During the lead-up to the draft, there was plenty of discussion about Drake Maye having some mechanical issues that need to be fixed.
Specifically, the Patriots rookie quarterback, taken third overall, doesn’t have the best footwork when it comes to maneuvering around the pocket, as well as delivering the football.
Former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer, a guest on the “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, discussed the element of fixing Maye’s footwork.
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Hoyer said when he came out of college, he also had similar issues, but his footwork got better pretty quickly given how “focused we were on it,” in the NFL, as compared with college.
“I think in college, you have to remember there’s so much limited time those coaches have with the players,” Hoyer said. “When they get out to practice, it’s about getting ready for the games.
“So, I think watching (Maye’s) footwork, there’s some stuff in the pocket he can definitely improve on, and I think that’s totally doable.”
It’ll be an immediate focus for the Patriots coaching staff.
As for Jacoby Brissett’s role in helping mentor Maye, Hoyer put that role in perspective.
The former Patriot says its not Brissett’s job to “groom” Maye, per se. That part falls on the coaching staff. Basically, it’s on Maye to watch and learn from the veteran, much like Hoyer watched and learned from Tom Brady at different points in his career.
“Just being around someone where you see them study film the correct way, practice with the right approach, break the huddle … it’s the little subtle things like that, where it’s your responsibility as a young guy to pick up on that,” said Hoyer, who was a backup with the Las Vegas Raiders last year. “You don’t need to be pestering the starter with a bunch of different questions.
“If you feel like you have something you don’t feel like the coach can give you an answer, then you go to the starting quarterback. I know Jacoby, and I know he’s a great competitor. But I also know he’s a great human being and a great guy. So he won’t hold anything back as far as helping Drake out. But I think Drake will learn so much just by watching Jacoby’s approach on a day in, day out basis.”
