Like most of you, I look forward to Drake Maye's debut. He's a talented dude, and his athleticism and creativity will allow him to make some plays Sunday.
I'm also not going to sugarcoat my disbelief in how the Pats arrived at the decision. Naming Maye the starter NOW was not the plan, and while there's been plenty of time for growth, I'm dubious that he has come so far, so fast, since Alex Van Pelt told us the best thing for his rookie quarterback was to remain on the sideline. That was just three weeks ago.
The decision to go to Maye is about three things: an offense that's deader than a doornail (whatever the hell that means), four straight losses, and, while it's hard for me to put a percentage on this last one, fan agitation. The crowd booed the offense off the field five times against the Dolphins, and while I estimated the stadium to be around three-quarters full (there's no science to it), the fact that a bunch of folks left the game in the fourth quarter while it was still a one-score game couldn't have sat well with the guy that signs the checks. Now? I expect a full house, or something close to it, against the Texans.
Anyway ... I had planned on checking in with my league sources to get a read on the Pats heading into week six, but I'll push that. Instead, I asked what we should look for from Maye and, to a degree, Van Pelt.
Pro scouting director: "We know he has just about every tool you need to succeed, but I'm curious how often they put him under center and how he handles it. From what I saw this summer, it was rugged, and it felt like you could see him thinking about his feet and his steps instead of just playing, you know? They've obviously had more time to work on that, but the game will speed up, and DeMeco (Ryans, Texans coach) will do everything he can to ramp it up even more. More shotgun?
"I'm sure Drake will have moments where he looks like he doesn't know what he's doing, but I'm sure there'll also be moments where you're dabbing the drool out of the corners of your mouth, too (because he's making some splash plays)."
Someone who scouted him extensively (i.e., the team he works for was in the market for a quarterback in Maye's draft): "I wouldn't worry so much about Maye looking like he's got all the answers. I don't know if he's that kind of quarterback, but he's certainly not that during October of his rookie year. He can extend plays, which will go a long way toward making up for a poor offensive line. Hell, that's what I'd be telling him. Go run around, have fun, and spin it like you mean it. Then, with more experience, that's where the harder coaching comes in. You can show him, 'Hey, you did this, but here's why it was wrong and what you should have done and will do the next time it comes up.' If he responds, you know you got something."
Pro scout for an AFC team: "The tape says he's taking over an offense short on talent and with an identity they seemingly don't want to embrace (power run). Whether Maye's ready or not, he's now who the (Patriots) are and what they're all about. That's not an easy spot to be in, but that's what happens when you get drafted that high (#3 overall). The kid in D.C. (Jayden Daniels) is doing it, but he's got experience coming out of his (rear hind quarters). There's calmness in how he plays. Maye wasn't that at Carolina. I wouldn't expect him to be that (in NE). That's okay for now. It might hurt a little, but now that Mayo's gone there, don't turn back. Let him learn."
YOU COULD BE THEM
While it's not been great in New England over the last few years, the New York Jets have set such a high (low?) bar that it still might take a couple of decades for them to be great. So, Pats fans, you have that going for you, which is nice.
The latest from Gang Green was the 'surprise' firing of Robert Saleh on Tuesday. I put surprise in quotes because the Jets have done nothing but underperform this season (except against the Pats) despite clearly putting all their chips on the table.
Owner Woody Johnson - errrr, Ambassador Johnson, as he signed off in his written statement on the firing - called this one of the most talented teams he's had and said moving on from Saleh was done with the intent of saving this season.
"This change I made (Tuesday) I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins starting now," he said at a press conference later in the day, adding the decision was "his and his alone."
"I've had a couple years to think about this, and I just think we can do better. The team can do better. As we have this new leadership, I think it's going to bring out the best in these players."
Saleh went 20-36 in his three-plus seasons with the Jets, but the last two weeks — losses at home to the Broncos and then in London to the Vikings — were the final straw.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named the interim coach, and his biggest challenge appears to be bridging the gap between an excellent defense and an underperforming offense. However, there have been some rumblings that some of their younger stars (Sauce Gardner, for instance) aren't living up to their end of the bargain, either.
"I'm gonna be honest. People get tired of hearing the same shit," said linebacker Quincy Williams. "People gotta take accountability from the top to the bottom. That's all I gotta say … people gotta start taking accountability; I'm tired of saying the same thing every week."
As for Aaron Rodgers, who's been as responsible for the offensive issues as anyone (3 interceptions Sunday), he denied reports that he played a role in Saleh's dismissal.
"I resent any of those accusations because they're patently false," Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show. "It's interesting the amount of power people think I have. Which I don't. I love Robert, and it was one of those days yesterday."
The Jets held a players-only meeting on Tuesday. They host the Bills on Monday night.
CHANGE IS EVERYWHERE
The Pats aren't the only team making the QB switch. The Raiders have pulled the plug on Gardner Minshew, deciding to move ahead in week 6 with Aidan O'Connell.
Head coach Antonio Pierce made the announcement on Wednesday. O'Connell took over for Minshew during Sunday's loss to the Broncos, and he, too, got picked off by the great Patrick Surtain and finished the game with pedestrian numbers (10-of-20, 94 yards)
“As he was the backup to Gardner, he was very encouraging, very positive, brought a lot of energy, and did a hell of a job for us on the scout team,” said Pierce. “He’s ready to go.”
O'Connell has experience with this. After Josh McDaniels was fired, he ascended to the quarterback throne in Vegas last year. Pierce benched Jimmy Garoppolo, and the former Purdue signal-caller started ten games in his place, going 5-5.
"I definitely know that the job is fluid, and so I'm just trying to do my best, really every day," said O'Connell. "Today, I'm focusing on today and not really thinking about any days in the future. I've got to work on what we're working on today, try to get better, and take each day that way. And it's hard to do. Your brain wants to go backward and wants to go forwards, but I think just focusing on the task at hand is the best thing I can do."
I don't want to sound alarmist, but the Raiders are doomed. Minshew lasted as long as Jacoby Brissett did in New England, but there is no Drake Maye waiting in the wings. Instead, it's the weak-armed, non-athletic O'Connell who, unless he morphs into something no one has foreseen, will just be the placeholder until the organization drafts their future or signs one in free agency (again).
ADD HIM TO THE LIST
John Harbaugh and the Ravens defense are the latest to be challenged with slowing down rookie Jayden Daniels and the 4-1 Commanders.
"[Jayden Daniels] creates problems in different kinds of ways. He can throw it – he's throwing the ball downfield at a very efficient rate. He's hitting all of the quick-out throws, [and] the RPO throws, and the quick-game throws very effectively – he gets the ball out fast on those throws. And then, if it's not there, he's creating plays on the run with his legs. He's not just running, which he is running, but he's also throwing on the run and making plays that way. He's doing it in all those different ways."
To that end, Harbaugh has added former Pats/Ravens/Titans/Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees to his staff as an advisor. The 75-year-old will bring his eons of experience to a Ravens group that has yet to come close to matching its success of a season ago. They're currently 26th in points allowed, 31st against the pass, and 25th in the red zone under first-year coordinator Zach Orr. Pees coached Orr as a player in Baltimore from 2012-2017.
"He's been kind of a good sounding board and mentor for Zach – I know they're very close," said Harbaugh. "Dean and I go back, as you guys know, a long, long way. His football knowledge and his ability to just put an eye on things and be a great sounding board and a backup for everybody is super good. I'm glad he's here. It's good to see his face out here, and it can make us better, so I'm happy about that."
RATTLE(R) AND ROLL
With Derek Carr "week-to-week" with an oblique injury, the Saints are elevating third-string rookie Spencer Rattler into the starting role.
Rattler had a solid summer but lost the backup job to second-year pro-Jake Haener, who had to step in when Carr was injured in Monday night's loss to the Chiefs. The fifth-rounder out of South Carolina has been inactive for the first five weeks of the year.
Head coach Dennis Allen wouldn't explain why they jumped Haener, though he admitted liking Rattler's mobility, especially with an offensive line with its starting center and right guard out with injury.
"There were a lot of factors that go into it," Allen said. "Certainly, we felt like he's got some mobility."
Rattler was the #1 recruit coming out of high school and a starter at the University of Oklahoma before Caleb Williams showed up. He transferred to SC and survived a terrible offensive line his senior season before a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. His stature and quick release have reminded some - loosely - of former Saints great Drew Brees. Allen says he's giving Rattler a long leash.
"Look, I think you got to let the guy go in there and play. We're not going into this game saying, 'You make a mistake, we're going to pull you.' He's going to play. He's going to start and lead the team. I think we'll go from there.
"He's the next man up. Get an opportunity to go in and play, go play and have fun, do what you've been trained to do. I think sometimes you can make too big a deal of it and create more of an issue than you really need to. So, we'll go through the things that he needs to know. We'll get him prepared, and then we'll let him go out there and play."
With Maye starting for the Pats and Rattler for New Orleans, five quarterbacks from the class of 2024 will have started at least one game this season.
NERD NUMBERS
- Drake Maye had a 43.3 completion percentage, averaged 6.7 yds/att, 7 TDs, 5 INTs, and a 69.0 passer rating under pressure in 2023 at UNC (per PFF).
- The Ravens lead the NFL with 211.2 rush YPG in 2024 (5th-most in the Super Bowl era). They have outgained their opponents by 100+ rushing yards in each of the first five games of the 2024 season (longest such streak to start a season in NFL history).
- The Cardinals are the least-penalized team in 2024 (19 total penalties). Their nine offensive penalties are also the fewest in the NFL.
- Per Next Gen Stats, three of Marvin Harrison's four receiving TDs have come on tight-window targets (defined as less than 1 yard of separation); that's the most tight-window TDs in 2024. Harrison has 13 tight window targets in 2024 (T-most in the NFL with ATL's Drake London).
- The Chargers rank first in scoring defense (12.4 PPG). They have not finished a season with the NFL’s #1 scoring defense since the 1970 merger.
- Jakobi Meyers leads all Raiders WRs with 25 receptions for 273 and a TD. He had a season-high 72 yards in Week 5 (6 catches). Cue Lobel saying 'Why can't we get players like that?"
- T.J. Watt became the 2nd-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks in Week 5. Only HOF Reggie White (96 games) reached 100 sacks faster than Watt (109 games). Sacks didn't become an official stat until 1982. DeMarcus Ware (113), Bruce Smith (115), and J.J. Watt (120) round out the top five.