Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has tallied 450 rushing yards in his historic second season, and when he looks to avoid a collision with opposing defenders, he tends to roll or dive into their direction, rather than classically slide.
During his weekly appearance on ‘WEEI Afternoons,’ he acknowledged the move is intentional, and it isn’t just about protecting his noggin.
“We’re still protected, and I think the biggest thing is the ball is farther down the field than when I slide feet-first,” he said. “So that’s why, when I try to pick up first downs, I try to slide head-first.”
He isn’t the only young quarterback in the playoffs to have adapted the move. Trevor Lawrence, of the Jaguars, shared earlier this season that he believes diving head-first is safer.
“Just seeing around the league, guys get hit like that a lot trying to slide and protect themselves and end up making it worse,” Lawrence said, back in October. “I think also you can get a few more yards.”
Maye posted 38 first downs rushing and had a success rate of 47.6% through 17 games.
The NFL changed a point of emphasis in rules regarding sliding to allow for quarterbacks to “give themselves up” by sliding head-first back in 2018.