PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK JACOBY BRISSETT
PRESS CONFERENCE
September 4, 2024
Q: Jacoby, how was practice today? How did everything go?
JB: Good. Good first day. The intensity of the first game of the season is definitely there. The attention to detail was there, so it was a good day. We've just got to keep stacking them now.
Q: Has it set in that you are the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots going into Week 1 yet?
JB: For sure.
Q: Jacoby, what challenges do the Bengals defense present for you and the offense?
JB: Yeah, I mean I think Lou [Anarumo] does a really good job with those guys. A lot of the same guys have been in his defense for a while now. So, they understand the scheme. They understand their problems that teams are trying to attack. I think over the years, they've done a good job of correcting a lot of those, dating back to when they first got there to now. They've obviously got a lot of talented guys, so we've definitely got to be on our P's and Q's this week.
Q: Jacoby, you obviously played them in 2022 with the [Cleveland] Browns. How much do you go back to that game and look at the tape from that one?
JB: Yeah, more so for, I guess, the defense more than anything, not to watch myself, really. But understanding a lot of the things that we tried to attack then. I watched the game later in the year when we played them the second time – when Deshaun [Watson] was playing –and how they corrected a lot of those things, that kind of chess match. Then even last year, kind of seeing some of the same things because a lot of the stuff kind of carries over year to year. They've obviously figured out a lot of the stuff that we're trying to do. So, dating back to the year I was there, I watched those two games and then last year's game a couple times just to kind of get in the mindset of how this offense/hybrid-offense attacks Lou and how Lou attacks this offense.
Q: Jacoby, getting ready for your first game here this year, and then thinking back maybe to your first game your rookie year – September of that year – how are things similar in how you get ready, and how is it different in the feeling of it?
JB: I think my knowledge of football has definitely grown. Fortunately, I have a week now, rather than two days, to get ready for a game, so that's good. Obviously, just the excitement that I had when I was 22 years old, 23 years old, I still feel that same way right now. So, I'm excited for this week ahead. I'm excited for our team to go on the road the first week and kind of make our imprint this year in what this 2024 season is going to be.
Q: Jacoby, Jerod [Mayo] talked a little bit this morning about your ability to protect the ball. What do you think it is about your game that allows you to protect the ball so well?
JB: I think it's just comes with learning and growing as a player. You've kind of got to put your ego to the side. You can't make every throw every play. Some of those plays call for you to check the ball down. Some of those plays call for you to throw the ball away and not force things. Obviously, learning that throughout my years of playing, I think that plays a part in it. I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of good players to knock a lot of bad decisions down for me. So, I think that played a part in it, too. But I think it's a culmination of a lot of different things.
Q: Do you do that now for the younger quarterbacks on the roster as well? Knock down some of the bad decisions?
JB: Do I knock the ball down for them?
Q: No, I guess I thought you meant older players –
JB: No, I'm saying I throw a stupid pass and somebody breaks it up for me; it's not an interception anymore. So, I think that definitely helped me out a couple times in my career.
Q: What, if anything, surprises you about the challenges that you've faced over the course of training camp and preseason?
JB: Nothing really surprises me anymore in this league. I think it's more just like you kind of arrive at a situation and it's like, 'Oh I've been through that before.' I think in this training camp, I've had a lot of those moments where you've got to find those experiences, lean back on them and say, 'Hey what did I do here? What could I have done better here?' I think I've had a lot more of those rather than, 'Oh, I've never had that happen before.'
Q: Jerod talked to us about the Bengals and how their defense plays more aggressive because they feel like they have the high-powered offense that can have their back. How much do you play off of the other side of the ball, knowing what your defense can do? How does that affect [the offense's] play style?
JM: Yeah, I think that playing complimentary football is really big this week. Valuing the possessions that we have, sustaining drives and being good on first and second downs to make third downs manageable. I mean, all those cliche things that you hear, it's imperative that we do that this week, especially going on the road the first game of the season in a hostile environment. Kind of getting off to a fast start, I think that'll help us kind of start complimentary football whether it's offense, defense, special teams, and then we're just feeding off and playing off one another.
Q: How confident are you with the running backs here, and what have you liked about the way they've played up to this point?
JB: I think we've got a good group of guys in that room, guys that we've definitely got to get involved in this game plan. I think the good thing is they all can do so many different things for us, whether it's catching, running, blocking. So, we're definitely going to lean heavily on them this week. Especially going on the road in a hostile environment, you kind of want to, I guess, set your pads and set the tone as far as what our team's going to be about. It starts with them.
Q: We talked to a good amount of defensive players today about how they've seen Jerod evolve since becoming the head coach. From an offensive perspective, how have you seen him grow since taking on that head coach role in the last couple weeks heading up to Week 1?
JB: I mean, fortunately for them, they know him as a defensive coach. I only know him as the head coach. But I would say from the spring to now, you've definitely seen by him playing, he understands the ramp up from OTAs to training camp to the first game of the season. I've definitely seen that intensity and focus from him as the leader of his team, kind of ramping up as we get to this point. We had a really good team meeting, today, and you can kind of feel his energy as far as, I would say, 'Hey this is the first game of the season. This isn't preseason games, OTAs or practice. He didn't dip his toe in the team meeting today; he kind of really got after it. So, I thought it was good.
Q: What does it mean to you to be elected captain of this team, coming back after all these years?
JB: It was definitely a surprise, for sure, but definitely something I don't take for granted. Not only being a captain of this team and knowing all the guys that I looked up to in this organization – I played with a lot of them – but also the history of this team. When you get voted by your peers, it's something special, rather than being appointed based on position. It's something I definitely don't take for granted.
Q: What's your overall confidence in the offensive line this year?
JB: I'm excited for them. I know that's the big question about us: what's the offensive line situation? I think that's the cool part about this league and this game. Everybody can have all these questions, but you've still got to go line up and do it. I think those guys understand that. They understand that task. I feel very confident with this plan and how we're going to attack the defense, but also [how they're going to] help us protect the quarterback and the running back, and obviously, pushing the ball down the field and things like that. I feel very confident that those guys are locking in on the plan, ironing out the details and I'm excited for them to really make their impact on this team because it starts with them. I know what they are capable of, and I'm excited for them to show, I guess, all of these questions about them.
