Making the jump from college football to the NFL is tough. Making that jump in New England? That’s a whole different beast. The Patriots’ offense used to be one of the most dominant and adaptable systems in the league, thanks to Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels. But in recent years, it’s lost some of its firepower. Now, with a new quarterback in Drake Maye, the Pats are looking to rebuild that identity. Luckily, Julian Edelman—who thrived in this system—has some serious advice for the rookie QB.
On the latest DudesOnDudesPod episode, Edelman didn’t sugarcoat it—Maye needs to lock in with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels ASAP. “I would be very extremely close with Josh and be able to talk the language,” Edelman said. “You guys got to be able to finish each other’s sentences by the time you guys are starting to call plays to other people.” Co-host Rob took it a step further, joking that Maye should carpool with McDaniels or even coach his kids’ flag football team—whatever it takes to get more time with the guy calling the shots.
How can Drake Maye succeed in the Josh McDaniels system??
— Savage (@SavageSports_) March 29, 2025
But it’s not just about buddying up with McDaniels. Edelman also clarified that Maye’s best bet is to live in the film room. “Watch Tom Brady’s old film because that’s the offense that you’re going to run,” Edelman said. “Be able to break down all the protections.” And that’s crucial—because when Brady ran this system, it was lethal.
During the Brady-Belichick era, the Patriots’ offense was built on quick reads, precision passing, and adaptability. The 2007 season was its pinnacle, with Brady throwing 50 touchdowns and Randy Moss setting an NFL record with 23 receiving TDs. Under McDaniels, the Pats consistently ranked among the league’s top offenses. They won multiple Super Bowls and even set a Super Bowl record with 613 total yards in a game (2018). But since Brady’s departure, New England has struggled to find the same rhythm. They have been finishing outside the top 20 in scoring each of the past few seasons.
Edelman knows the system still works—if the quarterback understands it inside and out. “Knowing the offense is going to be number one because the faster you know the offense, the more you get to use your athleticism and your God-given talent,” Edelman explained.
And that athleticism? Yeah, Maye’s got plenty of it. “He’s an athletic guy, and he’s really good with the ball in his hands, and he could throw it. So that’s when he can start to use that flair.” At UNC, Maye proved he could sling it, but he also rushed for over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons. Once he gets the offense down, he can start tapping into that playmaking ability without overthinking everything.
So, Edelman’s advice is pretty straightforward: Stick to McDaniels like glue, grind the film room, learn the playbook like your life depends on it, then let your natural talent take over. If Maye buys in, he might just be the guy to bring the Patriots’ offense back to life. And their defense? Coach Vrabel has some words of wisdom to offer.
Mike Vrabel keeps it real about Pats’ defensive woes: ‘Who’s gonna step up?’
When Mike Vrabel jumped on Green Light with Chris Long, he didn’t sugarcoat it—the Patriots’ defense needs serious work. When Long asked him who could be the next Jeffrey Simmons, Vrabel didn’t hesitate: “Somebody that’s disruptive, that’s creating a tone, setting the tone, creating a standard of what it is to play with speed, violence, physicality, effort, and relentlessness.” In other words, he’s looking for a dog—someone who can bring the same kind of energy Simmons did for his Titans.
And yeah, the Pats desperately need that kind of presence. Last season, their defense ranked 22nd, giving up 342.9 yards per game. Injuries to key guys like Christian Barmore and Matthew Judon made things even worse, but even when healthy, the defense struggled—tackling was off, run fits were sloppy, and third-down stops?
NFL, American Football Herren, USA New England Patriots Mike Vrabel press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Jan 13, 2025 Foxborough, MA, USA Mike Vrabel addresses media at a press conference to announce his hiring as the head coach of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Foxborough Gillette Stadium MA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xEricxCanhax 20250113_gma_qe2_0600
Barely happening. Vrabel knows the biggest issue is finding dudes who can go toe-to-toe with the league’s top offensive weapons. “That’s always the struggle that I find—who’s going to be the guy that stands up to the other side?” he admitted.
But it’s not all bad news. Vrabel is pumped about some of the young guys, especially Keion White and Marquan Milton. He’s also banking on Barmore coming back strong, which could finally give the D-line some much-needed juice. If these guys can step up, the Patriots might actually start looking like the hard-nosed defense they used to be.
And while the defense is priority number one, Vrabel made it clear that the Pats aren’t ignoring the offense either. Bringing in Stefon Diggs was a massive move, and on the same podcast, Vrabel broke down exactly why the team went after him. If New England can get both sides of the ball clicking? Maybe this rebuild won’t take as long as people think.
The post Julian Edelman Tells Drake Maye the Secret Behind Cracking Patriots Offense as Mike Vrabel Confesses Defensive Struggles appeared first on EssentiallySports.
