PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK JACOBY BRISSETT
PRESS CONFERENCE
October 2, 2024
Q: What did you see from the game film from San Francisco, and how do you look at this juncture of the week going into a big one against Miami?
JB: Yeah, I think you look back at the film, it was just execution. Execution in a lot of high-end situations where there were third downs, key plays and drives. I think it really came down to execution. Going forward, we've got a new quarter of our season coming up right now. The mindset is not to clear the slate, but to get a fresh start, and get ready for essentially week one. That's where we are right now and a lot of guys are excited about this opportunity as far as starting the second quarter of our season, and getting this thing off to the right foot. Obviously, being at home, haven't been home for a while, so we get to play in front of our fans.
Q: How did things change for you working with Nick Leverett as opposed to David Andrews?
JB: Not at all. That's what practice is for a lot of times. You get those reps with a lot of different guys. Obviously, playing in the game with Nick, having that rapport with him and building on that.
Q: How difficult is it to see a guy like David go down?
JB: It's tough. That one hurt me. One of the key reasons why I wanted to come back here is because of my past relationship with him. It's tough when a guy like that goes down because he's not going down for anything minor. I talked to him this morning and he's like, 'I think I'm going to try.' I'm like, 'Dave, come on man. As much as I would love for you to.' He means so much to this team. Not only just on the field but off the field. His presence in the locker room, and obviously in this community. He's been here for so long and you wish you had 53 David Andrews'.
Q: What are some of those things that David brings to the table that we don't get to see every day that you get to see around him, obviously with the center position being as important as it is?
JB: I would say start with knowledge of the game. He runs the show out there. I'm just co-hosting when he's out there. His toughness, I don't think people understand how tough he is. The things he's battled through his career. He's happy-go-lucky to be out there, and has child-like energy. His play speaks for itself. When you see him playing when he's healthy, he's up there with the top guys in his league. A guy that has won a lot of football in his league, and has seen a lot of football. It's obviously going to be tough to fill that void. We obviously have to, but like I said, it's tough losing him.
Q: With you getting hit and sacked and him obviously struggling, how do you avoid a pity party on your flight home from San Francisco because of what's happened in the first quarter of time?
JB: I don't think it's time for a pity party. I don't think we have time for a pity party. We understand going forward, this second quarter, [Jerod] Mayo emphasized that. Our offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coach emphasized that in our respectable rooms about this second quarter of our season. The first quarter was what the first quarter was. There's no escaping it, but you get a chance to make a new second quarter, start new momentum, and start a new junction of the season. I know everybody is excited about that opportunity and it starts today on the practice field.
Q: Jacoby, you talked to us last week about reflecting and you talked a lot about reflecting last week. Last couple of days, how do you mentally recoup, reprepare and get going again for a new game?
JB: That's part of the league. The good thing was we had a long flight. The bad thing was it was a long flight, but you couldn't sleep on the plane. I thought about the game, watched the game, flushed it, and moved on. Then you come in and watch it with the team, and get our corrections. That's just how the league works. You can't dwell on the past, good or bad. You got to keep moving forward.
Q: Jacoby, I know Miami, this week's opponent, was a previous stop for you and you played with Tua [Tagovailoa]. I'm curious if you have any relationship with him, if you reached out to him?
JB: Yeah, we talked at the beginning of the season and then I think I sent him a text. Maybe? I don't remember. But yeah, a little relationship there.
Q: Disappointed that you won't be playing against him?
JB: Yeah, for sure. I don't want to see any player get injured, no matter what the case may be. Obviously, somebody that I know for sure. Hoping that he continues to recover and get healthy.
Q: Jacoby, Jerod just said after the Bengals win, that's not a sustainable way for the team to win going forward for the rest of the season, not being able to score more than 20 points. Is that a message that he's communicated to offensive players behind the scenes? And what ways do you see the team improving their ability to score more points in the game?
JB: Well, 'they' meaning 'I' and the offense [laughs]. Yeah, he's definitely conveyed that message. That's what we're working to try to do and figure out. Obviously, we have game plans in place, and we're trying to execute it. That's when I go back to the first question. It's just the execution, you know what I mean? I think that's really what Jerod is really harping on us about is execution. Especially in a lot of those key moments in those situational parts of the game. Whether it's first down, coming off the sideline, or third downs, staying on the field. When we get drives going, we get drives going, and then obviously finishing in the red zone. I definitely think this quarter of our season is about us, our execution, and growing up as a team and as individuals.
Q: Jacoby, after the game the other day, Jerod said schematically he would have liked to see the offense get the ball out a little bit more quickly. Do you feel like you've been given enough in the way of answers to be able to get rid of the ball before pressure is bearing down on you?
JB: Yeah, I think it's a mixture of a lot of different things, but yeah.
Q: Jacoby, I want to play off Phil's question a little bit. The quarterback's job, part of it is to be able to read the field and make reads. You've been under pressure a lot, obviously. How does that pressure that you're under affect you in terms of the reads you're able to make for individual plays?
JB: It definitely plays a part in it, and that's the good thing about it being early in the season, and being able go back and watch the film. Like I said, it's the second quarter now. So now, how do you get to those reads faster, and get the ball out faster? I think that's my job, obviously, AVP's [Alex Van Pelt] job, and honestly, all of our jobs. Teams are going to pressure us, and we're very aware of that. So now, it's about how do we answer and combat that and move it forward.
Q: Jacoby, you mentioned Ja'Lynn Polk, the trust you had going down the field to him against the Niners. Is that something that's been building behind the scenes? Also, with the pressure, does it help to have a guy who can win outside and be that easy look?
JB: Yeah, definitely. It's been something that we've been trying to emphasize to a lot of different guys. Obviously, Polk had a couple opportunities in the game, made some plays, and I'm definitely excited about the growth, and more guys coming into that fold. But, yeah, it's definitely something that we're trying to do.
Q: Jacoby, there was a year, I think it was your second year in Indy, where you were sacked 50-something times. I'm just curious what you may have learned from that year, in terms of having to be mentally and physically tough, and if you're applying any of those lessons to what you're going through now.
JB: You've got to rephrase that a little bit for me. I got that part about the sack part.
Q: Did you take any lessons from that year specifically that you're applying to the way things are going now, in terms of mental and physical toughness?
JB: Yeah, I know the toll that it takes on the team when I keep getting up. I know the confidence that it gives our guys when I keep getting up, and I think that's about it.
