Maye-day Every Day

[BaseballJones]

It's really, really encouraging to see him play like this in his first few outings. It's a lot easier to digest the complete shitshow that is this team right now when he's out there growing and improving in real time. He's played two games and is already one of the team's best players (a low bar, admittedly). Just keep gaining consistency, stay out of the blue tent, and things could get more interesting in '25.

The number one objective this year was to see if Drake Maye can possibly be the Guy moving forward. Still too early to tell but right now the answer is YES. Build the team around a young (dude is 22) stud QB and they’ll be able to figure out the rest.

When was the last time a team had a legit good young QB and wasn’t able to turn the franchise into at least a solid winner? Maybe the Chargers with Herbert but even then they got to 10-7 and made the playoffs in 2022.

Solve the QB issue first and then you can build the rest around him.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

The number one objective this year was to see if Drake Maye can possibly be the Guy moving forward. Still too early to tell but right now the answer is YES. Build the team around a young (dude is 22) stud QB and they’ll be able to figure out the rest.

When was the last time a team had a legit good young QB and wasn’t able to turn the franchise into at least a solid winner? Maybe the Chargers with Herbert but even then they got to 10-7 and made the playoffs in 2022.

Solve the QB issue first and then you can build the rest around him.

Yeah, still a long way to go as you say but if Maye is a stud everything becomes a lot easier.

The NFL is designed so that if you draft a star QB you basically get to keep him as long as you want. And if you have a star QB then top tier GM/coach candidates will be attracted to the situation, thinking they can be the ones to build around him. You may not get those hires right the first time, or even the second time, but you get a bunch of bites at the apple.

 

[Van Everyman]

When was the last time a team had a legit good young QB and wasn’t able to turn the franchise into at least a solid winner? Maybe the Chargers with Herbert but even then they got to 10-7 and made the playoffs in 2022.

And now they have Harbaugh, who has them moving in the right direction.

Yeah, still a long way to go as you say but if Maye is a stud everything becomes a lot easier.

Yeah but it was always going to be a long way to go 7 weeks into the first season.

Regardless, this season is on track for the most part, the poor record and sloppy play notwithstanding.

 

[DJnVa]

Yeah, still a long way to go as you say but if Maye is a stud everything becomes a lot easier.

The NFL is designed so that if you draft a star QB you basically get to keep him as long as you want. And if you have a star QB then top tier GM/coach candidates will be attracted to the situation,

Free agents as well.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Yeah, still a long way to go as you say but if Maye is a stud everything becomes a lot easier.

The NFL is designed so that if you draft a star QB you basically get to keep him as long as you want. And if you have a star QB then top tier GM/coach candidates will be attracted to the situation, thinking they can be the ones to build around him. You may not get those hires right the first time, or even the second time, but you get a bunch of bites at the apple.

Unfortunately, next offseason is likely to be the most impactful for this team in the next decade, and I doubt Kraft is switching drivers before then.

 

[NextBigThing8184]

Free agents as well.

Plenty of free agents sign in places without elite QB or proven HC.

Cousins was the biggest deal last season but after him the next 3 biggest contracts signed in Las Vegas, Carolina and Tennessee. Last I checked none of those 3 teams had elite coaches or QB.

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

In two games

Maye has one fewer TD pass than:

Patrick Mahomes
Jalen Hurts
Justin Herbert
Jayden Daniels
Daniel Jones
Geno Smith

Not combined. That would be some sort of record.

Edit - just wanted to add in an old Sports Center reference.

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

I'll wait for Bedard to tell me how he actually played, but here's his updated numbers:

FWIW on the radio Bedard gave him a B in this game (after a C- for the last game). It sounded to me like the he was putting a lot of it on the difference in turnovers.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

FWIW on the radio Bedard gave him a B in this game (after a C- for the last game). It sounded to me like the he was putting a lot of it on the difference in turnovers.

I was positive about his performance but those two dropped picks (and an unlikely one last week) are doing a lot of work in that comparison.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

I was positive about his performance but those two dropped picks (and an unlikely one last week) are doing a lot of work in that comparison.

On the second one, I couldn’t tell live if he expected Hooper to sit his route down rather than break it to the flag. To me, the late ball to Osborn on the drag was the worst decision he made by far.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

On the second one, I couldn’t tell live if he expected Hooper to sit his route down rather than break it to the flag. To me, the late ball to Osborn on the drag was the worst decision he made by far.

Yup, the Hooper one definitely looked like some kind of mixup. No idea whose fault if so.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Yup, the Hooper one definitely looked like some kind of mixup. No idea whose fault if so.

Watching the play, sure looked like Hooper should have sat. He had a bubble, and instead kept running towards a defender/the sideline.

The other one was terrible, but it happens.

 

[DJnVa]

Watching the play, sure looked like Hooper should have sat. He had a bubble, and instead kept running towards a defender/the sideline.

The other one was terrible, but it happens.

Watch Purdy today. It happens A LOT.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I was positive about his performance but those two dropped picks (and an unlikely one last week) are doing a lot of work in that comparison.

I thought he was better today (though a lot of that may be the defenses), I thought his 1st pick and missing pressure right in his face for a sack/fumble were both worse plays than either of the potential pick this week.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Very different impression than what I saw. I saw a guy who is ready now, carrying a team of terrible players on his back. I suggest folks listen to Zolak, who I understand is tough to listen to, but he understands QB and receiver play and he was destroying the receivers for awful routes repeatedly. They're just not good, and I'm going to just continue to sit and wait and wish upon a star they make it a priority in this off-season. I won't even get into the line play.

If anyone needs more evidence how important weapons are, go watch Brock Purdy and Mahomes dueling it out without Pacheco, Rice, Aiyuk, CMC, etc. Drake Maye looked better today than either of them do.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

Very different impression than what I saw. I saw a guy who is ready now, carrying a team of terrible players on his back. I suggest folks listen to Zolak, who I understand is tough to listen to, but he understands QB and receiver play and he was destroying the receivers for awful routes repeatedly. They're just not good, and I'm going to just continue to sit and wait and wish upon a star they make it a priority in this off-season. I won't even get into the line play.

If anyone needs more evidence how important weapons are, go watch Brock Purdy and Mahomes dueling it out without Pacheco, Rice, Aiyuk, CMC, etc. Drake Maye looked better today than either of them do.

Who are you responding to? I haven’t seen much criticism

 

[Cellar-Door]

Who are you responding to? I haven’t seen much criticism

yeah outside Bedard most people think Maye is playing well despite the circumstances....

I will say nobody should listen to Zolak, he has given no indication he knows what he's talking about ever, he just talks out his ass like any other radio guy. The kind of people who actually break down tape like Maye mostly though.

 

[NickEsasky]

Very different impression than what I saw. I saw a guy who is ready now, carrying a team of terrible players on his back. I suggest folks listen to Zolak, who I understand is tough to listen to, but he understands QB and receiver play and he was destroying the receivers for awful routes repeatedly. They're just not good, and I'm going to just continue to sit and wait and wish upon a star they make it a priority in this off-season. I won't even get into the line play.

If anyone needs more evidence how important weapons are, go watch Brock Purdy and Mahomes dueling it out without Pacheco, Rice, Aiyuk, CMC, etc. Drake Maye looked better today than either of them do.

they made it a priority last off season and one guy can’t get on the field and the other probably shouldn’t be on the field right now. I have no confidence in their ability to identify a quality receiver. Is there a Kent St QB coming out they can convert this off-season?

 

[Cellar-Door]

they made it a priority last off season and one guy can’t get on the field and the other probably shouldn’t be on the field right now. I have no confidence in their ability to identify a quality receiver. Is there a Kent St QB coming out they can convert this off-season?

I mean... is one of those Baker? He's a 4th rounder, you don't expect him on the field now. Polk has been disappointing, but it's early and the 2nd round even the top isn't where you usually get day 1 studs. Where they really tried was FA and trades and didn't get either Aiyuk or Ridley. This offseason I assume they'll go hard at Higgins, and whomever doesn't get tagged out of Cooper/Diggs/Godwin/Johnson.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

I think the way to get an elite receiver is via trade. A.J. Brown went for #18 and #101 after 3 seasons, from a team clearly going nowhere with a QB who had maxed out. Puka seems like a pipe dream but the Rams are in purgatory and we’ll have good picks, and if not him I think the real way to get a true WR1 is to swing big in a deal like that to pair with a QB who looks so promising

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

View: https://twitter.com/nfloncbs/status/1848133107616026756?s=46


Only two QBs since the merger have 500+ Pass Yards and 5+ Pass TD through 2 career starts

Dan Marino
Drake Maye

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Ehhhhhh, Maye's been good but Marino did that in 1983 under a far different offensive context.

 

[lexrageorge]

Ehhhhhh, Maye's been good but Marino did that in 1983 under a far different offensive context.

Ehhhhh, I hate Dan Marino.

Anyway, Maye was fine for his 2nd career NFL start. I don't deduct points from his performance solely because the first drive was scripted. The same could have been said about Brissett and Mac Jones, and they were awful. Maye put some throws right on target under difficult conditions.

Biggest issues that impacted his performance: Robinson went out early, Sow was an empty slot in the line, and they were totally unable to run the ball (mostly thanks to the OL). Hard to keep doing the play fakes when the defense knows it's a fake (and even if it isn't, there's like no consequence to guessing wrong given how bad the run blocking is).

And, yeah, this team has a bottom of the league receiver corps. None of them, aside possibly from Douglas, will be playing for the next Patriots playoff team (Henry will likely be pushing 40 by then).

 

[Deathofthebambino]

I think the way to get an elite receiver is via trade. A.J. Brown went for #18 and #101 after 3 seasons, from a team clearly going nowhere with a QB who had maxed out. Puka seems like a pipe dream but the Rams are in purgatory and we’ll have good picks, and if not him I think the real way to get a true WR1 is to swing big in a deal like that to pair with a QB who looks so promising

Exactly. AJ Brown, Tyreek Hill, Diggs twice, Amari twice, Adams, DJ Moore.....all traded in recent years. The thought that receivers can only be obtained through the draft or FA is a philosophy that needs to be put in the trash, lit on fire and then dumped off a cargo ship in the middle of the Atlantic. And most of those teams didn't stop there either. Davonta Smith, Rome Odunze, Waddle, Dell, Nico Collins, etc were all high draft picks as well.

We can worry about a million things to make life better for a young QB, but weapons change everything. It's not just a number 1 WR anymore. Most good offenses have multiple great receivers, especially the teams with young QBs.

 

[skidmark21]

Ehhhhh, I hate Dan Marino.

Finkle?

 

[rodderick]

I've been very impressed overall with his decision making and processing, especially under pressure. For a guy who was almost universally characterized as raw coming out, I think he has made few boneheaded throws, taken the gimmes often versus the blitz and overall displayed a relatively advanced feel for manipulating the defense with his eyes and shoulders over the middle of the field. The accuracy issues are there, no question, but they don't seem to be unworkable as, say, Anthony Richardson's apparently are. I couldn't be more encouraged by his play given the circumstances.

 

[BaseballJones]

Ehhhhhh, Maye's been good but Marino did that in 1983 under a far different offensive context.

Yeah, but nobody else since Marino has done it, and that includes a lot of guys who turned out to be pretty good.

 

[johnmd20]

Ehhhhhh, Maye's been good but Marino did that in 1983 under a far different offensive context.

Come on, the context isn't that relevant. What is relevant is that it hasn't happened in 40 years. It might not mean everything but it means something.

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

Yeah... the fact that it hasn't happened at all in the past 10 years prior to yesterday is pretty amazing. We aren't trying to put him in Canton yet. .

 

[DJnVa]

EDIT: Covered

Anyway, I chose to liken this season to Dan Campbell's first season in Detroit. Started 0-10-1, finished 3-13-1 and there was a lot of ridicule for how he spoke at press conferences, etc. Shit takes time. The most important piece is the QB. It looks like we found him.

 

[Steve Dillard]

I was looking back to see if these good performances cleared the "he's going to be good" mark. Bryce Young's start, before he apparently hit the wall, did have a number of good games

Date	G#	Opp	Result	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	Rate	Att	Yds	Y/A	TD
2023-09-10	1	ATL	L 10-24	20	38	52.63	146	1	2	48.8	3	17	5.67	0
2023-09-18	2	NOR	L 17-20	22	33	66.67	153	1	0	87.1	2	34	17.00	0
2023-10-01	4	MIN	L 13-21	25	32	78.13	204	0	0	93.2	2	10	5.00	0
2023-10-08	5	DET	L 24-42	25	41	60.98	247	3	2	82.1	1	4	4.00	0
2023-10-15	6	MIA	L 21-42	23	38	60.53	217	1	0	85.1	0	0	0
2023-10-29	7	HOU	W 15-13	22	31	70.97	235	1	0	103.6	4	11	2.75	0

 

[tims4wins]

I was looking back to see if these good performances cleared the "he's going to be good" mark. Bryce Young's start, before he apparently hit the wall, did have a number of good games

Date	G#	Opp	Result	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	Rate	Att	Yds	Y/A	TD
2023-09-10	1	ATL	L 10-24	20	38	52.63	146	1	2	48.8	3	17	5.67	0
2023-09-18	2	NOR	L 17-20	22	33	66.67	153	1	0	87.1	2	34	17.00	0
2023-10-01	4	MIN	L 13-21	25	32	78.13	204	0	0	93.2	2	10	5.00	0
2023-10-08	5	DET	L 24-42	25	41	60.98	247	3	2	82.1	1	4	4.00	0
2023-10-15	6	MIA	L 21-42	23	38	60.53	217	1	0	85.1	0	0	0
2023-10-29	7	HOU	W 15-13	22	31	70.97	235	1	0	103.6	4	11	2.75	0

I mean... kind of.

 

[rodderick]

Yeah, I really don't believe these first two games indicate there's no way he could flame out. Way too early. I just think they make the "gotta sit him or else he'll throw up all over himself out there" crew demonstrably wrong. This is good experience for him to have and you can see multiple examples of him adjusting and correcting previous mistakes inside the same game. Can't convince me he'd learn as much from the sidelines.

 

[Justthetippett]

EDIT: Covered

Anyway, I chose to liken this season to Dan Campbell's first season in Detroit. Started 0-10-1, finished 3-13-1 and there was a lot of ridicule for how he spoke at press conferences, etc. Shit takes time. The most important piece is the QB. It looks like we found him.

I've been trying to talk myself into this and see parallels with Detroit. It's been a challenge. Campbell is a unique guy but he never really wavered in his approach. Plus he ended up with Johnson and Glenn, who are really good coordinators. I feel like Mayo is stuck between two versions of himself right now. Doesn't know whether he wants to be a hardass or a players' coach and can't stay consistent on either. I fear he's doing what all Belichick disciples do: struggling to figure out his own approach and leave the nest.

Early returns on Maye are awesome, so maybe he played that well by giving him a few weeks to settle. Or maybe he waited too long. In any case, taking the long view on this. They need to get through the season and do a thorough review of where the franchise is headed and who should be in charge.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

I remember Bledsoe's rookie year when they started out 1-11 and Drew started looking like a hostage victim in the post-game press conferences. Of course that team turned it around and won their last four games and gave everyone some hope for 1994. I do hope that losing every week doesn't start to fuck with Maye's head. Right now he's not the reason they are losing so maybe that makes it a bit easier, but sooner or later he's going to have a bad game or a few bad games.

I know everyone wants another top draft pick but I actually think it is more important for the coaches and players for the team to show some improvement as the year goes along, and hopefully win a few games. Losing sucks for the players who are busting their asses in practice every week. It would also be nice to have a little confidence that Mayo and crew aren't incompetent, which is what they look like right now.

 

[Justthetippett]

I remember Bledsoe's rookie year when they started out 1-11 and Drew started looking like a hostage victim in the post-game press conferences. Of course that team turned it around and won their last four games and gave everyone some hope for 1994. I do hope that losing every week doesn't start to fuck with Maye's head. Right now he's not the reason they are losing so maybe that makes it a bit easier, but sooner or later he's going to have a bad game or a few bad games.

I know everyone wants another top draft pick but I actually think it is more important for the coaches and players for the team to show some improvement as the year goes along, and hopefully win a few games. Losing sucks for the players who are busting their asses in practice every week. It would also be nice to have a little confidence that Mayo and crew aren't incompetent, which is what they look like right now.

I agree with this 100%. Drafting the 2025 equivalent of Curtis Martin (a really great slot receiver?) would not hurt either.

I'd also be putting Maye in touch with Bledsoe. Take a nice walk through the Washington vineyards after the season and pick his brain. Tom never went through this part of it. Drew would have some interesting insights.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I've been very impressed overall with his decision making and processing, especially under pressure. For a guy who was almost universally characterized as raw coming out, I think he has made few boneheaded throws, taken the gimmes often versus the blitz and overall displayed a relatively advanced feel for manipulating the defense with his eyes and shoulders over the middle of the field. The accuracy issues are there, no question, but they don't seem to be unworkable as, say, Anthony Richardson's apparently are. I couldn't be more encouraged by his play given the circumstances.

I would add to this the ability to hurt defenses down the field, which is harder than ever in today's NFL. We knew Maye had a big arm but that doesn't always translate into downfield threat in the NFL, especially for relatively raw QBs (hello Zach Wilson). Given that Steve posted those Bryce Young stats, one piece of context there is that Young has never thrown an NFL TD pass outside the red zone. Over his career he has 11 TDs and 0 INTs in the red zone and 0 TDs and 13 INTs outside the red zone, which is a pretty wild stat. We saw this a bit with Mac too, especially in his second and third years as opponents had more tape on him. You can process well and be pretty good in the short areas of the field but if nobody is scared of you the game still eventually becomes nearly impossible. Maye already has 3 TDs outside the red zone. One was pretty YAC heavy but those count too.

The range of outcomes for Maye is still really wide but so far he is checking every box. I think if he doesn't work out its much more likely to be a scenario where accuracy and turnover issues keep him from elevating past being a low level NFL starter and he ends up in the "Baker zone" of a guy that you're really torn on giving a big second contract. Its hard for me to imagine a Wilson/Lance/Mac/Young/Pickett trajectory from here where 2-3 years into his career we are dead set on looking elsewhere at the position and nobody else thinks he is more than a backup in the league.

 

[8slim]

EDIT: Covered

Anyway, I chose to liken this season to Dan Campbell's first season in Detroit. Started 0-10-1, finished 3-13-1 and there was a lot of ridicule for how he spoke at press conferences, etc. Shit takes time. The most important piece is the QB. It looks like we found him.

We'll see. Obviously a much different situation, but Parcells started 1-11 with the '93 Bledsoe-as-rookie Pats before winning his last 4. But that was the Tuna, not a rookie HC.

If Mayo somehow gets this team to close strong then we'll have better vibes heading into the offseason. If it goes off the rails... well then the comparison to Campbell won't be apt.

 

[Jimbodandy]

For all the hand wringing about how we couldn't possibly play him because he'd get killed, he's doing just fine out there.

Well he was limping around at times and was limited in practice with a knee after game 1, but sure, he's not dead yet.

I mean... is one of those Baker? He's a 4th rounder, you don't expect him on the field now. Polk has been disappointing, but it's early and the 2nd round even the top isn't where you usually get day 1 studs. Where they really tried was FA and trades and didn't get either Aiyuk or Ridley. This offseason I assume they'll go hard at Higgins, and whomever doesn't get tagged out of Cooper/Diggs/Godwin/Johnson.

Polk isn't just disappointing. Kid has more drops than an Atlanta trap artist. I mean, yeah, he's a second rounder, so 26 targets in 7 games isn't that big of a deal. It's the 10 receptions that's the problem. His route running hasn't improved enough either.

 

[Ed Hillel]

View: https://twitter.com/nfloncbs/status/1848133107616026756?s=46


Only two QBs since the merger have 500+ Pass Yards and 5+ Pass TD through 2 career starts

Dan Marino
Drake Maye

Let’s hope Drake ends with a more successful career and wins at least one Superbowl.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Well he was limping around at times and was limited in practice with a knee after game 1, but sure, he's not dead yet.

Yea, the injury risk is real, but he needs to play. It is needed for in-game experience, building chemistry for the future, talent evaluation for coaches, showing potential free agents/coaches we have a franchise guy, team morale, developing of other players, viewership/ticket sales, the list goes on and on. No, they won’t win shit this year, but his performance/experience right now will 100% impact whether and how the team can win in the future. I also believe you learn more about someone when you throw them into the deep end than dipping them into the kiddie pool. Him getting up after getting drilled against Houston and locking in/improving was as impressive a feat as you’ll ever see from a QB starting his first game in this league.

This kid is gonna be special, and the 2025 and beyond Patriots will be better because everyone either knows or will know that sooner rather than later.

 

[chilidawg]

I remember Bledsoe's rookie year when they started out 1-11 and Drew started looking like a hostage victim in the post-game press conferences. Of course that team turned it around and won their last four games and gave everyone some hope for 1994. I do hope that losing every week doesn't start to fuck with Maye's head. Right now he's not the reason they are losing so maybe that makes it a bit easier, but sooner or later he's going to have a bad game or a few bad games.

I know everyone wants another top draft pick but I actually think it is more important for the coaches and players for the team to show some improvement as the year goes along, and hopefully win a few games. Losing sucks for the players who are busting their asses in practice every week. It would also be nice to have a little confidence that Mayo and crew aren't incompetent, which is what they look like right now.

Totally agree that finishing this season with an upward trajectory is critical, for Maye and the coaching staff both. Absent that you've got to look hard at the leadership.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Yea, the injury risk is real, but he needs to play. It is needed for in-game experience, building chemistry for the future, talent evaluation for coaches, showing potential free agents/coaches we have a franchise guy, team morale, developing of other players, viewership/ticket sales, the list goes on and on. No, they won’t win shit this year, but his performance/experience right now will 100% impact whether and how the team can win in the future. I also believe you learn more about someone when you throw them into the deep end than dipping them into the kiddie pool. Him getting up after getting drilled against Houston and locking in/improving was as impressive a feat as you’ll ever see from a QB starting his first game in this league.

This kid is gonna be special, and the 2025 and beyond Patriots will be better because everyone either knows or will know that sooner rather than later.

I have no issue with him being out there. Those inside the locker room know what's needed for morale, hope, team chemistry. If they think that starting Maye is the right call, I believe them. And he doesn't look lost. He can escape and keep plays alive as well as Brissett, probably better. And when he does escape trouble, that guy 30yds downfield is in play for Maye in a way that he wouldn't be for Brissett just because Maye's arm out of structure is so much better. All good things. I just think that two games is a little early to declare that the fear of him getting his leg destroyed was overblown. If he makes it to year end without needing traction, I'll eat some crow then. I'm still worried about the hits that he's taking behind this OL, which looks a smidgen better, but still has way too many jailbreak plays.

 

[8slim]

I have no issue with him being out there. Those inside the locker room know what's needed for morale, hope, team chemistry. If they think that starting Maye is the right call, I believe them. And he doesn't look lost. He can escape and keep plays alive as well as Brissett, probably better. And when he does escape trouble, that guy 30yds downfield is in play for Maye in a way that he wouldn't be for Brissett just because Maye's arm out of structure is so much better. All good things. I just think that two games is a little early to declare that the fear of him getting his leg destroyed was overblown. If he makes it to year end without needing traction, I'll eat some crow then. I'm still worried about the hits that he's taking behind this OL, which looks a smidgen better, but still has way too many jailbreak plays.

Part of the QB learning process is understanding how to avoid hits, when throw the ball away, when to run, etc. Very few QBs play in front of outstanding OLs these days, because there are very few outstanding OLs in the NFL anymore.

Literally half the starting QBs in the league are sacked 2-3 times a game.

Players gotta play.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Part of the QB learning process is understanding how to avoid hits, when throw the ball away, when to run, etc. Very few QBs play in front of outstanding OLs these days, because there are very few outstanding OLs in the NFL anymore.

Literally half the starting QBs in the league are sacked 2-3 times a game.

Players gotta play.

Agree with all of that, but you can't judge an OL by sacks per game. It's not a binary "stud OL where nobody every gets pressure" vs. "complete pandemonium". It's a continuum, and we're far closer to the pandemonium side still. That's not to say that Maye isn't getting valuable learnings from his experience, but this is a pretty atrocious OL still. It would be nice if he gets a good percentage of plays in structure this year, but I'll believe that when I see it. And I'll be covering my eyes a dozen times a game and then hoping that he gets up.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

On the second one, I couldn’t tell live if he expected Hooper to sit his route down rather than break it to the flag. To me, the late ball to Osborn on the drag was the worst decision he made by far.

The one to Hooper was a blown route, either on Hooper or Drake. It was clear that they weren't anywhere near the same page. Hooper didn't even turn his head until after Maye released the ball.

The Osborn one was one of the plays that Zolak absolutely lost his shit on. Osborn did nothing in the early part of the route to make the defender think he was going up field. He just turned and began running a drag across the middle of the field, which is the easiest read a defender will have, and gave him the chance to undercut it. The route requires a receiver to at least take a step upfield, plant a foot and then go inside, but Osborn didn't do it. Zolak was so pissed off he was asking why Osborn was on the field, it's lazy, etc. in not so many words. There's a separate question of whether Maye should have thrown the ball, and he definitely shouldn't, but these are the growing pains when you have a young QB with shitty receivers.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

The one to Hooper was a blown route, either on Hooper or Drake. It was clear that they weren't anywhere near the same page. Hooper didn't even turn his head until after Maye released the ball.

The Osborn one was one of the plays that Zolak absolutely lost his shit on. Osborn did nothing in the early part of the route to make the defender think he was going up field. He just turned and began running a drag across the middle of the field, which is the easiest read a defender will have, and gave him the chance to undercut it. The route requires a receiver to at least take a step upfield, plant a foot and then go inside, but Osborn didn't do it. Zolak was so pissed off he was asking why Osborn was on the field, it's lazy, etc. in not so many words. There's a separate question of whether Maye should have thrown the ball, and he definitely shouldn't, but these are the growing pains when you have a young QB with shitty receivers.

Rewatching the Osborn throw, a couple other things that stand out:

- The timing on the drag was off, Maye needed to get through the progression faster, especially since the receiver at the top of the screen was getting jammed with safety help over the top, he spent too much time looking there.

- Maye didn't really step into the throw, he probably shouldn't be throwing that at all but it needed to be a bullet if he was going to throw it.

- He had Henry on a late release to the other side if he kept moving through the progression. Protection was decent on this play for a change.

Just not a good play overall but one he'll hopefully learn from. It's encouraging that the following drive was his best of the game.

 

[8slim]

Agree with all of that, but you can't judge an OL by sacks per game. It's not a binary "stud OL where nobody every gets pressure" vs. "complete pandemonium". It's a continuum, and we're far closer to the pandemonium side still. That's not to say that Maye isn't getting valuable learnings from his experience, but this is a pretty atrocious OL still. It would be nice if he gets a good percentage of plays in structure this year, but I'll believe that when I see it. And I'll be covering my eyes a dozen times a game and then hoping that he gets up.

Completely agree about sacks. I was trying to find pressure rate stats online to expand the scope of my post but couldn't dig any up. So I left that aspect out.

Agree that the OL stinks and Maye's facing an immediately collapsing pocket far too often. But it's part of the learning process. And so far I think he's done a pretty good job of escaping the worst hits. That's a skill, as we know.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Rewatching the Osborn throw, a couple other things that stand out:

- The timing on the drag was off, Maye needed to get through the progression faster, especially since the receiver at the top of the screen was getting jammed with safety help over the top, he spent too much time looking there.

- Maye didn't really step into the throw, he probably shouldn't be throwing that at all but it needed to be a bullet if he was going to throw it.

- He had Henry on a late release to the other side if he kept moving through the progression. Protection was decent on this play for a change.

Just not a good play overall but one he'll hopefully learn from. It's encouraging that the following drive was his best of the game.

I completely agree he shouldn't have thrown it, but I think the first two points are kind of what Zolak is getting at. If Osborn runs the route correctly, it takes more time than what it did, so the progression speed is right, it's just that Osborn is now 5+ yards further through the route than he should be, because he never made a move upfield to put the defender off balance. That leads into Maye then rushing a throw. These routes are so connected, it's read one, read two, read three, etc. and if a receiver is covered, you just move on, but when a receiver isn't where they are supposed to be at the time they're supposed to be, everything goes to shit.

That said, if this is the kind of nit picking we're making for a rookie QB playing with the worst line and worst receivers in the NFL, coming off a game with a 109.7 QB rating, completing 70% of his passes, and zero turnovers, I think we're in far better shape than we probably deserve to be. I can't begin to say how impressed I've been with Maye to this point, and to me anything less than an A for yesterday's performance means expectations are simply way too high. There are going to be worse games going forward, a LOT worse, but every QB in every game makes a couple bad decisions, bad throws. Every single one. CJ Stroud was 10/21 for 86 yards yesterday, Jordan Love threw 2 picks, Purdy and Mahomes combined for 0td passes and 5 picks, Cousins threw 2 picks, lost a fumble and got blown out at home by the Seahawks, don't even get me started on Aaron Rodgers.

I'm waking up this morning and feeling better about yesterday than Atlanta, San Fran, Jets, Cowboys, etc. fans should probably be feeling, win totals be damned.

 

[DJnVa]

Lazar:

6. On a Positive Note, the Pass Protection Stats Look Good for the Offensive Line
Although we'll need to review the film, another silver lining based on the initial charting data was that the Patriots only allowed a 33.3% pressure rate in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville.

The Jaguars came into Sunday's game with the 30th-ranked pass rush in the NFL, so the Jags aren't a high-pressure defense. Still, it was better for the Patriots blockers in that regard. A few three-man stunts got home, which has been a consistent problem. But the one-on-one blocking seemed to hold up somewhat well this week.

Here are the initial pressure stats via Pro Football Focus: Sidy Sow (three hurries), Layden Robinson (two), Trey Jacobs (two), Michael Jordan (two), Ben Brown/Mike Onwenu (one).

It's like they can either run block or pass block, but not both in the same game.

Game Observations: Eight Takeaways From the Patriots Loss to the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium