The New England Patriots’ voluntary offseason program moved into a new phase this week as organized team activities shift to full-team drills Wednesday, though players will not be in full pads, according to the report.
Veteran tight end Hunter Henry highlighted what he sees as an overlooked advantage for quarterback Drake Maye entering Year 2 in coordinator Josh McDaniels’ system. “I think the underrated thing he has this year is obviously going into Year 2 in the system is big,” Henry said. “This system demands a lot on the quarterback position.”
Maye was the MVP runner-up last season in his first year under McDaniels, completing 72% of his passes with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the regular season before his production dipped in the playoffs against some of the league’s top defenses, according to the report.
Former NFL quarterback Brian Hoyer said a second season in McDaniels’ offense should speed Maye’s processing. “I always knew the ‘what’ early on in my career, but understanding the ‘why’ came with time,” Hoyer said. He added Maye’s athleticism remains a “wild card,” and that greater familiarity with the scheme should make that trait an even larger weapon.
Hoyer also noted Maye struggled at times in last year’s OTAs and training camp and that early-season growing pains prompted questions about how much the rookie had to absorb. Hoyer quoted McDaniels’ advice about learning the playbook: “You can only do one bite at a time,” and called Maye’s growth from the previous May to the Super Bowl “really remarkable.”
Newcomers have also noticed Maye’s command of the offense; fullback Reggie Gilliam said he met with Maye to go over schemes after the first voluntary workout, and receiver Romeo Doubs praised Maye as “very poised” and “very energetic.” McDaniels told teammates that opponents challenged Maye with varied looks late in the season — the Patriots beat the New York Giants 33-15 the following week, with Maye connecting on a 33-yard touchdown — and Maye’s continued improvement is a leading reason for optimism as New England faces a tougher slate that includes seven of its first 11 games on the road, according to the report.
