
Former Patriots QB comments on new offensive scheme for Drake Maye
New England Patriots commentator and former quarterback Scott Zolak says newly-hired offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won't force Drake Maye to run the Tom Brady-style offense.
There have been some concerns over Maye being the right fit for the way McDaniels has called the offense in the past for New England. However, Zolak believes the coach will make the necessary adjustments to adapt to what Maye does best.
'I know this for a fact. He will not force him to run the Brady offense,' Zolak said on 98.5 The Sports Hub. 'That was Tom's offense. They took that thing to another level. If Josh feels Drake is better off, terminology-wise, running a West Coast-style offense, Josh will move to that.'
'If Josh McDaniels feels Drake Maye is better with West Coast terminology, he'll move to that. He's not gonna force him to run Brady's offense.'@scottzolak saying 'for a fact' the plan is all about Drake Maye.
And speaking very highly of JMD in the process. @NBCSBoston pic.twitter.com/RJIGhrQwQE
— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) January 23, 2025
A West Coast offensive system would focus on short passes to increase the efficiency of the ground game for the Patriots.
No one knows exactly what offensive system the team will install until McDaniels starts working with Maye. If anything, Maye's versatility as a passer and a playmaker with his legs could give McDaniels a chance to open up the offense even more.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices
Before the New England Patriots adjourned for the quietest six-week stretch on the NFL calendar, with no practices or meetings until training camp begins on July 23, new coach Mike Vrabel stressed the importance of the time away. 'I don't think it's a downtime,' Vrabel said. 'It's time away from the facility. I think it's important. It's probably the five most important weeks of the offseason as far as I'm concerned. … It's critical that they come back in shape, that they're ready to go for training camp, that we're prepared as coaches with the schedule, the installation and what we're doing. The players have to hold up their end of the bargain to prepare for training camp.' Advertisement Still, the end of spring practices comes with some surprises. Roster cutdown day isn't going to be shaped much by organized team activities and minicamp, but those sessions do have an impact on where players stand heading into training camp. Today, let's look at the players who climbed the depth chart and fell the most this spring. We have to start here. No player's stock rose more than Chism's. He didn't just stand out to reporters at the sessions we watched. He drew praise from arguably the two most important people: Vrabel and Drake Maye. Maye said it felt like Chism 'had about 50 catches' during OTAs. Vrabel's remarks stood out, too. Perhaps it's just that people in these parts aren't used to the head coach praising any player, let alone an undrafted rookie who hasn't played a game, but Vrabel's comments turned a few heads. 'I think he's a talented player,' Vrabel said. 'I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard. He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. … It doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target (with passes). That's a good indicator.' Mike Vrabel on undrafted WR Efton Chism, a spring standout so far: 'I think he's a talented player. … He has a good feel for what we're asking.' — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) June 10, 2025 Yes, they were only spring practices, and there is a long, long way to go. But at this point, it seems more likely than not that Chism makes the team. It may seem strange to include one of the league's best cornerbacks as a 'riser' based on spring practices, but Gonzalez looked like a true shutdown corner this spring, taking a step forward from his high level of play a year ago. Advertisement One day after Maye said he was going to challenge Gonzalez in practice, Maye had a receiver one-on-one downfield against Gonzalez, so he threw it up. But Gonzalez adjusted his body and came down with a great interception despite no safety help. In five practices open to reporters, Gonzalez had three picks. He looks primed for an incredible year that could solidify him as a top-five corner in the NFL. Part of practice is taking advantage of your opportunities. And while Rhamondre Stevenson was away from the team for a bit, dealing with a personal matter following the loss of his father, Henderson brought a juice to the team's backfield that it hasn't had in a few years. There were certainly fair reasons to be skeptical about a rebuilding team using its second-round pick on a running back. But Henderson's speed is obvious, and he'll be one of the most fun players for fans to watch in camp. The guess here is he ends up as the team's No. 1 back by the end of the season. It wasn't always clear whether Elliss would return to the Pats after he signed an offer sheet from the Las Vegas Raiders, but now he's got a chance to be a starting middle linebacker in New England. Jahlani Tavai suffered a leg injury in OTAs, and Elliss took advantage of the increased snaps. With a good camp, he'll be starting next to Robert Spillane. Amid the Patriots' overhaul on defense, the addition of Chaisson has gone slightly under the radar. But the 2020 first-round pick had some impressive moments this spring and could be looking at a meaningful role if he plays well in training camp. Chaisson is still just 25 despite already playing five NFL seasons and looks ready to build on the five sacks he had a year ago for the Raiders. Perhaps it's not fair to put injured players in this category. But as coaches often say, the best ability is availability, and Polk needs to stand out to this new coaching staff to earn a spot in a crowded wide receiver room. After a shoulder procedure in the offseason, Polk was limited to side-field activities this spring and couldn't do much with the team. The wide receiver competition will be fascinating to follow in training camp. Advertisement A year after recovering from an ACL tear, the Patriots would have liked to see more from Bourne than they did this spring. He was … fine. But they're likely only going to keep six receivers, and with Chism playing like he deserves a spot, the numbers get complicated quickly for Bourne. He needs a strong camp, or he could be a cut candidate. It hasn't been the start to his NFL career that Mapu hoped for after being a third-round pick in 2023. To simplify things for him, Vrabel has Mapu working at linebacker instead of both there and safety, where Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo used him. There's less depth at linebacker, which helps Mapu's chances of making the team. But I've got some concerns about a guy with durability issues suddenly playing a more physical position. Vrabel thinks Mapu can be a good blitzer, so he'll need to shine there in camp.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
First image of Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis on field together
New England Patriots cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III were captured in a picture together on the practice field at minicamp. The All-Pro corner and veteran Super Bowl champion combination will be one of the most formidable duos in any defensive backfield. Gonzalez is coming off a season where he recorded 59 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions, while Davis had 54 tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions. Advertisement Together, they are a nightmare pairing who should give opposing offenses fits. For right now, they are making life hard for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots offense on the practice field. The Patriots posted a clip of Gonzalez snagging a one-handed interception against Maye on their social media account. Gonzalez has looked like a future star in the NFL, and now, he is being paired with one of the more reliable defensive backs in the league. That goes without mentioning all of the improvements along the defensive front. The Patriots' defense has improved at every level, and now, they have a real opportunity to make some serious noise in 2025. Advertisement Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: First image of Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis on field together


USA Today
19 hours ago
- USA Today
First image of Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis on field together
First image of Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis on field together Top 5 CB duo in the league. 🔒 — Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) June 10, 2025 New England Patriots cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III were captured in a picture together on the practice field at minicamp. The All-Pro corner and veteran Super Bowl champion combination will be one of the most formidable duos in any defensive backfield. Gonzalez is coming off a season where he recorded 59 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and two interceptions, while Davis had 54 tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions. Together, they are a nightmare pairing who should give opposing offenses fits. For right now, they are making life hard for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots offense on the practice field. The Patriots posted a clip of Gonzalez snagging a one-handed interception against Maye on their social media account. Gonzalez has looked like a future star in the NFL, and now, he is being paired with one of the more reliable defensive backs in the league. That goes without mentioning all of the improvements along the defensive front. The Patriots' defense has improved at every level, and now, they have a real opportunity to make some serious noise in 2025. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.