Jacoby Brissett is Special, Will Lead Patriots Innovative Offense
Led by Rookie Jacoby Brissett, Tonight’s New England Patriots Offense Will Be Unlike Anything We Have Seen Before
Tonight, for the first time, the New England Patriots will start Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. Brissett, a 3rd round pick, will be one of four rookies to start at quarterback. He is also the first rookie to start at quarterback for the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe (1993).
If there were ever a quarterback with a pedigree made for a Bill Belichick-coached team, that player is Jacoby Brissett.
Even before arriving to Foxborough in June, Brissett was a sword forged by the smiths who follow ‘the Patriot Way.’ Initially, Brissett was recruited out of Palm Beach Gardens by the University of Florida’s Urban Meyer.
Although Meyer did not remain with the Gators during Brissett’s tenure with the team, Bill Belichick has always been a fan of Meyer’s eye for talent.
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Next, Brissett became a mentee of the master himself: NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells. Parcells, who was Belichick’s mentor during their time together with the New York Giants, took an interest in Brissett while working with local players in South Florida. Parcells has been integral in Brissett’s development: he helped Jacoby navigate the pre-draft process and negotiate his own rookie contract.
Jacoby Brissett, despite only playing a little more than one-half of NFL football, has already begun to differentiate himself from the other quarterbacks in the 2016 draft class.
Brissett is starting before several other quarterbacks chosen before him, including first overall pick Jared Goff and first-round pick Paxton Lynch. And, in a nod to his intelligence, Brissett was the only player in this year’s draft to negotiate his own deal.
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So, what should Patriots’ fans expect from Jacoby Brissett now that he is actually going to start at quarterback tonight?
First, I would expect Brissett starts more than one game. Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been starting in the place of the suspended Tom Brady, allegedly has a Grade 2 AC sprain in his throwing shoulder. As someone who has literally experienced this exact injury, let me emphasize how painful this injury is and how little faith I have in reports that Jimmy could be back in two to four weeks. I don’t buy it.
In terms of the actual offensive game plan, I believe the Brissett-tailored strategy will be unlike what we are used to from the New England Patriots.
No-Huddle Offense
Expect the New England Patriots to start the game with a no-huddle approach to the offense. Pats Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels is going to want to get Brissett comfortable, given the pressure of a primetime game after a short week of preparation.
McDaniels will probably start out in a simplified no-huddle offense rather than huddling between snaps; this is because the no-huddle gives the quarterback more of an opportunity to survey the defense before the play.
However, McDaniels will not be able to use a full arsenal of no-huddle plays because, presumably, Brissett has not mastered the entire playbook. The playbook is likely hundreds if not thousands of pages.
This means that Brissett will probably be limited to short throws with route combinationsseen in practice. If Brissett comes to the line and is uncomfortable with what he sees, he will be armed with a “kill” call. A “kill” call is an audible or change of play, sometimes a run play, if the defense shows they are 100% committed to stopping the pass.
Run Heavy
If the Patriots are going to control the time of possession game, they are going to have to run the ball as much as possible. This is a contrast from a Patriots offense known for throwing the ball between 35-50 times per game; I would not expect that high of a number this evening.
Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) celebrates a touchdown. with teammate Brandon Bolden. (38) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots have an underrated stable of running backs. Through two games, LeGarrette Blount has run for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns; Brandon Bolden has shown the versatility to split out wide and contribute in the screen game; and, James White is one of the Patriots’ top three receivers this season.
The Brissett offense will use the Patriots running backs heavily. I anticipate Blount will help to carry the load for the Patriots offense akin to his performances earlier this season.
Blount, who is 250 pounds, also serves as an effective blocker in pass protection; I expect Blount to ‘chip’ Texans defensive end J.J. Watt off of the line throughout the game. James White could be targeted heavily out of the backfield this evening. Screens and swing passes are notoriously effective at neutralizing teams with a dominant pass-rush (like Houston).
Return of the Gronk?
In the unlikely scenario that tight end Rob Gronkowski returns to the Patriots lineup tonight, Brissett could find himself with a new best friend. Martellus Bennett has played well, but the impact of a potential return of the Gronk is huge.
Another injury note: Jimmy Garoppolo apparently will not dress for the game tonight. This means that wide receiver Julian Edelman will serve as Brissett’s primary backup in the event of an injury. So, if Brissett gets hurt, the team’s leading receiver will have find himself under center. Tonight, at the very least, should be interesting.
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