Jerod Mayo’s Reasoning For Why Drake Maye Pulled Early Both Understandable, Troubling

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Jerod Mayo was nervous about keeping New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye behind center with the second-string offensive line.

Mayo more or less admitted it played a role in why Maye was limited to six plays in New England's 17-3 victory at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night. Maye saw all six of those plays behind what figures to be New England's starting offensive line, though that group struggled itself.

When asked if there was any "trepidation" having Maye play behind the second offensive line, the first-year head coach said it was a consideration.

"If he's in there, you want him in there with the starting offensive line," Mayo said after the game. "We've got to protect the guy. Not saying we don't have to protect the other guys, but that absolutely did go into it."

Maye spent 11 training camp practices behind the second offensive line. On Thursday night, that group consisted of, from left to right, rookie Caedan Wallace, Michael Jordan, Nick Leverett, rookie Layden Robinson and Calvin Anderson.

The second-stringers routinely failed to protect Maye in training camp practice, but Mayo and company didn't have to worry as much given the quarterback was never touched. That wouldn't have been the case in the preseason opener.

Mayo's reasoning makes plenty of sense. Why put the player you hope will become your franchise quarterback in a potentially hairy situation during a meaningless preseason game? That's fair.

But it's still quite troubling.

After all, this is a developing rookie quarterback you want to, well, develop. The more live reps the better, right? The Patriots can't operate like that because their own offensive weaknesses.

Instead, Bailey Zappe, who was sacked twice and very well might not be on the team at the end of the month, played two full quarters. Zappe saw the live bullets. Doesn't that feel like a wasted opportunity?

"Like I said, this is the first preseason game," Mayo said. "We still have two left. He'll have plenty of opportunities to go against other teams, the two other teams before the regular season."

While speaking after the game, Maye said what you would expect him to. He pointed to the amount of reps he gets in practice, which rival starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and believes those practice reps ultimately will him translate in game situations.

"I'm just trying to take all the reps I can get, that I am getting, and make the most of them," Maye said.

Unfortunately for Maye, the Patriots have an offensive line that scares them.