Drake Maye discussed evaluating his rookie season, facing fellow rookie Caleb Williams
The Patriots' quarterback also talked about trying to balance his scrambling ability with "being a passer in this league."
As Drake Maye continues to navigate his rookie season with the Patriots, the 22-year-old has a sensible short-term goal.
“I’ve got to protect the football. That’s the biggest thing,” Maye told reporters on Wednesday about what he needs to improve on. “I think there are times where [it’s] my decision-making, whether it’s ball-security in the pocket or knowing when that little timer in my head goes off, things like that. Other than that, just taking the right play is the biggest thing.”
Maye explained that he needs to balance his natural aggressiveness, noting that, “Sometimes a punt’s not the worst thing here.”
“Knowing the situation, and knowing what’s the best play for this football team,” Maye added.
Maye has made four starts so far in his first NFL season, exiting one of those games (the Oct. 27 win over the Jets) due to being placed in concussion protocol. He’s totaled 770 yards passing (65.6 percent completion percentage) with six touchdown passes and four interceptions.
The 22-year-old has displayed a knack for making plays on the ground too, leading his team in rushing on multiple occasions. He has 209 yards rushing (including one touchdown), averaging 10 yards per carry.
“Obviously I’m a passer first,” Maye explained when asked about his scrambling. “I want to be a passer in this league. You have to be a passer in this league to be successful. I’m trying to find [receivers], and when [the defense] is dropping seven and rushing four and there are rush lanes — and the Titans had a defensive mentality to sit back in zone and kind of everybody’s looking at me — I’m like, ‘Yeah I’m going to go make a play.'”
His next challenge will be facing a fellow rookie in No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears on Sunday (1 p.m.) at Soldier Field. Maye was asked about his relationship with Williams.
“As rookies, coming out as quarterbacks, you spend a lot of time with those guys,” Maye said.
“Really with Caleb, I’ve seen him since high school,” added Maye. “We were going to the same camps, was at the ‘Elite 11’ with each other, some college visits together. So kind of the whole thing, going through the process again. We kept up with each other in college. We were friends, and I enjoyed watching him do his thing, and now I get the chance to compete.”
Acknowledging the inevitable rivalry that players from the same draft classes can have, Maye admitted Sunday’s matchup has “a little extra” in it.
“Anytime you get to go against a rookie quarterback in the same class, or any quarterback in your class in general, it’s a little extra. So looking forward to going out there and getting a chance to play the Bears.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com