There was quite a bit of analysis that preceded the first start of Drake Maye's career, and much of it came from differing viewpoints. One side suggested Maye's athleticism and superior skill set gave the team a better chance to succeed while another felt his lack of experience and protection would lead to trouble.
After one game both sides likely came away equally as adamant in their positions.
Maye showcased glimpses of what the Patriots saw in making him the third overall pick. He calmly stood in the pocket and fired downfield passes that have been lacking all season. He used his legs effectively to get himself out of trouble and move the chains. And he took some hits and showed toughness throughout the game despite trying to rally from a big early deficit. All that likely drew a few "I told you sos" from the Play Maye brigade.
There were also more than a few hiccups, including a dreadfully wild overthrow that led to his first interception when he airmailed DeMario Douglas. He also appeared scattered in the pocket at times and occasionally drifted into unnecessary hits and punishment. He turned the ball over three times in all, two on picks and one when he was stripped sacked on the second play of the second half. Those miscues probably drew the same reaction from those in the "Don't Break Drake" camp.
The truth is both sides are likely correct at this extremely early stage of the Maye era. Maye indeed offered excitement and promise for the future, and he also showed he still has a long way to go if he's to fulfill much of that promise.
Maye looked every bit of the highly gifted yet raw talent that he is. His 40-yard touchdown bomb to Kayshon Boutte was a thing of beauty, as was his pinpoint crosser to DeMario Douglas down the stretch for his third touchdown. He seemed to be decisive when his early reads materialized, and when they didn't he showcased his athleticism with five elusive scrambles that resulted in 38 yards, three of which picked up first downs.
He also showed his inexperience, particularly when he wasn't able to find a target early. He was erratic with his accuracy, throwing behind a handful of moving targets over the middle of the field. Maye also took some hits, eight of them, many of which left him wincing in pain. He showed some mettle throughout the day, but it's not ideal to take the amount of punishment both he and Jacoby Brissett have endured thus far.
"We knew he could make plays with his legs," Jerod Mayo said the following day. "We knew he had a good arm and can really push the ball down the field. I would say the thing that was a pleasant surprise, he did take some shots [against the Texans]. I think there were one or two where he got up a little bit slow, but just his overall toughness, I think, was on display [Sunday]."
So, the key for Maye and the Patriots now will be how he and the team respond. Getting a promising player experience is only beneficial if he learns from it. The focus of Maye's performance has largely been about the positive plays and excitement he brought. Considering it was his first real game action I'd put myself in that category as well. Much more to be excited about than worried about.
But the bar will rise slightly each week, and three turnovers by your quarterback won't win many games. Similar performances won't be analyzed as fondly a month from now.
So, will Maye continue to flash the skills the Patriots and the fanbase are enamored with while cutting back on the sloppiness and turnovers? That will be the focus for the remainder of the season.
Center stage
Veteran David Andrews was lost for the season with a torn rotator cuff, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the offensive line at center. Interestingly, Jerod Mayo offered a potential stopgap option when asked about the status of Cole Strange last week.
Strange is currently on PUP while rehabbing from a torn patellar tendon suffered last December and isn't expected to be ready to begin practicing for at least another few weeks. But Mayo was asked if Strange could be a potential fit at center and the coach was on board.
"One hundred percent," Mayo said. "I mean, any of those interior spots. He can play guard, he can play center and we have to get the best person out there. I think he has the ability, the physical tools to be able to do it."
Andrews mentioned on his "Quick Snap" podcast that he plans to work with Strange after his surgery as the 2022 first-round pick works on transitioning from guard to center.
Coaching hot seats
One coach (Robert Saleh) has already lost his job and at least three others couldn't be feeling too secure in the aftermath of Week 6. Two of those three, Dallas' Mike McCarthy and Jacksonville's Doug Pederson, are coming off blowout losses while Philly's Nick Sirianni lost his cool in the Eagles 20-16 win over Cleveland.
The Cowboys defense is a mess, giving up 47 points to the Lions while trying to patch things together without a host of front-line players including Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. In Dallas' last four home games the Cowboys trailed by at least 25 points at one in all of them, including last year's playoff loss to the Packers. McCarthy is in the final year of his contract and speculation has been rampant that he's coaching for his job.
The Jaguars sit at 1-5 after owner Shad Khan called them the most talented roster in team history during the preseason. Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence aren't on the same page and the Jags looked lethargic and uninspired in London against the Bears. Jacksonville stayed in London during the week in preparation of the Patriots visit on Sunday, but Pederson looks like he's nearing the end.
The Eagles situation is different as Sirianni appears to be unraveling under the heavy scrutiny that comes from Philadelphia fans. Sirianni was seen yelling back at fans who were calling for his firing in the waning moments of Philly's win over the Browns, and then the coach brought his children with him for the postgame press conference, which is never a good sign.
Sirianni chose to focus on the energy the Eagles fans can provide when the crowd is behind the team, but clearly he's flustered by the calls for his job.
Bill Belichick's name has been brought up in all three locales and it will be interesting to see if any of the organizations chooses to make the move midseason and perhaps hand the reins to the future Hall of Famer.
Power 5
- Kansas City (5-0) – The Chiefs enjoyed the bye week preparing for a trip to San Francisco.
- Baltimore (4-2) – Derrick Henry is putting the Ravens offense on another level.
- Detroit (4-2) – You think the Lions remembered last year's loss in Dallas?
- Minnesota (5-0) – Probably unfair to drop the Vikings during their bye week but …
- Buffalo (4-2) – Bills showed grit beating the Jets in third straight road game.
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
