FOXBOROUGH - Tom Brady was a master at reading defenses, and knowing where he was going to deliver the football.
He knew just before getting under center and taking the snap on a pass play.
That special ability was helpful in general, but more of a necessity if the Patriots had an offensive line that struggled to pass protect. Having a quarterback who can process at warp speed, know where the ball is going pre-snap, and get rid of it quickly is a godsend with leaky offensive lines.
Enter Drake Maye.
How good is the current Patriots quarterback at deciphering defenses, and immediately knowing the right receiver to hit?
Given some question marks and uncertainty surrounding Maye’s line, and given sack master Maxx Crosby is headed to town, the answer could play a role in Sunday’s season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I think that’s part of what we watch film for. That’s part of what we come out here and practice for is knowing check downs and knowing, ‘Hey, my first look, if they’re giving it to me, take it,’'’ Maye said during his media session Wednesday. ”That’s part of playing quarterback in this league, finding completions, and I feel confident in myself.
“I feel like at times, last year, when I got the ball out on time and I got the ball to the right guy, we moved the ball well. So, I think just trying to start off this season with that mindset and like I said, stay ahead of the chains, do my part, finding completions and not holding the ball.”
Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Josh McDaniels has made it a point of having Maye watch film of Brady in the Patriots offense, and studying what made him so great in that offense.
During a recent appearance on “Up & Adams” Maye talked about that film study, saying one of the things that stood out from watching clips of the GOAT was how Brady always knew what to do pre-snap.
“The one thing with Tom, he always knew where to go with the football,” Maye told host Kay Adams. “I think, Tom was great with knowing where to go with the football, beating blitzers, knowing where to go before the snap. I think that’s the best thing I saw. And his feet: his feet were always in the ground ready to throw.”
That was one of Brady’s greatest traits.
Trying to adopt that trait is another matter.
With the advent of a new season, and grander expectations for the Patriots, there’s so much riding on how well Maye plays, and develops.
He’s had to learn a new, complex system. And, as the quarterback and now a captain, he’s had to embrace being more of a leader.
Patriots center Garrett Bradbury has had a front-row seat for Maye’s Year 2 growth. He loves what he’s seen from Maye, and how he’s been able to handle everything that’s been thrown on his plate.
At the same time, Bradbury cautioned that it took a bit of time for Brady to have all the answers to the test, and master that pre-snap ability.
Maye isn’t anywhere near that level. But he’s making progress.
Bradbury believes Maye being in McDaniels system will promote that growth.
“It starts with Coach McDaniels. His system is set up where there’s a lot on the quarterback’s plate,” Bradbury said. “But, at the same time, with all of that on their plate, when they do understand it, they can be quick.
“I’d say, so far, I’ve been really impressed (with Drake),” he added. “This is the most I’ve seen a quarterback have on his plate in my 7-year career. And he’s doing a great job with it.”
There have been glimpses of Maye putting it all together, particularly in the joint practices against Washington and Minnesota. He looked confident in what he was doing, made quick reads and got rid of the football.
He wasn’t nearly as crisp, or speedy unloading the ball during the games.
“One of the reasons Brady had so much success is because he had all the answers to the test,” Bradbury said. “McDaniels and Brady worked together for I don’t know, a decade-plus. So they got to grow together. Experience is the most invaluable thing in this league, I think. The only knock on Drake is that he doesn’t have a ton of that.
“Now, do I see his processing and how quick he makes decisions? I think we need to get into games,” the veteran center went on. “Sunday is where it matters. Until you get into the flow of the game, and the big moments, that’s when you see players really come to life.”
Crosby is a game-wrecker. Depending on what side he lines up on Sunday, either rookie left tackle Will Campbell or veteran right tackle Morgan Moses are going to have their hands full trying to keep Maye safe. No doubt McDaniels will dial up some help to try and neutralize the Raiders edge rusher.
McDaniels is also familiar with the Raiders defense, and what they like to do with blitzers, etc., so he’ll be guiding his quarterback.
But the rest will be up to Maye. Getting up to the line, perusing the field, making quick decisions, and unloading the ball in an instant will help the cause.
“It starts with me getting the ball out on time, not holding it,” Maye said. “Don’t bypass the first guy open ... I think scheme, me just getting us in the right plays, knowing when (Crosby is) one-on-one and knowing when we have help to him. From there, just like I said, follow our keys and know if it’s the emphasis for us this week, then just follow that and stay true to it.”
Quickly hitting the open guy. That worked for Brady. It can work for Maye, too.
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