Plotting Drake Maye’s eventual entry as the Patriots starter has been a polarizing topic.
In short, on one side, there are play him now advocates. On the other, there are don’t you dare play him behind that line zealots.
Where does ESPN analyst Damien Woody stand?
The former Patriots offensive lineman, who was a guest on the Eye on Foxborough podcast, fell in between the two.
“It’s not going to be the optimal situation, especially with the offensive line,” Woody said, “but if the young man is ready, put him in. When they feel he’s ready to take the reigns, then you insert him in.”
Maye had a cameo in Thursday night’s blowout loss to the New York Jets. He came on for mop-up duty, going 4-for-8 for 22 yards. He ran twice, and was sacked twice.
Woody doesn’t know if the time is now, given he’s not watched Maye progress in practice. But Jerod Mayo & Co. have to be convinced he can capably handle what he’s seeing in front of him from opposing defenses before having him take over as the starter.
“You want to make sure he has a good foundation up underneath him. Being able to recognize what defenses are trying to do to him, being able to make the appropriate checks,” Woody said. “If he’s doing these things in practice and has an understanding of those aspects of the game, then I think it’s time to put him in the lineup and don’t turn back.”
While Jacoby Brissett has admirably held the fort, Woody believes Maye will provide more for the offense.
“Listen, he’s a great athlete. That’s the thing that differentiates him from Jacoby Brissett. He can move. He can create things with his legs. I’m a believer in, you only get better, by playing football. You only get better by taking the reps.”
Fellow ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, for one, is a believer the Patriots should sit Maye the entire season, largely due to the porous offensive line. Woody wouldn’t wait.
“As I said, it might not be an ideal situation,” Woody said, “but if he’s ready, let him go.”
