Drake Maye “wowing” in Patriots practice, plus a 49ers-Patriots preview

Phil Perry explains why the Patriots are at a critical juncture when it comes to their identity and details how Drake Maye has been impressing at recent practices. Later, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area previews the upcoming matchup, and discusses what it would take for the Patriots to pull off the upset.
2:00-HUGE week for Jerod Mayo and the Patriots’ culture
12:00-Making the most of the play-action pass
23:00-Could Drake Maye be ready to start sooner than anticipated?
33:00-Patriots-49ers preview with Jennifer Lee Chan
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[@tristanlee5484]

Jacoby is purposely not throwing the ball downfield field because he knows he’s inaccurate and will risk throwing INTS.. All while knowing a few turnovers will get him benched especially since he was technically beat out by a rookie Quarterback as a 9 year veteran

[@akhillyz4223]

He's always been like that. Super conservative

[@jackthequarterback]

@@tristanlee5484 lmao…throwing 140 yds with .3 TDs per game would get anyone benched unless they were on team with a coaching staff purposefully being extremely conservative with their no.3 overall QB. He’s not throwing it downfield because he has never been able to. He’s a career backup that is used to playing it safe without throwing picks even if that means he takes 7 sacks a game and never throws the ball more than 10 yards downfield. Good backup that might win a couple games but will always lead a team to the bottom third of the league as a starter.

[@JonStark117]

*His receivers also aren’t getting enough time/separation to get downfield due to the offensive line.*

[@tristanlee5484]

@@JonStark117 nah a few analyst have already debunked that ain’t hardly no wr separated in 1.5 seconds especially when the ball is out in 2. This is why route concepts and scheme is vastly more important IE Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan

[@zelarotkram]

​@@jackthequarterback 7 sacks 😂😅

[@kelseywhite3014]

Stevenson was running out of the hole and right into the tacklers last week it was awful

[@toddtownsend1079]

I'm seeing some burgining talent. GO PATRIOTS!!!.

[@cliftongeiger9906]

We have two great quarterbacks let them play jb ain’t cutting it let dm do his job then maybe we have a chance!!!👁️🏈🏈🏈🙏🤙🏽

[@Celtics2025]

@@cliftongeiger9906we have no line protection for DM. This year is a wash pat’s should get a good draft pick in the 2025 draft. The next 2 years will be rough. They should be able to build around DM over this year and next. We should be able to make the playoffs in 2026 which will get free agents to want to come here. The patriots are still a legendary franchise in the NFL.

[@bmurphy3166]

The guys got all the tools, not panicking under pressure is what makes a great QB. Please help this kid develop

[@flyingelvis8850]

Phil Perry, I disagree about a 4th game of the year being critical to the Patriots. 1. Belichick left the cupboard bare of talent. 2. GM Eliot Wolf and Head Coach Jerod Mayo drafted well. 3. No Free Agents wanted to come to New England. 4. The Patriots should have a top 5 2025 NFL Draft pick and the pick should be a Left OT. Will Campbell or Kelvin Banks Jr 5. Conclusion: The 4th game of the season isn't critical in any way for a terrible rebuilding team. A bit over dramatic!

[@E3_-]

AGREE!

[@stephenmuise6408]

Sounds like every football pundit after every game

[@ErikResendiz-ii3vm]

I don't recalled a NE team so unprepared during BB tenure. This team looks like all those bad teams we use to see when NE was always on top. JM is a rookie, granted, but he's been very contradictory of himself week in and week out. Not sure about his ability for self-correction.

[@jbjorkman09]

Lol fruitless with Brisset he was never a reliable scorer... not in Indy, not in Cleveland and couldn't hold the starting job in Washington

[@changingworldllc1157]

How does Greg Bedard has a job? He has to be. DEI hire! He has no football knowledge and makes some of the dumbest statements! AVP should be head coach he said last week! lol AVP is MattyP 2.0! Greg said Mac Jones is the next Tom Brady! Let that sink in! Greg said mayo is better than Bill! Lmao Greg actually badmouthed Bill after all the decades of greatness! Shameless! I can’t stand Greg! He sucks ! Fire whoever hired Jacoby as qb1! That makes zero sense! I would rather have Zappe as qb1! He would have been cheaper! Jocoby is a proven bum! Boston sports media has lost all credibility! As a whole you guys sucks!

[@zelarotkram]

Dang

[@barrysmith2054]

@@zelarotkramright lol

[@zelarotkram]

@barrysmith2054 I mean he isn't wrong but how far does the whip go?

[@barrysmith2054]

@@zelarotkram I wasn’t saying he was wrong bud

[@13bangbang16]

When the players are acknowledging that he is it in practice. That means he is actually moving the offense and giving it life. Which means he needs to start. Nobody here wants to be looking at a top 10 pick again next year. We want playoff wins. They need to do the common sense thing with the line. Instead of throwing these guys all over the place in positions they aren’t used to playing. You put everyone in the position on the line they’ve appears played, and are most comfortable at. That allows the line to overall function better. Then you can just mess around with finding the best fit out of the depth chart that’s left for LT. The kid McKenzie we signed to the practice squad looked really good in the preseason. You put Sody at LG, Andrew’s, Mike at RG, and put Wallace at RT. Their actual positions. Then you test Lowe, Robinson, and McKenzie at LT until e find the best fit for that position. The line breaking down in other areas is simple players not playing their position.

[@patfung3164]

we need a top 10 pick to get a good OT

[@afox1995]

@@patfung3164this ☝️

[@13bangbang16]

@@patfung3164 we do not need a top ten pick to get anyone. Thats not how that works. Not guaranteed to be a good player at all just because they’re a top ten pick. They will not purposely throw the season for it either . It’s not in RKK’s MO, or anyone on the teams MO.Anyone who wants us to fail this year for a top ten pick is a fake fan. If we end up there that’s one thing, but they’re not going to attempt to end up there. The free agency class for next year is filled with good tackles. Like Tryon, and Cam Robinson. There’s more to the offseason than the draft, and taking a veteran LT is better than trying to land in the top ten to take a swing at a rookie.

[@oldernu1250]

Agree that players at natural positions should be default. Chances of changing a player's position at pro level is statistically tiny--why do this? Silly.

[@Mike-pb4ju]

Critical week for Mayo and AVP? Inflection point for culture and offense? Jesus, the team is bottom 5 in talent and no amount of coaching will fix that. It’s a lost year so focus on guys that can help going forward and identify the guys that won’t be around next year.

[@timothycorcoran3613]

Can we get at least 250 pass yards a game instead of 150!!!

[@williamhurley5496]

Really?? Week 4 is a season defining game. Stop it!

[@elgonzo25]

He meant about losing his job to maye

[@evac213]

Bengals are 0-3. Calm down

[@akhillyz4223]

Bs. Lmao. Washingtons line is just as bad as ours. They doing ok

[@kelseywhite3014]

At least the defense was good when the offense was bad. Now they are just all around bad

[@BCSully83]

One thing that's been missing in the (nauseatingly constant) debate about starting Drake vs. "The plan" to let him sit is the possibility they're not just sitting Drake to protect him, or let him learn slowly, but to wind him up; to get him hungry. A young qb thrust into the starting roll is gonna feel the weight of that pressure. That's what makes some crumble. By holding him out, even after he appears ready, when he does get in, his primary mindset is gonna be "I'll show those f*ckers I'm ready!". He'll play with a chip on his shoulder that he wouldn't have if he were handed the keys early, and we Pats fans have 20yrs of experience seeing the value a chip on the QB's shoulder can have. I say wind the kid up. Hold him out as long as possible until his "f*ck you" motor is revved up to the red-line.

[@bennyvanlit8136]

Critical is too much. Important is a better word. We need to see adaptability in game. We need to see the beginnings of a thought process. And an identity of some sort. Pats aren't a smash-mouth football team. They can't ram the ball down anyone's throat with that oline. When they used the extra lineman in game 1, it worked well. But they're running out of bodies to put out there. Separation has been poor by the wideouts too. I pray that Bourne, Strange and Takitaki can make a difference to an ailing team. Sure, it'll be a bottom 5 finish, but need to show some character or no FA will want to join them.

[@SimbolicProductions]

Stop babying this kid

[@SirSponge941]

stop kidding this baby

[@JonStark117]

*They’re going to get blown out against the 49ers. They’re one of the best teams and were the runner up by a last second play in the Super Bowl. The best they can do is play hard…they have little to no chance of winning this game based off talent alone. Everyone acting like this is the end all be all for them this season is laughably dramatic.*

[@jbjorkman09]

They don't have kittle or debo this week ....

[@Janus-j3m]

Drake Maye was the biggest steal of the 2024 draft. I went to Ashburn last year and saw how Sam Howell had an elite NFL arm. There was no competition with Jacoby Brissett. Jacoby is one of the greatest human beings to play in the NFL. He's a smart savy veteran QB. Perfect mentor to both Sam Howell and Drake Maye. Sam Howell will eventually be a Pro Bowl QB. He's better than Cousins. Drake Maye has a HOF ceiling.

[@vitorpeck4458]

Too bad our bye-week is so damn late. If it was on week 7 or 8, ot would be ideal to prepare Maye and give him half a season of professional ball

[@hutl]

I don’t think any serious Pats fan expects more than 3-4 wins this year regardless of Mayo or the culture. They probably have the least talent on the offense roster than any team in the NFL.

[@rubenmcgeejr6298]

Phil talks with teammates who are not performing well enough to win games by your own reports cannot be encouraging as you make it. Review your own tapes guy. My teammates are not going to give bad reviews on my progress and join me in the huddle stop trying to make news out of dreams.

[@bailey123198]

Phil I appreciate your ability to keep a one-sided conversation 'interesting'!! Good content and genuine 1st hand research. Thank you 👌🏈

[@justinmurray1343]

Thanks for the legwork you out in every week Phil!!!! Part of me wants to see Drake so bad, again we all worry about him behind that O line. But the flip side is every NFL player has to deal with the danger of getting injured. Hopefully with Sidy Sow coming back and Vederian Lowe getting right, this o line can take a step in the right direction. As always great Reporting we love having you out there covering our team. Thanks again Phil!!

[@jalenladue5133]

Worse than politics. No one expects a rookie head coach to turn around a national football team who are still in a rebuild in 4 weeks besides you. 🤡

[@slayjay1672]

We got a genius over here. Nobody’s asking for a turn around, people are asking for competence. Not start a fucking career backup week to week with no lessons to teach a kid 10x better than him

[@jalenladue5133]

@@slayjay1672 hey fuck stick if ya listen when he mentions we lose this week we hit the panic button? Gtfo 🤡🤡🤡

[@randomflagg7331]

Yes, i've seen it as well.... This is no time to reveal him to the league. I want this young man armed with real firepower at his disposal and an impenetrable wall made just for him when the curtain finally goes up. let jacobi do what he can with this offense this year, he's earned that right. But next year. No mr. nice guy. i want to take aim at Buffalo and i want to give them so much firepower to deal with that they revert back to their old selves circa 2003-2017. lets retake the division by storm.

[@oldernu1250]

Phil Perry, the poet of pundits: "precipice of points"! Perfectly parsed. Thanks for bringing signs of life to the fogged mirror of this Pats season. Great insights.

[@joeyglennon6468]

Why are the Patriots not using keshawn booty I mean last year he had a great catch but he just put one foot down instead of two and belichick benched his ass I don't know why we don't use that kid in college that kid was a game wrecker I mean he was amazing I don't know why we don't utilize his speed and his hands that kids got hands and we don't even use hi?

[@fuzzystark1849]

There was a point in the jets game where we were still in the game. And Coach looked like we already lost. Idk think the team followed suit

[@_JPG_]

Phil predicted this Pats team to have 5 wins on the season. They go 1-2 and now it's a potential issue with the new head coach? Always have to have a panic take even when things are exactly as expected through 3.

[@mitchrichards1532]

Start Joe Milton, he has the best chance of survival behind this O-line and we the fans will be entertained. Keep Maye safe for better days.

[@mraxolotl1782]

They are just so bereft of talent. You can talk about gameplanning and coaching guys up all you want, the reality is that the guys they have just are talented enough to do what they're being asked to do.

[@SirSponge941]

i think there's a balance that you need to strike with the coaching approach in today's NFL. You need be respectful to the players and treat them as peers rather than subordinates to a degree, but at the same time inspire accountability for poor play and execution. It appears that Mayo and company do a good job spinning those plates and I do believe that these players buy in because of that, it's just whether they can cobble anything together this year with that commitment in mind. i think a lot of our success will come down to the play calling on game day because of that, but they do seem to be aware of that with the whole "we as coaches have to put our players in the best position to win as possible" stuff. we'll see how things go but i like what this culture looks like from the outside

[@KJ-kf3tt]

Ppl we knew the team was going to be bad let's stop acting like we was going to be a playoff team we have alot of holes on the offense let's just draft and sign some ppl

[@jackthequarterback]

“But what if he has a bad game and it ruins his confidence?!” Then he won’t ever be good regardless of how long he sits. Everyone will have a bad game. Good players learn from them, bad players lose confidence and get worse. Josh Allen was dogshit year one. He turned into a top QB. Cream always rises to the top. Take the training wheels off and stop bringing up the Alabama QB that was never going to be the guy. You can’t manufacture the mentality good/great players have, lots of guys have the physical tools, a small number of those guys have the mental tools to actually reach greatness. If maye has that mindset it’s not going to matter when he gets to start.

[@TheOxman420]

Wide zone runs = injury. Look at all the injuries on these teams that run a west coast Shannohan scheme.

[@cmay95]

Sit Drake until next year, I don’t want to see him get hurt!

[@tinhinnh]

I want him to start too but a lot of players can “wow” in practices

[@edkerry87]

Jacoby has a history of taking more sacks than average.

[@douglassmith2878]

My god please lower the sensitivity of that mic

[@HLDN1989]

After this game on the at the Niners, the hardest part of the Pats schedule is over. If it's another terrible loss, then I think we can all agree it's time to start Maye in week 5 (at home v Miami).

[@rynsithis9188]

Dude, you are high. The rest of the schedule is going to be tough for them. No way they reach 7 wins.

[@michaellalli7693]

The O Line was embarrassed last week. I think they’ll suck it up and put forth a better effort, they may not win but they need to show up and move the chains and not leave the defense out there all day.

[@cliftongeiger9906]

We suck with Jacoby,he needs to sit!!!🤣🤣🤣👀🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@MarcusMonroe-f3h]

236 O'Keefe Port

[@kelseywhite3014]

Blame eliot wolf for this atrocity

[@flyingelvis8850]

If you were a light bulb, you would be a dim light bulb.

[@kelseywhite3014]

@@flyingelvis8850 what do you think belichick was the only one making personnel decisions 😆

[@flyingelvis8850]

@@kelseywhite3014 Belichick was the GM & Head Coach. Belichick made every decision. I guess you missed the 24 seasons Belichick GM/Head Coached in New England.

[@1heliconius]

Enough! Life long patriots fan. We no brissette is not a champion. We want playoffs and Super Bowl championship. Put Maye in immediately van Pelt is a loser, bad play calling in three games. We can’t afford to lose any game. They’re professionals, put Maye In immediately and let him play, perform. He’s ready to play now. No excuses. Maye will make things happen and be a joy to watch. No hope with Brissette. I want to enjoy watching the patriots not the dread that’s been happening. Right now I question Mayos and Van Pelts coaching. Play calling in jets game was horrendous. They’re was no adjustments in the plays called. The patriots will lose me as a fan unless they use Maye or even Milton. These two are super athletes that need to be in the game. I don’t have time for a rebuilding team. They are professionals and they have to adjust to win. At least make it interesting and entertaining. Because football is entertainment

[@jackfeldman8684]

I’m sorry but I think it’s best the patriots lose you as a fan.. you don’t have time for a rebuild?? Buddy the team was 4-13, ITS A REBUILD whether you like it or not

[@changingworldllc1157]

Well said! Great points!

[@zmyGe]

I think he's doing a great job tanking this season. Also benching mayo shows him what not to do for next season. We need to tank to draft a top 3 receiver next season.

[@JoeRoberts-h4g]

OL.would be priority next draft not a receiver

[@lordaleron2912]

Starting Drake Maye is the very thing NOT to do. With a crappy offense line, Maye will get pummeled. And worst, in trying to “do” something, in desperation, he’ll heave the ball up and get intercepted, or hold it to long hoping in all futility SOMEONE will spring open. But the patriots receivers do NOT spring open. They’re the worse in the league. All that is a recipe for a strip sack or an interception or a mauling. All of that would undoubtedly stunt the rookie quarterbacks development. Jakoby Brissett, in all he has endured, has NOT turned the ball over under that pressure. He’s a pro. Until we get an offensive line that doesn’t smell like a sewer, for God’s sake, DONT PLAY DRAKE MAYE!!

[@mitchrichards1532]

Agreed, he'll form bad habits and run the chance of being "broken" at the age of 22. We're not the Jets....hopefully

[@JoeRoberts-h4g]

The 1st and 2nd picks of the draft are both starting is drake not good enough to start .

[@normandomino4140]

Give me a break. This shows us fans just how bad Billick left this team. Mayo has an up hill battle in reestablishing a winning brand in New England. I know you have to get subs, still give a rest. This a 5 year rebuild at best

[@pl33]

Billick? Are you talking Baltimore?

[@JoeRoberts-h4g]

The had a while to fix it they made no effort to fix the OL

[@FrederickQuick-qp3qd]

Lies.... if he was any good he'd be starting....

[@FrederickQuick-qp3qd]

Drake maye is a bust

[@michaelsupernor4682]

@FrederickQuick-qp3qd waaayyy too early to tell.

[@zegarra6281]

I'd be a miserable troll if my name was Frederick

[@Jessdogg-j1i]

Lol true ​@@zegarra6281

[@changingworldllc1157]

I understand your frustration and POV!

[@donslaine]

TROLL IN THE DUNGEON

[@joeyglennon6468]

I get it our old line is terrible but our quarterback it makes horrible decisions I mean he has no strength in his arm and he is just a bad quarterback wide open receivers misses then he can't even run a standard play action pass

[@vincemcmahon9867]

This guy is the real deal. All the other people just try to stir up drama for clicks

[@costo34ify]

No they can’t keep it close they are garbage