Patriots

Scott Zolak’s early impression of Drake Maye

"They've got to see that as a staff, or they're not going to play him."

By Hayden Bird

July 25, 2024

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While all eyes are on Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye during the early days of his first training camp, only a few observers can claim to have actual NFL experience at the position.

One of those who fits the category is ex-Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who — after months of watching his college footage during the draft coverage — observed Maye in his performance at the team’s first practice on Wednesday.

First-year Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has previously said that the title of starting quarterback is a competition between Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett (the current presumptive starter). Zolak, now a radio co-host for 98.5 The Sports Hub (and who is also half of the Patriots’ radio broadcast team) pointed out that it will be the little things that could define Maye winning a starting role.

“When you talk about pro-ready,” said Zolak on Wednesday, “pro-ready doesn’t mean that you watch on the field and say, ‘Oh wow, Drake Maye looks a lot better than Jacoby did out there on the field.'”

In Zolak’s mind, Maye will face much more than a test of his sheer physical ability.

“I’m starting to get caught up with the way he used to call offense and progressions in college and high school. It’s the first time he’s ever called the play in the huddle,” Zolak pointed out. “That’s the pro-ready stuff of handling the clock, handling the noise, handling the play clock. Am I looking to the sideline? Am I understanding the personnel groups? Am I watching the defense for substitution patterns? Can I call the play? Can I function? They’re talking about functioning. Drake Maye has to come out here and prove he can function.”

“They’ve got to see that as a staff, or they’re not going to play him,” Zolak concluded.

Later on Wednesday, following his first moments in a training camp practice, the former New England quarterback shared his early observations.

“The skills are there,” Zolak said of Maye. “It’s about when are [the skills] going to be honed, when are they going to feel comfortable with him?”

Zolak again underscored the point that Maye’s natural ability isn’t all the team will judge him on in a competition with Brissett.

“We’re going to watch practice, and it’s going to look like Maye is better. The problem is, how he handling everything [else]? How’s he handling the play-call, personnel groupings, calling the play, getting it out, is he dropping balls at center?”

Looking at the actual details of how Mayo ran practice, one thing was clear to Zolak: The Patriots are treating Maye as an equal competitor.

“I think the biggest thing is, Day 1, it wasn’t Jacoby [taking] 60 percent, I think it was 50-50 between the two.”