Patriots fans need only look at Mac Jones to see what can happen when a young NFL quarterback is forced to learn a new system after succeeding in another. It’s a roll of the dice no franchise wants to take, but often has to as it searches for stability at offensive coordinator.
Drake Maye is significantly more talented than Jones, but he, like any QB, should be forgiven if he shows growing pains in a new offense. And, after watching Maye’s underwhelming performance in Sunday’s 20-13 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s fair to wonder whether New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has put too much on the second-year QB’s plate.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked that very question during a Monday morning news conference. And though Vrabel somewhat danced around the question, he seemingly indicated that the Patriots might be throwing too much at Maye.
“I think we have to evaluate that,” Vrabel told reporters. “We have to find out, is there something there, or we’ve just got to figure out what our guys do best and do that. Because if you do that, then you have to be really good, as opposed to trying to scheme or get into the right situation. Again, we just make sure that we’re giving him answers by trying not to give him too much. I think that’s always the balance and the fine line.”
Maye’s stats were solid — 30-for-46, 287 yards, one touchdown, one interception — but he missed a handful of open throws and appeared skittish in the pocket. There was a general shakiness to his game, which ran counter to the typically confident, though also mistake-prone, quarterback whom Patriots fans watched blossom last season.
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It’ll be interesting to see whether McDaniels simplifies the offense — or perhaps gives Maye fewer controls at the line of scrimmage — for this Sunday’s road game against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots can’t afford a 0-2 start, so coaches must ensure Maye and the offense are put in the best possible position to succeed.
