Drake Maye dropped under center.

Jerod Mayo paced the sidelines.

The Patriots, finally, kicked off their new era Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.

What did we learn?

Well … not much.

Because such is life in the preseason. Furthermore, by limiting Maye to a single series, Mayo hid the franchise’s future from public eyes a little longer. Fans hardly got to glimpse the Patriots’ present, either, as Jacoby Brissett joined other starters on the bench and kicked up his feet after an opening drive.

But that doesn’t mean the entire night was a nothing-burner. Not even close; especially with more than a dozen Patriots rookies flashing at times, including cannon-strapped quarterback Joe Milton.

Here are the Herald’s complete film observations from Thursday’s 17-3 win over Carolina:

Studs

QB Joe Milton III

His only miscue was a late out-route throw that was nearly picked off to start the fourth quarter. Otherwise, over 20 snaps, Milton (4-of-6 for 54 yards and a touchdown) played on time, showed discipline in his decision-making and rifled a couple throws with his famous arm strength.

OLB Oshane Ximines

A sixth-year edge rusher, Ximines rose up the team’s depth chart through two weeks of training camp and showed how Thursday. He tallied a strip sack, a hurry and one run stuff, while starting on three special teams units. Ximines is close to a roster lock at this point.

New England Patriots linebacker Oshane Ximines #93 tackles Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette #17 during the first half of the pre-season game at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr. 

The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder was an unlikely wrecking ball for the Patriots, recording a sack and drawing a holding call. Pharms also added a hurry, giving the Patriots some hope their defensive line depth might be better than expected.

Duds

Offensive tackles

A complete mess. Over 17 snaps, starting left tackle Vederian Lowe surrendered one hurry and a run stuff. Starting right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor got whistled for a false start and beat for one pressure. Backup swing tackle Calvin Anderson committed a holding penalty and yielded a QB hit.

TE Mitchell Wilcox

Wilcox entered the night running the inside track for the Pats’ No. 3 tight end job, and now may be in a tie. He caught just one of four targets and had a drop.

Offensive notes

Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye looks down the line of scrimmage during Thursday night’s preseason game against Carolina in Foxboro. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Let’s start with Maye. His six snaps mirrored what he’s shown in training camp. This was a tidy 2-of-3 showing built on two short, safe throws. Nothing to read into.
However, like Milton, Maye played on time, looked smooth dropping from under center and worked around a poorly-performing offensive lines. All positives.
As for Jacoby Brissett, his deep underthrow of Tyquan Thornton died late; a theme in training camp on his longest throws. Brissett had a touchdown with a little more oomph behind that ball.
Thornton and K.J. Osborn continued to take the field first among wideouts, setting a clear pecking order.
As for the other receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk caught all three targets, playing bigger than his 6-foot-2 frame and demonstrating a mature overall game. Meanwhile, fourth-rounder Javon Baker was targeted on one pass breakup, and failed to stop in time for a back-shoulder connection with Bailey Zappe.
Despite leading the team with three catches, Kayshon Boutte is squarely on the bubble from this view. He brings no special teams value, had a drop and played deep into a game where multiple starters rested.

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So-so debut for rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, who played both left and right tackle. He took two bad losses in pass protection. Here’s hoping the staff picks a position soon so he can develop into a viable game-day option.
Unlike Wallace, fourth-round rookie guard Layden Robinson played both sides and impressed. Robinson combined with backup center Nick Leverett on a nice double-team that sprung Kevin Harris for a touchdown. Robinson’s stock is rising.
Ditto for seventh-round tight end Jaheim Bell. He held his ground as a 1-on-1 blocker, and his movement skills seem to translate well. The next preseason game versus the Eagles will be big for him.
Solid outings for Harris and fellow backup runners JaMycal Hasty and Terrell Jennings. Harris flashed better pad level on his touchdown (an offseason focus), while Hasty and Jennings factored as rushers and receivers.
Seven penalties for the offense, and none for the defense. A lot to clean up.
The Patriots opened in two- tight end personnel, a common grouping at the start of team periods in camp. That may change when DeMario Douglas (hand injury) returns.

Player stats

Broken tackles: Hasty 2, Jennings, Milton III, Rhamondre Stevenson
Drops: Boutte, Wilcox
Sacks allowed: Team
QB hits allowed: Anderson
Hurries allowed: Okorafor, Lowe, Wallace, Robinson, TE La’Michael Pettway
Run stuffs allowed: OG Michael Jordan, Lowe

Defensive notes

Patriots defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. celebrates his sack against Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer during the first half of a preseason game at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

No Matt Judon, no Christian Barmore, no Davon Godchaux, no problems. The Patriots’ defensive front dominated a bad Carolina offensive line most of the night.
Jeremiah Pharms Jr. was the star of this effort, powering through to harass the Panthers run and pass game, while regulars Keion White (three snaps), Jahlani Tavai (three snaps) Deatrich Wise (one snap) rested after one series.
Like the Patriots’ best D-linemen, Pharms can play a few different positions across the line; though it remains to be seen how he performs as a regular-season regular (90 career defensive snaps).
Veteran safety Jaylinn Hawkins served as the single-high safety on the initial three possessions, a sign of the staff’s confidence in him to coordinate the back end.
Backup linebackers Joe Giles-Harris (two pass breakups) and Christian Elliss both surprised. Elliss had a sack and a QB hit, demonstrating the physicality that’s impressed new linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower.
At corner, Marco Wilson and Shaun Wade started alongside Christian Gonzalez. Wade dropped a near interception, as did likely cut candidate Mike Victor in the fourth quarter. Wilson and Wade are in the thick of a position battle.
Undrafted rookie safety Dell Pettus played a team-high 46 defensive snaps and held his own, including one tackle to stop a short pass for no gain. A name to watch.
The Patriots fielded just 10 players on Wise’s sack that forced an opening three-and-out. Whoops.

Player stats

Forced fumble: Ximines
Pass breakups: Giles-Harris 2, Wade, Victor
Sacks: Wise, Pharms Jr., Elliss, Ximines, OLB John Morgan,
QB hits: Elliss, Morgan
Hurries: Pharms Jr. 2, William Bradley-King, Ximines
Run stuffs: DL Daniel Ekuale, Ximines
Missed tackles: Bradley-King 2, Morgan, Victor, Ximines, DT Josiah Bronson, S Brenden Schooler

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Special teams

The kicking competition remains close. Chad Ryland hit two extra points, Joey Slye nailed a 42-yard field goal. Both players took kickoffs.
Undrafted rookie receiver David Wallis drew plenty of love from the television broadcast, but his 23-yard punt return was mostly a function of good blocking. He followed Jalen Reagor and K.J. Osborn on punt return and took the final kick return for 24 yards.
Kevin Harris and backup corner Isaiah Bolden started on kick return.
Six players started on the first three special teams units (kickoff, punt and punt return): Schooler, JaMycal Hasty, Christian Elliss, Oshane Ximines, Raekwon McMillan and Jaylinn Hawkins.