Bedard: Team thinks Maye has made a huge leap forward this offseason.

[Diffs4]

Can we stop comparing this kid to the greatest QB of all time. That is a ridiculous bar to use. Drake was awesome last year, and I do expect him to be better this year. His biggest issue is he does not like to check the ball down, he was always looking to push the ball down the field. I think he looks at this as a negative. He needs to change that mindset, it is not a negative to take a checkdown and avoid a sack. Even throwing the ball away will be helpful. I appreciate how tough he is, and that he is always looking to make a play. This led to the highest yards per attempt in the NFL last year at 8.9 which is great, but it tends to lead to sacks as well. The next highest was Sam Darnold at 8.5 so maybe this stat is indicative of being a good team. It is a trade off of sorts, but I would take less sacks and a little less YPA. This is really important when playing very good defenses, which is all he saw in the playoffs.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I bet Josh and Drake have sat down and went over the entire season, especially the playoffs. I am certain Drake knows his shortcomings better than anyone on this board. I expect his deficiencies from last year will be improved upon (not saying they turn to strengths) but I bet we will see a difference in his pocket awareness, internal clock and ball distribution towards the check down. He is still developing, its not the finished product, he hasn't hit his ceiling. He is a competitor (watch all the videos about him talking about growing up with his brothers and hating losing) and he is smart (watch how he wow'd Daboll prior to the draft interviewing with the Giants) so I fully expect to see him continue to grow and improve.

 

[Real fan 02]

I bet Josh and Drake have sat down and went over the entire season, especially the playoffs. I am certain Drake knows his shortcomings better than anyone on this board. I expect his deficiencies from last year will be improved upon (not saying they turn to strengths) but I bet we will see a difference in his pocket awareness, internal clock and ball distribution towards the check down. He is still developing, its not the finished product, he hasn't hit his ceiling. He is a competitor (watch all the videos about him talking about growing up with his brothers and hating losing) and he is smart (watch how he wow'd Daboll prior to the draft interviewing with the Giants) so I fully expect to see him continue to grow and improve.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I assume Maye is the real deal and will take another step forward this year. But I also am aware that a lot of fans on other teams think Maye was the schedule last year and don't believe he's one of the better real franchise quarterbacks yet. I've also seen Pats fans and Pats reporters feel incredulous that anyone could think that way about Maye. I think this is a prove it season, where Maye cements himself as a legit top 10 QB or he'll continue to be questioned, like Herbert.

Maye already proved himself to me, I could care less what other fans and the douchebag talking heads say.

 

[moosekill]

He was missing everyone in the SB, not even close on most of his throws. Did nothing until garbage time.

And his shoulder was injured as reported

 

[n1997y]

Some things of note here regarding Drake.. he saw some top 5 defensive fronts in the postseason that will undoubtedly help him this season..

Even brady who waa a seasoned veteran with rings had his struggles in the playoffs against some serious pass rusher defenses.. Denver, Ravens the 2010 jets defense for example.

All the noise about the weak schedule last season obscures the fact that the last four games were not against weak teams. Those were playoff caliber teams, by definition.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Maye is turning heads in the film room

We will absolutely win more games that are played in the film room.

(Sorry... you just did the best set-up for a curmudgeon response.) Another guy I liked was adding to our football expertise by telling Maye to cut his int.s from 8 to 6, his sacks from 47 to 20, etc. Okay well thanks for the 40,000-foot view of statistical output wishes. From your keyboard to God's monitor.

To clarify where I am... I love reading this speculation on improvement, and it deeply satisfies the narrative I've been cooking up for my own personal consumption -- that we will be improved just by growth in-system. I counted Campbell playing with both legs, and accustomed to a full 20-game season, as another piece of this improvement. Yay, let's make leaps.

But DM's problems came in real games with real defenses on the other side of the ball with a strong desire to rip his head off.... so, sadly, I'm in the "Love what I'm reading, can't wait for September" camp. Love what I'm seeing/reading and reminding myself repeatedly that we need to see results in games against defenses.

One reality that's setting in for me is that we have the rights on paper to construct a deep, talented group at WR, but that head-case receivers are head-case receivers. You're only as good as their diagnoses. If I hear one more mothersfather, to use basic cable dubbing terminology, saying "wahhh why don't we have a true number 1 receiver" I will slit my effin wrists. Brown comes with issues, Boutte has issues about contributing/competing in his contract year, only Doubs isn't whining. I mean, has Boutte seen a Patriots box score? Does he remember his playoffs? Everybody eats, if you shut up and wait for the lazy susan to rotate your way. With a little humility you can get a ring, prove your thesis in the contract year, fight for the payday and get it. Even if that doesn't work you can STFU and get a payday just by being a role player who's over himself.

My newfound pissiness about Boutte is due to Rob's reminders about a couple of Boutte stories I didn't see. Now I'm like...



But that brilliant, deep WR corps that we've built by brilliant drafting (nice to read myself typing that) and (projected) aggressive FA moves -- actually one or two improvements at the top, with the cascade of improvement expressed in move-downs on the depth chart -- is limited by exactly this phenomenon: guys not wanting to be role players until they can shine. Yes, you'll get your shots in your contract year, unless you're afraid of proving you're a number 1 or at least a 2.

This is the NFL. You have to win your dream job, and news flash, you have to win your second-choice job too.

Okay, that said.

I love reading that we are, indeed, about to see another leap in Drake's development. It's nice that at least one of the head cases we're counting on is afraid of being just a 3rd option longball hitter in a crowded longball room... but Drake's improvement will come through quick hits, functioning screens, and intermediate/crossing routes.

What we might want/need is a Hollins replacement (so that Pop isn't holding down the slot alone in future years.) If you want to kill us with pressure, the way to make a team pay is the short/intermediate game. And that's how you improve the total DM package, in the short/middle game. Carving up attacking defenses when you find the drive-killing sacks are destroying your famous long-ball capability.

Also put me on record as favoring an electric shock administered whenever Maye pats the ball in practice.

Sorry, early morning ramble combined with being starved for football rather than "people say" news about football.
/rant

 

[RxJock1120]

We will absolutely win more games that are played in the film room.

(Sorry... you just did the best set-up for a curmudgeon response.)

Every battle is won or lost before its ever fought. -- Sun Tsu (i think...)

 

[Huckleberry1]

Blah blah blah...

Ebb could complete every pass he throws from Week 1 through Thanksgiving weekend and it won"t mean jack ****ing squat to me until the temperatures drop to below freezing; then we'll see about those great leaps forward...

Great. Shut your piehole until then.

 

[Real fan 02]

All the noise about the weak schedule last season obscures the fact that the last four games were not against weak teams. Those were playoff caliber teams, by definition.

Absolutely correct and he beat all but one.. many forget the fact brady had his struggles in the postseason even against some top 5 fronts.. Drake will undoubtedly be benefitted from having experienced this.. especially winning at dinner in all those conditions with that relentless front..

 

[Thelonious]

He does definitely look thicker. Hopefully its beef and not baby fat related to his charming wife's pastries.

I'd be shocked, barring injury, if he were not better. His stats might be suppressed by stiffer competition, but this will be offset to some degree by a better o-line and better skill players (cross them fingers) around him.

(Tough, ain't it, to talk about football when there is absolutely nothing to talk about, unless you're into sex gossip and feel an unmanly need for further discussion of Vrabel's peccadilloes.)

 

[Real fan 02]

He does definitely look thicker. Hopefully its beef and not baby fat related to his charming wife's pastries.

I'd be shocked, barring injury, if he were not better. His stats might be suppressed by stiffer competition, but this will be offset to some degree by a better o-line and better skill players (cross them fingers) around him.

(Tough, ain't it, to talk about football when there is absolutely nothing to talk about, unless you're into sex gossip and feel an unmanly need for further discussion of Vrabel's peccadilloes.)

They will be centered on running the ball more efficiently and effectively that will take pressure of Drake having to do everything. As we all know running the ball allows the offense to control the time of possession and Drake can stay in play action..

 

[Thelonious]

They will be centered on running the ball more efficiently and effectively that will take pressure of Drake having to do everything. As we all know running the ball allows the offense to control the time of possession and Drake can stay in play action..

It's been a while since we have had a running and a passing game which were genuinely complementary at a high level. I hope our RB room is good enough to achieve that this year. I find Rhamondre very inconsistent. I do not dispute what he can do, but I do criticize what he does do. Average it all out, I don't really think he rates much higher than mediocre. I wish we had drafted a hot prospect at the position, frankly. I donlt see at this point that we did. I'd love to be wrong.

 

[Thelonious]

Can we stop comparing this kid to the greatest QB of all time.

I kinda doubt it, to be honest. But then I'd rather read that sort of fanboy blither than further asinine pontificating over Vrabel's sexual indiscretions, as if that matters .

 

[Real fan 02]

It's been a while since we have had a running and a passing game which were genuinely complementary at a high level. I hope our RB room is good enough to achieve that this year. I find Rhamondre very inconsistent. I do not dispute what he can do, but I do criticize what he does do. Average it all out, I don't really think he rates much higher than mediocre. I wish we had drafted a hot prospect at the position, frankly. I donlt see at this point that we did. I'd love to be wrong.

Fair enough. Rham is a solid back and the combination of he and Henderson compliment each other.. I do also like the jam Miller pick up as well to add depth. The offensive line had been such a problem for years and now it's seeming like it's finally upgraded adding a real fullback like Gilliam and a blocking TE like hill were huge additions to the trenches as well as OG Vera Tucker of course. We could run last season but had issues on 3rd and short, goal line and 3rd down running the ball. Those areas should see a vast improvement.