FOXBORO, Mass. — After a pair of underwhelming fully-padded practices precipitated some exterior New England to query the legitimacy of Drake Maye, the Patriots creating rookie quarterback had his greatest day in every week.
It served as a peak in an inevitable peak-and-valley stretch this summer time.
“I’ll say this, he is dealt with it very nicely,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo stated earlier than Day 7 of coaching camp Thursday.
“Look, individuals are going to have their opinions. I’d say the opinions inside the 4 partitions matter most, and I’d say the folks contained in the 4 partitions know what they’re speaking about. So, you possibly can take that for what it’s. All of us assist Drake.”
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Maye had extra spectacular performs at Gillette Stadium on Thursday than some other observe. He performed predominantly behind a second-string offensive line together with, from left to proper, Caedan Wallace, Michael Jordan, Antonio Mafi, Layden Robinson and Calvin Anderson.
The second-string quarterback went 7-for-10, together with 5-for-6 in full workforce intervals, and confirmed enchancment as he recognized defenses pre-snap. Maybe the very best instance of that got here on Maye’s preliminary 11-on-11 pink zone snap as he audibled on the line of scrimmage and hit tight finish Jacob Warren with a fast throw to the flat. It was the proper reply to what the protection was throwing at him.
Previous to that snap, through the preliminary 11-on-11 interval, Maye recognized the protection and made a rapid resolution to hit Ja’Lynn Polk on a crosser route. It obtained the ball within the fingers of a play-maker for a pleasant catch and run, which might have been a primary down on gameday.
Maye was 2-for-4 throughout a pink zone 7-on-7 interval — the offense labored predominantly within the pink zone. Maye, nonetheless, was hindered by a JuJu Smith-Schuster drop and a protection sack in these 5 reps. Maye hit Okay.J. Osborn with a sidearm (no look?) throw because the veteran wideout raced the again finish line on his reception below the aim submit.
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Maye threw a ball to Smith-Schuster on the earlier play, the veteran wideout catching the move earlier than Marcus Jones wrestled it from his fingers for an incompletion. Smith-Schuster had his greatest day of camp Tuesday however has been largely disappointing up to now.
Maye had one other spectacular throw to tight finish Mitchell Wilcox throughout an 11-on-11 rep. With Maye going to his left, Wilcox broke exterior and Maye put the ball between a pair of Patriots defenders. He had a couple of good throws transferring to his left, hitting La’Michael Pettway within the nook of the tip zone throughout pink zone 7-on-7s earlier than the one to Wilcox.
Maye’s lone incompletion in 11-on-11s got here on a low misfire supposed for Douglas. Maye patted his chest after the throw to point it was on him.
Maye did battle in 1-on-1s, as he did Tuesday. The offense went 5-for-14 with him.
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He had a couple of good throws like that to Wilcox on out-breaking route in opposition to Brenden Schooler. Maye additionally linked with Warren (beat Dell Pettus), working again JaMycal Hasty (beat Jahlani Tavai) and David Wallis (beat Isaiah Bolden). However Marco Wilson earned a move breakup in opposition to Javon Baker, Bolden broke up a move supposed for Polk whereas Maye and Baker could not join in opposition to cornerback Mikey Victor on Maye’s last 1-on-1 snap.
General, although, is was a solid-not-spectacular session for the rookie. It was one he wanted, too, after struggling each Monday (3-for-11, interception) and Tuesday (8-for-15).
Maye and the Patriots will probably be again on the observe fields for Day 8 of coaching camp at Gillette Stadium on Friday. Maye is scheduled to talk to the media Friday.
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