Patriots' QB Believes Early Issues Are Fixable
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is not one to dwell on the past.
Despite playing a notable role in his team’s sloppy, demoralizing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, the Pats’ third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft believes that the problems currelty plaguing his team are fixable. In fact, he believes it can be corrected in relatively short order.
In short, New England’s metaphorical “road to redemption” begins with protecting the football.
“Not beating ourselves. That's the big thing … it's turnovers,” Maye told reporters at Gillette Stadium this week. “Turnovers in this league are such a big deal. It's one of those things that we can clean up. Holding onto the football, me holding on in the pocket and the running backs is something that I do think is fixable."
“It’s something that you try to overemphasize, and usually when you overemphasize things, you fix it,” he continued. "Something throughout the week is just trying to do the extra little things to protect it, and me in the pocket, ensure there’s two hands on it and just know when the play is over.”
Maye completed 28-of-37 for 268 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the 21-17 loss to the the Steelers last weekend. He also ran the ball seven times for 45 yards in the losing effort. While Maye’s late second-quarter interception and fourth-quarter fumble may place a pall over his overall performance, the Pats’ third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft turned in a statistically sound outing in Week 3. In spite of New England’s struggles with turnovers, Maye kept New England in position to potentially win the game.
Though it may not have been enough to snatch victory from defeat against Pittsburgh, the 23-year-old Pats starter knows that the team’s skill set is capable of turning such losses into wins.
“I just try to push the guys to get to that level,” Maye said. “I know what we can do, and I still feel like we haven't played our best football … I think once we do, we talk about stringing some plays together in a practice or stringing a drive together. You see glimpses of it, but that's the challenging part of this league.”
To Maye’s point, New England had their chances to put the Steelers on their heels in Week 3. Unfortunately, their inability to secure the football in several key situations would doom the Pats attempt to earn their second win in as many weeks. In addition to being whistled for seven penalties for 54 yards, the most disturbing stat for the Patriots in Week 3 was committing five turnovers — one interception to close the first-half and four fumbles — one from Maye, another through the hands of running back Antonio Gibson and two from starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson. As a result, the Patriots became the first team with multiple turnovers inside their opponent's five-yard line since the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders in 2023.
Still, Maye remains convinced that his leadership and encouragement can be a catalyst for the Patriots’ return to respectability, and even prominence in the not-so-distant future — perhaps as soon as this weekend’s Week 4 matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium.
“That’s the fun part about it,” Maye proclaimed. “Getting to that level and hoping to get to that level when the games matter, really matter, and trying to get a push to the postseason or things like that. So, that's what we're trying to build toward and just keep going at it every week.”
Fullback Formations Still In Eagles' Plans Despite Injury
Cam Latu has a new number and maybe a new role. Any role would be fine with him, as he still looks to make his NFL debut after entering the league in 2023 as a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.
Now a member of the Eagles’ practice squad, Latu, who is from Alabama, of course, could get some fullback reps in a game soon. Hence, his jersey number went from 87 to 36.
Perhaps his debut could come as early as Sunday afternoon in Kansas City against the Chiefs, though that would require an elevation from the practice squad. He’s a tight end by trade, but the Eagles had prepared a package of plays with a fullback during the offseason.
Injury To VanSumeren Doesn't Change FB Plan
It was supposed to be Ben VanSumeren in the fullback role until a knee injury wrecked his season on the opening kickoff last week. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said the plan did not go out the window when VanSumeren was carted off the Lincoln Financial Field grass.
“We have guys that can definitely fill that role, and I think it's something we can continue to do,” said Patullo.
The OC identified tight ends Kylen Granson and Latu as candidates. It’s a natural thing to have tight ends motion into the backfield or begin a play lined up as a fullback before motioning out, so it makes sense.
Granson got one snap at fullback against the Cowboys last week. While with the Colts, he got two carries on jet sweeps. He even picked up a first down with a two-yard run on fourth-and-short. The other sweep, he laughed and said he didn’t want to talk about that one.
“I’ll do whatever they tell me to do,” he said. “I’ve done just about everything. I’ve been a receiver, I’ve been a tight end, I’ve been a fullback, I’ve been a running back. Back in in high school, I sat in QB meetings. Thank God it never came up because it’s a whole different thing being back there.
“Whatever my role is I’m more than happy to do it. I love this game and I love playing ball so as long as I’m out there doing what I love, I’ve got no complaints.”
The knee injury to Dallas Goedert could delay the plan of using Granson as a fullback in some formations. He may be needed as a tight end on Sunday, with Grant Calcaterra as the starter. In that case, maybe the Eagles elevate Latu, who played well on special teams this summer.
“I feel good about (playing fullback),” said Latu. “I’m just trying to help the team win, do my part, and play my role. …I think it’s just similar to playing tight end.”
