Josh McDaniels doesn’t have a number in mind when it comes to Drake Maye’s ground gains.
The Patriots offensive coordinator isn’t plotting how many times he will call a designed run for the dynamic quarterback. But such runs will be in the playbook, a noticeable contrast from Maye’s rookie season. The only way Maye and the offense can reach its potential is to allow him to use his entire skillset, after all.
McDaniels knows that. He just wants the franchise signal-caller to be smart when picking his spots.
“He’s such a gifted athlete,” McDaniels said before Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium on Monday. “I think a lot of guys that play this position that have ability to throw it but also ability to move and make plays with their legs and extend plays, they have to find that line themselves, honestly.”
It’s an area where Maye has developed, McDaniels said.
The veteran play-caller highlighted Maye’s chain-moving scramble during the preseason win against the Washington Commanders on Friday night. Maye followed up that 11-yard run by scrambling for a 5-yard touchdown five plays later. There were other snaps when Maye remained in the pocket instead of prematurely fleeing, which McDaniels appreciated as well.
“I think he just has to understand when there’s nothing there and he has an opening, what to do with the ball,” McDaniels said. “I think he’s really improving in that area and understanding his value to the team is when he’s healthy. I think that’s what we’re all talking about.
“Players that have the ability to do both, they have to be smart about it,” McDaniels continued. “Coach Vrabel always says, ‘We’ve got to protect the team.’ And whether you play running back and you protect the ball, or you make a great decision off the field, or you’re the quarterback and you scramble and you decide to slide, all of those things are protecting the team. I think Drake is definitively looking to try to do that every time he has the ball in his hands.”
Maye has proven to be a quick-learner while working with McDaniels. He’s made a concerted effort not to make the same mistake twice, especially when it comes to learning and balancing how to deploy his dual-threat ability.
“He’s definitely more aware as we go into this training camp and the next practice,” McDaniels said. “You saw him slide a couple times the other night, which was great. Again, there’s a fine line between holding onto the ball too long in certain situations and doing the right thing to help the team. Those guys that were blessed with that ability, they’re the ones that have to learn how to do that and balance it.”
Maye ran the ball 54 times for 421 rushing yards in 13 games last season. He picked up first downs on 40 percent of those attempts (22-for-54) with a pair of rushing touchdowns. However, Maye also took a handful of unnecessary hits in an attempt to pick up an extra yard. Some resulted in Maye missing snaps for an offense that badly needed him.
The Patriots would be severely impacted if it was to happen again, and it has McDaniels and company trying to instill the importance of balance.
