In a summer full of mixed messages about the quarterback position, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was at it again Monday morning.
"This is a true competition, and I would say at this current point, Drake (Maye) has outplayed Jacoby (Brissett)," said Mayo during his weekly appearance on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show. "Now, in saying that, we have to take in the full body of work, going all the way back to the spring and beginning of training camp. And we'll see where we end up. But those are the conversations that will happen here over the next couple of days."
The first sentence understandably has the internet, sports radio, and my son's dorm all aflutter. That's the first time anyone in the Pats organization has been willing to lay it out like that. The problem is what was said after. A clear hedge. Why? The answer is simple: not all sides are aligned. As I wrote last week, some within the organization still believe Maye should start week one. But not everyone is there, with the specter of Mac Jones' implosion looming large.
When asked to clarify his comments when he met with the media shortly after that, Mayo once again left the door open for either.
"It starts in practice and also in the game, where Drake has played better," he said. "In saying that, everyone wants to know who the starter is going to be. There are multiple factors that have to go into this decision. One is the total body of work, whether we're talking about the spring or the entirety of training camp. And I would also say, oftentimes, we forget about the overall experience that a guy like Jacoby has, which will also be weighted in the decision we have to make in the near future."
Here's an idea, and a definitive one at that:
Stick to the plan.
Eliot Wolf, Mayo, and Alex Van Pelt aren't seeking my counsel about their quarterback competition, but I'm giving it in this space and any other that will have me.
Despite insistence that this roster could support a rookie signal caller, Sunday night's disjointed performance spit directly in the face of such a notion. The offensive line was plagued by penalties and missed assignments. The center/QB exchange continued to be messy. There were starting receivers who ran wrong routes or disinterested ones (do these guys understand the ball could come to you at any time, even if you're not the first or second option?). Yes, Maye has been the better quarterback for the last ten days - "the gap has definitely shrunk here over the last few weeks," added the head coach - but this decision goes beyond that. In fact, when Mayo was talking about the number of infractions his team took in Washington, he dropped this gem.
"And quite frankly, we're not good enough as a team to continually go backward," he said. "Like, we always have to win the hidden yardage game. We need to always win the penalty battle. And you could throw turnovers in there as well."
Does that sound like a team ready for a 21-year-old to run the operation for 17 games? The answer is no. I also don't want to oversell who Maye has excelled against. The Commanders didn't play their starters. During the previous game, the Eagles had only two starters (by my count) on the field for any of Maye's drives. That doesn't take away from some of Maye's moments but adds context to the discussion.
Playing a Lou Anarumo defense in Week 1, a Mike Macdonald (apparently the first d in his name is not capitalized) unit in week two, the Jets and their attack dogs on a short week in week three, and then Nick Bosa and company at San Francisco in Week 4 could be a recipe for disaster with this line. I thought they were moving in the right direction post-Philly, but if I had been thinking clearly, I wouldn't have thought that. Bide your time with Jacoby Brissett as you try to find the right combination up front, season the kid a little more, then let him hit the ground running in October. They won't regret it, even if it means you, as a fan base, must deal with the future being put on ice for a bit. Smart decisions early could lead to more success later.
I have a couple of other notes from Sunday before we get to my final roster projection, which is in advance of Tuesday's cut-down day.
- Chuks Okorafor, what the hell? How often can one man line up incorrectly, especially after being warned and called for it? "We just have to do business as business is being done," said Mayo. "It's move up. I mean, there's no one else to blame. I mean, it's pretty clear that when you watch it on film, you have to break the center's hip. And that was the most disheartening part for me as a coach. And it was definitely a learning experience for me as well, where I just got to know I have to be tougher on those things here going forward." Okorafor's been a disappointment this summer.
- Oh my, Layden Robinson, you've had better nights. A false start, a holding, and inadvertently running into Sidy Sow to blow up a play were ugly. I don't know that one game should derail his starting chances, but that was against 2s and 3s, not Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.
Final roster projection.
QUARTERBACKS (3): Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton
Practice squad: Bailey Zappe
If Brissett's injury is more serious than the Pats have made it sound, that could change the math in Zappe's favor. However, the third-year pro didn't get claimed last year, and I'm not sure anything has changed on that front despite some pretty rugged backup quarterback situations across the league. Based on how I feel about the roster, Zappe is one of your best 53, but Maye's emergence over the last 10 days has put him in a better position to ascend to the throne. FWIW, I wouldn't let Milton see the field this year. He's a year away from being a year away.
RUNNING BACK (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris
No changes here. I don't believe anyone is claiming JaMychal Hasty, who had a decent little burst at the tail end of camp. He makes perfect sense for the practice squad. Harris could find his way there, too, if the Pats want to hold on to a player at a different position.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Javon Baker.
PUP: Kendrick Bourne
IR: JaQuae Jackson
No changes. This team doesn't have a perfectly balanced roster, so I'm sticking with the theory that the back end of this wideout group is better than some depth at other positions (the 16 practice squad spots also influence that).
Thornton has run with the starters all summer. Van Pelt gave him a tongue bath last week. "His ability to separate is special. His speed down the field… he's been competitive at the catch point this year." I haven't seen it the same way, but to his credit, Thornton has improved. What that translates to remains unknown because, let's face it, he hasn't exactly laid a strong foundation in his first two years.
Boutte only got 17 snaps in Sunday's preseason finale. He's had a good camp. Could they try to slide him through waivers? The thought has crossed my mind.
Osborn has been underwhelming this summer. Inconsistent hands, and he was out to lunch on two throws against the Commanders. But he's not going anywhere. My concern would be that Osborn takes snaps from Polk. This team isn't going anywhere. Play the kid. He's done solid work so far, although the number of times a downfield pass has been just out of his reach bothers me a tad. As for Baker, it's nice to see him perform positively in the finale after two weeks of riding the struggle bus.
Reagor could be cut and re-signed. He doesn't have to pass through waivers (he's in year five). So if Wolf wants some roster shenanigans, this is one of those guys he could play around with.
TIGHT END (3): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jaheim Bell
No changes, though Henry's availability could lead to Mitchell Wilcox remaining in Foxborough or Wolf plucking someone off waivers.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Chuks Okorafor, Sidy Sow, Vederian Lowe, Layden Robinson, Nick Leverett, Caedan Wallace, Michael Jordan
IR/PUP: Cole Strange, Jake Andrews
There have been no changes (though if I were in charge, I'd launch a couple of these guys into the sun).
That was gnarly Sunday, wasn't it? Didn't think we'd be at the point where you'd miss Lowe, but here we are. Robinson didn't look ready for prime time after looking great for two weeks. Does that cause them to recalculate him as a week one starter? Or is it a moot point because Sow hurt his ankle and left the locker room in a walking boot? Liam Fornadel is someone the Pats definitely want to keep working with. He's done a decent job converting from CFL guard to center. Leverett had some struggles snapping at Washington, so could the Pats claim a center off the wire, lock Leverett in as the top guard replacement, and cut Jordan? Possibly.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Davon Godchaux, Keion White, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Deatrich Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Oshane Ximenes, Trysten Hill
IR: Christian Barmore
Armon Watts is out in this model, and Hill is in. Hill gives them more pass rush. William Bradley-King could have a case, but largely because injuries have plagued Uche all summer, and Ximenes didn't play Sunday because of a lower leg issue. If there's concern one or both might not be ready for the opener, Bradley-King might be the in-house insurance.
LINEBACKER (4): Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Raekwon McMillian, Christian Elliss
IR: Sione Takitaki
No change. Joe Giles-Harris and Steele Chambers will get through waivers. Elliss suffered a head injury Sunday, so his availability could alter the approach. Otherwise, he's a special teams maven and showed well in his reps at LB.
CORNERBACKS (8): Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson, Marcellas Dial Jr.
One change. Dial goes from cut to making the roster. Special teams value. He's been working opposite Schooler as a gunner on the first punt team. Wilson didn't dress on Sunday. Lock status activated? CB coach Mike Pellegrino loves himself some Azizi Hearn, but that's got practice squad written all over it.
SAFETY (3): Jabril Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins
IR: Marte Mapu
There are no changes. Dell Pettus is someone the Patriots want to keep working with, and I'd be stunned if he was claimed. Mapu's disappointing year-plus run with the team continues. He's missed nearly all of camp.
SPECIALISTS (4): Joey Slye, Bryce Baringer, Joe Cardona, Brenden Schooler
No changes. Schooler played a lot of safety this summer instead of getting the Matthew Slater treatment. I could see a scenario in which Chad Ryland remains here as a member of the practice squad.
