Coach Drops Bombshell: Solution-Based’ Answer Sparks Epic QB Switch Rumors

October 8, 2024 emilysportnews-admin NFL 0

Coach Drops Bombshell: Solution-Based’ Answer Sparks Epic QB Switch Rumors

Jerod Mayo may be reconsidering his stance on starting rookie quarterback Drake Maye for the New England Patriots and benching veteran Jacoby Brissett.

Previously, Mayo has been steadfast in keeping Brissett as the starter, but his tone shifted significantly following the Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

On “The Greg Hill Show” for WEEI on October 7, Mayo acknowledged, “One thing I’ll say about Jacoby—and I’ve said this repeatedly—is that he took quite a few hits yesterday. I admire his toughness for getting back up and continuing to play. He made some good throws, but he also missed some, which has been a recurring issue this season. While he’s been under constant pressure in the pocket, it’s unfair to be overly critical. However, we need to recognize that to give this team the best chance to win, we must improve our passing game. It’s a solution-based business, and we need to find answers as coaches.

Drake Maye looks good and Pats aren't adding a QB, Mayo says

These last two sentences are key, as they indicate Mayo’s acknowledgment that the Patriots must enhance their passing game, suggesting that this improvement may not happen with Brissett still leading.

The Patriots drafted Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft to be their franchise quarterback. He possesses the arm talent and athletic ability to fulfill that role, but those skills are currently wasted on the bench for a struggling 1-4 team.

Given that Maye is a more dynamic athlete than Brissett, he deserves a shot in Week 6 against the Houston Texans, even though the team may not have the best support system for a rookie quarterback.

Reports Suggest Patriots Leaning Toward QB Switch

Several prominent reporters believe rookie quarterback Drake Maye may start when the Texans visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 13. ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated, “A QB change could soon be coming to New England, with rookie first-round pick Drake Maye potentially starting against the Texans.”

Schefter also retweeted colleague Mike Reiss, who highlighted a “notable shift in Jerod Mayo’s answers regarding the QB situation” during his post-game conference compared to previous weeks. Reiss pointed out that Mayo previously described the team’s only win as “unsustainable” and now seems seriously considering a switch to Maye.

There’s a subtle but significant distinction here: Reiss framed his comments as “opinion/analysis,” while Schefter’s tone was more definitive.

Mike Kadlick of CLNS Media noted this stronger tone, mentioning that in his Instagram post, Schefter added “as well as other sources” to support his claim about Maye possibly starting.

Kadlick also shared a post from 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Alex Barth, who expressed frustration over the ambiguity in Schefter’s remarks, questioning whether it was a report or merely an opinion.

It’s challenging to differentiate between takes and confirmations, just as it’s tough to gauge Mayo’s commitment to reevaluating his stance on the best option for the team’s most crucial position.

Ultimately, the deciding factor may be which quarterback offers the best chance to compensate for a struggling offensive line. Frankly, that choice should be obvious.

Drake Maye Gives Patriots Better Chance of Hiding Biggest Weakness

One compelling argument for keeping Drake Maye on the sidelines revolves around New England’s porous offensive line. The front five has struggled, allowing Jacoby Brissett to be sacked 17 times and hit 20 times, while also surrendering 51 pressures, according to Pro Football Reference.

These statistics are alarming, but not everyone believes pass protection is the only issue. NBCS Boston’s Phil Perry pointed out that while there were six dropbacks where pressure occurred in under 2.0 seconds, there were also five pressures that came 3.5 seconds or more after the snap.

There are two reasons Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt might see Maye as a better option against pressure. The first is the 22-year-old’s superior mobility.

Nate Tice of Yahoo! Sports noted that Maye was “extremely dangerous as a runner, both on scrambles and designed runs” during his time at North Carolina.

His ability to turn pressure situations into positive gains contrasts sharply with Brissett, who lacks the same elusiveness and speed.

Maye’s mobility extends beyond escaping pressure; he can climb the pocket or throw on the run, creating off-platform opportunities for big plays.

The Patriots have missed these elements while defenses have targeted a stationary Brissett, but Maye is reportedly improving at handling the blitz. Albert Breer of The MMQB mentioned that “dealing with the blitz in practice has been a significant area of progress over the last couple of weeks.”

Week 6 has emerged as a likely timeframe for Maye to take over. While his debut won’t instantly transform the Patriots into winners, it could enable Mayo and his staff to enhance their play calling and gradually expand the offense.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*