QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
Drake, what was your day like, that seemed to be quite the effort. What was it like for you out there in that offense today?
Yeah, I was proud of the guys for fighting, I think that's the biggest thing. At this point, the loss, we made some bad decisions, especially that one at the end there. We got a chance to go down there and at least tie it up, we're on our own 40 and I think it was first down, so just got to be better. Some decisions that I made throughout the game that would have impacted the outcome. I take that upon myself, those guys battled up front, especially those guys up front. The receivers were battling. Thought I found a way at the end of the fourth and just came up short. I got to go back and learn from it, especially me, I got to take these and take advantage of these reps that I'm getting in the game, and I got to play better.
Take us through that final touchdown at the end there to tie the game up.
Yeah so, we're just on the five (yard line) and they dropped out the guys on the five and you got to chance to tie it up, so doing whatever I can. I think they zoned it off, and they're doubling the inside guys. We had a bunch concept and that back line, and I think Hunter (Henry) ended up getting run out of bounds and just trying to keep the play alive and make a play. Rhamondre (Stevenson), good for a running back out there to kind of play like a receiver and make a good play. But ended up coming up short so that play, it really doesn't matter at this point.
Did you feel like you had that much- I think it was 11.82 seconds, the amount of time you had running around, did it feel like it in your mind?
Credit to the guys up front you know, those five up front were blocking their butts off for 12 seconds. That's impressive and I could find a way to be in there.
Drake, that last throw. What was going through your mind why'd you take that big shot there?
Yeah, first down and I see the safety, and I think throwing into the wind I got to put some more on it and just a dumb decision. Something you'd like to have back and especially in that situation where we could go at least tie it up. We're, like I said, on our own 40 and you know sometimes the best play is to throw it away and that was a bad decision on my part.
I think you officially ran for 95 yards, coming off of what you came off last week, what kind of things were you thinking of as you were running the football today?
Yeah, I tried to slide headfirst a little bit. Sometimes I think that's just as dangerous diving into people's legs, but I'm not going to change the player that I am. I'm past the protocol and cleared and I'm going to be the player. They're dropping out guys and you know there's some rush lanes up front, I'm going to make them pay and that's my mindset. Maybe I'll make some better throws and might miss some guys but at the same time, I'm going to play how I'm going to play.
Fair to say that you didn't feel any hesitation running despite the concussion?
Yeah never. I should have probably broke that first one, the one with the safety. Got to make somebody miss man, so that's on me.
Where are you confident this past week that you were going to be able to clear protocol in time? What was that process like for you?
Yeah, you know, it's tough. You want to be out there, and you want to be out there last week. Spider up top, they do imprint us quarterbacks now and you can't blame them with what's going on with some of the quarterback hits. So maybe the process, I watched the last game on the sideline in my pads and you know my cleats and there's metal on the ground inside the tent and I'm doing the balance test so there's some gray area there. I don't know if anybody could have passed that, but really coming into this week just trusting it and took some tests and felt good.
Drake, lots of footwork this offseason you talk about the reps going back to this summer, who's worked with you the most as far as seat and ball, thought you had great movement in the pocket, your eyes going up forward, but just your overall comfort in the pocket as you're coming along here. Who helped you the most?
Yeah, I think seat and ball, T.C.'s (McCartney) on me. T.C. and AVP (Alex Van Pelt) they're on me about seat and ball, little quarterback things and carrying my fakes. You know, I remember a couple of days I didn't. Little things like that, go a long way, as you know playing quarterback. Buying an extra second from defensive end if I'm carrying out a fake on a wide zone or play action stuff, I think I see the field well down the field it can only help me with my play action and I'm kind of getting little things and little things going. So credit all three of them and B-Mac (Ben McAdoo) too. All three of those guys have harped on it and they do a good job throughout the week of staying on me.
Do you feel more and more comfortable as you play more?
Yeah, no doubt. I think, sometimes I get a little hoppy back there in the pocket. But I've always kind of felt pressure well and moved well, that's not really something that—I felt I did that well in college. So just trying to keep on doing the same.
Drake, when you scored a touchdown at the end of regulation, is there any part of you do you talk to coach or do you make a case, go for two here or go for the win?
Yeah, I was just trying to catch my breath. I couldn't even think about it. I think just looking back on it, it's easy to say. We're out there that long on such a high intensity drive I think it's hard to go for two. I don't think it's easy to look back and say that now. But our defense is fresh and you're coming out in overtime and trying to get a stop and they do a good job of running the football today.
