You can protect your quarterback from tackles, but you can’t do much if he’s throwing tangents. That was the reality the New England Patriots faced as their team hit the OTAs. Drake Maye left a lot to be desired from his performance, and fans were wondering if his hype was even justified. The Patriots went to great lengths to boost their roster depth this year. With the likes of Stefon Diggs and William Campbell bringing the promise of greatness to the team. Campbell had even said he’d die to protect their QB. But the QB clearly needed to up his game. And when you get opportunities, you do just that. You prove the critics wrong. But is this mission for Maye working?

If you’re struggling to make great plays even without the pads, you’re bound to catch some strays. And that’s exactly what Drake Maye was dealing with. So when he got 4 interceptions (2 back to back), he got narrow-eyed side glances and scoffs on the internet. But forget the internet. If your team sees you getting 4 interceptions from your own defenders, that’s a string of embarrassment you can’t easily forget. And that’s why Maye stepped up and showed the ridicule doesn’t own him. It’s his moment to shine as the QB1, and that’s exactly what he’s going to do.

As per a post by Savage, Drake Maye’s all-in to prove everyone wrong. The post writes, “Drake Maye was sharp at Thursdays closed door OTA practice. Per: @MikeReiss ‘Those who were at Thursday’s closed-to-the-media practice held inside due to the rain described him as sharp and turnover free.’ So maybe we shouldn’t overreact to a 4int OTA in May?” As per Mike Reiss on May 20th, the major takeaway from Patriots OTAs was, “QB Drake Maye intercepted 4 times in 11-on-11 drills.” But that cause of shame is already in the past. It was a short stumble, and now the guy’s sprinting hard.

When you’re working with new coaching staff and new players, it naturally takes some time to get in the groove. And it’s not like Drake Maye is leading the Patriots onto the gridiron tomorrow. There’s still time. As TE Hunter Henry made Maye’s case, “I think he’s acclimating great – It’s a lot. And it’s really early. It’s only May, man. We just got together a month ago and put this all in. So there’s a lot thrown at the wall right now that we’re trying to make stick.” As May slowly turns to June, the clock’s ticking for Maye to acclimate himself to the new team dynamics. And that’s exactly what people are worried about. But there’s time.

The preseason is still two months away, which gives the Patriots enough time to develop chemistry and work out the kinks. Drake has plenty of chances to turn those frowns upside down. And as he takes the feedback from the veterans to heart, the turnaround is already happening with zero turnovers.

Gronk and Edelman’s CTA for Drake Maye

When veterans talk about you, you’ve got to sit up straight and listen hard. Especially if the feedback isn’t all that glorious. When Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman discussed “what it takes to succeed in [Josh] McDaniel’s offense,” there weren’t any names. But the message was clear. When you talk about the offensive coordinator, your mind automatically goes to the 4 miserable interceptions on Drake Maye. Coming from two Patriots veterans, it was a simple masterclass to be a standout. Edelman dropped the first nugget, “To play in a Josh McDaniels offense, a good prerequisite to have is being a smart, tough football player that performs under pressure. That’s what he’s going to preach.”

So, “if you’re a smart guy, a versatile guy,” you can do it. And Gronk doubled down with his own piece of advice. “He gives everyone an opportunity to shine and showcase your skills. You got to shine in those opportunities and you got to be consistent as well out there on the football field. He loves consistent players.” Consistency is key in a team dynamic that constantly changes strategies to make effective plays. Remembering the formations and delivering again and again is the key to victory. And that’s exactly what Josh McDaniels looks for. And Edelman had even more to say on this matter. “He’s going to give you an opportunity, and it’s going to be at one of your strengths. You just got to make that play, and that’s how you continue to gain his trust.”

And Drake Maye? He’s listening, taking notes, and coming back stronger than ever. The team is also slowly getting in sync with the new roster. He’s already flipped up the script on his OTA shades. So, once the pads are up and his second year in the NFL is underway, he might just explode onto the scene. What do you think?