Mike VRABEL takes training wheels off Patriots QB Drake Maye: “It is a challenge for me”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye saw rookie receiver Kyle Williams separate in the end zone. It was a risky throw, made more dangerous with top cornerback Christian Gonzalez in coverage. The New England Patriots quarterback rifled the ball into a tight window. Williams, the team’s third-round pick, snatched the ball out of the air over Gonzalez for a touchdown.

It was the first practice of training camp in one of the first sessions of 11-on-11 drills. And for an organization desperate to turn things around offensively after a few years of disappointment, this play felt like the perfect example of why there’s reason for optimism. But the most important part of that play was what happened afterward. 

Maye approached Williams, first to celebrate, then to share a piece of constructive criticism.

“I told him to maybe sell it a little more, just try to give [the corner] “May said, but I think he is coming. It looks good,” May said.

Training wheels outside.

In 22 years, Drake May only receives training. It gives it.

The new Patriot regime, under the leadership of coach Mike Farble, is pushing Maye to take the crime in a way that was not last year as a romant of QB.

“[Vrabel] He did a good job in giving me points in which I can improve, but it also allows me to go to know where I am, May said: “I think it’s difficult to lead this football team.”

VRABEL and his employees in QB trust in the second year. In turn, it seems that he trusts himself more. He has more confidence and looks more comfortable.

“The more comfortable, the more spoils,” said Austin Huber.

He appears in his relationship with the new attack coordinator Josh McDanils. Last year, Maye did not leave the hip at the time Alex van Billt at the time. This year, Maye has a freedom of roaming during training. It is clear that he is recording mental actors when it is suitable for him. But when he does not compete, he communicates with his teammates to reach the same page.

“This was a great upgrade from last year. This year, he is not afraid to say anything and I feel that this drives us in the right direction.” “It is likely to become just a greater leader. You feel more comfortable and help him speak loudly.”

Maye and lab with his traffic work together after practices and in their spare time on the roads they will use during the normal season. This is what the best QBS is doing in the American Football Association. Ask Patrick Maqmz how he wants to run his wide position – and he will tell you, all the way to Al -Boussa and Al -Millet again, where he wants to be his men.

Maye has started to deliver these preferences to its receptions. Douglas said that “definitely” talks more to get the same page as the corridors.

“When we do our ways, we will do it one by one. So when I run my way, he will say:” I want you to do this and add some spices to it. ” [And I’ll say,] “Well, say less.” Then he will push us to the same page, “Douglas said.

Augmented communication began a long time before the training camp. In external seasons, May organized throwing sessions with his monitors. For the North Carolina -based training, Maye has called for Stefon Diggs, Kendrick Bourne, Douglas, Williams, Ja’lynn Polk, Hunter Hunter, Rhamondre Stevenson, Backup Backup Josh Dobbs. They all arrived in the field to operate the roads in multiple throw sessions. Then in the evening, they were all stuck, playing basketball and racing.

It was an opportunity for receptions and full backs to get to know each other better on and outside the field. The type of thing that may not have felt comfortable in 2024, because choice No. 3 was not the beginning of last season.

“It is very different,” May said when he was asked about going to his second year. “That’s what I was saying to the youngsters earlier: it will be a kind of storm. You are a kind of stampede from time to time and the next thing you know, you are against defense and some plays of full speed. So, I think I don’t know that, just don’t ignore it, just don’t give up, play time to watch the movie, and I think more than that.

YUP, 22 -year -old QB gives advice like an old warrior for five years. It clarifies power on the new Patriot system in more than one way.

“There is protection – when he sees something he can help,” said Forpael when he was asked to examples of this authority. “He sees it much better than some other players, or businessmen. If you see something, say something. Don’t assume that everyone sees it the way you see.

“I see it gets comrades in the correct configurations, or tells men,” hey, you are outside the ball. You are on the ball. Hey, you are here. “Do this quickly.

This does not mean that there are no moments when Maye does not need to stick to the hand. National -made documents, “forged in Foxsburo”, showed multiple moments when coach Mike Farble challenged him to confirm himself with vocal leadership.

There was a position in which an offensive chain ended and the small VRABEL QB gave some directives.

“Talk to your comrades,” VRABEL told Maye in the field, as he was seized in the show.

VRABEL presented more context during a press conference on the reason for its training point.

“You have to talk to the coordinator. You have to talk to Josh [McDaniels]. But then Qorsbbeck will have to climb and down and make sure of it, “Hey, this happened in this last play. If we got it again, I saw this defense for the first time.”

In translation, VRABEL does not just want to train Maye. He wants to be Corterbeck as a tongue for the coaches. When Maye and MCDANILS determine the error that occurred in the play, Maye needs to be deported to the rest of the crime how they will do better next time.

There was another moment like this in “Forged in FoxBorough” from the training camp. Maye cast down and challenge VRABEL QB again – this time with more bite.

“If we have a file [scoring] Play, just go there [to celebrate in the end zone]”Farble said to May.” Do you know what I mean? It is difficult. How many landing operations did you record last year? The answer is not enough. “

So Mai went to his comrades a few moments and passed along the word: “We must celebrate when we register.” And they did the next time they entered the end area.

Does it sometimes come as mechanical? certainly. But maye learn how to create a VRABEL culture. The process begins with the main coach and extends through the employees to Qurtubbere and Coptic and to the entire depth scheme.

Creating culture begins by answering simple questions, such as, Does the Patriots 2025 team celebrate when they score? Yes. Maye you know that now. So it is better to make sure they do so. This begins in the training camp. The more they celebrate the landing in the camp, the more likely to celebrate a landing path in the normal season, perhaps even in the post -season.

There are other moments when Maye is still looking for answers. He seemed to have selected one room for improvement when McDanels showed him some Tom Brady films recently. Patriots Hall of Famer said many times, he had all the answers to the test when it was about reading the defenses. My no – so far.

“The only thing with Tom is that he always knows where to go with football,” May told “UP and Adams” last week. “Hit the services. Knowing where to go before the surprise. And his feet – his feet were always ready to go.”

My still has a lot To find out. Although he went six practices without rotation, he threw a pair of objections in the team’s fight on Friday night. He still discovers how to properly control his protection with the rotating actors in the center (where the team has not yet settled with Jarrett Bradbury deals with an injury). He is still working on his foot, a continuous project dating back to UNC.

He still discovers risk management when he runs football, because patriots seem to be interested in giving Maye freedom to run – and most importantly – creates more time to pass it as hostility. Certainly, this comes with clear risks. He suffered from concussion last season while trying to scramble for the first time.

But the patriots intend to allow May to try, most likely because they want to see what he can do before they start telling him what he cannot do.

Last year, The patriots clung to Qurtubbere like a helicopter parentThis was appropriate given the situation: the worst attack line in the league, a poor crop of receptions and specialized training employees. This year, New England allows the young man, failure, return and return there. This also seems appropriate to look at this new position, with a great flow of talent through the draft and the free agency that should unite well with a group of deep and successful experienced coaches.

“I am still not light for guns,” May said when the first six practices went without objection. “This is what you are here for. You are trying to feel,” hey, can this work or can this work against these men at this level? “

He talks about testing himself. He has confidence to do this, because he knows that if he fails, the team will not hand over the job to someone else. Maye firmly firmly like the beginning. He has strength and influence.

It has just started understanding what to do-especially when VRABEL gives him a kick anywhere you know.

Before joining Fox Sports as a correspondent and column writer in the American Football Association, Henry Makina spent seven years coverage of Patriciots for the Sports Media Group in the United States of America today and the Boston Globe Group. Follow it on Twitter on HenrycmcKenna.

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