Texans’ C.J. Stroud knows exactly how Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye feels. Like Maye, Stroud also lost his first career start under center. The second-year signal-caller sought out Maye after Houston defeated New England at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
“I gave him a little word,” Stroud told reporters, per team-provided transcript. “Tried to give him a little word of encouragement. I thought he played really solid. Definitely feel like he’ll get better as he keeps going.”
Maye threw for 243 yards with three touchdowns but also committed three turnovers (two interceptions and one lost fumble) in the loss. The Patriots allowed nine pressures and four sacks on Maye. Stroud admitted his team helped him with struggles during his rookie campaign and hopes Maye has the same support. Stroud also provided three areas he wished he had known last season.
“Honestly, just take completions, stay in the positive and make guys around you (better),” Stroud said. “I would say those are the three things I would want to know and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not easy. He has, hopefully, a team helping him like I had last year. I had so many guys helping me. So, definitely hope that helped him what I said, but those three things definitely helped me on top of just being disciplined.”
Stroud wasn’t the only Texan to notice Maye’s impact on the Patriots’ offense. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans credited the North Carolina product with a specific ability that makes New England better.
“One thing he does right, as a quarterback, his escapability is really good for them, and I think it’s a positive for him, being able to pull it down and when things aren’t there, being able to make plays on the run,” Ryans told reporters, per team-provided transcript. “As rushers, you have to be aware that this guy can pull it down and run, take off, and you have to just understand that and be able to get off a block. I thought they did a good job of O-line blocking for them and him being able to find it when it wasn’t there and in the passing game, him pulling it down. That sets them apart, makes him a little different.”
