The New England Patriots have a call to make after an improved camp from a rookie quarterback.
They’ve had the dilemma just a few occasions in recent times, and whereas there are similarities, it is vital to acknowledge the variations and never join each state of affairs below the rookie quarterback cloud.
The Patriots opened a brand new chapter this offseason, coming into a rebuild and committing to the longer term by deciding on Drake Maye with the No. 3 total choice within the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye went via the summer season with the veteran presence of Jacoby Brissett by his aspect, who had been presumed to be the starter.
Now, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo has a call to make after Maye seemingly leapt Brissett when it comes to manufacturing over the ultimate two video games of preseason play for the Patriots.
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On this sense, it isn’t too completely different from the story that performed out three summers in the past.
New England confronted a tough transition after the 2019 season when legendary quarterback Tom Brady departed and left the workforce to fend in a COVID-impacted, financially restrictive 2020 season. A yr later, the Patriots chosen Alabama product Mac Jones with the No. 15 total decide. With veteran and former NFL MVP Cam Newton because the incumbent, Jones performed his strategy to the beginning job.
Jones tossed 22 landing passes that season because the Patriots went 10-7 and returned to the playoffs. From there, the once-outstanding rookie utterly fell of the map over the subsequent two years. New England shipped him to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier than bringing in Brissett and Maye. Jones has made the a lot of the change of surroundings with a superb preseason for the Jaguars.
Again in Foxboro, there’s loads of components that would decide how New England’s decision-makers will weigh the advantages of Maye profitable the beginning job for Week 1. Championship quarterbacks comparable to Brady and Patrick Mahomes sat their rookie years and gained priceless expertise below veterans.
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Some insiders across the workforce comparable to NBC Sports activities Boston’s Tom E. Curran steered that the autumn of Jones may issue into how the Patriots transfer ahead with Maye. In the event that they select to sit down the North Carolina product on account of his youth (nonetheless simply 21 years outdated) or an unsafe offensive line to play behind, that is one factor.
On the finish of the day, Jones and Maye are in completely completely different spots coming into their respective rookie seasons with the Patriots.
Jones, virtually a yr older than Maye as a rookie, had items round him and entered New England’s system on the proper time. So, his rookie standing was not what led to his demise and, subsequently, shouldn’t be the mindset the Patriots undertake if Maye sits.
As a substitute, Jones declined from an absence of improved weapons and extra importantly, the insertion of two coaches in Matt Patricia and Joe Choose that overthrew his growth with out in depth offensive teaching backgrounds within the sport. That shattered Jones’ confidence final season with the Patriots that led to the tip of his New England tenure.
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Maye’s scenario is formed much more by what’s round him, resulting in an vital resolution for the Patriots.
In that context, in fact there’s similarities between the entrances to Gillette Stadium for Jones and Maye. Nevertheless, the Patriots ought to acknowledge the worry of a poor scenario for Maye is available in a far completely different method than his predecessor.
