What Drake Maye said he needs to work on the most heading into rookie minicamp
"The biggest thing is being detailed with coach Van Pelt's offense, knowing all the details first."
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said he is excited for this weekend’s upcoming rookie minicamp and to finally have the draft process behind him.
The visits, pro days, and pre-draft interviews are over. Now the focus for Maye is getting used to his new team.
Maye has a number of things to work on heading into his first NFL season. He was asked during a recent episode of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand what areas he needs to improve on the most.
“The biggest thing is being detailed with coach Van Pelt’s offense, knowing all the details first,” Maye said. “I think going out there like a deer in the headlights as a rookie is not smart. So, really fine-tuning that and really studying it, getting to know it, and being able to teach it back to somebody.
“That’s kind of how I learn things,” Maye added. “Being able to teach it back to somebody is when I really feel like you know it. So, grind that, get really detailed in the playbook, all the motions, all the little stuff.”
Maye also said working on his timing will be important as he transitions to pro football.
“I think that’s a big thing in the NFL, using cadence as a weapon and just starting from there,” Maye said. “Just being under center. You go under center a lot in the redzone during college but like you said not as much in the open field, so getting used to that. I feel like my game translates pretty well to the NFL, so I’m looking forward to that and looking forward to just getting with the guys, getting out there, and getting going.”
Maye did not mention his footwork, which was one of the biggest pre-draft concerns surrounding his game.
Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show that Maye’s footwork needs “a lot of work.”
Clyde Christensen, who coached Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in the NFL before serving as a volunteer assistant on North Carolina’s staff last year, also mentioned better footwork as an area of emphasis for Maye.
“The footwork’s a little bit rogue, but he’ll reel that in,” Christensen said, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. “I think that getting into the pro system, and just doing it full-time without any other distractions, that you’ll see a big jump in his game, just in his footwork and some of the things people have been critical of, which probably I don’t agree with.”
Maye said he’s looking forward to getting to know New England as he works on his game.
“I’m just excited for a new beginning,” Maye said. “I’ve been in North Carolina for my whole life. I’m excited to get somewhere new. It’s a great sports town up there, and I know they’ve got a lot going on right now with the Bruins and Celtics. So, excited to join that and get things going.”
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