Drake Maye All-22 Review
I usually do the receivers and QB in the same post but there were so many more pass plays this week and really want to talk about Drake!
Will get the bad plays and couple of maybe not great plays out of the way.
-Interception, just an overthrow, when he misses it will be high, just how this type of thrower throws the ball, same as Herbert. Can work on some release mechanics in the off-season to minimize that more.
-Ball tipped on HH comeback route, no interference because tipped but Henry was held at top of route, delaying the comeback and the pass. Should have been a hold before the pass.
-He threw behind Hooper in a cross, maybe he was sitting Hooper down to not get crushed but think he just did no lead him properly. Was third down and was going to be hit as soon as caught so no different result than a punt but bad throw.
-Sack Fumble play. This is solely bad because he fumbles, he was on his 3rd or 4th read going from all the way right to all the way left and had a small window to Boutte on a comeback, hit as he tried to get it out.
-Had DD over the middle, clean pocket, led him just a bit too much. He had to lead him as CB was trailing and did not want him to undercut him but he led him too much.
-In 4th quarter had a throw to a rb out wide left about 10 yards and threw it too wide to be caught. Again, wanted to lead him away from the defender but was way too much.
-The pick on the batted swing pass. The Tackle is supposed to get the DE down, he gets him to put his hands down, but he recovers to get back vertical and deflect the pass. Seen this play go for picks the other way, don't love this play. It is designed for a quick throw so you want to line drive it, Maye could have adjusted to a more touch throw but would make receivers hold blocks longer than they want. When he started to throw looked like DE was going down, Maye should have given it more loft but honestly just a real good defensive play, happens.
-There was the throw a bit behind DD, and another a bit high. They got lots of yardage on these, yeah the crosser left some yards due to being behind him but if receiver gets 2 hands on the ball and positive yards not calling it bad, calling it could be better.
OK, LET'S GET TO THE GOOD!
-I found 1, yes 1 and only 1 bad read. He took a sack trying to move out of pocket when he had 2 receivers over middle open to dump to. Of course, there are always multiple decisions on some plays that would work and there were a few he had other options. For example, he had DD open on a crosser, threw the TD to Boutte instead. Time running out, wanted a shot play, first read, that's the right read and play and was a TD. The crosser was easier but now time is almost out, and you might have 1-2 plays max. Most QB's would take the crosser.
-I need to re-iterate the ability to go thru reads and see the field is already elite. I thought it was a very good talent that he possessed from college tape. I have not watched another QB on tape this year that was as high a success rate as Maye was in making the proper decision on who to throw to and when to run. It was impressive.
-Highlight some good to elite throws. First in 2nd quarter 1st and 10 at own 10, hits Boutte on an in-cut, from far hash, has a yard or 2 on DB but Maye just does a quick middle lookoff, then back to right and throws a bullet in perfect location.
-30 Seconds in half, TD drive, 2nd and 8 on own 18, first 2 reads covered, 3rd read middle covered, gets to 4th read all the way back on right, so scanned left to right, on far hash, getting hit, can't step into throw, hits DD, 22-yard gain with the YAC added. This is as Elite as you can get from a QB. Are there 10 QB's in the NFL that can make this play? Most absolutely could not and would not. 4 reads in 2.55 seconds once ball is in his hands. This play might be one of the best QB plays of the year by any QB. This ONE play tells you Drake Maye will be a top 5 QB in the NFL.
-He followed that with a good comeback throw to Polk that he dropped
-The TD bomb, he released it when Boutte was on the 28, caught when Boutte was on the 3, in stride. How many QB;'s make that play? The list is less than you think, Maye was the best college deep ball thrower I'd scouted in the last decade. That's an elite throw. To make that throw and the earlier play on the same drive is as good as it gets from a QB.
-Highlight 2 more great throws: First drive after DD crosser TD pass. This is the Boutte pass to the sidelines in between defenders. He had TE in the flat to same side, sees the zone defender CB move back towards Boutte, so pump fakes to TE, CB jumps up and he goes back to where CB would have been, drills pass from middle of hashes to Boutte 21 yards in the air, rapid release, my goodness it was a thing of beauty. A third absolute elite top 5 NFL talent QB play. Then last 4th down play of the game threw and out to DD, threw it on the break, the CB was underneath, but from far hash to sideline kept it out far enough where CB could not undercut. This throw is one only strong-arm QB's can make. This is a great tight window throw.
I think he was a little nervous to start but I think, Moreso, is he had a ton of adrenaline, overshooting a bit due to being a bit hyped. More calm in the second half.
One of the things that set Maye apart from Daniels and Williams on tape from college, and also today in the NFL, was you have many plays where you question the decision, where guys are open and they don't see them. I thought Maye was going to come in top 10 NFL in terms of processing, but he looks much better than that not having the horrible OC from UNC anymore.
I obvious loved Maye since he declared for the draft but I thought the tape of this game would show a mediocre performance. I was wrong. You can't get a sense of how elite some of his plays were until you watch tape. Should I worry about the picks, fumble and a couple missed throws? Since he did not do that regularly in college, I'll stick with not a long-term concern.
One interesting note: If you swapped the drop % in 2023 of Williams and Maye, Maye would have had 66.35% complete, Williams would have been at 64.97%. Yet Williams was talked about as extremely accurate and Maye as inaccurate, huh?
Excited for the future of the Pats! Just get him a healthy group of linemen and 1 more good receiver and we will put up 30 a game next year.
Will get to receivers in next Post. Polk probably not happy to hear that! LOL
I highly recommend watching this review also
