see him make a play together with his arm than together with his legs. Nevertheless, Maye famous he is making an attempt to play “sensible” out on the sphere and credited the protection for difficult him and the offense; in spite of everything, it could be a lot worse to see the rookie power performs that are not there. Jacoby Brissett did have the right piece of recommendation for Maye’s gradual begin at coaching camp.
“Simply maintain going, man. It is a lengthy coaching camp,” Brissett stated. “I feel you at all times need any person to come back there and you are like do the perfect you’ll be able to proper now. It is simply unrealistic. I feel the perfect factor that he is doing proper now’s placing one foot in entrance of the opposite. Going again on the market and going on the market competing. The performs are gonna make themselves. It is nearly doing the little issues day in and time out. That is gonna offer you an opportunity to make the fitting play.”
The little issues actually had been completed Friday because the offensive line regarded higher with extra consistency between the primary and second unit. The largest blunder got here on a Maye rep throughout aggressive drills the place Atonio Mafi snapped the ball too low.
Purple zone and two-minute drills had been the main target for Day 8, and whereas Maye missed Javon Baker on a submit when the rookie huge receiver could not get his second foot down, the quarterback progressed his approach to Kayshon Boutte earlier than throwing a powerful ball to Pettway on a nook within the again proper of the tip zone.
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Followers must be inspired to see Maye stack up two consecutive days of coaching camp, however it’s additionally value noting that Monday’s observe script centered on third-and-long performs. The rookie signal-caller acknowledged the protection was nice in these conditions but additionally hoped to get higher. It does present how essential context is in relation to passing stats.
That being stated, Maye believes his time will come when he will get to air the ball out and showcase the expertise that made him worthy of being a No. 3 general choose.
