They were 14 snaps … 14 very uneasy snaps.
OK, only one was cause for concern, but that worry stands at the highest magnitude.
Competence out of second-year quarterback Drake Maye is non-negotiable. If Maye, who threw 10 interceptions and fumbled nine different times in just over 10 full games of action in 2024, can’t protect the football, the New England Patriots won’t make any progress from the land of 4-13.
The talent around the No. 3 overall pick last year, even with the perceived coaching upgrade, is not good enough to overcome his butterfingers.
Friday night in the first quarter, when Commanders’ reserve Jer’Zhan Newton beat Pats rookie Will Campbell around the corner, the calm, cool and collected Maye turned to jelly, laying the football on the carpet after a 13-yard sack.
The play flummoxed his first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, who seethed post-game, roasting the sacrificial media lamb who asked about it, before commenting.
“That’s a bad decision. I think we’re going to need better from him. I think he knows that. That’s obvious. It wasn’t there,” said the coach. “We just have to be able to find a way to get rid of the football or take a sack and punt and play defense.”
Maye’s aw-shucks, golly-gee response to the play can’t be what the coach is looking for in his franchise guy.
“Third down. Yeah, just can’t do that on my first time out. Glad we responded well that next drive. Yeah, same time I’m glad it’s something that I can control,” said Maye. “But at the end of the day you just can’t put the defense in that position when games matter, during the season.”
Did he not really care? He sounded like a mix of shell-shocked and nonplussed.
Bro, it’s a preseason game. And you made a giant gaffe. That’s coming off an ugly, red-zone interception on Wednesday in the joint practice.
When Vrabel talked early in camp about good plays, bad plays and plays that get you beat, this would have been the prime example of Door No. 3.
Against Commanders second-teamers, he had the strip-sack; tried to jam the ball in to Mack Hollins and Austin Hooper, both incompletions; threw three check-downs for 12 yards total to rookie Treveyon Henderson; and had a pair of nice scrambles, one for a touchdown.
Youth and inexperience are no longer viable excuses for Maye. The NFL is different now. Young QBs play. They perform. And, most importantly, they win. Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders stepped on the field for Cleveland Saturday and didn’t put the ball on the carpet.
The look on Vrabel’s face spoke volumes. Maye needs to act like he belongs here. And he’d better do it quick.
Easy on Henderson hype
So, this is not to downplay the “debut” of Treveyon Henderson. The rookie out of Ohio State showed explosiveness that this franchise has not displayed in years.
But, let’s remember who was on the field for Washington on Friday night.
I was able to identify nine of the 11 Commanders on the field for the 100-yard TD kick return.
Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene is the ace of the bunch. He’s on his third team in five years.
Matt Gay was the kicker.
Jeremy McNichols is a journeyman running back who has made one start in seven pro seasons.
Bobby Price is a corner with two career starts in five years.
Colson Yankoff played six games at tight end a year ago.
Linebackers Kam Arnold and Ale Kaho are rookie free agents begging for work. Fellow linebacker Kain Medrano is a sixth-round pick looking to hang on for a job.
And wide receiver Lawrence Cager has played in 21 four games in four years with four different teams.
Henderson has the “goods,” for sure. At least, it looks that way. But let’s take it for what it is. It’s no coincidence that “old man” Antonio Gibson broke off a 62-yarder later in the game.
Commanders’ real players sat
Taking a look at the official Washington depth chart, 10 of 11 starters on defense did not play, with only cornerback Trey Amos coming off the bench.
Offensively, wide receiver Noah Brown was the only offensive “starter” who saw the field.