Seahawks vast receiver Jake Bobo wished to make the most of an offseason exercise this summer time to get on the identical web page with Seattle backup quarterback Sam Howell.
The throwing session definitely helped with that, but it surely provided extra. It additionally led to Bobo catching passes from New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye, who’s shut buddies with Sam Howell after the 2 spent a season collectively at North Carolina, tagged alongside for the exercise. Bobo did not let his Duke-colored glasses — he performed 4 seasons with the Blue Devils earlier than ending his faculty profession at UCLA — influence his view of the previous Tar Heel as virtually instantly Bobo noticed why Maye went third general to the Patriots on this yr’s NFL draft.
“Excellent off the bat you would inform he’ll be a stud,” Bobo informed NESN.com. “Clearly, he is younger, however the arm expertise is there. Simply speaking ball with him, he is one of many smartest dudes most likely I have been in a position to discuss store with. He is undoubtedly spectacular.”
Story continues beneath commercial
Maye throwing passes to Bobo gave the second-year Seahawks wideout a really feel for the rookie’s ability set. Whereas Maye’s highly effective proper arm and talent to drive the ball down the sphere have at all times stood out in his arsenal, Bobo noticed the nuances in Maye’s passes which can be equally essential.
“He is received nice contact on the ball, however on the identical time has a velocity on the ball that you do not actually see out of loads of QBs,” Bobo stated. “He’ll throw you a slant and it is received some juice on it, but it surely’s simpler to catch than among the guys across the league you throw with who simply attempt to rifle the ball in there.”
Bobo, who earned a spot on the Seahawks final yr as an undrafted free agent, is aware of it takes extra than simply expertise to outlive, and thrive, within the NFL. Taking part in quarterback isn’t any exception to that.
Bobo noticed it rising up in North Andover, Mass. when he watched Tom Brady, who was picked aside for his lack of bodily attributes coming into the NFL, play on Sundays. Maye most likely would not have the identical intangibles Brady did to steer the Patriots to 6 Tremendous Bowl titles, however Bobo views Maye as a whole package deal.
Story continues beneath commercial
“All people is aware of concerning the expertise. The expertise’s apparent,” Bobo stated. “Simply personality-wise, I can see him being straightforward to comply with simply as a quarterback. Rising up within the Tom Brady golden age, there’s extra to taking part in quarterback than simply throwing the ball completely down the sideline and he is received it. I felt like within the brief time I had with him he is received it. He’ll be an important quarterback on this league. There is not any doubt in my thoughts. So, I suppose we simply received to attend a short while longer to see it.”
Barring an damage to Patriots beginning quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Bobo will not see Maye in motion when New England hosts the Seahawks on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The brand new Patriots regime headed by government vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo opted to have Maye, who simply turned 22 years previous final month, begin his rookie season by watching from the sideline.
Bobo would not imagine that is a nasty spot for Maye to be in for the time being and will function a vital piece within the signal-caller’s improvement.
Story continues beneath commercial
“I like it for Drake. Clearly I would assume he was disillusioned in that call. Clearly it was what it was,” Bobo stated. “However simply with the ability to be taught underneath a man like Jacoby, who’s a vet, and simply with the ability to take nevertheless lengthy it’s that he is sitting behind him to simply be taught on this league as a result of there’s a lot that goes on on a day-to-day foundation by way of scheme and recreation plan and actually on the sphere calling the play that the common recreation watcher would not essentially notice.
“I had a studying curve. Drake will most likely have much less of a studying curve than I did. Appeared like a wise man. However will probably be good for him to be taught a little bit bit behind Jacoby, who’s a helluva participant, and take off from there.”