Drake Maye Watch: Patriots QB Never Had Chance Vs. Eagles Defense

FOXBORO, Mass. — Jerod Mayo did not want Drake Maye to take competitive, full-contact reps behind the New England Patriots’ second-string offensive line in their preseason opener.

That decision, while both understandable and disappointing in the moment, was undoubtedly the right call.

Playing behind the second-string offensive line at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, Maye did not stand a chance going up against the Philadelphia Eagles defense during joint practices. Maye went 6-for-12 in competitive 11-on-11 periods and was “sacked” six times in the final two periods (12 plays). He also went 6-for-6 in 7-on-7s.

“I think it’s part of it,” Maye said after practice when asked about the offensive line. “I don’t think it changes my job. I go in there, hang in there, make the right reads, sit back there and treat it like anything else. You can’t worry about those guys. Whoever is in there is fighting hard, and I’m just trying to do my job.”

That’s the right attitude, no doubt. But Maye was putting it mildly

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When things ramped up in full-field 11-on-11s, Maye’s offense was bad. New England allowed three sacks in four dropbacks during a two-minute, 11-on-11 period. The only non-sack was a short incompletion to Kayshon Boutte with the pocket collapsing around Maye.

Rather than give the Patriots another opportunity or move the ball to simulate a first down, which sometimes happens in camp, Maye’s group walked off the field after those four snaps.

“I got to get the ball out on early downs, can’t take sacks in two-minute,” Maye said of the period. “Whether I feel something, or it’s from the backside or whatever, I got to get the ball out. Other than that, just try to find completions whether it’s hitting the backs, trying to do something, trying to get us moving. That’s the biggest thing.”

In the 11-on-11 period prior, Maye completed two short passes — a check down to JaMycal Hasty and curl to Boutte — in eight reps. Maye, as was the case in the prior 13 training camp practices, rarely attempted to push the ball downfield. In fairness, he rarely had the time.

Atonio Mafi replaced Nick Leverett as the second-string center in that period (Leverett replaced David Andrews in the group prior). Mafi fumbled a snap and allowed linebacker Zack Baun to “sack” Maye before he even finished his dropback. It was impressively fast from Baun.

It’s not like Maye’s offense was going against Philadelphia’s top defense either. For the vast majority of the day, the rookie quarterback was on the field when Philadelphia first-round defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter were not. They played primarily against Jacoby Brissett’s top offense, which allowed four sacks itself. Maye, however, did see some snaps against the Eagles top linebackers like Devin White, Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean.

Things were a bit different for Maye during 7-on-7s, a period he has performed better throughout camp. He completed all six of his passes in that period, benefitting from the lack of pass rush. Those six passes went to six different pass-catchers and no reception was more impressive than Javon Baker’s highlight-reel grab against Eagles cornerback Josh Jobe. That was the only pass of 10-plus yards, as there was a heavy dose of check downs and curls.

Maye was fine in 1-on-1s, too. He started with a few inaccurate balls but connected with rookie wideout Ja’Lynn Polk on a deep ball down the sideline. Maye went to tight end Mitchell Wilcox on a ball down the sideline shortly after with Polk then catching an in-breaking route and running into the end zone against Shon Stephens. The Patriots won six of 15 of Maye’s reps in 1-on-1 battles, a drill that largely caters to the offense given there’s one defender and no deep safety.

“Ups and downs,” Maye said when summarizing his day. “I think in 7-on-7 I threw the football well. The first team period was OK.

“Great reps to learn from, great defense. They do a good job. Some big dudes up front, some different looks. It’s a great learning experience.”

Perhaps it will serve as a great learning experience for Maye moving forward. And perhaps Maye will see more snaps behind the first-team offensive line at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night.