Drake Maye’s performance in Patriots’ joint practice is even more impressive when you hear Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell’s rationale
He’s only getting better.
Year two for quarterbacks is the big one in the NFL.
The impatience of front offices and the pressure to be good and fast means that by the time a quarterback’s second season is over, you have to know what you have.
That is especially true with Drake Maye, who now has a new coaching staff in place. So far, he’s passing the test, one that Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell explained…
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell explains the importance of joint practice
“I don’t want to speak for Vrabes (Mike Vrabel), but I think we’re both looking for a lot of the parts of things that they [Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy] can control to consistently be to the standard that we ask, and then, be able to evaluate the post-snap work to have a great understanding where the players at, and while we still have a nice runway here leading up to the regular season of how we then need to prepare from there” said O’Connell on Wednesday. “But yeah, Drake obviously got some good experience last year. He’s in a new system this year.”
Our Vikings creator at A to Z Sports, Tyler Forness, was on the ground for day one of Pats-Vikings joint practice, and he had some very flattering remarks about what he saw from the sophomore passer:
“Maye had a nice day,” wrote Forness. “He was consistent and explosive, but it was the consistency and poise that separated his day from just being good. One of the things that stood out about Maye’s day was the touch on his deep ball. There were a couple of misses, but he was consistent in finding players down the field. He’s got a tremendous arm, and it showed in a major way.”
With a certified number one on the perimeter now (who ironically came to stardom with the Vikings) via Stefon Diggs, a couple of young and promising pieces on the line via Jared Wilson and Will Campbell, and perhaps the most eclectic back in the rookie class behind him, Maye has the infrastructure to succeed.
Stacking days and showing out against defenses that are the caliber of the one in Minnesota will go a long way in Maye’s career projection. But when the calendar flips to September, it will be up to Maye to show up when it matters.
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