Patriots QB Drake Maye
PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
PRESS CONFERENCE
November 26, 2024
Q: Drake, I’m going to start with a simple question, just kind of at Thanksgiving, what you’re thankful for as you celebrate?
DM: No doubt. Yeah, I’m blessed. I’m thankful for a bunch of things. I’ve got a great family, at a great spot in my life, just trying to take advantage of the opportunities that I have. I’m grateful for this team, this organization. I’m grateful to the good Lord and blessed for all that He’s given to me and His purpose. So, just trying to live through that, just thankful for good people and thankful for getting the opportunity this Sunday.
Q: Drake, it seemed like there were some inconsistencies or missed opportunities against the blitz in Miami. Now that you’ve gotten to watch the film and talk to the guys, I was wondering, what do you think were the biggest issues that popped up?
DM: I think the biggest thing is just being on the same page. I think these guys are working hard during the week, and I feel like we’re putting some good practices together. I think we’ve just got to translate it to the field. I think it’s different when those reps do count, and I think it’s something we’ll figure out. I think we’ve been good against the blitz in my time since I kind of became the starter, so I don’t think it’s something that we’re going to over-harp about. I think sometimes you catch them in some things, try to exploit their blitzes and from there, just try to get the ball out. I’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball out and getting it out faster.
Q: How would you describe your mindset after that game, where it’s obviously one of the more difficult ones you’ve had as a starter? Is it frustrated? Is it angry? How would you kind of put it for yourself?
DM: No doubt. It’s frustrating. When you’re out there and you’ve got a goose egg on the scoreboard for most of the game – and you feel like you’re moving the ball, you’re just kind of hurting ourselves offensively. So, I think just the mindset of keep going. Keep going. We’re going to filter some things out and figure it out. We’ve been moving the ball this year, so we’ve just got to stop hurting ourselves, whether it’s in the red zone hurting ourselves or starting possessions on first down. So, I think we’ve got the right guys in there that can make some plays, and it’s got to be a better job on my part of giving the football and getting the ball out faster to help the guys up front.
Q: Drake, with some of the turnovers, it seems like some of them are when you’re trailing, trying to make a play. Are you confident that you’ll be able to curb some of the turnovers when those aren’t the situations that you’re in?
DM: Yeah, I think I’m not too worried about turnovers. Obviously, putting the ball in harm’s way is a big emphasis for a football team as a quarterback. But I think when you’re trying to fight back, you’re trying to make some plays, some of them happen. But I do think, back on my statement, I am worried about turning the football over. That’s a problem. But at the end of the day, you can’t turn the football over, especially – I think we’re losing the turnover margin in most of the games with me back there, so that’s something I need to improve on.
Q: Drake, you had that big running game against Tennessee a few weeks ago, 95 yards. Does it seem like teams are really making an effort to try to take that element out of the game in the last few weeks?
DM: I haven’t noticed too much. I think based on the game plan and certain down and distances, we’re kind of fighting against the chains. Backed up, it’s a little harder to –defenders sitting back in some zone and little things like that. So, just try to take advantage of when the opportunities do come, but we’re not really trying to hunt it up, just trying to take care of my body. At the same time, when they are there, I’m still not afraid to go make a play.
Q: Drake, from your first two, three starts to the last three weeks, how have you seen defenses adjust and play you more recently?
DM: I think just bringing different guys. I think kind of bringing guys externally and trying to do some different things to kind of either make me hot, make me throw hot or little things like that. So, I think I’m just trying to see different experiences, learn from them, just go about the next week and hopefully not be a repeat offender. That’s what AVP [Alex Van Pelt] preaches and Coach [Jerod] Mayo. So, that’s my biggest thing. From that, defensively, just got to be able to run the football. Like I said, getting behind the chains is hard. We need to establish the run; that helps us down the road in play-action, throwing on first down to mix it up. So, little things like that.
Q: Drake, this time of year, you hear about the rookie wall sometimes. Is that something that’s talked about at all, or is that really not something you can worry about?
DM: Rookie wall for me, really, as a starting quarterback, I don’t really think a rookie wall is going to hit me. I think by this time, everybody is going through some type of injury, tired or something like that. So, what an opportunity to be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, so really no rookie wall for me.
Q: When it comes to getting the run game going, Drake, Jerod said – I think it was about a week ago or so – we’re going to start putting more on your plate when he was asked about designed quarterback runs, separate from the scrambles that you might do sort of on-script. How would you like that if that was starting to be incorporated into the Patriots offense? Is it something that you would lobby for?
DM: No doubt. I think there’s a time and place for it. I think third-and-short yardage, down in the red zone, goal line, maybe a QB draw or something like that. I think there’s definitely a place for that. You can kind of keep defenders and defenses on their toes with mixing it up. I’ve just got to do my part of getting down once I do get the yardage, but I definitely think there’s a time and place for it. But at the same time, I think getting the ball to Rhamondre [Stevenson], AG [Antonio Gibson] and [JaMycal] Hasty’s hands is better than mine.
Q: Drake, the NFL reinstated Jabrill Peppers. As his teammate, how do you feel about that?
DM: I’m glad to have him back in the building. Jabrill’s situation is – waiting for him to speak on it, so I’m just glad to have him back, and he’s a great player.
Q: Drake, Coach Mack Brown was let go this morning from North Carolina. Just a thought on what he meant to you in your time down there.
DM: Coach Brown meant the world to me. He’s probably the main reason I went to North Carolina. Hall of Fame coach. He’s done it, and he’s such a player’s coach. I saw the news and hate it for him. I love Coach and appreciate what he did for me, but I know he left it all out there and he’s got no regrets.
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