FOXBOROUGH - Drake Maye looked terrific in Wednesday’s joint practice against Washington.
During Friday night’s 48-18 rout of the Commanders, not so much.
Basically, the Patriots quarterback did the one thing Mike Vrabel has been trying to eliminate from his game. He turned the ball over.
During the first offensive series of the game for the Patriots, on a third down play from the 45, Maye held on to the ball too long, then fumbled as he was being taken down by Jer’Zhan Newton.
The play drew the ire of Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
“That’s a bad decision,” Vrabel said. “I think we’re going to need better from him. I think he knows that. That’s obvious. It wasn’t there. We just have to find a way to get rid of the football or take a sack and punt and play defense.”
Maye had fumbled the ball nine times last season to go along with 10 interceptions, so that wasn’t the best way to start.
Pressure came from the left side with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson getting a bit tangled. Still, Maye had plenty of opportunity to get rid of the ball and just didn’t get the job done.
Maye, who completed 3-of-5 passes during the two series he was in, was well aware he made the kind of mistake he needs to eliminate from his game.
“You got a little bit of a drive going. Third down. Yeah, just can’t do that on my first time out,” Maye said. “Glad we responded well that next drive. Same time, I’m glad it’s something that I can control.”
Vrabel has been harping on cleaning up the mistakes, eliminating fumbles, and playing clean football. During training camp, Maye has taken steps to improve in that area both as a runner, and passer.
It was a bad look having him cough up the football the first series of the first preseason game.
“At the end of the day, you just can’t put the defense in that position when games matter during the season,” Maye said. “I told those guys it’s on me. We got to get back out there. Glad I was able to get another series going.”
Maye did lead an 8-play, 61-yard scoring drive which culminated with him scrambling in from five yards out.
But the passing game didn’t really get going. All of Maye’s completions went to running back TreVeyon Henderson.
“Obviously, wish you could have hit some more passes,” he said. “At the same thought, we were running the ball well all night.”
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