FOXBOROUGH — There’s a learning curve that comes with playing quarterback in the NFL, and for Patriots rookie Drake Maye, that was never more apparent than watching him work out Friday.
Within a few plays of each other, the first-year quarterback showed the promise that comes with being the third overall pick in the draft — as well as the dangers that come when you’re not fully aware of some of the nuances that come with facing an NFL defense.
First, Maye sent a deep pass down the sideline to fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. The pass was placed in a tight space between defenders Jaylinn Hawkins and Azizi Hearn, and the reception drew a standing ovation from the fans and a celebration from Polk. It was one of the best offensive plays of the first three days of camp.
“He made a good catch,” Maye said. “It wasn’t a great throw, but Polk made a good catch. Great player. He had to look a little bit beyond the safety, but he made a good play.”
There was also an ugly pass that was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker Matthew Judon. While it’s debatable whether Judon would have made it to the end zone if this were a real game, it will appear on the practice video as an intercepted touchdown pass.
“It was just a rookie mistake, no pun intended,” Maye said. “We had a deep throw. I was about to throw towards the end and, in this league, they cover runners, so you have to make sure you look out before you throw.”
Maye followed up with four consecutive completions, one of which was a direct pass to Jalen Reagor. It was a very smart play, as Maye put the ball low in a spot where only Reagor could catch it. It was a smart play, one that the young quarterback needs to make consistently if he wants to be a starter in the NFL.
Ultimately, ups and downs are part of a quarterback’s education, veteran Jacoby Brissett said. Better to ride that wave now than in October or November.
“He throws an interception. Next play, he throws a completion,” Brissett said. “Those are the learning curves and NFL moments you need here. That’s what I told him: ‘That’s your game, right there. That was your game today. You went out there and won the day.’”
“It’s little things like that, that you can do every day. I do it myself, you know, after bad plays, trying to bounce back and make a good play.”
“Every play is new and you can’t be too hard on yourself,” Maye said. “Sometimes, I’m too hard on myself, especially throwing my first interception. But I have to bounce back. That’s how you bounce back in this league. I’m starting to learn that.”
Through the first three days of camp, Maye has slotted in behind Brissett as the backup quarterback, ceding early reps to the veteran. At the same time, he appears to be feeling fairly confident about his overall development.
“I feel like I have a good command,” he said. “I feel like I’m throwing the ball well. There are a lot of concepts with (offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt) and (quarterbacks coach TC McCartney), who do a good job of explaining them.
“It’s going well. There are a lot more plays ahead, so I have to take them into account.”
While there have been some rookie moments, Maye has done well when it comes to piling up successes, taking advantage of the good moments and discarding the mediocre ones.
“There are some plays where I think I’m doing a good job and some where I think I could do better,” he said. “I’m just trying to get myself to not make a wrong read or not complete it as quickly as I need to on this court more than once in a row.”
“If I make the same mistake today as I did on Wednesday, I’m not going to make any progress. You have to try to keep your balance and keep going. You’re going to make mistakes; that’s what practice is for. You just have to keep your head up, go out and give it your all.”
You can contact Christopher Price at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.
