FOXBORO — They’re called rookie mistakes for a reason.
And as promising as Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has performed this season, he certainly has his share of errors six games into his starting career.
But this is the time to work those out when the now 3-8 Patriots are not expected to be competitive. And the hope is that Maye will be able to reduce these mistakes after the team adds more pieces around him.
None proved more costly than Maye’s lone interception Sunday, when he fired the ball straight to Rams safety Kamren Kinchen to end the Patriots’ fourth-quarter comeback attempt in the 28-22 loss.
Maye saw a two-high safety look and expected to be able to find Douglas between the dropping linebacker and safeties over the top, where there was a hole in the Rams’ zone coverage. Douglas extended his route upfield and didn’t even look for the ball as Kinchen picked it off.
“I tried to kind of put it on them and kind of hit them over the linebacker, and Pop (Douglas) was thinking probably deep, but at the end of the day, just got to be on the same page,” Maye said. “And I think Pop did the right thing, I guess, got to just talk through more conversations. Just goes back to me during the week doing more, talking through different situations, ‘hey, I may put this one on you versus let it rip.’ That’s about it.”
Douglas told the Herald after the game that there was no option on the route.
Head coach Jerod Mayo chalked it up to miscommunication.
“Just run. I say miscommunication because I thought the ball would be there, but he wanted me in the hole shot,” Douglas said. “It’ll come with practice.”
Maye has thrown interceptions in four of his six starts. He also lost a fumble for the third time this season.
“Just can’t hurt our defense on the fumble, third down. Got to get the ball out,” Maye said. “Can’t take a sack there. Same thing I talked about in previous press conferences.”
Maye set career highs with 282 passing yards and 0.25 EPA (expected points added) per play in Sunday’s loss. He completed 30-of-40 passes with two touchdowns and the interception and lost fumble. At least one of Maye’s incompletions was dropped by wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, and another long gain was called back by an illegal formation penalty.
The rookie third-overall pick’s decision to scramble just three times for 27 yards on Sunday was intentional.
The UNC product had 25 scrambles for 233 yards and one rushing touchdown coming into Sunday’s game.
“Just scrambling to be a passer. I think not taking off so early and just tucking the football, being a scrambler, throw the ball downfield, and we’ve got good players downfield,” Maye said.
“But I think week to week, I think we’re getting better. Proud of those guys up front for battling, and we were able to run the football a pretty good time today. Just a couple of things, I think down there in the red zone we’ve got to capitalize on.”
Rams head coach Sean McVay came away impressed with Maye, calling him a “stud.”
“You look at it, and you can really see his ability to create off-schedule,” McVay said. “I thought he did a great job of being able to make plays in the pocket today, extend drives. I thought he was patient, taking some underneath check-downs where guys were able to create. We had tighter coverages, and he was able to fit the ball into tight windows. … You can see just the impact that he has on his teammates, the way people talk about him here. He looks like he’s going to be a special player for a long time, and he gave us fits today.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who went 18-of-27 for 295 yards with four touchdowns in his best game of the season, echoed that sentiment.
“Yeah, really talented player. I’ve watched a little bit of crossover tape just from games, but really talented kid,” Stafford said. “Obviously can move great in the pocket. I thought he stood in there a few times today and made some nice plays on third down. He’s got a bright future.”
Maye’s arm strength and playmaking ability pops off the field every week for the Patriots. He also leads qualified quarterbacks in PFF’s turnover-worthy play rate.
When Maye is able to curb the rookie mistakes, the Patriots appear to have something special in the young quarterback.
