The Patriots didn’t always win when they were practicing against the Minnesota Vikings this week.
The offensive line didn’t always block. The wide receivers didn’t always separate. At times, the Vikings defense looked furious.
But none of that stopped Drake Maye.
The Patriots’ young quarterback showed growth and maturity this week in Minnesota. He showed some of that in Saturday’s preseason win over the Vikings. His play against a tough scheme left Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels impressed and excited for the future of the Patriots.
Speaking to WBZ during Saturday’s game, McDaniels said Patriots fans should share his enthusiasm.
“I was really excited about the way he handled those practices this week,” McDaniels said. “Practice by nature is always difficult because you put yourself in a scenario where you run the same thing over and over again. That’s not really how a football game goes. There were a lot of long yardage situations that he had to handle. A lot of 2-minute drills. A lot of difficult low-red zone situations that he was a part of. I think we saw a lot of growth from him.”
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores showed off an exotic scheme this week in joint practices. His blitz schemes were unpredictable and, at times, gave the Patriots offensive line a lot of issues.
There was a point in Wednesday’s practice that Maye was sacked three times in four plays. The quarterback was sacked six times that day. Then on Thursday, the Vikings sacked Maye five times. That included twice in three snaps to start a 2-minute drill.
Maye ended up getting the last laugh, however, as he connected with Kayshon Boutte on a Hail Mary touchdown to end joint practices on a high note.
This week, Maye completed 67 percent of his passes (26-of-39) in two joint practices. Even more impressive is that the quarterback stayed turnover-free.
“He did a great job taking care of the football, had great poise,” McDaniels said. “And there’s not going to be a more difficult defense to have to deal with before the ball is snapped – and then combine that with how good they are after the ball is snapped. Really excited about where he’s going, where he’s headed. I love the way he works. Love the way he approaches every day. Patriot Nation should be excited, too.”
On Saturday, Patriots fans got a brief look at Maye in McDaniels’ system. In the first drive, he completed 2-of-4 passes for 20 yards. Maye wasn’t perfect as he missed an open DeMario Douglas – and was nearly intercepted. That series ended with a really nice pass from Maye that was deflected by Vikings linebacker Kobe King.
Maye played that deep pass right in the hands of TreVeyon Henderson, who ran a wheel route up the left sideline, before it was broken up.
“I want to win,” Maye said after the game in Minnesota. “I missed Pop high. He was wide open sitting in a zone out there. There’s a couple plays we should have back, but I thought the guys up front blocked well. It’s preseason, but these guys are still trying to tackle us and stop us. We’re trying to go down and score.”
In the second drive, he went 2-of-3 for 26 yards. He hit Hollins for a gain of 6 and then used his athleticism on third-and-3, when he rolled out to the right. That allowed Hollins to break free, and the quarterback hit him for a 20-yard gain.
That drive was capped off with a Henderson touchdown run, and Maye’s day was over. He finished 4-of-7 with 46 yards in the team’s second preseason game.
“The Vikings, what they put in last year, and the regular season they have and the talent they have back, it’s great for us to go up for two days of practice and then come out here and finish off a preseason game,” Maye said on Saturday. “I thought it was good work. Good for us to see different stuff, see different defenses, see different talent. Coach Flores does some good stuff on defense, so it’s good for us to see the stuff he does and learn from it and carry it into the regular season.”
With one preseason game left, next Thursday, it wouldn’t be surprising if Maye doesn’t play. After hearing what McDaniels said, it would seem that the Patriots have seen enough from this second-year quarterback.
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