Jacoby Brissett: Patriots plan to attempt more downfield passes

FOXBORO — Downfield passing as a whole has trended downward this season in the NFL, and Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett is certainly doing his part in bringing down the league-wide average depth of target.

Brissett has attempted just two passes of 20-plus yards this season (tied for fewest among starting quarterbacks) and he’s one of three starters, along with Panthers benched QB Bryce Young and Bears rookie Caleb Williams, who has yet to complete a deep pass, per PFF.

Head coach Jerod Mayo is looking to change that this week against the Jets on Thursday night.

Related Articles

New England Patriots |


Callahan: The Patriots cannot repeat recent QB history

New England Patriots |


Patriots-Jets injury report: LT Vederian Lowe absent, Jets down two key defenders

New England Patriots |


Patriots missing pass rusher, O-linemen at Tuesday practice before Jets game

New England Patriots |


Patriots release disgruntled wide receiver Jalen Reagor from practice squad

New England Patriots |


Patriots HC Jerod Mayo has surprising take on Thursday Night Football games

“One thing offensively, we’ve got to find a way to get the ball down the field,” Mayo said Monday. “We’ve got to find a way to get the ball in our playmakers’ hands so those guys can go out there and make yards. And that’s a hybrid. It’s on the coaches – myself, starting with myself. That definitely is something that we have to continue going forward.”

Brissett’s average depth of target is just 6.7 yards this season, tied for seventh-fewest among 33 qualified QBs.

“That’s the plan,” Brissett said of Mayo’s message that the Patriots need to throw downfield. “Trying to get more guys involved, for sure.”

Brissett has thrived throwing to tight ends this season, but his wide receivers have just 11 catches for 85 yards through two games.

The Patriots’ issues moving the ball through the air is complicated this season, however. Brissett isn’t throwing downfield, but his time in the pocket is third-highest among qualified quarterbacks at 3.23 seconds per dropback. That’s played a part in him having the second-highest pressure rate among quarterbacks at 44.8%.

He was asked if getting rid of the ball faster has also been an emphasis this week.

“Some mixture of a lot of different things, so yeah,” Brissett said.

The Patriots will likely be playing without left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) and left guard Sidy Sow (ankle), both of whom didn’t participate in practice Tuesday. Michael Jordan will continue to fill in for Sow, and rookie Caedan Wallace, who primarily played right tackle in college, is the next logical fill-in at left tackle unless the Patriots want to put waiver claim Demontrey Jacobs, who joined the team in late August, in the blind-side protection role.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous post Pioneer Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHI) to Issue Monthly Dividend of $0.04
Next post Moon Tropica Hits One Day Trading Volume of $59,519.67 (CAH)