Drake Maye – What’s Happened?
Following an MVP runner up performance in just his sophomore season along with a Super Bowl trip to add to it, Drake Maye was projected going into this year as one of the leagues 5-6 best Quarterbacks. Through the first three weeks though it appears Maye has seemingly taken a major step back in his progression. From frustrating decision making to the continuation of taking bad sacks from last year it’s been a rough beginning to the season for Maye and in turn the Patriots offense. What I would like to address here is why it’s happening, why it may not be as bad as it seems right now, and ultimately why it may not be as much of Maye’s fault as it’s been made out to be.
Like many poor “Quarterbacking” situations across the league the problems start in front of them with the O-Line. While Maye’s pressure percentage is only up from 37.8% to 41% from last season to this season the way the pressures are getting through are faster which makes things that much harder on Maye. You can see the effect the pressure has had on Maye on tape and the numbers back it up as well. When Maye gets rid of the ball in under 2.5 seconds his stat line is 1/0 TD-INT ratio, 21/26 (80.8%) for completions, and 0 Sacks. When Maye has the ball for longer than 2.5 seconds you see his numbers plummet, 0/6 TD-INT ratio, 30/54 (55.6%) for completions, and 9 Sacks taken. What’s interesting about those stats is actually how they compare to Maye when facing a blitz. When facing a blitz Maye is 1/1 TD-INT ratio, 19/25 (76% + 8.2 YPA), and 2 Sacks versus when a team brings four or less rushers Maye is 0/5 TD-INT ratio, 32/55 (58.2% + 6.9 YPA), and 7 Sacks taken. To me on tape and with these numbers it seems to me like Maye is more comfortable playing out of structure than he currently is playing “within the offense”. The tape backs this as the Patriots have seemingly built their offense this year around matchup hunting rather than utilizing motion and specific scheming. While this might work when you have a healthy AJ Brown at X receiver dominating down the field it’s hard to simply line up and put talent teams when you’re counting on guys like Romeo Doubs and second year Kyle Williams to create separation. The other problem I’ve noticed with the offense is the lack of detail and purpose up front from a blocking perspective. I’ve noticed a handful of plays every game so far where they have a O-Lineman cut blocking on a play that has long developing routes. In a perfect world you get a great matchup on the outside, cut block well, and rip a 50/50 or back shoulder ball down the boundary but once again they lack the true game changing player to allow them to execute that. Josh McDaniels desperately needs to get back to the creativity and counter punches he used so well last year when play calling throughout the game. Their blocking is pigeon holding their offense from attacking downfield like they would prefer to do, their receivers aren’t separating consistently, and Maye is pressing trying to play hero ball too often because of it. The whole thing is out of whack right now and oddly dysfunctional for a Patriots team that out executed and coached a large majority of teams just last season.
All in all the season isn’t over nor is Drake Maye broken from last year’s Super Bowl like some make it seem but they have to revisit what they want this offense to look like this year, especially with Brown missing time here early on. Utilize more quick game, screens, and lean on the running game as much as possible despite the O-Line being inconsistent. There’s a way to fix this but it has to happen soon before they force Maye into an even worse spot from a decision making and pressure standpoint. Ultimately he’s still a third year Quarterback and while he may have played at an MVP level last season he’s not perfect. They NEED to get him settled down and comfortable behind this O-Line and within this offense once again before anything else will work.
*All stats via NGS*
Raiders 3-0!?
After a very dysfunctional and disappointing season for the Raiders last year this 3 – 0 start couldn’t be any more of a warm welcome to the fan base. For the first time in a number of years the Raiders are not only winning games but more importantly they feel like a professionally ran football team, and it all starts with 1st time Head Coach Klint Kubiak. Kubiak is proving to be not only on of the league’s best offensive play callers week and week out but a true leader and tone setter for a franchise that desperately needed one. Along with Kubiak the retention of Defensive Coordinator Rob Leonard is proving to be a phenomenal decision as well, as his impact and personality is truly showing with how this defense is playing right now. Young, fast, aggressive, and more than anything confident is how I would describe this group and Leonard is doing a phenomenal job of making the most of this defensive roster despite some holes on paper. You can make the same point for Kubiak and this offense as well! He’s not only built a competent offense with 38 year old Kirk Cousins at the helm but an offense that is genuinely dangerous, especially now that Tight End Brock Bowers is back and healthy. All of what I mentioned comes along in addition of the fact that they still have the 1st overall pick from this past draft, Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, sitting on bench right now! This adds a whole new importance to where they’re at right now through three weeks. Not only can they afford to sit Mendoza because of their record right now but the pressure that would normally be there from the media and/or the fan base is nonexistent, all because they’re winning. Mendoza can now sit and learn behind Kirk and you can put him out there whenever you feel he’s ready or even wait till next season at this rate, which is a HUGE luxury many young Quarterbacks don’t get. Another name that deserves credit here is General Manager John Spytek. There were some calling for his name to be gone when they let former Head Coach Pete Carroll go last season and he couldn’t be proving those people anymore wrong. Hiring Kubiak, remaking this roster with young and exciting players, and overall building a roster that has an identity and plan for the future cannot be overlooked here either. I know it’s only been three weeks and ultimately I still believe this team will end up around 6-9 wins this year but this is truly the first time in a long while that I can remember the Raiders having this stable of a stable and promising of a situation. It may not be time for a Super Bowl or any outlandish predictions for this season but the Raiders have a future that finally feels bright and hopeful!
Stories/Situations I’m Watching
Packers
The Packers signed veteran Guard Laken Tomlinson, veteran Guard/Tackle Mekhi Becton to their practice squad, and as of today they also signed veteran Guard Kevin Zeitler following a brutal start to the year with O-Line issues being front and center.
- Desperate times call for desperate measures but it’s promising to see Green Bay making an effort to fix the problem. This paired with the locker room seeming to still be bought in to Matt LaFleur and this season, things still seem to be hopeful in Green Bay. The month of October will be crucial for the rest of Green Bay’s season. If they were to lose 3-4 games this month the Micah Parsons return may be put back and we could see Matt LaFleur’s and/or GM Brian Gutekunst’s tenures possibly coming to an end. If they put together 3-4 wins on the other hand that likely means the O-Line and in turn the offense is playing better and now you add Micah to the defense. October determines everything for this team and it all hinges on getting this O-Line corrected and this fan base calmed down with a few comfortable wins.
JJ McCarthy
After just two full seasons the Vikings have decided to move on from their former 10th overall pick. In return they got a 5th Round selection from the Giants in the upcoming draft this offseason.
- I’m unsure as to what role McCarthy will ultimately play with the Giants long term as Jaxson Dart when healthy has shown to be a true starting level player in this league, not only that but a fan favorite as well. More than likely we’ll end up seeing McCarthy on the field for New York at some point this season but I’d be surprised if that meant any better play than what they’ve gotten out of Jameis Winston this year. On side note, mot that this means anything but there is a connection here with JJ and John Harbaugh. JJ went to Michigan when John’s brother Jim was the Head Coach there and while that may mean nothing I’m sure it contributed to him being their choice of player to add to the room. Ultimately it’s an upside swing on a guy that has shown very few flashes so far but a new start for JJ may be just what he needs to reset and find his footing in the league, he’s still only 23 years old at this point.
