Mike Vrabel speaks on Drake Maye communication after bad turnover
Maye was chased down by a defender, and instead of taking a sack, he attempted to make a play and fumbled the ball. New England's goal has been cutting down on the turnovers this season, and plays like the one Maye had last Friday hurt their chances of doing so.
"It's clear how I communicate. I tell him what I'm thinking and what needs to be said ... Sometimes, we can't try to make plays because they become bad ones," said Vrabel, when appearing on The Greg Hill Show. "I think he'll learn from it and understand, like, 'Okay, I'm not going to be able to play Superman all of the time, and I can reserve the right to punt and help this football team, and we'll flip the field and play defense and get another crack at it."
Maye went 3-of-5 passing for 12 yards on two drives against the Commanders. He also strung together two carries for 16 yards and a touchdown.
There were always going to be growing pains for a young quarterback in only his second season. Maye is also learning a new offense with new personnel around him.
The team still has two weeks left of preseason football, and that should give everyone, including Maye, a chance to get acclimated ahead of the season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 7.
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Boston Globe
a minute ago
- Boston Globe
Drake Maye talks ‘pressure' of being in Tom Brady's shadow, Mike Vrabel's culture, and more on WEEI
Embracing Vrabel's message The Patriots might have scored a 'That's a bad decision and I think we're going to need better from him and I think he knows that and I think that's obvious,' Vrabel said. The Stream WASvsNE on — NFL (@NFL) Speaking on WEEI, Maye acknowledged that Vrabel is setting a high standard as the team tries to right the ship after back-to-back four-win seasons. Advertisement 'Just intensity. Bringing it everyday. Leaving your ego at the door and then from there bring it onto the field and finishing through the whistle,' Maye said. 'Doing the little things right. And I think that's just trying to help us on the field. When the little things — details and technique — come into play, that's what he's trying to establish.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Speaking on WEEI earlier on Monday, Vrabel again stressed that Maye will have to be held to a higher standard this season if the Patriots are going to make major strides in 2025 and beyond. 'The expectation is that he's leading this football team,' Advertisement 'I mean, sometimes the performance isn't going to be extraordinary, but the leadership and the demeanor has to be. And I think he's learning that. I love the fact that he's willing to learn and push and try to do those things to where he's demanding of everybody and making sure that everybody's on the same page.' Maye concurred with Vrabel's comments about his expectations as one of the leaders of a rebuilding New England roster. 'He hit it off the tee,' Maye said. 'Just bring it every day. No days off. When the team of the offense feels like you're kind of lagging around, it's my job to bring them up.' Beyond his fumble, Maye logged two drives, completing 3-of-5 passes for 12 yards, while also rushing for 16 yards on two carries with a touchdown. 'Felt good to get out there, kind of get the communication with coach in the headset, getting out of the huddle, really move the ball,' Maye said. 'Instead of out here in practice, just kind of having us line up and running plays. . . . But no, I thought the fans showed out — what a night to celebrate Number 12 [Tom Brady]. And then we got the win.' Playing in Brady's shadow Brady's presence was felt on Friday in Foxborough, as the Patriots welcomed back the legendary QB for the unveiling of a Even though Maye is not the direct successor to Brady in New England, there are lofty expectations placed on every signal-caller for the Patriots tasked with leading the franchise in the post-Brady era. Advertisement But, Maye doesn't believe he's put at a disadvantage when it comes to playing for a franchise that boasted one of the all-time greats in NFL history. 'Yeah, I wouldn't say pressure,' Maye said. 'I think it's just appreciation for what he did, what he did here, how he played the position, how he loved to win and wanted to win, and how they did win. I think that's the biggest part.' A younger O-line Beyond Maye's continued development, the Patriots are going to need a revamped offensive line to keep Maye off the turf and out of danger if the team is going to climb up the standings in 2025. It's going to require several youngsters thriving at football's highest level, as the left side of New England's O-line might feature two rookies with Will Campbell at tackle and Jared Wilson at guard. So far, Maye likes what he sees from the two rookies — even if all parties involved might need to deal with some growing pains over the course of this season. 'Jared was committed to North Carolina back in the day out of high school. He's from North Carolina. So I knew him back in high school. He flipped to Georgia, which I don't blame him,' Maye said. 'But I knew him already. And me and Will — we're going through the same thing. Top-five pick, coming to Boston from the south. Different accents. I think that's just going through it. 'The spot Will's in is kind of the best thing for me and him to be able to relate and communicate and talk. And I think both those guys up front put the work in. . . . Proud of what those guys have done. I think they're learning.' Advertisement A crowded wideout room The early consensus in Foxborough is that players like Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, rookie Kyle Williams, and Kayshon Boutte have carved out roles on the Patriots' Week 1 roster. But, there are still several intriguing wideouts still trying to avoid roster cuts, with players like Javon Baker and . 📺: WBZ — New England Patriots (@Patriots) It remains to be seen how New England's crowded receiver corps thins itself out. But, Maye believes it's a good problem to have when it comes to the abundance of targets that he's working with during camp. 'I think they're battling,' Maye said. 'You got seven, eight guys that bring it every day in that whole room. [Wide receivers] coach Todd [Downing] is doing a great job of challenging them and having to be in the right spots and having different plays, different concepts. 'They are learning them well and asking me questions . . . and asking [offensive coordinator Josh] McDaniels, who's a legend with it. So I think just keep on communicating. That's the biggest thing. And I think how it plays out, the guys who keep on being in the right spot, making plays and are blocking in the run game will be out there.' Conor Ryan can be reached at
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'This is the guy': Patriots took TreVeyon Henderson for talent rather than top need — and early returns support that
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a quiet moment before the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft, Eliot Wolf sat down to review his three favorite players still on the board. The New England Patriots vice president of player personnel pulled up a reel of 100 or so carries Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson had attempted against what Wolf considered 'good' teams. Wolf didn't make it through all 100. 'I watched 15 runs and I was like, 'What am I doing? This is the guy,'' Wolf told Yahoo Sports on Sunday. 'We have way bigger needs than running back and still do. But it was just an opportunity to get a weapon potentially there in the second round.' [Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Plus and get premium draft tools and player projections] The Patriots selected Henderson with the 38th overall pick. On the first play of their preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday, he reminded them why. Henderson fielded the game's kickoff at the goal line before racing up the left side of the field. He sped past the first oncoming defenders near the Patriots' 20, leaving at least three Commanders sprawled before he hit the 50 and completed his flight path. As 12 seconds ticked off the game clock, Henderson arrived in the end zone for a 100-yard return touchdown. 'Those home run-hitting backs, that's huge,' Patriots center Garrett Bradbury told Yahoo Sports. 'I think that's demoralizing for a defense when you can break a 60-yard run, 70-yard run, which he has the capability. 'Give him a little space and it's gone.' Head coach Mike Vrabel considered the field position advantage that could follow. 'Teams are going to put the ball in play, and if they don't and if they're like, 'Well, these guys are going to hit an explosive, then we're just going to give it to 'em at the 35,'' Vrabel told Yahoo Sports. 'So that's good for us either way if we can make that a weapon.' Henderson also chipped in with 12 yards on three catches and 18 yards on a rush in the Patriots' 48-18 preseason win. Coaches and teammates praised his speed, explosiveness and versatility, Henderson's physicality also evident to them in run finishes and pass protection. The production wasn't shocking after Henderson's 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage in Ohio State's 2024 season championship run. Henderson's explosiveness was evident with his Big Ten-best 7.1 yards per carry. But demonstrating that ability at the pro level, even in the preseason, checked another box for the Patriots. Their suspicion: He'll be a problem for opponents. 'He's at times a matchup nightmare against what they call the combo skill, the big skill, which is the linebackers and the safeties, because he can run some pretty good routes as a running back, but he's explosive,' inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr told Yahoo Sports. 'It's a tough down when you go against him isolated, one on one.' Henderson is turning heads in New England, but he's not the only one. Here are two more takeaways from Yahoo Sports' visit to Patriots training camp: The new offense will ask a lot of Drake Maye Patriots brass aren't openly expressing concerns about 2024 fourth overall pick Drake Maye's ability to handle a new offense under coordinator Josh McDaniels. But no one's denying how much will be on Maye's plate. Veterans and coaching assistants coming from other offenses noted McDaniels' offense asks of them a different level of pre-snap responsibilities. Quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant joined the Patriots this offseason from the Cleveland Browns, Bradbury from the Minnesota Vikings and backup QB Josh Dobbs most recently from the San Francisco 49ers. All noted the upswing in quarterback autonomy. 'The responsibility of the quarterback is completely different,' Grant told Yahoo Sports. 'In previous place, it's been kind of a joint venture between the offensive line and the quarterback. Here we like to say the quarterback sets the table and then everyone adjusts off of that.' [Get more Patriots news: New England team feed] McDaniels asks the quarterback, rather than the center, to identify the middle linebacker with the goal of ensuring the quarterback understands what his protection is doing. Bradbury might get his line into the call that Maye requests. But 'the quarterbacks has the final say in everything,' Bradbury told Yahoo Sports. 'First and final say.' Cadence changes, hard counts or other adjustments to account for a zero blitz or especially quick-getoff defensive linemen begin with Maye. Wolf points to Mac Jones' rookie year as proof that McDaniels' system can support rather than confuse a QB. A quarterback will be asked to do and understand more to align his teammates — but Grant sees that as a benefit. 'I think it actually provides clarity for younger quarterbacks because you teach them the issues and then you give them control so that way they know where they're protected, where they're not,' Grant said. 'There's no question of if they're on different pages. So it kind of gives the quarterback a little bit of comfort.' Mike Vrabel's identity, meet the New England Patriots (again) The speculation about Vrabel replacing 2024 head coach Jerod Mayo was so strong that it's easy to forget how long it's been since Vrabel was actually last in New England. Yes, the 14-year NFL linebacker played for the Patriots from 2001-2008, including his 2007 All-Pro campaign. But this isn't a repeat of Mayo taking the head job as a promotion from the Patriots coaching staff. Vrabel's decade of NFL coaching never included a stop on Bill Belichick's staff. He joined the Houston Texans after three years at Ohio State, rising to Texans defensive coordinator before six seasons as the Tennessee Titans' head coach. Vrabel spent last year consulting with the Cleveland Browns before the Patriots hired him to the helm. So Vrabel is bringing a new flavor to the Patriots even if he learned from their longtime flavor. Expect toughness, physicality, high effort and strong fundamentals. Think: The Patriots practiced in pads Sunday despite playing in a preseason game Friday night. Violence (within the accepted realms of professional football) will be encouraged. 'Attacking, disruption, speed and violence,' Wolf described his personnel search. 'We want to be running to the ball, effort and finish, be violent,' Kuhr added. 'Unwavering violence and really just kind of want to strike fear into the opponent and kind of just put your will onto them.' Wolf credited Vrabel as a head coach who 'was able to get more out of less at times on the roster,' as he elevated the Titans, Wolf joining players and coaches as impressed with Vrabel's level of accountability and attention to detail. The Patriots may need time to augment the collection in the talent cupboard and build a winning program. But their identity should be evident imminently. 'Urgency, effort and attention to detail,' Wolf said. 'Guys have kind of stepped forward this year so far and have a chance to make the team.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former Spartan defensive back waived by Chicago Bears
Former Michigan State football defensive back Ameer Speed came to the Spartans from Georgia in the transfer portal. The Jacksonville (FL) native played for MSU in 2022 after spending the first four years of his career with the Bulldogs, where he won a National Championship. Following his collegiate career, Speed was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Now, trying to make a career for himself in the professional ranks, Speed is looking to latch on with an NFL franchise. Speed spent his first two seasons with the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts, and had most recently signed with the Chicago Bears, but it appears that his time in the NFC North has come to a quick end. The Bears waived the former Spartan on Monday, ending his training camp in Chicago. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former Michigan State football DB waived by Chicago Bears
