The latest edition of our Patriots mailbag answers questions about Drake Maye, the QB change, and more.
It’s officially Drake Maye time. The words we’ve been waiting to hear since April (or even longer for many).
As the New England Patriots are set to kick off a new era, you can guess what this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag questions are centered around. So, let’s get into it.
Two weeks ago, I asked what would it take for a QB change. You believed Brissette leaving too many chance on the field could be the catalyst. Do you think that won out? Do you believe this was a decision made by the coaching staff or did the GM/Kraft influence the swap? The early play from other QB’s in this year’s draft class? Robert Saleh’s untimely exit from the NYJ? – 1stStateSoxFan
I do ultimately believe that Brissett’s play to contribute to the lack of offensive production is the main reason for this change. When Jerod Mayo and the team talked about the plan for Drake Maye, it likely did not include Jacoby leading the 31st ranked scoring offense and finishing dead last in passing yards per game through five weeks.
Again, the veteran was put in a tough situation. But, they were truly too many instances each week of plays to be made that he wasn’t able to capitalize on.
Just last week, Alex Van Pelt dials up a well timed shot play and the Patriots finally are able to block it. It results in an open Pop Douglas downfield, where Brissett needs to just layer the ball to the left sideline and let Douglas flatten out into it. Instead, Brissett leads him into the end zone where the 5-foot-8 Douglas instead has to try and make a play on the ball.
The offense needs a spark and Maye’s athleticism, arm talent, and aggressiveness will bring just that. I truly believe that is the sole reason for the change, which was also reinforced by Maye’s work on the practice field and in meeting rooms since his arrival.
With Drake Maye at QB, how does this affect the use and production of the WR corps? And who figures to be Maye’s top target? – LandenPatz1
I would absolutely expect the wide receiver production to ramp up with Maye. Some of Maye’s biggest strengths as a passer (attacking the middle, throwing with anticipation, etc.) were some of the biggest issues with the offense under Brissett. The rookie will also not be shy of trying to attack tight windows and give his receivers opportunities down field.
While this should help all of New England’s pass catchers, Pop Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk are the two on my radar. With Polk, Maye is going to give his fellow rookies to make plays 1-on-1 down the field while Douglas, who shares a similar build/skillset as one of Maye’s favorite collegiate targets in Josh Downs, will be a popular target over the middle. Maye will also be able to capitalize on some of his downfield routes (above), something we haven’t seen much out of Douglas yet due to his QB play.
Do you think it’s possible the rest of the team sees in practice Maye doing better than Jacoby and Mayo doesn’t want to risk losing the locker room by not playing the best guy and that’s the reason for the QB switch? – BelichickRingsCamera
As a former player, I definitely think the locker room was under consideration by Jerod Mayo when he made the change. He could not keep rolling out Brissett with that offensive production and tell his team it gives them the best chance to win — which he and Alex Van Pelt pointed towards when he made the announcement.
“At the time, we thought that Jacoby would give us the best opportunity to go out there and win games, protecting the football, really running the offense,” Mayo said Wednesday. “Going forward, I think now, Drake gives us the best chance to win now and going forward. He’s been getting better every single week, as I’ve said before. At the end of training camp, he actually was trending at a very high rate. That has continued through the early part of the season.”
Players on the practice field and in the locker room can tell. They see the struggles the offense is having on the field compared to how the rookie looks in practice. All of it can lead to some overall frustration, especially as the other 52 players on the roster don’t have the same long-term, big-picture view of things that the front office likely does. They want the best players on the field in order to help them win.
Why start Maye vs the Texans of all teams… what’s the logic there?!! – KissBillsRings
I would have played Maye last week against a weaker Miami team from a confidence perspective, but the team he’s going against is pretty much irrelevant to me. I get Houston’s league-high pressure rate is a scary matchup, but you can point to a potential issue in every matchup going forward.
Jaguars? Josh Hines-Allen off the edge and a funky week of work with a trip to London. Jets? Against the defense that just held you to three points? Tennessee and Chicago the next two weeks? Two more defenses ranked top 10 in DVOA. Etc. etc. etc.
Drake Maye will not get ruined from making his first start against the Texans. And if he does? He was never the guy in the first place.
Do you think they will make any trades? – chris coughlin
A taker could emerge for Tyquan Thornton (likely for a conditional late-round draft pick) or perhaps they look to sell off an upcoming free agent like Joshua Uche. But, I wouldn’t count on anything big — like a Tee Higgins addition if the Bengals keep losing.
With that being said, we’ve never seen how Eliot Wolf handles a trade deadline.
That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well.