Drake Maye talks about comfortability in New England's offense ahead of second NFL season

Drake Maye talks about comfortability in New England's offense ahead of second NFL season Will Drake Maye take a "Sophomore Leap" in his second NFL season?
During his two seasons as the North Carolina Tar Heels' starting quarterback, Drake Maye showcased why he'd be an NFL star for years to come.
Maye burst onto the scene in 2022, earning ACC Player and Rookie of the Year Honors. When Maye's UNC career ended, he amassed 8,018 passing yards and 63 passing touchdowns, while also running for over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The New England Patriots, in desperate need of a franchise quarterback since Brady's retirement, chose Maye with the third overall pick of 2024's NFL Draft. While New England struggled to its third-consecutive losing season last year, Maye showed glimpses of being "the guy."
On Monday afternoon, after one of the Patriots' final spring practices, Maye spoke to the media about his comfortability – in his team's offense – entering the fall.
"I think we're catching the stride; I think I'm starting to find a stride," Maye told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I'm bummed out we're about to leave (for the summer), but it's fun. I feel like I've done a good job of trying to keep the football in our hands, and that's one of our key focuses. It's good for us to install plays, get a feel for what I like. Coach (Josh) McDaniels has been awesome about asking what I like and what he expects from me on certain plays. So it's been good to be able to get that outside and on the field."
Maye ended his rookie NFL season with 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdown and 10 interceptions, plus 421 rushing yards and two additional scores.
Your first chance to see Maye in a New England uniform this coming season comes August 8, when the Washington Commanders come to Gillette Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, as part of NFL preseason action.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

30 minutes ago

• Yahoo

As Micah Parsons contract negotiations continue, Cowboys should remember the key ingredient to their ‘instant grits' defense

When the Dallas Cowboys secondary took the field in recent years, they waited for the signal. How quickly should they expect their opponent to get the ball out? Al Harris, Dallas' defensive backs coach from 2021-24, would give them a clue. Advertisement 'I used to say, 'Instant grits,'' Harris told Yahoo Sports recently from Chicago, where he's now the Bears' defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator. 'When you boil water, you just put the grits in there. So it's funny because [the defensive backs] would be like, 'Hey, how the grits?'' In other words: How effective was the Cowboys' pass rush at pressuring and hurrying the quarterback? Harris' metaphor came in handy most when edge rusher Micah Parsons was healthy. Harris, also the Cowboys' assistant coach last year, knew which play calls gave the two-time All-Pro edge rusher the green light to pressure and when his defensive backs should be ready accordingly. Injuries limited Parsons to 13 games in 2024, but Parsons nonetheless finished with the fifth-most quarterback pressures in the league. With 75 total pressures, his 5.77 per game led the league among defenders who played at least a third of the season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Advertisement Next Gen Stats credits a defender with a quarterback pressure when the defender tallies a sack; gets within 2 yards of a quarterback at a forward pass; or within 1.5 yards of the quarterback at any point in the play. Parsons has met those criteria 335 times in four regular seasons with Dallas. He's raced to 52.5 sacks in that period. Harris learned to tee off his secondary to takeaway opportunities Parsons' pressure would create. 'It'd be like second quarter [and I'd say,] 'Hey, grits hot,'' Harris said. 'They'll give me a chance to watch Micah rush a couple of times to where I say, 'OK, he's going to beat these guys all day. And I just say, 'Hey man, grits hot, so let's get to the ball. Advertisement ''Let's get to the ball.'' The Cowboys' success in head coach Brian Schottenheimer's first season leading the team will hinge heavily on Parsons' dominance. Dallas' 2021 first-round pick is a game-wrecker. And the Cowboys are currently negotiating an extension with Parsons. Closing the deal hasn't gone as quickly as cooking instant grits. But will Dallas and Parsons find a middle ground soon? Parsons attended minicamp practices this month as he enters the final year of his contract, the fifth-year option of his rookie deal that Dallas picked up. Schottenheimer praised Parsons' attendance. 'I think it just shows you he's serious about what we've talked about, which is developing that leadership mentality, the mindset to be a guy that we can count on —and not just the fourth quarter when he's got to make a big sack or get pressure on the quarterback, but just in general throughout the course of a week,' Schottenheimer told reporters. 'He's doing the things he's supposed to do in terms of he's training, he's prepping, he's been in, he's been out. Advertisement 'Nobody's more excited than Micah about what we're building here.' Quarterback Dak Prescott said the locker room is 'very confident that Micah's going to get this deal done,' with Prescott understanding the business considerations after negotiating two extensions with the Cowboys himself. Will Dallas close the deal before the Cowboys' charter is scheduled to arrive in Oxnard, Calif. on July 20 for training camp? 'I'm pretty hopeful,' Parsons said of that timeline. 'I'm still hanging tight. I understand it's up to [Jerry Jones] and he gives the green light on everything. So hopefully something's done by next month.' Advertisement Until then, Parsons said he'll continue to learn the Cowboys' new defensive system under coordinator Matt Eberflus, as Parsons gives pointers to teammates while at the facility and training with cornerback Trevon Diggs while away from it. 'The simple things,' he said of his guidance. 'It's not always the major things that make football great. It's always the small details, the footwork, the positioning, the angles. 'We'll watch film together and I can tell guys what I see from a vetted experience.' Parsons plans to attend training camp with or without a deal, he said, already reserving a house for his family in California during the Cowboys' nearly four weeks there. Would he practice without a deal? 'We'll see,' Parsons said. 'Time will tell.'

San Francisco Chronicle​

39 minutes ago

• San Francisco Chronicle​

USA Football's 'Summer Series' in Los Angeles showcases flag football ahead of the 2028 Olympics

Being in Los Angeles this weekend, practicing and playing in flag football games, and mentoring younger players, makes it all seem that much more real for quarterback Darrell 'Housh' Doucette. Just three summers from now, his sport will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 LA Games. What the final roster will look like, how many NFL players may be on it, is still being sorted out. This weekend in LA is simply another chance to showcase flag football. Approximately 900 players from nine countries are taking part in USA Football's 'Summer Series.' No active-roster NFL players are slated to take the field. But that could change down the road after league owners unanimously gave permission in May for players to participate in flag football. 'It's gaining traction,' the 35-year-old Doucette said of his sport, which is currently already part of the NFL's Pro Bowl festivities. 'It's being talked about on ESPN, the NFL Network. The NFL is putting (resources) behind it. It's an exciting, fun, fast game.' The teams of tomorrow The fields at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles will host tournaments and showcases for players of all ages. The men's and women's national teams also play in a series of friendly international matches throughout the weekend. On top of that, federations will engage in an international high-performance summit. Basically, it's an exchange of ideas and methodologies to grow the game around the world. The U.S. men and women are both No. 1 in the world, according to the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) rankings. 'There's sort of a sports diplomacy going on,' said Scott Hallenbeck, the CEO of USA Football. 'There's just lots of elements that I think speak really well to the growth of the sport within the Olympic movement and what's expected within the Olympic movement and the opportunity to all learn from each other as quickly as possible. 'It's only three years to the Olympics. ... We all have to go as fast as we can." Fine-tuning This is also a chance for the national teams to fine-tune before international competitions. The U.S. squads will compete in September at the IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Panama. The women's team also will play at the World Games in Chengdu, China, in August. 'The friendlies are more about just seeing where your team is currently at,' Doucette said. 'We are the top dogs, but we can't go out and treat it that way. We have to keep our foot on the pedal with every game we play.' Doucette still hopes to be the signal caller for Team USA when the LA Olympics roll around. Sure, he will be 38 at the time, but, hey, Tom Brady was winning Super Bowls beyond that age. Lately, Doucette has drawn some headlines for his stance on NFL players contending for roster spots. His take remains simple — beat them out and welcome to the team. 'We all are family together. We don't treat each other differently. We all compete and we want the gold medal,' Doucette said. 'So if those (NFL) guys come out and try out, they make the team, congrats to them — they're one of us." The rules The games this weekend will be played following the IFAF's 5-on-5 rules. It's the same version fans will see in LA in 2028. The field is smaller than an NFL field by about half: 50 yards long — along with 10 yards for each end zone — and 25 yards wide. A stop is made by ripping off one of the flags attached by a belt to a ball carrier's waist. An offensive touchdown is worth six points with the subsequent extra-point attempt varying in value. Soaring popularity There was a time not too long ago when receiver/center/defensive back Ashlea Klam had to explain the sport she plays. Not anymore. Not after flag football was added to the LA Olympics program, along with cricket, baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash, in October 2023. With the NFL on board, the visibility has only skyrocketed. Klam plays at Keiser University in Florida, which is one of numerous NAIA schools that now have programs. Being in LA this weekend, it's hard for Klam not to think about LA 2028. 'I always think about LA 2028,' said Klam, who bypassed scholarship offers in track and field to concentrate on flag football. 'I still feel like I'm celebrating, just knowing that it's in the Olympics for real.' The action Among the events this weekend: — The Select Bowl. This is a chance for U.S. national team coaches to scout and identify rising stars in the sport. — The Junior International Cup. The 15- and 17-under boys' and girls' teams will take part in a tournament featuring squads from around the globe. — International Bowl. This will be a chance to see some of the top players in a series of international friendlies. Australia, Canada, Germany and Japan are also on hand. 'It's incredibly exciting to see the passion and enthusiasm around the sport," Hallenbeck said. 'The more traditional tackle fan or football fan is now starting to really understand what 5-on-5 flag football is and what a great addition to overall football fandom it can be."

USA Today

40 minutes ago

• USA Today

Oregon Ducks target Khary Adams announces college commitment

The Oregon Ducks have been recruiting 4-star cornerback Khary Adams strongly over the past few months, but on Friday afternoon, they got some unwanted news. Adams, the No. 36 player and No. 3 cornerback in the 2026 class, per 247Sports, announced his commitment to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It appeared that this was the likely outcome over the past week, especially when Adams cancelled an official visit that he had planned to Eugene for this weekend. Adams stands at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, and is from Towson, Maryland. It makes sense for him to stick closer to home at Notre Dame, but he would have been a significant win for Oregon had they been able to land him. This may not be the only win that Notre Dame gets over the Ducks on Friday in the recruiting world, either. 5-star safety Joey O'Brien is scheduled to announce his commitment later this afternoon, and the expectation is that the Oregon target is also going to end up committing to the Fighting Irish as well. While these are two unfortunate losses for the Ducks on the recruiting trail, they did get to celebrate a big win on Thursday, with 5-star safety Jett Washington joining Oregon's 2026 class. Washington is rated as the No. 18 player in the nation, and he becomes the No. 1-ranked safety to ever commit to the Ducks. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.