FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — First-year New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo may not be as hard-lined as Invoice Belichick when answering questions from reporters, however he delivered a Belichick-type response when requested his first impressions of quarterback Drake Maye at rookie minicamp.
“He has lots to work on. Lots to work on,” Mayo stated Saturday, repeating himself. “However I’ve little doubt that he’ll put the time in. He was right here all night time making an attempt to get on the identical web page as everybody else.”
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Mayo has stated that his legacy — in addition to that of newly appointed govt vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf, who formally was named to the place Saturday — will probably be tied to the crew’s collection of Maye third general in final month’s NFL draft.
Friday and Saturday marked Maye’s first practices as a Patriot, as he donned jersey No. 10, the identical as former Patriots first-round choose Mac Jones.
Reporters had been current for Saturday’s hourlong session, which featured a heavy emphasis on footwork fundamentals. Particularly, Maye spent the primary few durations of follow taking snaps immediately underneath middle as a substitute of the shotgun, which he principally used the previous two seasons at North Carolina.
“It has been good, sort of the primary day feeling it out and simply getting increasingly more reps,” Maye stated. “That is all one thing new takes — getting extra reps at it. I felt fairly good on the market immediately, so simply must maintain working.”
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Maye cut up repetitions with fellow rookie Joe Milton, the sixth-round choose from Tennessee whose highly effective arm was on show.
“Joe is my man. I received to know him all through faculty and noticed him down on the [Peyton] Manning Camp. We’re simply competing, two rookies in right here making an attempt to study it,” Maye stated. “I believe we each have sturdy arms, so simply out right here making an attempt to let it rip.”
Teammates took observe on Maye’s presence and robust arm.
“The man can sling it, man,” stated huge receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, the second-round choose from the College of Washington. “He is very assured. He is a frontrunner, very vocal; he is setting the tone in follow, making an attempt to get guys shifting round and working at a excessive degree.”
Fourth-round choose Layden Robinson, a guard from Texas A&M, added: “I really like his vitality and depth when he is within the huddle. So you have at all times received to convey your greatest vitality, too.”
The Patriots have a number of assistant coaches with a deal with quarterbacks — Alex Van Pelt (offensive coordinator), T.C. McCartney (QBs), Ben McAdoo (senior assistant) and Evan Rothstein (assistant QBs) — with Mayo saying he expects Van Pelt to be the first voice for Maye.
That was one of many main appeals of Mayo hiring Van Pelt, who most not too long ago served as quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns and final season was credited for his work with 5 totally different starters.
“There needs to be steadiness there, you do not need Drake listening to too many voices,” he stated. “It’s a must to have a small circle that you may speak to and belief. I do know AVP is in that circle with Drake.”
