“With Drake, he has the physical ability, he has the size. In terms of physical skillset, his downfield passing ability is awesome.”
Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels spent 13 seasons in New England together (Jim Davis/Globe Staff).
The Patriots have the chance to do something they haven’t done since the Tom Brady days this Sunday, as they can clinch the AFC East with a win over the Bills.
As Brady has now switched over to broadcasting, he gets to watch from the booth as Drake Maye and the Patriots have rolled to an 11-2 record, and are on a 10-game win streak.
With this sideline view of a new look New England team, Brady has been impressed with what Maye has been doing.
“With Drake, he has the physical ability, he has the size,” Brady said while on Colin Cowherd’s show The Herd on Thursday. “In terms of physical skillset, his downfield passing ability is awesome.”
Maye is currently second in the league in passing yards with 3,412, as well as having the second-best odds to win MVP behind Matthew Stafford. As Brady pointed out though, what stands out with Maye are his throws deep, as he has posted the best passer rating out of anyone for throws of 20+ yards.
However, what has impressed Brady most about Maye and the Patriots is what their current offensive coordinator, and Brady’s past OC, Josh McDaniels, has said about his work ethic.
“Josh McDaniels is still one of my great friends. I’ve known him for 25 years,” Brady continued. “He talks about his work ethic, willingness to get better and improve week in and week out, he’s a sponge for information and that’s more important to me than what I see on the film.”
Brady and McDaniels worked together for 13 years, in which time they won three Super Bowls together, as well as Brady winning three MVPs. This relationship is why he knows that Maye’s talent isn’t the only reason the Patriots have exceeded expectations this year.
“Drake is running the same system that I was in,” Brady explained. “I know how good that system is for quarterbacks, how Josh does teach these young quarterbacks all the different reasons why he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s in a great system to be successful.”
McDaniels will hope that he can repeat the success he had with Brady, as Maye looks to clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday.
“That offense, just like in the early 2000s, is carrying the defense, just like in Vrabel’s defensive days when I was a young second-year quarterback in New England,” Brady concluded, in what must have been a joking dig at his former teammate.
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