Mike Vrabel uses golf analogy to explain Drake Maye’s struggles

The New England Patriots have a problem at quarterback, something few thought they would be saying after Drake Maye’s breakout campaign last season.

Through three games, Maye leads the NFL with six interceptions. Including his lost fumble, he has seven total giveaways. He has turned the ball over in every game this season and has had three turnovers in both of New England’s losses.

The 24-year-old is costing the Patriots with his turnovers and poor decisions, and he hasn’t made enough big plays to offset them.

So, what’s leading to those poor decisions?

During his weekly appearances on The Greg Hill Show on WEEI (full interview below), head coach Mike Vrabel used a golf analogy to try to explain what’s going on with his quarterback.

“I think quarterbacks want to make plays. I think they want to throw touchdowns,” Vrabel said. “ I think sometimes when Greg and I go golfing, we really want to make a good score, right? Sometimes we’re so focused on it that we try to choke the life out of the golf club, and we’re squeezing it so damn tight that the ball has no choice but to go sideways. We need to stop trying to choke the life out of every single play. We need to relax. We need to settle in and go play football and not try to force things that aren’t there.”

Maye tried to force two more plays in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, and both were poor decisions.

The first came on third-and-goal from the Jacksonville 2-yard line, when Maye forced a pass into the end zone looking for receiver Efton Chism III. Cornerback Travis Hunter, who was all over Chism, intercepted the pass.

The other came on a comeback route to Kyle Williams down the sideline. Cornerback Jarrian Jones, who, like Hunter, was tight in coverage, jumped the route for another interception. Maye admitted after the game that he shouldn’t have attempted the throw.

Those are the type of decisions Maye, who finished last season with just eight interceptions, wasn’t making. But Vrabel wouldn’t go as far as comparing this season to last year.

“Each situation, each game, and each play is different. Whether he had that many decisions that were close like that [last year], I

don’t know,” Vrabel said. “I just know that’s what it’s been up until now, and certainly inside the red zone for scores.”

Two of Maye’s interceptions have come inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, while four have come on the opponent’s side of the field.

Despite Maye playing arguably two of his worst games as a professional in Week 1 against Seattle and Week 3 against Pittsburgh, Vrabel remains confident in his quarterback.

“I’m confident that he’ll continue to work. He’ll begin to make consistently better decisions, and everybody around him will continue to improve, as well,” Vrabel said. “It’s about just getting back and working. Being around people you care about. Have a small circle. Focus on the people that truly matter, and trying to get back to work. Drake’s our quarterback, man; we’ve got to get this thing right, by all of us.”