Patriots about to make a BIG mistake?

[PatMan]

It's been a theory of mine for the last several seasons that the Patriots have an internal policy of telegraphing every big move they make by teasing it through the Boston sports media before it happens. This allows them to gauge fans initial response and then proceed to build popular momentum for any big move so that it's palatable to the fanbase by the time it happens. This way ownership takes minimal criticism and the all important bottom line remains unimpacted.
I'll leave historical examples of this behavior for another thread, because what I really want to talk about is the 180 the media pulled after the Eagles preseason game...

Every other article I've read out of Boston Media outlets (and sports radio) is favorably reciting the same talking points about Drake Maye's performance against the Eagles and his "progression" in the "competition" for QB 1. If you only read the media and didn't watch the game you'd think he must have had an exceptional outing.

REALITY: Maye went 6/11 throwing for 47 yards, with no TD's, no Int's, and took a sack. He averaged 4.3 yards per passing attempt and had a QB rating of... 65.3 He RAN the ball 4 times and scored a touchdown... This was in a preseason game where every defense is vanilla and no one is game-planning and to put it into perspective our more-than-likely starter put up a stat line reminiscent of Tim Tebow...

Drake Maye is going to start... He's going to start this season... And he'll probably start in the first four weeks of the season (potentially game 1). I say this just based on what the media and now Jerod Mayo have started to intimate, because I've seen this media about-face and blitz too many times in the last three years to expect anything but follow through...

I can't overstate how big a mistake this would be... This Rookie QB should be brought along as the final complimentary piece of an already seasoned offense, not asked to carry the worst offensive line and receiving group in the NFL mere months after battling the likes Campbell, Appalachian state, and Duke...

What do you think about him starting this season - or even game 1?

 

[Grogan14]

It's been a theory of mine for the last several seasons that the Patriots have an internal policy of telegraphing every big move they make by teasing it through the Boston sports media before it happens. This allows them to gauge fans initial response and then proceed to build popular momentum for any big move so that it's palatable to the fanbase by the time it happens. This way ownership takes minimal criticism and the all important bottom line remains unimpacted.
I'll leave historical examples of this behavior for another thread, because what I really want to talk about is the 180 the media pulled after the Eagles preseason game...

Every other article I've read out of Boston Media outlets (and sports radio) is favorably reciting the same talking points about Drake Maye's performance against the Eagles and his "progression" in the "competition" for QB 1. If you only read the media and didn't watch the game you'd think he must have had an exceptional outing.

REALITY: Maye went 6/11 throwing for 47 yards, with no TD's, no Int's, and took a sack. He averaged 4.3 yards per passing attempt and had a QB rating of... 65.3 He RAN the ball 4 times and scored a touchdown... This was in a preseason game where every defense is vanilla and no one is game-planning and to put it into perspective our more-than-likely starter put up a stat line reminiscent of Tim Tebow...

Drake Maye is going to start... He's going to start this season... And he'll probably start in the first four weeks of the season (potentially game 1). I say this just based on what the media and now Jerod Mayo have started to intimate, because I've seen this media about-face and blitz too many times in the last three years to expect anything but follow through...

I can't overstate how big a mistake this would be... This Rookie QB should be brought along as the final complimentary piece of an already seasoned offense, not asked to carry the worst offensive line and receiving group in the NFL mere months after battling the likes Campbell, Appalachian state, and Duke...

What do you think about him starting this season - or even game 1?

If he starts games 1-6 he will get demolished lose his confidence and be a bust

 

[PatsFan2]

...

 

[Sicilian]

If he starts game 1 he will get demolished lose his conference and be a bust

Joe Burrow got sacked 14 times in his first three games, and 22 times in his first five. He got injured later that season, but no one would ever suggest he lost his confidence. He almost won the Super Bowl the very next season.

There are good reasons to sit Maye, at least for the first month or so, but good players don't get ruined by a handful of games.

 

[PatsFan2]

It's been a theory of mine for the last several seasons that the Patriots have an internal policy of telegraphing every big move they make by teasing it through the Boston sports media before it happens. This allows them to gauge fans initial response and then proceed to build popular momentum for any big move so that it's palatable to the fanbase by the time it happens. This way ownership takes minimal criticism and the all important bottom line remains unimpacted.
I'll leave historical examples of this behavior for another thread, because what I really want to talk about is the 180 the media pulled after the Eagles preseason game...

Every other article I've read out of Boston Media outlets (and sports radio) is favorably reciting the same talking points about Drake Maye's performance against the Eagles and his "progression" in the "competition" for QB 1. If you only read the media and didn't watch the game you'd think he must have had an exceptional outing.

REALITY: Maye went 6/11 throwing for 47 yards, with no TD's, no Int's, and took a sack. He averaged 4.3 yards per passing attempt and had a QB rating of... 65.3 He RAN the ball 4 times and scored a touchdown... This was in a preseason game where every defense is vanilla and no one is game-planning and to put it into perspective our more-than-likely starter put up a stat line reminiscent of Tim Tebow...

Drake Maye is going to start... He's going to start this season... And he'll probably start in the first four weeks of the season (potentially game 1). I say this just based on what the media and now Jerod Mayo have started to intimate, because I've seen this media about-face and blitz too many times in the last three years to expect anything but follow through...

I can't overstate how big a mistake this would be... This Rookie QB should be brought along as the final complimentary piece of an already seasoned offense, not asked to carry the worst offensive line and receiving group in the NFL mere months after battling the likes Campbell, Appalachian state, and Duke...

What do you think about him starting this season - or even game 1?

I have no problem with it...unless you would rather watch Limp Biscuit.

 

[PatsFan2]

If he starts game 1 he will get demolished lose his conference and be a bust

Biscuit too but we already know that.

 

[Steve102]

Bledsoe started his rookie year, he turned out alright.

 

[rochrist]

It's been a theory of mine for the last several seasons that the Patriots have an internal policy of telegraphing every big move they make by teasing it through the Boston sports media before it happens. This allows them to gauge fans initial response and then proceed to build popular momentum for any big move so that it's palatable to the fanbase by the time it happens. This way ownership takes minimal criticism and the all important bottom line remains unimpacted.
I'll leave historical examples of this behavior for another thread, because what I really want to talk about is the 180 the media pulled after the Eagles preseason game...

Every other article I've read out of Boston Media outlets (and sports radio) is favorably reciting the same talking points about Drake Maye's performance against the Eagles and his "progression" in the "competition" for QB 1. If you only read the media and didn't watch the game you'd think he must have had an exceptional outing.

REALITY: Maye went 6/11 throwing for 47 yards, with no TD's, no Int's, and took a sack. He averaged 4.3 yards per passing attempt and had a QB rating of... 65.3 He RAN the ball 4 times and scored a touchdown... This was in a preseason game where every defense is vanilla and no one is game-planning and to put it into perspective our more-than-likely starter put up a stat line reminiscent of Tim Tebow...

Drake Maye is going to start... He's going to start this season... And he'll probably start in the first four weeks of the season (potentially game 1). I say this just based on what the media and now Jerod Mayo have started to intimate, because I've seen this media about-face and blitz too many times in the last three years to expect anything but follow through...

I can't overstate how big a mistake this would be... This Rookie QB should be brought along as the final complimentary piece of an already seasoned offense, not asked to carry the worst offensive line and receiving group in the NFL mere months after battling the likes Campbell, Appalachian state, and Duke...

What do you think about him starting this season - or even game 1?

No. He isn't going to start game 1.

 

[rochrist]

Bledsoe started his rookie year, he turned out alright.

He threw 40 interceptions his first two seasons.

 

[PatsFan2]

Bledsoe started his rookie year, he turned out alright.

Mac 10 too.

 

[Steve102]

He threw 40 interceptions his first two seasons.

So will this kid. We need to be prepared. He's not going to be Tommy.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Joe Burrow got sacked 14 times in his first three games, and 22 times in his first five. He got injured later that season, but no one would ever suggest he lost his confidence. He almost won the Super Bowl the very next season.

There are good reasons to sit Maye, at least for the first month or so, but good players don't get ruined by a handful of games.

The flipside of that is the Texans' David Carr and Colts' Andrew Luck, who had opportunities to be great but got ruined by playing behind terrible offensive lines. I don't know that I have a strong opinion either way, but it kind of depends on how bad our line really is.

 

[hornetfb85]

Not sure I’ve seen anything from this front office that makes me think they really give a F*** what the fans think or want, or else we would have a different LT right now. They will do what they think is correct, right or wrong.

 

[Sicilian]

The flipside of that is the Texans' David Carr and Colts' Andrew Luck, who had opportunities to be great but got ruined by playing behind terrible offensive lines. I don't know that I have a strong opinion either way, but it kind of depends on how bad our line really is.

I'd push back a bit on Andrew Luck. He played three full seasons before missing a game, with an 11-5 record each year. He was certainly able to overcome a subpar OL, but the problem there wasn't year one... it was the fact they refused to address it year after year. If Drake Maye is still playing with Lowe at LT in year 3, yeah, you're not doing nearly enough for the kid. But if he's good (like Luck was), he'll fight through it as long as you don't drag your feet too long to make it better.

Carr is the example everyone points to, but it's interesting that there hasn't been another clear cut example since him. I think he's more outlier at this point, especially since he was sacked SEVENTY-SIX times. As rough as I think the OL is going to be this year, that's a number that can't be attributed just to an OL. Some of that has to be on the QB as well, or you never get to 76.

 

[Ross12]

So will this kid. We need to be prepared. He's not going to be Tommy.

Peyton was an interception machine in year 1, but that was a big outlier for him. Maye has actually been compared to Peyton a lot by analysts - many due to his processing ability, and some for his slight "happy feet" in the pocket. Wouldn't be surprised if Maye throws a fair # of interceptions because he can read the field but is not yet mentally fast enough to execute what he wants to do and his pass is just slightly too late, or goes up against some coverages he hasn't seen before and gets fooled. Those are growing pains that a young QB goes through though no matter when they start and he will improve over time.

 

[Wozzy]

They said everyone is playing in the third preseason game.

Let's see what they look like and how improved the offensive line is.

 

[Ian]

It's been a theory of mine for the last several seasons that the Patriots have an internal policy of telegraphing every big move they make by teasing it through the Boston sports media before it happens. This allows them to gauge fans initial response and then proceed to build popular momentum for any big move so that it's palatable to the fanbase by the time it happens. This way ownership takes minimal criticism and the all important bottom line remains unimpacted.
I'll leave historical examples of this behavior for another thread, because what I really want to talk about is the 180 the media pulled after the Eagles preseason game...

Every other article I've read out of Boston Media outlets (and sports radio) is favorably reciting the same talking points about Drake Maye's performance against the Eagles and his "progression" in the "competition" for QB 1. If you only read the media and didn't watch the game you'd think he must have had an exceptional outing.

REALITY: Maye went 6/11 throwing for 47 yards, with no TD's, no Int's, and took a sack. He averaged 4.3 yards per passing attempt and had a QB rating of... 65.3 He RAN the ball 4 times and scored a touchdown... This was in a preseason game where every defense is vanilla and no one is game-planning and to put it into perspective our more-than-likely starter put up a stat line reminiscent of Tim Tebow...

Drake Maye is going to start... He's going to start this season... And he'll probably start in the first four weeks of the season (potentially game 1). I say this just based on what the media and now Jerod Mayo have started to intimate, because I've seen this media about-face and blitz too many times in the last three years to expect anything but follow through...

I can't overstate how big a mistake this would be... This Rookie QB should be brought along as the final complimentary piece of an already seasoned offense, not asked to carry the worst offensive line and receiving group in the NFL mere months after battling the likes Campbell, Appalachian state, and Duke...

What do you think about him starting this season - or even game 1?

Lost in that 6-of-11 for 47 yards is the fact that he went 5-of-7 (71.4%) in the first half with his 47yds. He went 1-of-4 for 0 yards in the second half with two throwaways.

2024 New England Preseason Stats | Sortable 3rd Down, Red Zone Passing and Rushing Patriots Stats.

The only page with sortable 2024 3rd Down, Red Zone Passing and Rushing Patriots Stats for this preseason.

www.patsfans.com

After watching it, one of those second-half incompletions was obviously the drop on the deep ball to Baker, which would have been an unreal play had they completed it.



So there's definitely some context there.

Still, when it comes to him being out there to start the season, I thought Chris Hogan summed it up perfectly in the thing I wrote today:

“Dude, it’s the fricking preseason,” said Hogan. “He’s seeing cover three, cover two, cover four, man, there’s no multiple blitzes, man/zone, we’re not talking about that. Week one, that s**t is coming, right? And if you put Drake out there, it’s going to be a fricking field day of blitzes just to see if he can handle it. And you don’t want to do that to the kid.”

“Let Jacoby handle it. He’s seen it. And if Jacoby messes up, ‘All right, let’s go back and watch film,’ and Drake, again, mental reps are huge. Like, see it. ‘All right, they rolled here, they did this, they went from man to zone, they sent the corner,’ you’ve got to be able to see all this in real-time. And like you said, we don’t want to do week one and week two and then have to yank him.”

As much as I'd like to see Maye, I would have to agree with him and think it makes sense for Maye to sit a few weeks and see in real-time what he'll be dealing with so that he's a little more ready when his time does finally come.

 

[borg]

It's been a theory of mine for the last several seasons that the Patriots have an internal policy of telegraphing every big move they make by teasing it through the Boston sports media before it happens. This allows them to gauge fans initial response and then proceed to build popular momentum for any big move so that it's palatable to the fanbase by the time it happens. This way ownership takes minimal criticism and the all important bottom line remains unimpacted.
I'll leave historical examples of this behavior for another thread, because what I really want to talk about is the 180 the media pulled after the Eagles preseason game...

Every other article I've read out of Boston Media outlets (and sports radio) is favorably reciting the same talking points about Drake Maye's performance against the Eagles and his "progression" in the "competition" for QB 1. If you only read the media and didn't watch the game you'd think he must have had an exceptional outing.

REALITY: Maye went 6/11 throwing for 47 yards, with no TD's, no Int's, and took a sack. He averaged 4.3 yards per passing attempt and had a QB rating of... 65.3 He RAN the ball 4 times and scored a touchdown... This was in a preseason game where every defense is vanilla and no one is game-planning and to put it into perspective our more-than-likely starter put up a stat line reminiscent of Tim Tebow...

Drake Maye is going to start... He's going to start this season... And he'll probably start in the first four weeks of the season (potentially game 1). I say this just based on what the media and now Jerod Mayo have started to intimate, because I've seen this media about-face and blitz too many times in the last three years to expect anything but follow through...

I can't overstate how big a mistake this would be... This Rookie QB should be brought along as the final complimentary piece of an already seasoned offense, not asked to carry the worst offensive line and receiving group in the NFL mere months after battling the likes Campbell, Appalachian state, and Duke...

What do you think about him starting this season - or even game 1?

No mention that Brissett was rancid and the goal is to win games?

 

[mikey m]

There’s good reasons to start and sit any rookie QB in this situation. It depends on the individual. If Maye has a Mac Jones mentality (scared to make mistakes, emotional turmoil when things don’t go well, etc.) then you wait till you see more stability on the rest of the offense, especially OL, and let him build confidence. If he’s got a Josh Allen mindset (no fear of making mistakes, unfazed by INTs/poor plays) then throw him in there and accept some boneheaded plays as part of the development process. I remember being amazed at watching the Bills give Allen seemingly free rein over the offense his first two years, but it obviously paid off in his case.

 

[Real fan 02]

If he starts game 1 he will get demolished lose his conference and be a bust

That guy is in Florida as a backup now!