Patriots afraid to give Drake Maye more reps
On Wednesday’s Felger & Mazz program, Alex Barth joined the show to provide an update on the Drake Maye quarterback competition.
Drake Maye QB Competition
Parts of conversation abbreviated for clarity.
Felger: Alex, how are you doing? What did it look like out there today? How’d the quarterbacks play?
Alex Barth: So, I wouldn’t say that Drake Maye had more reps with the ones today. This was the first time we’ve seen—in competitive team periods—Drake Maye take snaps from David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, and the more veteran receivers.
Now, it was only a few snaps, four or five. There were two periods where he stepped in after Jacoby Brissett and took a couple of reps. And then the rest of the backups came on with him. He didn’t throw the ball, so it came with that big caveat.
But we can no longer say he hasn’t repped with the ones as he did today.
Jim Murray: What’s the point if he didn’t throw the ball?
Mazz: This is like the first preseason game for crying out loud! Put him with the ones, but he’s going to hand off? I could have done that!
Felger: Seriously. What is the point of that, Alex? And yes, if it sounds like I’m blaming you, maybe I am. What is the end of that?
Barth: I guess to get him used to the starting offensive line. Now you could do that and have him throw and get used to the receivers. I would agree with you guys that it feels like a half-measure. Or, baby steps, whatever you want to call it.
The point is for him to get used to being with that line and going through the checks. And it was specifically, getting him to work with David Andrews. Could they have accomplished more on top of that? Yes, that’s where my big second guess would be.
Felger: What they’re doing on the field still doesn’t match how Jerod Mayo is talking off the field about there being a quarterback competition. Am I fair in saying that?
Barth: Yes. I’d say, especially going back to his comments on Sunday. When asked about Drake Maye being ready to be the starter, Mayo mentioned he needed to build chemistry with that top group. And he’s not just going to do that overnight. He’s not going to do that in the film room. He’s got to do it out on the field. So to me, that is the biggest contradiction right now.
Segment Audio
Ryan Beaton is a producer for 985thesportshub.com. You can follow Ryan at @ry_beaton on Twitter.
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
16 Best New England vacation spots, according to Felger
TIER 3
-LAKE SUNAPEE
-CAPE COD
-KENNEBUNKPORT
-NEWPORT
-OGUNQUIT
-CONWAY
-STOWE
-WELL BEACH
-PEAKS ISLAND
-MARTHA’S VINEYARD
TIER 2
-KEZAR LAKE
-BAR HARBOR / ACADIA
-WINNIPESAUKEE
-WATCH HILL
TIER 1
-NANTUCKET! (AND ONLY NANTUCKET)
