Foxborough-Drake Maye doesn't seem to be under pressure to attract Stefon Diggs.
During Monday's media conference, Maye downplayed any kind of pressure to make sure Diggs caught the ball – and avoided taking him out of the way.
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In fact, he would be happy to feed Diggs into a warning: openness.
“I'm going to throw it to those who are open,” May said. “If he opens a lot, he's going to get a lot of balls.”
Good answer.
Imposing the ball on anyone is by no means the best option. There is no doubt that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has promoted his young quarterback to the open receiver.
This mentality works at Tom Brady. It should work for any quarterback who operates McDaniels' offense.
Recently, with the increasing practice of the Sept. 7 season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, Diggs' involvement is worth noting.
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Assume that the Maye-Diggs connection seems to be alive.
Although, with Diggs undergoing ACL surgery, it is still difficult to predict how good he will be when the real bullet starts flying in less than two weeks.
It is one thing to be open in practice. NFL games are another matter.
In fact, could he be able to create some daylight by tagging his league’s top corners every week?
If Diggs achieves this, Maye promises to find him.
The chemistry they developed during training camp encouraged the Patriots quarterback.
May said he wanted to feed and dig as much as possible. Obviously, there will be a lot of interest in the dynamics of that duo, especially if Diggs doesn't get the ball and give it the right one.
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“Shooting, he's an amazing player. What he can do, how many balls he plays and how many balls he does, I want to try to give him football, whether it's with him extra effort, extra work in practice or movie room, or trying to be on the same page,” May said. “I think once he's having a one-on-one showdown, he's going to feel like he knows the coverage very well, so I think he can do a lot of things … It's a good thing for us to use him as much as he can.”
For now, this is an outlook for observation. He certainly looks like he's a recent part.
While the 31-year-old Diggs may not have been at his peak, he tore off six seasons in a row, but he is certainly good enough (if healthy) to impact the offense.
Patriots receiver Mack Hollins, a nine-year veteran, pointed out how easy it was to have footwork and rest time for Diggs.
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His talent was obvious and even injured. He is the best route runner in the building. In Minnesota one-on-one, this is obvious. His quick cuts opened him up.
Maye established some chemistry with the 4-time Pro Bowl receiver in a very short time. But he also has spades with others.
Maye and his two nervous ends – Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper – show a real connection. Last year, Henry (66 catches, 674 yards, 2 TD) started with his favorite target.
Last year, the Patriots quarterback also clicked alongside Demario “Pop” Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. They've taken the place down, Douglas was the best during training camp.
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Meanwhile, Hollins has done a great job since eliminating the puppy list.
Add to that explosive rookie, coming out of the backcourt, Maye has a lot of options.
Now, if some Patriots open widely, Maye will have to quickly choose the direction of the ball.
However, his live bond with Diggs needs to set the tone. If Diggs can be open and play enough, the defense will have to focus more on him.
That's hope. This will be key to lifting the receiver group that would otherwise not move the needle. Even if the Diggs are closer to the No. 2 receiver than the legal top gun, this will open the lane for others.
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“I think it’s exciting to get there, throw him a few balls and build chemistry in practice,” Meyer said. “I think we’ve built it here lately and I think it’s just bringing it into the season.”
open. That's what Diggs needs to do to keep peace in September.
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Read the original article about Masslive.