If the Patriots take a giant step forward this year, Drake Maye will have to be front and center. After hearing from the second-year quarterback Thursday, I'd say he's looking forward to assuming as much as his broad shoulders can handle.
"I don't think there's any added pressure," he said. "I think it's the National Football League, so every week you have to bring it. And I think if there is added pressure. I think you want the ball in my hands in crunch time."
Maye wasn't always good in those moments last year, throwing game-ending interceptions against the Titans and Rams (although he did deliver the tying TD in that Tennessee game as the regulation clock expired). He threw 10 interceptions in 12 starts and fumbled nine times. During the season, he vacillated between 'That can't happen' and ''I'm a playmaker." Today, I couldn't help but hear offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in his ear.
"You go back, and you see obviously negative plays, sacks, or turnovers," he said, recalling last season. "I think there are always ways to improve on protecting football. We're preaching protecting football. Turnovers in this league are no good. They don't result in wins in this league. So, find a way to protect the football, finding ways to, hey, (it's) third down and field goal range, hey, don't take a sack, little things like that. I think you can always learn, especially protection-wise, you know, protect myself..."
That Maye/McDaniels dynamic will be critical, and introducing a new system now puts more on Maye's plate regarding a change in verbiage and a responsibility for calling out blocking schemes. But as the young signal caller dives into the tape, he's liking what he sees.
"His stuff works," said Maye of his new OC. "Kind of proof's in the pudding. He's coached a lot of different guys. He coached the best to ever do it. It's pretty cool getting to watch old things, Tom, and see how he does it. And, you know, a bunch of different guys played at a high level in the offense, not just Tom. So it's been cool to watch and learn the ways and learn the ins and outs of it."
The last time McDaniels was in this spot in New England, the Pats had the sixth-highest scoring offense and did that with Mac Jones playing quarterback. From a skills standpoint, there is no comparison between Mac and Maye. None. Zero. Zip.
However, the year prior, with a quarterback who struggled to throw the ball in Cam Newton, McDaniels crafted an offense that probably had more success than it should have, considering that its number one tight end was Ryan Izzo and the top outside receiver was Damiere Byrd (I remember when people in the organization insisted he could play. A classic 'don't spit on me and tell me it's raining' situation if there ever was one.) McDaniels is already picking Maye's brain to help create the 2025 version of this scheme.
"Coach has been great with asking about stuff I like, stuff I liked from last year that we ran, stuff that I like that they do that I've seen on film," he said. "I think it'll be good for us because we'll be able to do a lot. I think it will be challenging to see what will be our stuff. Coach is great about finding matchups and exploiting defenses."
As for head coach Mike Vrabel, Maye has noticed the same changes in the building that others have expressed to us during these early portions of OTAs. Despite music playing in the hallways, taking care of business is the priority.
"I think it's coming in here, having your head on a swivel, and getting to work. I think that's kind of the vibe I caught," he said, "...we're all here for four hours. So I think it's kind of really figuring out what the new coaches - who are learning, who are spending time outside of here, learning - and who wants to help us win when the season comes.
"I think that's what they want; They want to get the right guys in here that want to win and know the answers when you're cold-called and have energy in the hallways. I think you differentiate between the guys who know when to have fun and when to put their heads down..."
Finally, despite a media-driven narrative that Maye and Joe Milton weren't in the best place with each other, the remaining QB from the class of 2024 wished his counterpart nothing but the best in Dallas and said who knows, maybe we'll face off somewhere down the line.