After a solid debut in the Patriots' 20-point loss to the Texans, we were looking for a few things from Drake Maye in his second start against the Jaguars, who have one of the worst pass defenses in the league:
- Maintain or slightly increase his ability to make plays
- Cutdown on his minus decisions
- Cutdown on the turnovers
- Don't be so quick to leave the pocket
- Be a little more accurate
In the end, Maye largely checked off all of those as he produced my sixth-highest-graded game dating back to last season. Maye went from a -13.3% to a +6.4.
Maye's plus plays increased from 11 to 14. His minus plays went from 17 to 11. Maye was also much more consistent with a 7/5 split in the first half, and a 7/6 in the second half (and to be fair, two came in desperation time).
Maye did technically not turn the ball over, but he had two near interceptions and PFF had his turnover-worthy play percentage tick up from 4.4 to 6.4. So that's not a clean checkmark.
I thought Maye only departed the pocket early once, so it was good to see him take that coaching.
And his expected completion percentage difference increased from -1.8 to 2.9 in an illustration that his accuracy overall was a little better from Week 1, which was another good step.
In another sign of how much better Maye was in his second start, Maye's expected points added per dropback was 0.23, which ranked 6th in the league after Sunday. He was 25th against the Texans. Maye was also fourth in the league in passer rating against pressure (111.1) on Sunday. He was 13th (47.9) last week.
Maye took the coaching, studied the film and applied all those lessons in his second start. He's obviously a quick study, so that's a great sign. Imagine if he had any semblance of a running game (that wasn't happening because Michael Jordan and Sidy Sow got absolutely demolished in this game). We can only wish.
After watching the film, I didn't have any huge criticisms of Alex Van Pelt's approach in this game (Maye still dropped back to pass 47 times) outside of the terrible sequence on the second drive of the second quarter (-1 Stevenson run, -4 screen to Henry). The Patriots only had one possession in the third quarter and after running on first down, they passed the next four plays. The Patriots just have to execute better, especially in the run game.
At least they know the young quarterback is making progress and they can put more on him.
All of the plus and minus grades in each half, follow by video of the second half:
FIRST HALF
Plus plays (7)
1-10-NE 48 (13:04) D.Maye pass incomplete deep right to J.Polk (R.Darby).
Throw - This is a designed boot back to the right. Maye's pass to Polk isn't great - it's a little behind and high - but it's good enough and dropped.
3-10-JAX 16 (8:40) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to J.Hasty for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Decision - Maye is sacked on first down against a blitz and no blocking help (I think Rhmaondre Stevenson was supposed to stay in but does not) as the Jaguars cover Hunter Henry's out and up well. On second down, Maye's low and behind throw limits Henry to just 5 yards otherwise it might have scored (not a minus play). ... On 3rd and 10, the Jaguars have one of the worst defensive playcalls I've ever seen in this situation - asking standout end Josh Allen to cover the back who's aligned on the other side - and predictably, it does not work out well for them. I was impressed that Maye saw the zone blitz coming and got the ball out to Hasty. This shouldn't have gone for a touchdown, but it was that bad of a defensive call.
3-4-NE 21 (4:17) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles up the middle to NE 36 for 15 yards (D.Savage).
Scramble - Austin Hooper didn't sit in a zone, and Bourne ran a route into coverage, so Maye didn't have anything. Great job avoiding the sack and picking up 15 yards. He didn't leave early.
2-10-NE 36 (2:57) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to H.Henry to NE 49 for 13 yards (D.Lloyd; T.Campbell).
Throw - Very nice anticipation throw to Henry in tight coverage that was tossed before Henry was out of his break. Nice catch as well of the low throw.
2-9-50 (1:47) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to H.Henry to JAX 38 for 12 yards (V.Miller).
Throw/move - Maye doesn't really have anything except the RB outlet, but makes something by leaving the pocket and finding an aware Henry.
3-15-NE 34 (7:52) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to J.Hasty pushed ob at NE 42 for 8 yards (Y.Abdullah).
Awareness - Maye got away with a poor throw on first down behind Kayshon Boutte and was fortunate to get the DPI call. Even though this play only gets half the yardage on 3rd and long, this was a nice job by Maye avoiding a sack when Sidy Sow (clueless) and Ben Brown can't handle a simple line stunt.
3-14-NE 26 (:55) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to H.Henry to NE 37 for 11 yards (J.Jones, A.Cisco) [A.Armstead].
Throw/pressure - Makes a great throw in a hole to Henry with Arik Armstead about to kill him thanks to Sow. Tough throw.
Minus plays (5)
2-4-NE 21 (4:20) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short right to R.Stevenson.
Throw/high - If Maye was just a little quicker on the play before this - the first of three times on this drive the Jaguars were offsides - Kendrick Bourne was completely uncovered and would have had a huge play with only the free safety to beat (not scored a minus play). ... On this play, Stevenson ran a crappy hitch but Maye's pass wasn't even close out of bounds (perhaps it was on purpose, but I can't tell that).
1-10-JAX 25 (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to R.Stevenson to JAX 22 for 3 yards (J.Ledbetter).
Decision - There's good protection and Maye doesn't stay with the routes long enough as Henry is going to be open in the middle of Maye holds his water a little longer.
3-7-JAX 22 (13:39) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to K.Bourne.
Throw/high - There's some pressure because of Sidy Sow and Maye does a good job throwing with anticipation, but his footwork is a little sloppy, the ball appears to come out wobbly and the throw to Bourne just quite wasn't good enough. Needs to be on the WR.
3-10-NE 30 (2:00) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep right to J.Polk (A.Cisco).
Throw/late - This was the infamous play with Polk along the sidelines that some will view as a drop. After watching it a bunch of times, it's pretty clear Maye threw this a beat late and towards the field instead of the sideline. If this thrown with the right timing and in the sideline hole in Cover 2, it's a catch. Not bad, but not good enough.
2-14-NE 26 (1:00) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to D.Douglas.
Throw/high - Has Douglas open on an out, just throws it too high for his diminutive receiver.
SECOND HALF
Plus plays (7)
2-10-NE 40 (8:26) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to R.Stevenson pushed ob at NE 44 for 4 yards (C.Muma).
Throw/pressure - Mike Onwenu gives up pressure fairly quickly but Maye handles it and finds the checkdown to give them a chance on 3rd and 6.
3-8-NE 18 (9:33) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep middle to H.Henry to 50 for 32 yards (A.Cisco; D.Savage).
Throw - Maye would have had a nice completion rolling right two plays prior if Boutte didn't fade his route coming across the field. ... This isn't a great throw to Henry - it's underthrown - but Maye had pressure in his face, took a hit and gave his guy a chance to make a play. Better catch than throw, but another tough play.
1-10-50 (9:03) (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep left to K.Boutte to JAX 17 for 33 yards (M.Brown).
Throw +1.5 - Maye's best play of the game by far. Just a perfect touch pass to Boutte, who makes a great fingertips catch.
1-10-JAX 17 (8:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left.
Awareness - Maye and Hasty trip over each other, but Maye does a great job avoiding catastrophe by turning it at Hasty's feet.
3-15-JAX 22 (8:27) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep middle to K.Osborn for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Throw +1.5 - Another great anticipation throw with some pressure in the vicinity. Perfect read and timing.
1-10-NE 12 (3:58) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to K.Bourne to NE 26 for 14 yards (T.Campbell).
Throw - Nice hole shot with timing and anticipation to Bourne.
Minus plays (6)
3-6-NE 44 (7:47) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short right to K.Osborn (T.Campbell).
Throw/late -1.5 - In Maye's defense, not one but two receivers (Boutte, Polk) fall down on this play, but Maye is flat-out late to the low crosser to Osborn, who doesn't cover himself in glory with his fading route either, and is nearly intercepted. But if Maye gets to the crosser earlier, this is an easy completion.
2-10-JAX 17 (8:31) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep left to A.Hooper.
Throw -1.5 - This is the other almost near interception. Don't think Maye recognizes it's Cover 2. If he throws it along the sideline near the 2-yard line - as it appears to be designed and Hooper's intended route - it's a possible touchdown. Maye threw it like he anticipated Hooper settling in the zone. I think Hooper was right based on the coverage.
2-3-NE 33 (3:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles up the middle to NE 34 for 1 yard (Y.Abdullah).
Decision/knockdown - While he didn't have anything downfield, Maye bailed early when he had two checkdowns in front of him, and he really wasn't really going to run anywhere against zone coverage.
(If you wanted to toss the following inconsequential plays, I would understand, but I grade every play.)
3-12-NE 24 (2:42) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 10 for -14 yards (T.Walker).
Half sack - The receivers were absolutely blanketed on this play, but Maye scrambled into the sack when the middle of the pocket was fine and presented a better scramble opportunity. But I understand him trying to make a play.
4-26-NE 10 (2:00) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep middle to H.Henry
Decision - I know this was a prayer and didn't amount to much, but Boutte's stick-nod route to the right had a much better chance of completion. Henry had four guys around him and the ball didn't get there.
Here's the video of the second half as I graded the film:
Here are the positional ratings against the Jaguars:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3.5 out of 5)
Was vastly improved over the opener. I continue to be very impressed by his level-headedness and toughness. He's hanging in the pocket and feels the pressure. ... Long-term, I really want to see him tighten up his motion and be a little quicker from decision to the ball being released. On film, sometimes it's very slow relative to top quarterbacks. If he could just tighten up his motion and pop time (in baseball terms), he would be really dangerous.
Running backs (2.5 out of 5)
I mean, this really wasn't their fault. I charged both Stevenson and Gibson with a half stuffed run each. ... I charged Stevenson with a sack. Two linebackers came and he didn't see either of them. ... Hasty looks good out of the backfield. His touchdown was a horrible defensive call that I would absolutely kill the Patriots for, but he made a few guys miss and converted.
Receivers (3 out of 5)
Hunter Henry was terrific all game with six plus plays, including his ridiculous 32-yard catch of an underthrown ball. He did have one half stuff and the false start. Nobody's perfect. ... Hooper was strong. I keep wondering if he's supposed to sit in zone more, but I'm not sure with this scheme. ... Boutte's catch from Maye was a thing of beauty, but he's frustrating. He ran the wrong route (stopped on his clearing over route) that caused Maye to get hit, and if Boutte ran straight down the line when Maye tried to him on the run, that ball is accurate. It wasn't Maye's fault. ... I charged Polk with one drop early and his slip on the two-point conversion can't happen. Has to stay on his feet as the X iso on that play.
Offensive line (1.5 out of 5)
THREE UP
TE Hunter Henry: Has quickly developed into the go-to guy for Maye.
QB Drake Maye: This is actually a game where you can have real enthusiasm. Much more consistent and dangerous.
LT Demontrey Jacobs: PFF had him for 4 pressure but I only had a half hurry. He seemed to have a good, quiet game.
THREE DOWN
RG Sidy Sow: Not only was he beaten physically but Armstead, but he had a few brainfarts that were hard to explain.
LG Michael Jordan: From what we saw before this week, this performance was out of character. Will have to monitor it.
WR Ja'Lynn Polk: I think he needs to take a breather, reset and watch one from the sidelines. No, I'm not ready to call a rookie a bust. But he's obviously going through it, no matter what he says.