Pats Pulpit
Start faster. Hit open receivers. Execute better in the red zone.
Those were the three areas of focus for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye entering Week 2 after a season opening defeat. And as Maye left Miami Sunday, he left with not only a win but each of his goals checked off in what was the quarterback’s best start of his young career.
In total, Maye completed 19-of-23 passes for 230 yards and three total touchdowns. The second-year pro tallied single-game highs in total QBR (77.6), completion percentage over expected (+13.5%), and total expected points added (+16.3) while not recording a single turnover worthy play throughout the contest.
“It was hugely efficient,” head coach Mike Vrabel said of his performance. “The ball went where it was supposed to go. He was decisive. I thought he did a great job of transferring up into the pocket, setting his depth, and then transferring up, being really good with the football, being able to pull through with two hands in the pocket when they have edge rushers and we’re on the road.
“When you don’t do that, those turn into sacks, hurries, throwaways, strip sacks, and when you can climb the pocket, remain a thrower and keep your eyes downfield, that’s when you can hit some plays.”
After an opening three-and-out in the season opener which included an overthrow on third-down, settling down and moving the football out of the gate would be key for Maye down in Miami. With New England opening with the football, that’s exactly what he did as he led a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive in which he completed his final four passes.
While big play-action gains were the highlights, perhaps the key play on the drive came on fourth-and-three. Maye, who seemed poised and confident from the jump, patiently waits for Austin Hooper to clear out the middle of the field defender before finding Stefon Diggs, who has proved to be a valuable veteran chain mover early in his Patriot tenure, over the ball to pick up a fresh set of downs.
Then offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who had an outstanding game script with more motion and run actions compared to the opener, gets Maye on the move with several altered launch points in which the athletic QB is very comfortable operating.
The first comes on “Leak” (:08) where New England fakes a run play to the left before bootlegging Maye to the right and leaking Hooper out of the formation. With speedster Kyle Williams occupying the cover three corner, Hooper is left wide open and makes a strong catch on one of Maye’s lone high passes of the day.
Two plays later (:01), a bootleg concept then gets Maye working to his right again where a simple read results in an easy touchdown to Mack Hollins.
“We were preaching all week start fast. We did that, and we knew they could respond, and they responded well,” Maye said post game. “Got to keep...
