Through eight days of Patriots training camp, there’s still plenty of questions up front.
Now, it’s safe to say that it can’t get any worse than last year, but other than Mike Onwenu, it’s hard to really know what you’re getting from Garrett Bradbury, Morgan Moses, Cole Strange or Will Campbell. In fact, the guy who has been far and away the best, most reliable guy up front so far is rookie center Jared Wilson, who very well could start when the Raiders come to town in Week 1.
This is all said with a caveat that it’s still early. And, perhaps more importantly than anything else, the face of the franchise and guy who will be standing behind those big bodies up front is confident in where things are heading with that unit.
Maye was asked about the development of the offensive line following a walkthrough practice on Thursday. The team will split up and get their first little bit of ‘game’ action with a scrimmage inside Gillette Stadium on Friday night.
” I think those guys are battling. I think they’re battling,” he said. “We’re using different cadences. We’re using different pros. We’re changing Mike points. Like, they’re really getting a good grasp of it. I’m proud of those guys up front. We got a “next man up” mentality. Some guys are getting banged up and some guys are fighting through injuries. So, just part of the position. They don’t get enough love ever. And I think the coaching staff and what the offensive linemen are doing,
“I think they will be doing throughout the whole season. It’s going to be impressive.”
One of the biggest issues that’s popped up in camp – whether it’s Bradbury or Wilson – is the QB-center exchange, which is obviously Day 1, basic function of the offense type of stuff. Maye also touched on that during his roughly 10-minute media session on Thursday.
“Yeah, I think it’s camp, it’s 95 degrees out here. But at the same time, you can’t put the ball on the ground,” said Maye. “Some of it’s a little pre-snap, be on the same page. I think other than that, it’s my part to get down there and get the ball. So, it’s not a big issue. I think it’s something that these guys have figured out. They got a tough job. They got a, not talking football, but they got a big 350-pound guy and they’re moving right and they’re snapping it with the same hand and then coming up to block them. It’s a tough part on them and it’s just feeling stuff like that.
“That’s pretty cool, seeing how that stuff works out and how much that stuff changes.”
Ultimately, as long as Maye stays upright – regardless of who is playing – then all of the concern in camp will be for not. He’s also the guy in charge of making sure his O-linemen are in the right positions that will allow him to get the ball to the skill guys, which is something Maye says he’s working on daily and is an aspect of the Josh McDaniels offense that he loves.
“Yeah, it helps that I did it in college, kind of set the line. Me and my center, we kind of set the line where we wanted and changed it and a little bit of that,” he added. “There was a little bit of that last year of getting the protection right. But I think it’s starting to come along. I think it’s nice knowing it’s my job to send those guys to the right spot and get them on the same page and get all those guys, all 11 of us. It starts with me, kind of right out of the huddle of getting the guys in the right spot and getting the play started and starting with a good huddle.
“So, I feel like I’m a good spot and I think those guys are doing a good job of listening to me and if it’s a look that we need to change it, they’ve done a great job.”