When the Patriots selected quarterback Drake Maye as the third overall pick in last April's draft, the consensus was that the 21-year-old had significant upside but needed time to develop.
Maye quickly drew comparisons to Bills QB Josh Allen and Packers signal-caller Jordan Love. On the one hand, if Maye hits his ceiling and is viewed in the same tier as Allen and Love, the Patriots hit a home run. However, he's compared to those two quarterbacks because Maye was considered a raw talent who might need to sit behind a veteran starter for a while.
With many pundits urging the Patriots to slow-play their rookie quarterback's development, New England is at a crossroads: either go the Allen route or the Packer Way. Buffalo started Allen early in his rookie season, thinking he was better off learning on the fly. Despite having immense talent, Allen ranked 24th with a 49.8 total QBR in his rookie season.
After taking his lumps in year one, where he went 5-6 as the starter with a 10-12 touchdown to interception ratio, the light turned brighter for Allen in year two. His efficiency was roughly the same (49.4 QBR), but his completion rate rose six points, he threw 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions, and Buffalo made the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Then, the Bills added star WR Stefon Diggs between years two and three, and Allen became an elite quarterback.
For the Bills and their star QB1, playing through early-career woes didn't kill Allen's confidence, which is always the fear when playing young quarterbacks who aren't completely ready. If the Patriots rookie struggles, Maye could become broken beyond repair, especially behind an offensive line that projects to be among the league's worst in 2024.
Due to his fear of losing his confidence and developing bad habits, the other school of thought would be for the Patriots to sit Maye, as Eliot Wolf's former team notoriously does. The most challenging aspect of navigating the early days for a young quarterback is that most teams don't have the luxury of having Favre or Rodgers pass the baton to a first-round pick. You could even say the same about Alex Smith holding things down in Kansas City until Patrick Mahomes was ready.
For first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and personnel chief Eliot Wolf, when to play Maye is an early test for their program. On Thursday night, New England got a taste of the full Drake Maye experience. Maye's arm talent and athleticism checked the eye-test box, while his processing and command of the offense were further along than some expected. Plus, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt showed some schematic elements he'd incorporate to build the offense around Maye's strengths.
Maye was in the shotgun for 10 of his 11 drop-backs, six in an empty formation, with his lone under-center pass being a bootleg play. Van Pelt called routes breaking into the middle of the field or deep shots to isolated outside receivers. Maye ran run-pass options and scored a four-yard touchdown on a zone-read keeper. Gillette Stadium felt like Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Maye is quickly becoming the Patriots best option at quarterback. In particular, the third-overall pick brings a dynamic playmaking ability that the offense desperately needs while New England continues to search for game-breaking receivers. In many ways, the Patriots situation is much more similar to Buffalo's than Kansas City's or Green Bay's – they're a rebuilding team with a toolsy rookie who needs reps to refine his game.
During his Friday morning Zoom conference with reporters, Coach Mayo indicated that the starting quarterback competition is still open for Maye to beat out veteran Jacoby Brissett.
"He definitely took a step forward," Mayo said of Maye. "The competition isn't over. They're still going to go out there, and they have to show not only themselves and their coaches but also their teammates. So, it's definitely still a competition."
With the organization mostly sticking by Brissett as their starter, that was Mayo's most open-minded answer about Maye winning the starting job out of camp. On the first day of training camp, Mayo said, "I don't think there's any doubt that Jacoby is the starting quarterback at this point" and that Maye would need to "light it up" to overtake Brissett.
It's debatable whether Maye has lit it up enough to be the Week 1 starter. However, despite all the draft discussions and camp narratives to the contrary, we've been consistent in this space that Maye is not as far away as some say. If he continues to build on Thursday night, keeping the talented rookie off the field will become increasingly difficult.
Here is a detailed breakdown of Brissett's performance and quick-hit film notes from the Patriots loss to the Eagles After Further Review:
Breaking Down QB Jacoby Brissett's Performance vs. the Eagles
The Patriots signed Brissett as their veteran bridge quarterback, hoping he'd be serviceable enough so that their hand wasn't forced to play Maye prematurely.
The organization needs to play the long game in this rebuild, but Brissett has tailed off in the last week since the preseason began. Although it's a small sample size, Brissett has completed just 30% of his passes (3-of-10) in two preseason games. He has produced -1.48 expected points added per drop-back with a -17.9 completion rate over expectation and an ill-advised interception in the end zone that Mayo called a "terrible play."
Brissett has only produced two successful plays in his 10 preseason drop-backs with the Patriots starters. After a solid start to padded practices, camp sessions have unfortunately not looked much better for Brissett. He struggled with his accuracy in Tuesday's joint practice, missing an open touchdown to TE Austin Hooper and a deep in-breaker to Tyquan Thornton. Then, he concluded his week with more struggles in Thursday night's game.
On the first third down of the game, the Pats ran a spot concept against man coverage. There's confusion in the Eagles secondary sorting through their man coverage assignments, and the safety rotating down picks up Hooper late on the corner route. There's enough separation for a completion to Hooper, but after a pump-and-climb in the pocket, Brissett's throw is off-target.
After the Patriots successfully moved the ball into the low red zone, Brissett forced a pass to a covered Hooper that Eagles DB Avonte Maddox intercepted. Above, we explain why Brissett progressed to Hooper on the play and why Tyquan Thornton wasn't as clear-cut an option as it appears. However, the better throw might've been to Pop Douglas, who came open on a juke route or settling for three points by throwing the ball away. Either way, Brissett knows he can't turn it over there.
Those are two plays that the Patriots need to have from Brissett to justify playing him over Maye: a layup on third down and avoiding costly turnovers, especially in the red zone. Nobody expects Brissett to be a game-changer, but a game manager checks those two boxes.
Early in the summer, Brissett was holding up his end of the bargain as a steady presence, both at practice and as a veteran leader. The Pats need him to get back to being that guy on the field.
Quick-Hit Film Notes From Patriots-Eagles After Further Review
- The Patriots defense used more of their 5-1 base fronts in this one:
- EDGE: Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai
- Interior DL: DE Keion White/Deatrich Wise, NT Jeremiah Pharms, DE Daniel Ekuale
- Off-Ball Linebacker: Raekwon McMillan
New England also used veteran nose tackle Mike Purcell over the center, allowing Pharms to play from the four-technique in the B-Gap further away from the ball. Oshane Ximines got some run in their four-man fronts when they wanted a wide-nine rusher off the edge.
- It'll be interesting to see if the coaches go with Joshua Uche (sack, QB hit, two hurries) or Oshane Ximines (sack, hurry) as their designated pass-rusher without Matthew Judon. Ximines offers more size/length (6-4, 255) with slightly less bend/burst than Uche. Theoretically, both could play in their pass-rush front. But, eventually, one will probably out-snap the other.
- The Patriots defense blitzed much less in this one. After blitzing on 44.4% of Carolina drop-backs in the preseason opener, DC DeMarcus Covington only dialed up a blitz on 31% of Philly's passing plays. Four of their five sacks also came on standard four-man rushes.
- Two things can be true about LT Vederian Lowe: 1. He's being put in a tough spot as the starting left tackle, and 2. The tape is pedestrian but not awful. Until the third-quarter sack, Lowe had a clean sheet, with the only borderline pressure coming when Jacoby Brissett slipped at the top of his drop. He uses his length well to keep defenders at his fingertips, picks up post-snap movement, and maxes out his limited athleticism. I can't stress enough that it's not on Lowe that he's being asked to start at the most important position on the line.
- RT Chuks Okorafor has played with noticeable physicality through two preseason games. He plays a bit high, and his linear build makes him susceptible to power. But he didn't allow a single pressure, and you'll take his overall effort. I'm worried about him handling power against starting-caliber edge rushers, though.
- Rookie OT Caedan Wallace's development is progressing. He is now less of an early hip-opener in his pass sets and has good functional power to anchor and block in the running game. However, Wallace's hand technique needs improvement. His hand carriage is still too wide, and he strikes with a looping motion rather than stiff punches. That makes it harder for him to remain connected to pass-rushers, who get into his body and establish first contact. Wallace will push for playing time once he cleans up his hand technique.
- WRs Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker have potential. Baker needs to clean up the drops and can't get pushed out of bounds like that on go routes. Polk is adapting to the nuances of running an NFL route tree compared to the wide-open UW offense. His route detail was better on this tape to set up DBs for breaks with a good seam and in-cut that could've produced targets. However, Polk needs to run the vertical route in the dagger concept faster from the slot to open the in cut on Maye's sack.
- DE Keion White was a disruptive interior rusher, which is where he's at his best. White logged a sack and three hurries, showing a noticeable first step out of a three-point stance. The coaches should let White have free rein on passing downs, like they would've with Barmore, to go with his best rush, usually a speed-rip or straight power. Let the others on the D-Line worry about keeping the quarterback in the pocket. Someone has to apply the pressure.
- CB Christian Gonzalez had seven coverage snaps in this one, allowing one catch into tight man coverage on a slant. Gonzalez also got caught with his eyes in the backfield in cover-three, where WR John Ross had a step on him, but the ball was uncatchable. Gonzalez's man coverage reps have looked good in the two preseason games. I'm still not worried.
- LB Raekwon McMillan was a downhill force out there in the run game: blowing up pullers, shedding tight ends in the run game as an edge-setter, and leading the way with a team-high three run stuffs. McMillan also projects as a core special-teamer. He's a throwback linebacker in the old-school Belichick mold, but he plays angry. It's always good to have linebackers like that.
- DT Jeremiah Pharms has improved as a pass-rusher, logging another QB hit working off a pick from White. But he'll need to improve his anchor against double-teams to carve out a full-time role in the D-Line rotation.
- The outside zone run schemes are still a work in progress. Although there could be explanations, I didn't love RB Rhamondre Stevenson's decisions on a few of his reps. Rhamondre seemed to miss a cutback opportunity (Q1, 3:00) and was a tad indecisive on the first play from scrimmage. Don't sound any alarm bells yet. The preseason is the time for Stevenson to get a feel for where the holes will develop in this scheme.
- Starting guards Mike Onwenu and Sidy Sow showed much better on this film than they did last week and in the joint practice. Sow got pressed back into the backfield on a third-and-1 play that Rhamondre rescued, but overall was effective in pass protection and had an excellent backside second-level climb on Kevin Harris's 14-yard run. They'll take that from Sow.
- This tape wasn't quite as clean for fourth-rounder Layden Robinson as he was late to pick up a stunt that led to pressure on Milton. However, Robinson's play strength and anchoring ability allow him to hold his own. Playing under control with better eyes in pass pro is his final hurdle.
- The backup center position is murky when you get past David Andrews, but C/G Nick Leverett is a viable option. You don't want to be down to your third center anyway. Leverett, who hasn't played much center in his NFL career, would do a fine job with more practice reps snapping the football. Still, Andrews is obviously a key piece on the line.
- TE Austin Hooper will be a useful TE2. He was open on the first third down of the game, does his job in the run game, and I'm putting Brissett's INT on the QB (bad decision). Hooper also showed well in Tuesday's joint practice. This offense knows how to get the tight end open.
- RB JaMycal Hasty had a nice red-zone carry, showing good patience and a burrowing style to squeak through a small crease. The screen was a well-timed play call, but you also saw his comfort level in the passing game. Hasty might need to be added to my next roster projection, along with Harris, who made the right decision on all three of his attempts.
- Stock up for Alex Austin (blew up screen, zero targets on 19 coverage snaps) and DB Isaiah Bolden. Bolden's closing speed from a low zone to chase down Pickett jumped off the tape.
- Although he sometimes gets lost in zone coverage, I'll admit that S/ST Brenden Schooler is a better man coverage defender than expected. This regime has vowed to keep fewer players who only contribute on special teams. Schooler could play a specialized role at safety if they needed him in a pinch.
- The Patriots kickoff return unit handled the Eagles coverage unit well. They picked up a stunt on a return that Jalen Reagor nearly broke for a big gain, and David Wallis took advantage of an open cutback lane to burst into daylight on his 53-yard return.
- QB pressures allowed: Mafi (sack, hurry), Lowe (sack), Anderson (sack), Harris (hurry), Jennings (hurry). QB pressures: Uche (sack, hit, two hurries), White (sack, two hurries), Ximines (sack, hurry), Wise (sack), Pharms (QB hit), Watts (two hurries), Roberts (hurry), Bledsoe (hurry), Hill (hurry), Bronson (hurry), Jennings (hurry).
- Coverage: Dial (8 rec, 106 yards), Hearn (2 rec, 28 yards), Elliss (2 rec, 24 yards), McMillan (3 rec, 18 yards), Bledsoe (2 rec, 12 yards), Tavai (2 rec, 11 yards), Giles-Harris (2 rec, 10 yards), Gonzalez (1 rec, 9 yards), Victor (1 rec, 7 yards), Pettus (2 rec, 6 yards), Hawkins (1 rec, 6 yards), Wilson (1 rec, 5 yards).
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
