Greg Cosell's Film Review: What can we expect from Jacoby Brissett?

When I studied quarterbacks before this year’s draft, Jacoby Brissett stood out. I thought he was a very good prospect.

Here’s what I wrote about him in my notes:

“Overall a big QB with a strong arm and excellent movement, looks the part of an NFL QB and has the tools to be a quality starter with coaching and refinement.”

While the ideal scenario for his rookie year with the New England Patriots would have been to sit and learn by watching Jimmy Garoppolo and then Tom Brady, Brissett doesn’t have that luxury anymore. Garoppolo has a shoulder injury, is listed as doubtful, and Brissett is New England’s likely starter on Thursday night against the Houston Texans.

[Play our $200K Baller | Free Yahoo Cup entry | Earn rewards points playing Daily]

I think what we saw from Brissett last week, after he came in for Garoppolo, is what we’ll see Thursday night (assuming Garoppolo doesn’t make a tremendous recovery before kickoff). The Patriots managed and controlled Brissett by the play calling, giving him safe throws. The approach really wasn’t much different than what the Patriots did with Garoppolo, though.

Brissett threw just nine passes off the bench last week, so we don’t have much to analyze, but there are some things we can look at heading into Thursday’s game.

What instantly stood out was that all of Brissett’s throws were safe and required no reading of the defense. The Patriots used very simple concepts when he was in the game.

Brissett’s fourth throw was a good example. The Patriots ran a fake screen to James White on Brissett’s left, then came back to a screen right to Martellus Bennett. It went for 15 yards. This is a good play call to help a rookie quarterback who is getting his first NFL snaps.

Brissett’s third throw of the game also went to Bennett on a good concept. It came out of hard stretch-run action to the tight end side, then a throwback to Bennett crossing the formation against a Dolphins linebacker group that tends to be over-aggressive and at times, undisciplined. Bennett gained 37 yards.

In the fourth quarter, the Patriots ran one of their staple concepts that provides an easy read. Chris Hogan motioned across the formation to get to a slant-flat combination, and Brissett had a three-step drop timing throw to Hogan in the flat. It’s a defined throw for the rookie.

With the Patriots holding onto a seven-point lead late, the Patriots ran as basic of a concept as you’ll see for 15 yards and a first down. It was a basic trips concept with two quick outs and the No. 1 receiver to that side running vertically. Brissett hit Bennett on the “Y Stick” route.

Brissett executed well, though he’ll need to be more precise with his accuracy in the Patriots’ quick rhythm, quick timing passing game. What you’ll see schematically against the Texans will probably be similar to what they had Brissett do last week: defined throws that don’t require Brissett to scan the defense.

While Brissett has little NFL experience, he has good skills. I thought last year at N.C. State he showed good feet and excellent arm strength. He threw the deep ball very easily with almost no effort. You saw play action with Brissett under center and turning his back to the defense, and I think the Patriots can do that with him on Thursday night. He did show some erratic scattershot tendencies in regards to his accuracy at N.C. State, however.

Brissett is not uncomfortable with some of the nuances of playing quarterback. In college he showed a good feel for pocket movement with keeping his eyes downfield, and had a good sense of coverage and progressive reading. He had an awareness of safeties and how they impacted route concepts.

Brissett had a good skill set as a foundation coming to the Patriots as a third-round pick. He was drafted into a great spot, where it seemed like he could sit and learn. Those plans changed, and now we’ll see how Brissett handles that pressure.

– – – – – – –

NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.