Don't like to take too much out of Thursday night games, so I don't have any grand takeaways. But before I get into the usual unit ratings and three up/down, one thing stood out to me ...
With every passing week, I keep asking myself, "Why does Drake Maye look more and more, not only comfortable, but confident?" I mean, he's only 11 games into playing in Josh McDaniels' system. Before the season, I figured, the worst-case scenario would be that Maye would start to be more comfortable in a new system around the midway point in the season. He's blown way past that. He's not just comfortable, he's making the system work for him.
In various conversations with quarterbacks in this scheme over the teams, be it Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Mac Jones, etc., they loved two things about it: the tools available to the quarterback at the line of scrimmage, and how those tools give you the ability to solve problems before the snap, and the scheme solves problems after the snap. Hoyer has said many times over the years that he's been in many schemes over the years — including with Kyle Shanahan — but Hoyer prefers this one for those reasons.
Everyone knows about the Mike identification in this system. The QB identifies the "middle linebacker." I'm no expert in the system, but my understanding is that if it's a pass, the line is responsible for the four down linemen, plus the Mike. The run game is centered on the Mike.
But the quarterback has a ton of tools in this system. I'm not going to pretend I know them all or all the terms, but you can see Maye using them during the game at a few key spots that stood out:
3-7-NE 37 (14:20) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short middle to S.Diggs
So this play didn't end up working, as Stefon Diggs dropped a pass that was close to the line to gain. But the blitz was picked up, and the ball was delivered to the right place.
Before the snap, Maye called out, "Mike and Will ... Hey, Mike and Will." I'm going to assume that called for the line and the back to pick up the Mike and Will linebacker if they came. They did in a six-man pressure that the Patriots easily picked up.
1-10-NE 28 (3:06) D.Johnson right tackle to NE 38 for 10 yards (I.Oliver; J.Sherwood). PENALTY on NE-J.Westover, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NE 28 - No Play
So this holding call was BS. It had nothing to do with the play as it was behind the runner. But Maye made a late change for this play to hit
"Here we go ... 44, 44, 44."
With about 10 seconds left on the playclock, Maye saw the safety come down into the box. He didn't think he was protected on that side, so he changed the strength of the formation by motioning Mack Hollins to the other side.
That simple motion backed 27 out of the box and into coverage on Hollins. 56 Quincy Williams then shifted to outside linebacker, leaving the gap where D'Onta Johnson ran through for what should have been a successful run.
3-10-NE 28 (2:04) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to D.Douglas to NYJ 46 for 26 yards (T.Adams; J.Brownlee).
This was probably the best example. The Jets had a ton of people moving around the line of scrimmage as Maye surveyed the field. He waited a bit, and then barked out orders.
"44 ... and diamond, diamond ... 11, 11."
Jets end up sending six again, and the Patriots have it protected. 44 was Jamien Sherwood, the Mike. I'm not sure what diamond is, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the back again helping Garrett Bradbury to sort out the Mike and Will. 11 referred to Johnson, the left OLB, which Hunter Henry stays in to block.
It all picked up, and Maye calmly hits Douglas for a big third down.
3-3-NE 22 (1:50) B.Brown reported in as eligible. T.Henderson right tackle to NE 27 for 5 yards (T.Baron; F.Mauigoa).
Final first down of the game. Maye surveys the Jets, points out 51 as the Mike, points out 56 and says, "You've got 56," to Henry while Maye taps his right rear thigh.
The result? The Patriots run right as Morgan Moses picks off Sherwood, Henry blocks 56 Williams, and TreVeyon Henderson ends the game.
___________________
You want to know why Maye's playing confidently and aggressively? Thanks to the scheme and the tools made available to him, Maye knows his problems and he's solving them in real time. He's not snapping the ball and then worried where the problems are going to be like half the quarterbacks do in this league. Maye knows, 95% of the time, there's no problem even before the ball is snapped. That's why he's playing so fast.
I figured it would happen at some point. Just not this fast. Maye looks like a 10-year veteran in this scheme.
Here are the positional ratings against the Jets:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (4.5 out of 5)
This was more like it. Maye's highest-rated game since the Saints. He was in total command with elite plays to Mack Hollins on 2nd and 11, and two throws to Stefon Diggs (21 and 18 yards). ... Cut back dramatically on the pressure he was responsible for to just two, and one he broke even because he ended up finding Diggs near the sideline. Maye didn't need to leave the pocket on that play. The pocket was fine and Kyle Williams was wide open. ... Maye also underthrew Williams for his lone turnover-worthy play. ... Gave Maye a plus for the dime Hollins had knocked away.
Running backs (3 out of 5)
TreVeyon Henderson broke a few tackles, had the three touchdowns (second one he showed nice patience), batted about .500 in pass protection and his 3-yard run to finish off the game was nice. But I still don't see anything that indicates he's more than what he's shown going back to college: the occasional home run hitter if you provide the blocking, other than that, he's going to get what was blocked due to a lack of vision and much ability to change directions. He's a one-cut, zone blocking back without the required vision right now, but that could improve in time. ... Breaking news: Khyiris Tonga missed a block. Sad.
Receivers (3 out of 5)
Mack Hollins was terrific and drew two holding penalties, while Diggs (2), Henry and Douglas chipped in explosive plays. ... A tough blocking day for Henry (sack, hurry, 1.5 stuffed runs) but he was asked to play a lot and do everything. Should have promoted CJ Dippre from the practice squad, which they did today. That's another signing to the roster, like Bradyn Swinson, that makes little sense. Dippre had all three elevations left, and Swinson makes six OLBs on the active roster. I was told in both instances, teams tried to poach them from the practice squad. That makes sense, but it leaves them short in other places. Another example of them not losing sight of the future. However, both players were very underwhelming in the summer. But that was three months ago. ... Demario Douglas had a great route on fourth down, but also had a wrong route later in the game that led to Maye's off-platform toss to Diggs in the middle of the field. ... Why Williams cut short that sideline route is beyond me. There was no safety anywhere close. It's not that difficult.
Offensive line (3.5 out of 5)
It was pretty good, outside of Will Campbell (you wouldn't hear that on the broadcast). The good news is Campbell was fantastic in the second half. The first half was rough. ... Thanks, Jared Wilson, for making me look good by playing your best game as a pro - right after my story. ... Morgan Moses gave up more pressure than normal, but he had three terrific run blocks to offset it. ... Mike Onwenu has been much more consistent of late.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (2.5 out of 5)
I don't think the Patriots got any pressure in the first half of this game, it was all after halftime. They're lucky Justin Fields and AD Mitchell stink (five unforced errors). ... There were bigger problems in the run game, mostly on the edge, than we've seen this season. K'Lavon Chaisson (4 edges), Christian Barmore (gap/edge), Khyiris Tonga (gap) and Cory Durden (gap) all had some issues. ... Elijah Ponder has been the highest-rated edge player the past two games, although his sack was mostly a coverage sack (especially Christian Gonzalez). Both Chaisson and Landry look like they need a rest. Landry split the Fields rushing TD with Jaylinn Hawkins, who was late diagnosing the play.
Linebackers (3 out of 5)
Not much stood out from this group other than that they tackled well. ... Jack Gibbens showed up again with a big screen blowup.
Secondary (2 out of 5)
Craig Woodson gave up another TD, Hawkins should have been better on the Fields TD and allowed an 18-yard pass. ... Gonzalez should have given up two big plays, but it's the Jets. ... Carlton Davis allowed an easy third down conversion. ... Dell Pettus continues to make the most of his opportunities.
THREE UP
QB Drake Maye: Man, he looks freaking comfortable.
LG Jared Wilson: Only one minus run block.
WR Mack Hollins: Did it all in this game with run blocks, drawn penalties and big leaping catches.
THREE DOWN
WR Kyle Williams: 0 for 3 on targets, and one poor route was really bad and basic.
FB Jack Westover: He got jobbed on the holding penalty, but it was still called. Missed a block on a 3-yard run as well.
LT Will Campbell (first half): I don't care what PFF or Prime Video or NGS says ... he allowed one hit, two hurries (one was on the holding penalty), 2.5 stuffed runs, and had another poor second-level block. In the second half, Campbell was great.
