New England Patriots Quarterback Change: Van Pelt's Insights on Drake Maye

Reasons Behind the Patriots Quarterback Change

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo informed the team of his decision to name Drake Maye their starting quarterback on Wednesday. It was one that his offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, was fully onboard with. “We all sat together and gave our opinions and what we thought,” Van Pelt said Thursday.

Focus on Offensive Production

Van Pelt noted, “Ultimately it’s [Mayo’s] decision and I’m on board with that decision. I am. I’m excited to see Drake play. It’s his time. I think he’s prepared.” After Maye made his NFL debut late in Week 3, Van Pelt believed the rookie was still better off watching and learning from the sidelines. However, roughly one month later, it’s now time for Maye to see the field.

• “Offensively, we’re not where we want to be from a production standpoint, especially in the pass game.”
• “To see Maye’s growth and development over those weeks of practice motivates this decision.”

Anticipating a Spark from Maye

Van Pelt now hopes Maye will give his offense, which ranks 31st in points per game, a much-needed spark. “We thought that Drake’s development over the past first part of the season on the practice field that he was ready to step in and take over,” he stated.

Despite Maye’s hopes to play on-time, Van Pelt acknowledges, “There will be opportunities for him to use his legs.” Protecting himself will be crucial against a Texans defense that leads in pressure rate. In practice, Maye demonstrated readiness with a perfect record during the team’s blitz period.