Building chemistry can take time.
Drake Maye and A.J. Brown learned that over the Patriots’ four training camp practices, as the duo struggled to get on the same page. But since the pads came on Thursday, their connection has come to life.
“Just giving more chances to him,” Maye said. “I think you see with the ball in his hands what he can do, so just finding more chances, intermediate, short, deep, just not shying away from it – I am not going to shy away from him. That is how I play. I am going to keep
going at it, and it could be the fifth play in a row I am going to give him the rock.”
On Thursday in high red-zone work, Maye connected on four of his five passes to Brown, resulting in at least two would-be touchdowns on slants.
Still waiting to see the duo strike a big play in full-field work, they delivered quickly on Friday.
Maye’s first pass of the day in full-team work was a deep shot down the right sideline that Brown hauled in for a gain of more than 40 yards after beating Christian Gonzalez on a double move. The quarterback later found Brown on back-to-back completions in low red-zone 11-on-11 work.
“You feel like you know when things are clicking. I feel like we had some good plays today,” Maye said. “He’s a force in this league, he’s been a force in this league… I am blessed to play with a player like him and looking forward to giving him the rock and seeing him do his thing.”
The recent success has stemmed from more opportunities, but also from the relationship the two have built off the field since Brown arrived in a trade on June 1.
“It is great for us to talk and pull up some old things that he has run and how he liked to run them and what he liked to do, and the routes for his different looks,” Maye said. “So, it is just trying to feel the connectivity building now. I think that is the biggest thing with a player like him and a lot of players that we have. It is my job to try to get him the ball when they want and when they, when I feel like they are open, and that is what he’s trying to build a relationship with me and him. I think you’re just seeing it get better every day.”
Maye’s success has extended well beyond Brown, as the quarterback has rarely seen the ball hit the ground over the first two padded practices. On Friday, he found Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins for touchdowns while also connecting with Eli Raridon, Romeo Doubs and Kayshon Boutte down the field.
“I think you find that during training camp. You try to find a rhythm,” Maye said. “I feel like being accurate is one of the number one things of playing quarterback and putting the ball in the right spot and giving our guys chances, and that is what I’m doing and our guys are making plays.”
