Drake Maye Boasts ‘It’s Harder To Light Me Up Than You Think’
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is the odds-on favorite to win the NFL MVP in just his second year in the league.
As such, fans would probably like to see his role blocking in the run game diminish. However, the first-year captain is beginning to make a habit of throwing a block.
The quarterback told the “WEEI Afternoons” crew in a previous radio spot that he was not proud of his blocking efforts.
He was asked the same question on Monday, and Maye did his best to calm the nerves of anxious fans.
“Yeah, I don’t know what do y’all think?” Maye asked. “I thought I was alright, got in the way enough.”
The host then asked if Maye is ever worried that one of the opposing defenders is going to “light you up.”
“I mean, I’m 230 pounds, 6’5″, I think it’s a little harder to light me up than you think,” Maye said.
Even with four more starts made this season, Maye has yet to meet his rushing yardage mark from his rookie year, when he scampered for 421 yards on just 54 carries.
There was an offseason emphasis placed on protecting the 23-year-old gunslinger after he took several hard hits as a rookie, and it has paid off so far.
The quarterback says he feels more vulnerable in the pocket than he does throwing blocks.
“When I see the guys coming, I gotta good gist,” Maye said. “But when I’m standing there with the football like a statue, it’s a little easier for those guys to take me off my feet.”