Patriots QB Drake Maye
Q: Drake, just a thought on what your reaction was to getting news of your first NFL start, and how excited are you, and how ready are you for this opportunity?
DM: Yeah, I think it’s a great opportunity. It’s something you dream of, getting your first start in the NFL. I’m really excited to get out there with the guys, take advantage of having the full week to get prepared, and try to put my best foot forward to help the team win.
Q: Drake, you just said the word opportunity. It is a big opportunity. How much more comfortable are you now, several weeks into the season, from having watched and learned a little bit about the system, to take advantage of this opportunity than maybe you would have been earlier in the season?
DM: Yeah, now we’re in week six. I had five games of sitting on the sideline hearing the play calls, preparing for the game, preparing for a Thursday night game versus preparing for a Sunday afternoon game. I feel like we’ve balanced a lot of different things throughout the week, how to prepare, and just trying to tag along from Jacoby [Brissett], a veteran in this league who does a great job. I’ve learned so much from him and seeing how he goes about practice. That’s been the best thing of watching Jacoby and watching how he handles the whole nine yards, whether it’s preparing, handling teammates, handling y’all [laughs]. He’s been great, and a great mentor.
Q: Drake, how much input have you had in the offense’s changes moving forward and or the game plan coming up for Sunday?
DM: I think the biggest thing is me playing on time, playing in rhythm, and trusting the guys around me. I think the game plan is not going to change. I think obviously you got a rookie quarterback going out there, but at the same time, what we do on offense is what we do on offense. So, not trying to give too many hints towards game plan. We got a game to play Sunday, but just looking forward to it.
Q: Have you just had any input of like, ‘I like these concepts or plays’ or things of that nature?
DM: Yeah, that happens every week. AVP [Alex Van Pelt] comes to us at the end of the week, and he came to Jacoby the first five weeks, seeing what he liked and hey, ‘this is my favorite third down or my favorite drop back.’ We do that every week.
Q: Jerod Mayo mentioned that you have the capability to make off-schedule plays, off-platform plays. When things break down, you can create. We’ve all seen that on tape. How do you balance that from this first start going against an NFL team whose game plan for you is not preseason, and they’re a very good pass rush? How will you process being careful and being a playmaker?
DM: Yeah, I think early on, just try to take what they give me, and find completions. I think that’s the biggest thing for a young quarterback going in there. Then from there, just don’t try to hunt up off-platform, off-play, off-schedule throws. I think just feel it out and play football.
Q: Let it come to you?
DM: Yeah, I think the biggest thing sometimes is you try to get outside the pocket when you don’t need to, and little things like that. So just play within the pocket, trust my feet, and go out there and play.
Q: Drake, where do you feel like you’ve grown the most so far this season with the Patriots?
DM: Yeah, I think, really, what comes with learning the NFL quarterback, and what comes with the title. Handling leadership, learning from Jacoby, what he’s done, he’s a great leader. He’s one of our biggest leaders on the team. The verbiage of calling the huddles, I just had my first walk-through and felt pretty good with the verbiage there. Other than that, I’m excited for these guys. I think it’s an opportunity against a good football team to go out there and prove people wrong.
Q: Can you describe what the conversation was like between you and Jacoby after you got the news, and what the message has been from him?
DM: Jacoby, he’s the ideal teammate, the ideal guy to be in the room with as a quarterback. I think the biggest thing is you hate it for him. I think Jacoby fought his butt off, got up every time he was getting hit. Not only that, he just kept that mindset of, ‘hey, it’s going to be the next play. Got this drive coming.’ Seeing him on the sideline, it was the positive vibes he kept and brought to this team and will still bring to this team. He’s a great mentor, a great friend, and I was trying to do everything I can to help him, and I’m sure he’ll do the same.
Q: Drake, about watching Jacoby in games. Looking at you on the sideline, it seemed like oftentimes, your vantage point was down the sideline. What were you gaining from that point of view, and how did it match up with what you were seeing and what you saw on video?
DM: Yeah, down the sideline, you get more of a view of the defensive structure, trying to see techniques up front from the defensive line, trying to see safeties, and trying to see back-end stuff. At the same time, you get the back view of what the quarterback’s thinking. I try to do that, or try to stand behind Jacoby. I think that was my mindset, trying to get a feel of playing back there behind him, what it would be like, and you don’t get a great view as you do in practice standing right behind him. I’m just trying to replicate that and play the game while I’m on the sideline.
Q: You played some of the best quarterbacks in the league on the scout team. I was wondering, are there any specific lessons you were able to learn from emulating [Joe] Burrow, [Aaron] Rodgers, or any of those guys?
DM: Yeah, I think the timing they play with, and the routes. I think our defensive coaches speak on that, the rhythm, the timing of ‘hey, this ball is thrown before the look-in,’ anticipation, and throwing guys open. I think that’s the biggest thing that I’ve tried to take in the new scout team. Trying to throw guys open, and throw a ball that I may not have had in my life before if I see something. I think that’s the biggest thing. On the scout team, we’ve repped some pretty good quarterbacks and some fun offenses to throw the football in on scout. It’s been cool to see how similar the offenses are, some stuff that we have, and some stuff they do differently. It’s been pretty cool.
Q: Drake, did you feel over the last couple weeks that this was heading in the direction that it did this week? Did you maybe get more reps in practice? Did you just feel like you were heading in this direction to start this week this early?
DM: Really, I was just trying to prepare and try to stay ready every week. I think that’s the thing about this league. You never know when your number is going to get called, so try to stay ready. Like I said earlier, Jacoby, I think he did all he could. I think he battled his butt off and was a great leader. I think the biggest thing is it’s a winning league. We’re sitting here at one and four, and I think those guys around here want to win.
Q: Drake, what do you expect of yourself on Sunday?
DM: Yeah, I think I’ll go out there and try to make some plays. I think the biggest thing, I was telling some of those guys, it’s probably going to be a little nervous at the beginning. I think once we settle down, we have a chance to move the football and just have fun out there. It goes back to having fun going out there. That’s what this game is about. Don’t make it too big, or the spotlight too big. Just go out there with those guys that we’ve been battling for three months since training camp, go out there and try to make some plays.
Q: How about a thought on opening at home in front of the fans here, and also will you have an entire Maye family section coming to the game?
DM: Yeah, I think a few of my brothers and my parents will be here, but nothing in particular. I think it’ll be pretty sweet in the red throwbacks. I think that’ll be pretty cool to get out there in my first start, and especially in front of these fans. I think Patriots fans are the best fans in the league, and I’m looking forward to playing at Gillette in front of them. Thanks y’all.
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