One minute and one change was put on the clock in the far corner of the practice field. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye came onto the field needing a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.
He wasn’t even given a chance.
Maye was sacked by edge rusher Nolan Smith, was sacked again, and threw an incomplete pass to a squashed Kayshon Boutte – all before Nakobe Dean scored a sack on fourth down.
“I’ve got to get the ball out on the first few tries. I can’t take sacks in two minutes. Whether I feel something from behind or whatever, I’ve got to get the ball out. Other than that, I’ve just got to find finishes. Try to do something. Try to get us moving,” said Maye, who started practice at 10 out of 10.
While the rookie took the blame for his inability to move the ball, his supporting cast letting him down was a constant problem all summer. Maye has yet to have a single practice snap with the New England Patriots’ first team and has struggled with pressure and drop issues in the second unit.
The result has made it difficult at times to evaluate the rookie. But head coach Jerod Mayo had a specific word to describe his summer.
“He’s consistent. I think if I had to say one word, it would be consistent,” Mayo said. “He’s always in the building, always learning. He’s out here trying to get better every day. He’s going to take more reps this week, if that’s the underlying question. He’s going to take more reps this week, believe me.”
The hope is that those extra plays will come in the second preseason game on Thursday night, especially behind New England’s top offensive line. In Mayes’ brief preseason debut, he totaled six plays, all with the top offense — three of which were handoffs.
“I’m excited to get out there,” Maye said. “I’m excited to get out there with the guys. I’m going to try to make some plays. I’m going to go out there and play until they take me out.”
The game would also give Maye a chance to show off his playmaking gene. In practice, Maye has not played according to a script – an important part of his game at North Carolina. Instead, the coaches have preferred that Maye play in a structured way and work through his routines in the pocket.
While that aspect of his game appears to be improving, more repetitions on Thursday night would help provide a clearer assessment of the rookie and his true abilities.
“With the red jersey, it’s hard to simulate that, to emulate my college game. That comes from feeling and being in the pocket in a game,” Maye said after practice. “That comes with game reps. People think it’s a sack here, but I scramble out of the pocket and make a play. That’s more of a game thing, and in practice I try to play within (the structure).”
