FOXBORO — The first time new Patriots quarterback Joshua Dobbs met Drake Maye, they were about as far from Gillette Stadium as possible.
Try 3,000 miles away in Cancun.
Back in March, Dobbs saw Maye’s physical gifts in-person during an NFLPA golf tournament where they convened shortly after Dobbs signed a two-year contract with the Patriots in free agency.
“He can hit the crap out of it with a driver,” the 30-year-old backup said with a smile Tuesday. “It was good to get a chance to meet each other outside of a football environment and put a face with the name and just start talking ball.”
Since then, most of what Dobbs and Maye have been doing is talking ball down in Foxboro. Both have participated in the team’s offseason program, where players just entered their fifth week of workouts and meetings. On-field work is ramping up, too, where Patriots players and coaches can finally begin taking plays from the white board to practice.
Dobbs, now on his sixth NFL team, has experience running a variety of NFL systems. He noted Tuesday that the Patriots’ offense, again orchestrated by Josh McDaniels, is unique because of how much responsibility the quarterbacks carry at the line of scrimmage: changing protections, routes and even entire plays. Dobbs is confident he and Maye can handle that mental load, partially because of how the second-year gunslinger has embraced learning the offense so far.
“For a young guy, I think curiosity is always very interesting, and (Maye)’s very curious,” Dobbs said. “This is obviously his second scheme that he’s had, and to see the questions that he’s asked, his engagement each day within the QB room, and his preparation coming into the room. … We go on the field, and as we go out there and lead a new offense, you always tell who loves football and loves the learning aspect of it. (Maye) definitely does.”
Dobbs also noted the importance of a “healthy” quarterbacks room. He backed up 49ers starter Brock Purdy last season, and the year before that started eight games in Arizona, then four more for the Vikings after an emergency midseason trade. Several of Dobbs’ teammates in Minnesota complimented his leadership and presence, even after he was sent to the bench down the stretch of that season.
Dobbs credited his predecessor in New England, Jacoby Brissett, for helping instill a mentality that once a starter is decided, the backup quarterback’s job is to help him however possibly leading up to kickoff.
“Whoever the guy is out there on Sunday, it’s everyone’s job in that room to make sure they’re supported and ready to go, ready to play,” Dobbs said. “And obviously, for my role, it’s ensuring that as we’re (learning) the offense together, that Drake feels comfortable and can go out there and play at a high level.”
For now, that means learning together in the classroom and on the practice field.
“We all want to be the best versions of ourselves every time we step into the building, every time we step on the field,” Dobbs said. “And so that’s the goal: how can we come together as a team during this time period? We’re getting extra reps and extra time together so that we know each other, we vibe well, and we have productive work and productive conversations.”
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