Drake Maye won’t be the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback once they open the season towards the Cincinnati Bengals subsequent Sunday. However there are nonetheless methods the rookie can showcase his abilities behind the scenes.
Simply ask longtime NFL quarterback Brian Hoyer, who spent 15 seasons with eight completely different groups (together with the Patriots) whereas serving in each position from starter to backup to third-stringer.
On a brand new episode of the Patriots Discuss Podcast with Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry, Hoyer defined how Maye might get inventive in observe as a “scout crew” quarterback by mimicking the opponent’s QB1 to arrange New England’s first-string protection for what they could face.
🔊 Patriots Discuss Podcast: Brian Hoyer goes deep on resolution to begin Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
“To me, it was all the time enjoyable as a result of it was like, ‘Who’re we enjoying?,'” Hoyer advised Curran and Perry. “‘OK, this week we’re enjoying the Bengals. Joe Burrow, just about a drop-back quarterback, I am not gonna attempt to do a ton of scrambling. I am gonna see the cardboard, I will learn the play, possibly evaluate it to a play that is related that now we have and run it that method.’
As Hoyer recalled, nevertheless, some scout-team duties are extra entertaining than others — particularly whenever you’re tasked with imitating the NFL’s most dynamic quarterback in Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes.
“The weeks that I used to be enjoying towards the Chiefs have been all the time probably the most enjoyable as a result of it was like, ‘I can do no matter I need,'” Hoyer stated. “I’ve actually tried behind-the-back passes as a scout crew quarterback with Patrick Mahomes.
“I advised him that final 12 months. I stated, ‘It is all the time my favourite week,’ and I (advised him), ‘I do know sooner or later you will try it within the recreation.’ And certain sufficient, he did that this 12 months within the preseason.”
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So, maybe Maye can channel his internal Aaron Rodgers because the Patriots put together for the New York Jets in Week 3. However increased on Maye’s record of priorities must be studying New England’s personal offense, because the crew would flip to the gifted rookie if starter Jacoby Brissett struggles or will get injured.
Hoyer famous the Patriots ought to give Maye as many observe reps with their very own offense as doable. However there’s additionally an additional step Maye can take to remain prepared, which Hoyer witnessed first-hand final season as a backup QB for the Raiders.
“I used to be in Las Vegas final 12 months and Jimmy (Garoppolo) was the starter, I used to be the backup, Aidan O’Connell was the third-string quarterback,” Hoyer stated. “And each day after observe, (O’Connell) would stroll with no matter rookies and certainly one of our high quality management coaches, and he would undergo each rep of observe on his personal.
“So, possibly that is one thing Drake has to do to remain prepared. And that paid off for Aidan in the long run, as a result of he was capable of take over and do fairly effectively when his identify was known as.”
O’Connell changed the injured Garoppolo as a spot starter in Week 4 however exceeded expectations to the purpose the place he was named Las Vegas’ full-time starter in Week 9, even after Garoppolo returned from harm. Maye has loftier expectations because the No. 3 choose within the 2024 NFL Draft (O’Connell was a fourth-rounder), but when he needs to make a powerful first impression, placing in further observe work may be a clever transfer.
Take a look at Hoyer’s full dialog with Curran and Hoyer by subscribing to the Patriots Talk Podcast, or watch on YouTube.
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