The Patriots went into a training camp with a clear plan at quarterback, but it seems like the last two preseason games threw those plans out of whack.
New England signed Jacoby Brissett with the idea of him being a bridge quarterback to whoever it drafted with the No. 3 pick. Drake Maye largely operated as the No. 2 quarterback behind the veteran, but things changed after he impressed against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie earned more reps with the first-team offense, and his third preseason game showed the potential he could bring to the offense.
Mayo admitted Maye has "outplayed" Brissett in the preseason, but he also said Maye was the second quarterback behind Brissett. The back-and-forth dialogue frustrated fans. While throwing Maye out in front of a weak offensive line isn't ideal, it was strange for Mayo to seemingly admit who was the better signal-caller.
Fans might think this kind of "controversy" might not have happened under Bill Belichick's watch, but the former Patriots head coach's insight on the preseason might change that tune.
"First of all, I don't think you really know how anybody's playing in preseason, especially at the quarterback position," Belichick said on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Monday. "The schemes are so simple from the other side of the ball, generally speaking. For the most part, you're running very basic schemes. You're trying to evaluate your players. You're trying to get them to play the good fundamentals that they know how to play. You’re not disguising things. You just want your defensive players to be ready to react and play fast and quickly.
"I think to come out of preseason and say, 'This guy's really playing good, that guy's really playing good,' I wouldn't put much stock in that at all. I'd put more stock in what they're doing in practice and let's see what happens in the first three or four regular-season games when the opponents specifically attack certain players based on what they think they can and can't get on them, and then let's see how they're playing then."
McAfee specifically asked Belichick about the Patriots' situation, but even though the future Hall of Fame head coach spoke generally, it might have actually shown that Mayo is following in the footsteps of his predecessor.
Maye might have outplayed Brissett in the preseason, but the coaching staff might have been more impressed by what they saw from the veteran signal-caller in practice.
That line of reasoning might not satisfy New England fans, but it does provide insight into the tough decision Mayo and his staff face heading into Week 1.
