Patriots willing to limit offense to protect rookie QB Drake Maye
One of the most impressive facets of Drake Maye’s game through four starts is the Patriots rookie quarterback’s mobility.
Even though Maye leads all NFL offensive players (min. 20 rushing attempts) in yards per carry, the Patriots still don’t want to design runs for the young passer.
“One thing I would say, he was in the concussion protocol not too long ago, and I’m not looking forward to designing quarterback runs for him at this present time,” head coach Jerod Mayo said Friday morning. “But who knows? Look, he’s a rookie, and he’ll continue to evolve as a player as well.”
Related Articles
Patriots’ O-line shuffling has been ‘frustrating’ to HC Jerod Mayo
Patriots get bad news at final Friday practice before Bears game
Callahan: Drake Maye’s development is a coaching win and more Week 10 thoughts
Patriots extra points: What they’re saying about Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker
Patriots injury report: Rookie upgraded, 2 remain out of practice
Maye entered the NFL’s concussion protocol in the first quarter of the team’s Week 8 win over the Jets. He was cleared last Saturday before Sunday’s loss to the Titans.
Maye has 209 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 scrambles for 10 yards per attempt. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is next on the list at 8.1 yards per carry.
Though the team doesn’t want to design runs for Maye, where he could do even more damage on draws or option plays, they are fine with the amount that he’s scrambling.
“If we get people open in time and in rhythm, I expect the ball to be out and completed,” quarterbacks coach TC McCartney said Friday. “If we don’t, then you got to play football, and that’s what he does well. So, I wouldn’t say that there’s a number of times (we want him scrambling). I say we want to get people open as many times as we can in rhythm. But that doesn’t always happen in the NFL. So his ability to make things happen when we don’t get people open is critical.”