These days, it’s par for the course for third-rounders like Drake Maye to start as early as possible. Gone are the days of rookies sitting behind an established veteran and learning the ropes. However, head coach Jerod Mayo himself is in his first year with the New England Patriots. And while he has tremendous respect for what Bill Belichick has accomplished, he’s also not afraid to point out differences in his approach and style.
Of course, there will be football similarities between all franchises. However, conventional wisdom and ways of doing things will likely leave Foxboro. The new man at the helm is seen by many as some sort of perfect blend of old-school mentality and a better understanding of the modern needs of players. So until the official roster is released, any discussion of final decisions, especially at the QB position, is pure speculation.
However, many signs point to the former North Carolina Tar Heels signal caller sitting behind Jacoby Brissett when the season begins. At least, that seems to be the general feeling and consensus of many people covering camp. The most important issue for coach Mayo is avoiding a controversy at the quarterback position. That would bring a lot of unwanted and unnecessary criticism. There is nothing more distracting in a locker room than when one half of the building believes it should be a certain guy and the other half voices their support for someone else behind the scenes.
Plan for Drake Maye is set
No matter how talented or “pro-ready” someone is, it’s objectively better to take a year off. For skilled positions, for example, speed and the ability to catch transfers from college. Of course, margins are getting tighter and those schemes are getting more complex. But the ability to get free skates and win one-on-one battles is a necessary skill. That evaluation can be done from day one. Compare that to the most important position. Going (until this year’s approved rule change) from Donald Duck and Lee Corso cards to hearing the pitch in your helmet is a big adjustment in itself.
It’s also important to consider the communication breakdown with the playmaker. Finally, reading the different coverages and being able to shift protection is challenging. This is often something the offensive coordinator takes care of when playing against teams like Clemson. The transition to the professional game is always difficult, but for one of the more difficult positions in all of sports, the difficulty level is especially high, so it makes sense at this point to protect him as best as possible.
Brissett is currently getting the lion’s share of first-team action. Additionally, current practice habits indicate that he is expected to be used against the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s a smart move. Plus, that’s true regardless of how the staff evaluates the first-year player. That’s because this team’s biggest weakness over the past few years and to this day is the offensive line. The organization knows that and has made honest attempts to address the problem. Still, throwing someone out for on-the-job training while he’s running for his life is a pretty failed strategy.
This view is even more true when you consider the high draft pick. That’s not to say whoever ends up falling behind won’t succeed, or that it’s a sure sign of failure. Instead, it illustrates another point. Robert Kraft and everyone at Gillette believe in Drake Maye’s abilities. Were he the clearly better player, his starting role would likely have been announced by now. But since that’s not the case, it’s best to take a leaf out of the old books. His sitting and soaking up the momentum on the sidelines should prove beneficial. This will help the young player and the offense as a whole for their future.
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