Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Hints At Why Drake Maye Might Not See More Designed Runs

As the New England Patriots season winds down, attention is shifting toward preparing the team for a potential postseason run.

As the Patriots gear up for the postseason, we might start to see some changes in play-calling, but head coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t expect more designed quarterback runs for Drake Maye.

“You kinda wanna be careful,” Vrabel said on Wednesday, via WEEI’s Tom Carroll. “Guys are going in concussion protocol left and right. We’ll be willing to do anything to win a football game, but I think just being smart is probably the biggest thing. And we’ve run Drake, and he’s run himself, and we’ve handed it off to the running backs. So it’s just about a good balance of plays that we feel like can help us.”

The worst-case scenario for the Patriots would be if Maye sustained an injury that jeopardizes the season. While Maye will inevitably take some hits, New England must minimize those as much as possible. Reducing his carries is a smart strategy to keep him healthy and on the field.

However, the Patriots could decide to run Maye more in a potential postseason game if they believe there’s an advantage. It’s crucial to have everything on the line in a win-or-go-home situation.