Remember When Everyone Was Wondering When Drake Maye Would Pick Up Josh McDaniels' Offense? It Looks Like That Moment Has Arrived.

Ah, memories. Like the shadows of my mind. This moment really takes you back, doesn't it? Back those halcyon days of [checks calendar] two weeks ago today. When Drake Maye threw four interceptions in his first official full team workout running the celebrated Josh McDaniels offense. When the panic that started to spread was both real:

And exaggerated strictly for trolling purposes. (I think.):

Regardless, that performance right out of the gate did raise a legitimate question. With Maye now having to learn his fourth different system in his fourth consecutive season going back to UNC, it was worth asking how long it would take for him to learn the McOffense? It has proven to be more difficult for some than others. At every position on the field, quarterback especially. 

For every say, Jimmy Garoppolo or Brian Hoyer who took right to it, there were Kevin O'Connell's and Ryan Malletts who washed out of Foxboro in short order. (For the purposes of this discussion I won't mention Tom Brady, since the system grew around him more than he grew up in it.) For all his flaws and athletic limitations, Mac Jones certainly got what McDaniels was laying down almost immediately. Even winning the starting job as a rookie while practicing with the second team offense. But without the structure and McDaniels' guidance, he melted like a snowman in the sun. 

So the question of how long it would take Maye to become less interception-y and more productive-ish running this new playbook was not without its merit. And if you were one of those people pushing the narrative that four picks was a sign of trouble, you have to admit you have your answer. 

And it is now. 

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Boston Herald -  Give him a B-plus.

Maye started 5-of-5 in the opening period of team drills, including a left-to-right crossing route completion Christian Gonzalez tipped into the air that still found DeMario Douglas. He also hit passes to four different receivers running a stick route (Jack Westover), swing route (TreVeyon Henderson), slant (Kayshon Boutte) and comeback route (Kyle Williams). In the next period, Maye took a sack, threw the ball away against pressure and fired two short completions over the middle.

Later, Maye got more aggressive by connecting with Boutte on a deep corner route and Chism and Douglas on separate dig routes. …

No interceptions, appropriate aggression and good command. Maye's day went well beyond an 87.5% completion percentage in team drills.

His coaches can confirm:

Mass Live -  Drake Maye had his best practice day Monday. At least, his best with the media looking on.

And it wasn’t close. …

Prior to the workout, Ashton Grant, his quarterbacks coach, talked about what it’s been like working with Maye as he goes through the trials and tribulations of adjusting to a new system. 

“(It’s been) awesome. I think he’s a pro’s pro,” Grant said. “He’s taken all the installs that we’ve been putting in, and has been running with him. 

“He comes out here and puts his best foot forward every day. And we’re continuing to get better. …

“There’s going to be a lot of repetition going from one system, to a completely new one,” he said. “So as many as many reps as we can, and we’re trying to steal as many as we can when we’re inside. I think he’s done a great job taking steps forward.”

I have no doubt in my mind - none whatsoever - that the usual suspects, the anti-Patriots extremists whose entire business model is based on sucking all the hope in our hearts straight out of our faces like Dementors will dismiss these last couple of practices as nothing. Done without pads. Against a defense that isn't actually allowed to try. With a simulated pass rush only. So none of it counts. 

But no one can be allowed to play that rhetorical game. You can't point to 4 INTs right out the gate two weeks ago as a reason to panic and then 18-of-20 for 322 yards, 5 TDs and 0 INTs and call that anything besides progress. Improvement, by leaps and bounds. A 22-year-old second year QB ascending his learning curve like The Price is Right Cliffhanger Guy. 

And bear in mind, Mike Vrabel has set up these early practices differently than we're used to around here. Under Bill Belichick, these spring practices were almost exclusively 7-on-7s, with the O-lines and D-lines back on the lower field doing drills. Vrabel has been focused entirely on running the playbook with full squads. And I can promise you that Christian Gonzalez, Dell Pettus and Craig Woodson who made Maye look like Zach Wilson two weeks ago were trying every bit as hard to pick him off this week. And couldn't prevent him from completing just about every throw. 

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So mark this down. June the 3rd, 2025. A date which will live in whatever the opposite of infamy is. It's the day Drake Maye ended all doubt he would not only pick up the McOffense, he'd start to master it. And to think, he's got three more months to get better at it before he really needs it. Be afraid, AFC. Be very afraid.