Will Josh McDaniels click with Drake Maye?
That’s the million dollar question facing Mike Vrabel’s Patriots. Maye certainly had a good rapport with former Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. There were definite signs of progress and development with the team’s franchise quarterback.
Will new OC McDaniels, on his third go-round in New England, be able to get Maye to flourish taking over in critical Year 2?
Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a guest on “Eye on Foxborough,” believes McDaniels is the right man for the job.
“The reputation, the clout Josh has in the building with the Krafts or anybody else in the building … this is a guy everyone is excited about,” Hasselbeck said. “They know what he can do with quarterbacks. They know he’s adaptable.
“The controversy is whether this was Vrabel’s choice, or somebody else’s choice, but either way, he’s a well-respected guy around the league.”
Hasselbeck believes McDaniels meets the criteria Vrabel laid out in his introductory press conference for a coach in terms of being a great teacher, being able to develop talent, and being able to connect with the players and get the best out of them.
While Hasselbeck wasn’t sure if McDaniels would be Vrabel’s choice had he taken another head coaching job, he still believes McDaniels is “the perfect fit for New England” and what needs to happen with the quarterback.
Hasselbeck said any coordinator would relish the opportunity to “work with such an amazing talent” in Maye.
In saying McDaniels would be adaptable in terms of what system would work best for Maye, Hasselbeck said the most difficult part of any change is getting down the language. He didn’t foresee that being a significant problem going forward.
With Maye still just 22, there’s also plenty of time for him to learn and grow. As it is, he still managed to show off his skills and make plays with a less than desirable cast around him.
“Walking into not the perfect situation is tough,” Hasselbeck said. “But I thought he weathered the storm pretty well. He probably learned a ton this year. He probably learned a lot from Jacoby Brissett on how to be a leader, and what’s expected in the locker room.
“Having been around him, he’s a really impressive kid. A franchise quarterback all the way, in my opinion.”
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