Drake Maye Sends Loud Message During Patriots’ Scrimmage With Eagles originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots could not have asked for a much stronger showing from Drake Maye during Wednesday’s joint scrimmage against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Facing one of the NFL’s most talented defenses, Maye looked comfortable, accurate and fully in command of the Patriots’ offense throughout the two-hour session. The quarterback reportedly completed 16 of 19 passes during 11-on-11 drills after going 4-for-6 in 7-on-7 work, according to Pats Pulpit’s Brian Hines and Bernd Buchmasser.
The statistics were impressive, but Maye’s command might have been even more encouraging for New England. He moved effectively inside the pocket, attacked Philadelphia down the field and distributed the ball among A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.
Maye did not merely survive a difficult test. He appeared to control it.
Maye And Brown Give Patriots A Glimpse Of Offensive CeilingWednesday’s scrimmage carried additional significance for Brown, who reunited with several former Eagles teammates after Philadelphia traded him to New England during the offseason. Brown quickly reminded his former team what made him such a dangerous weapon.
The veteran receiver reportedly caught seven passes during team drills, including four in 11-on-11 situations. Maye connected with him on two downfield throws and a pair of slants, offering an encouraging preview of a partnership that could transform New England’s passing attack. Brown was not the only Patriots receiver who created problems for Philadelphia. Douglas reportedly defeated Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean on all three of their one-on-one reps, while Kyle Williams went 3-0 against Kelee Ringo.
Those performances suggest Maye could have considerably more help around him this season. Brown gives the Patriots a proven No. 1 receiver, while Douglas, Doubs, Boutte and Williams provide a variety of complementary skills.
Patriots’ Defense Creates Turnovers But Reveals ConcernNew England’s secondary also delivered several memorable moments. Second-year safety Craig Woodson recorded two interceptions and a sack as he continued his push for a starting role alongside veteran Kevin Byard. Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor and John Saunders Jr. also intercepted passes during the session.
Saunders has recorded an interception in three consecutive practices against another team this summer, according to Pats Pulpit. The Patriots did not leave Wednesday without a concern, however.
Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley found several large running lanes, with New England struggling at times to set the edge. That will be an important issue for Mike Vrabel and his staff to address before the regular season. Milton Williams helped prevent the problem from becoming worse. The former Eagles defensive tackle consistently generated disruption inside and reportedly drove Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson backward during one notable rep.
MORE: A.J. Brown Has Perfect Message Upon Seeing Former Eagles Teammates
Andy Borregales Answers Early MissKicker Andy Borregales also recovered nicely from a shaky start. Borregales hit the upright on his first attempt from 33 yards but converted each of his next six field goals. That stretch included two makes from 52 yards and another from 57, with two of the long-distance attempts coming during simulated end-of-game situations.
His response was especially encouraging after he struggled in New England’s preseason opener. The Patriots’ offense also received a positive showing from its running game. Rhamondre Stevenson found room behind an offensive line led by Will Campbell and Alijah Vera-Tucker, even while facing Philadelphia’s formidable defensive front.
Campbell experienced some inconsistency during one-on-one drills, but he rebounded with several solid team reps. A joint practice in August cannot predict how an entire season will unfold. Wednesday nevertheless provided meaningful evidence that Maye and New England’s revamped offense can hold their own against elite competition.
The Patriots will return to the practice field with the Eagles on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. ET for their final open training camp session.
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