New England Patriots newcomers, coach Jerod Mayo and quarterback Drake Maye, have been closely collaborating during the team’s rookie camp over the last couple of days. Mayo offered measured feedback on Maye, stating on Saturday, “What are my initial thoughts on Drake? He’s got areas to improve, but I’m confident he’ll dedicate himself to the necessary work.”
Maye, selected as the Patriots’ top pick in the first round (No. 3 overall) from North Carolina, hasn’t officially clinched the starting position yet, but it’s widely anticipated that he will during the upcoming summer.
Until then, Mayo will keep a close eye on him and push the 21-year-old quarterback. “There’s still plenty of room for improvement,” Mayo emphasized. “He’s been putting in the hours, even staying late to sync up with the rest of the team.”
While it might not be literal to say they’re there “all night,” Mayo emphasized the significance of spending quality time with his rookies. “We’ll be here until 7, 8, 9 o’clock,” he mentioned. “We start with a workout, then we have some meetings.
The beauty of mini-camp is the opportunity to bond with the guys for the first time. We’re all staying in the same hotel. Our rooms are just down the hall from each other, so we’ll review game footage and go over play scripts for the next day together. Up here, we don’t have much else to do, so why not focus on football?”
Regarding Maye’s potential receivers, wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk praised him when asked about his assessment of Maye. “The guy can throw,” remarked Polk, who was chosen by New England in the second round. ”
He’s extremely confident and vocal. He’s a natural leader. He’s setting the tempo in practice, encouraging everyone to be active and perform at their best. We’re all navigating through this new experience together. We’re still in the process of learning and building chemistry so that everyone can synchronize their efforts.”
A significant portion of Maye’s initial efforts focused on mastering the basics. “I’m experimenting with two different stances that I’m still adjusting to,” he explained. “I just need more practice with them.
Footwork is crucial but challenging to perfect.” In addition to seeking guidance from Mayo, Maye will also rely on New England’s offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, offensive assistant coach Ben McAdoo, and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney.
“T.C. is actively engaging with us during our meetings,” Maye noted. “Coach Van Pelt adds his insights when necessary. (McAdoo) is fantastic. All three of them possess a wealth of football knowledge.” -Field Level Media