An offensive coordinator's style of coaching is a subtle factor in a quarterback's growth that often goes unnoticed. And quality coaching is something that Drake Maye did not have in his rookie year with the Patriots, from Jerod Mayo or Alex Van Pelt.
During Saturday's preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings, TV analyst and former Patriots' cornerback Jason McCourty revealed that Van Pelt was hardly giving Maye any coaching in his helmet last year.
Two preseason games into Maye's sophomore campaign, the tides have turned under Josh McDaniels, who is a lot more hands-on and is constantly giving Maye nuggets in his helmet.
A big example of that came on New England's first touchdown drive in its win over the Vikings, in which Maye clearly changed the play on a 3rd and 10 after he and McDaniels noticed Minnesota's safeties were deep, and the result was an 11-yard run from TreVeyon Henderson.
While the games do not count as of yet, McDaniels' reliance on physicality and the play-action game is already appearing to create high shifts in Maye's game, and he constantly had clean pockets thanks to an improved offensive line.
Josh McDaniels' constant chirping will be valuable for Drake Maye
In an era where tough coaching is unfortunately seen as being "too harsh," McDaniels's hands-on style will undoubtedly prove to be a positive thing in Maye's development.
The only mistake that Maye made on Saturday was a high ball to DeMario Douglas that glanced off the receiver's hands and was nearly intercepted, but he made some quality throws in his two series, in particular to Mack Hollins.
Mayo and Van Pelt proved to be in over their heads last season, and it's telling what Maye's numbers could've been as a rookie if he'd had better coaching. The duo of Mike Vrabel and McDaniels is a throwback from a coaching standpoint, and Maye is getting the tutelage that he needs.
McDaniels is one of the NFL's smartest offensive minds, and his staying on top of Maye could very well result in the quarterback having the best sophomore campaign of his rookie quarterback class.