Drake Maye delivered one of the best performances of his career in the New England Patriots’ victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels significantly contributed to it.
NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots insider, Phil Perry, praised McDaniels for utilizing Maye’s athleticism early in the game.
“It appeared as though McDaniels wanted to take advantage of Maye’s athleticism in Week 2,” Perry wrote Monday. “Whether or not McDaniels knew on-the-run types of throws would help Maye feel at ease early in the game is unclear. But Maye had multiple bootleg throws on the first drive alone, one on a throwback to Austin Hooper, who had leaked out to the back side of the play, and one that went for a touchdown to Mack Hollins and made them work.
“Maye later scrambled off a bootleg look for six yards and hit Hunter Henry on a rollout throw for nine more,” Perry added. “Good thinking by McDaniels to get Maye moving, which seemed to help him feel comfortable early in the game, setting him up for success throughout.”
The Patriots’ offense appeared significantly different in the first half compared to their Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, with Maye utilizing his legs more. The running backs were able to rush the ball more effectively because the Dolphins were uncertain whether Maye would be rolling out on a bootleg, keeping it himself or handing it off.
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McDaniels is used to working with quarterbacks who excel as pocket passers, such as Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Orton. However, this season, he will have to adapt his coaching style to suit a more athletic quarterback like Maye.
