What Jason McCourty saw from Drake Maye during Pats-Dolphins broadcast

What Jason McCourty saw from Drake Maye during Pats-Dolphins broadcast

Jason McCourty saw a much-improved Drake Maye from the broadcast booth.

McCourty, who played for both the Patriots and Dolphins during his 13-year career, was on the CBS broadcast when New England earned a 33-27 victory at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

“My main takeaway for the Patriots, this year you want to see the growth of Drake Maye,” McCourty said when he joined The Quick Snap Podcast with co-hosts David Andrews and Brian Hoyer. “You go to Week 1 to where he was, and then you look at Week 2 — you saw growth.”

McCourty prepared for his duties in South Beach by studying film from the Patriots’ uninspiring loss to the Raiders in Week 1. The longtime defensive back saw a second-year quarterback sped up in his first game with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. He also saw a 23-year-old whose happy feet resulted in misfires to receivers.

Maye was different against the ‘Fins. He displayed decisiveness and athleticism, running with a purpose when Patriots pass-catchers weren’t open. He played with poise, too. That was on display when Maye stepped up in the pocket, kept his eyes downfield and delivered a strike to running back Rhamondre Stevenson on a momentum-changing play in the third quarter.

“To me, that was the big thing,” McCourty said. “He stepped all the way up multiple times throughout that game, in the pocket, being able to climb and react off of what the guys on the offensive line were doing. I think that’s a huge part and a huge confidence boost to the offensive line, knowing that you have a quarterback that’s going to make you right in certain situations. So, I think it was a big step forward and it was a lot of help from his guys.”

McCourty added: “I think when you talk about the footwork and the decisiveness — that, to me, was the big difference.”

It wasn’t just Maye, though.

The offense as a whole was better in Miami. The ability to run the football, which the group failed to do in Week 1, was a major difference. It opened up play-action opportunities for Maye, as evidenced early on with a throw to tight end Austin Hooper before a touchdown pass to wide receiver Mack Hollins.

“Everybody played better,” McCourty said. “I think we always focus on the quarterback position — as we should, they get paid a lot of money and the team goes as they go. But you look at Week 1, they weren’t able to run the ball effectively because they didn’t do a good job up front. Those guys worked together for the first time. You fast forward to Week 2, when you’re able to block better in the run game and do some of those things, it helps your quarterback out.

“I thought offensively they took another step forward,” McCourty said.

The Patriots will try to take another step forward when they host the Steelers in Week 3.

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