During a crucial third quarter possession, down 16-3 to the Arizona Cardinals, the Patriots faced a 3rd-and-goal from the four-yard line.
Drake Maye would have loved a chance to gain that yard, and move closer to makeing it a one-score game, only the rookie quarterback’s number wasn’t called.
Antonio Gibson was stuffed on 3rd down, and Rhamondre Stevenson was swallowed up on fourth down, with the Patriots turning the ball over on downs. It’s not the first time that’s happened this season, where the Patriots couldn’t gain a critical yard.
After the 30-17 loss, Maye stated his case for play caller Alex Van Pelt to consider using him in those situations.
“I was a good quarterback-sneaker in college. I’m a big dude, I’m heavier than people think,” said Maye, who had a six-yard rushing touchdown in the game. “So I think maybe there’s a conversation for that. I think it’s tough to stop a 6-5 dude for one yard.
“But at the same time, Rhamondre is pretty dang good at getting one yard as well. It’s unfortunate that it happened. But there’s a time and place for it.”
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Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said he expected his team to get the yard. That’s what good football teams are supposed to do. Only his team failed.
“It was disappointing. I said this probably the first week of the season, there comes a point in time as a football team where everyone in the stadium knows what the play is, and we just gotta move bodies,” Mayo said. “And we weren’t able to move them … we have guys in there that are physically tough, mentally tough. My expectation for them is that we can always move bodies, and unfortunately we just didn’t do that today.”
Did Mayo consider using Maye for a sneak in that situation? Was that Van Pelt’s decision?
Mayo initially gave an odd answer, when asked why they wouldn’t sneak given Maye’s abiity to run: “You said it. I didn’t.”
Was he throwing Van Pelt under the bus?
He later clarified who makes those decisions.
“It’s always my decision,” Mayo said. “Look, the quarterback obviously has a good pair of legs and does a good job running the ball. We just chose not to do it there.”
