It’s been a slow start to the season for Drake Maye and the New England Patriots offense.
Through two games, the unit is averaging just 11.5 points per game while ranking 23rd in EPA/play. For Maye, it’s a familiar position.
The Patriots started 1-2 last season after turning the ball over five times in a Week 3 loss. They responded by scoring 42 points against the Carolina Panthers, kick-starting an 11-game winning streak.
Now, Maye and the Patriots offense are working to try to spark another turnaround.
“I think we’re finding ourselves,” Maye said about the offense. “Every time you get into a new season with new guys and new players and you’re battling injuries, you know, every team in the league is trying to really to improve. And really for us, it’s really about finding ourselves.
“This time last year, I remember we were 1-2 and going into the Panthers and we were kind of figuring ourselves out and just things that, you know, guys and find rhythm on offense getting down in the run game and doing little things and really just find ourselves and kind of find a rhythm.”
Part of New England’s struggles can be traced back to the quarterback. After an overly aggressive fourth quarter in Seattle leading to three interceptions and a loss, Maye seemed to swing the pendulum too far back in the other direction against the Steelers.
There were multiple instances where Maye passed up opportunities to attack downfield, such as on the Patriots’ first possession where rookie tight end Eli Raridon broke free uncovered up the seam as the No. 1 read in the progression, only for Maye to check it down to Rhamondre Stevenson.
“It’s being decisive in everyone’s play, but it’s certainly magnified with the quarterback,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday. “So being decisive, believing in what you see. Again, that’s what we ask all our players to do is prepare to try to play fast and aggressively and make great decisions.
“So, yeah, we could always say, “Man, we should have let that one rip,” or “We’ve got to make a better decision.” Ultimately, it’s his responsibility to be able to distribute the football as quickly and decisively as possible in the places that it’s supposed to go, continue not to force things and try to just create a next play on every single play.”
For Maye, that decisiveness ties back to instincts.
“I think that goes back to playing instinctive and seeing it,” Maye said. “Trusting what I see in practice and trusting the decisions I’m making out there on the field. I’ve never been shied away from trusting something and letting it rip. So just knowing that and knowing what I’m seeing in front of the guys, and same time giving our guys a chance to make a play.”
As the Patriots hope to avoid a 1-2 start again this year, Maye and his coach is stressing a fast start down in Jacksonville this Sunday. That means finding completions early and still stretching the defense when those opportunities provide themselves.
And while some have become concerned in Maye’s ability to find that balance, his teammates are not part of that group.
“I don’t know what they’re concerned about. Is he sick or something?,” wide receiver Mack Hollins said. “My faith in Drake ain’t changed. He’s a gunslinger.”
