When will Drake Maye start his first game for the New England Patriots?
This debate is currently raging across the region, especially after the rookie quarterback’s impressive performance in last Thursday’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Maye completed six of 11 passes for 47 yards. He also ran five times for 15 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The offense looked much more competent with Maye’s run than with the experienced Jacoby Brissett.
There’s no doubt that Maye has the physical tools to succeed. He has a strong and accurate arm. His athleticism is impressive. He’s 6’4″ and 220 pounds, so he can take a punch or two.
But physical condition isn’t the only factor to consider when deciding when is the right time to throw a young quarterback in the deep end.
According to former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells, the mental side of the equation is also really important.
“The fans never consider the psychological state of the player they’re about to throw to the wolves,” Parcells recently told Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe. “What you really have to judge is the timing and the chance of success. Sometimes it destroys them when they don’t succeed.”
“So I think you just have to see what you’re dealing with personally. What kind of temperament he seems to have. How does he react to negative game situations or tough coaching?
“The fans will say, ‘If he doesn’t make it, we don’t want him anyway,’ but when it’s a high-level draft choice, you have to do everything in your power to give him a chance to succeed. Economically speaking, it’s not in your best interest these days if he doesn’t succeed. It’s bad if you have high spending and not producing.”
🔊 Next Pats: Drake Maye shows his CANNON and his CALM against the Eagles | Listen and subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Parcells’ first season with the Patriots was 1993. The team had just drafted Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe with the No. 1 pick. Bledsoe started the first five games of his rookie season and ended up playing 13 of the 16 games that year. Bledsoe had a successful career in New England, leading the franchise to the Super Bowl in his fourth season (1996).
It will be interesting to see when the Patriots think Maye is ready. A good argument could be made that waiting until October is the right move. The team’s regular-season schedule is brutal from the start, including matchups with the Bengals, Seahawks, Jets, 49ers, Dolphins and Texans in the first six weeks.
One could also argue that having Maye in the starting lineup right from the start and letting him play against a number of playoff-level opponents right from the start would be valuable experience.
Either way, it’s an important decision for the Patriots, and if made at the right time, it could have a hugely positive impact on Maye’s development.
