Jacoby Brissett May Just Be the Answer to the Colt’s Prayers
Since the beginning of the Peyton Manning-era in 1997, the Colts have failed to pair their starting QBs with a serviceable second string, assembling arguably the worst bundle of backup quarterbacks this generation has seen. However, they may have finally found their best back up in the newly-acquired, ex-Patriot Jacoby Brissett.
Quarterbacks Kelly Holcomb (1997), Kerry Collins (2011), Curtis Painter (2009–2011), and Scott Tolzien (2016-present) combined for a 0–14 record and 21 interceptions. Furthermore, Steve Walsh (1999), Painter, Collins, Josh Freeman (2015), and Charlie Whitehurst (2015) all completed under 55% of their passes during their time as a Colt.
During the Peyton Manning era, his durability and football IQ kept him health for the majority of his time spent in Indianapolis, therefore making the necessity for having a premiere backup quarterback and afterthought. But the transition to Andrew Luck has made what was once a luxury into a major problem for this Colts team. When he’s on the field, there is no doubt that he is one of the best in the league. But Luck’s recurring injury history has necessitated the need for a competent backup as the Colts try to continue their successful run in the 21st century.
While healthy through his first three years, Luck has missed 13 games over the last three seasons of football. Multiple hits to the body have led to a series of surgeries, none more threatening than the procedure on his throwing shoulder this past offseason. From 2013–2015, Matt Hasselbeck faired respectfully in the backup role, posting a 5–3 record with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. But compared to the likes of Josh Freeman, Charlie Whitehurst, Ryan Lindley, and Scott Tolzien, his time with Colts felt like the passing of a shooting star.
Following the 2016 season, a year in which the Colts landed at 8–8 and missed the playoffs for a second-consecutive season, Ryan Grigson was relieved of his duties as general manager and was replaced by the highly-touted Chris Ballard of the Kansas City Chiefs. Given the skepticism regarding Luck’s ability to come back and play in the early part of the 2017 season, Ballard pulled the trigger on bringing in fresh blood at the QB spot, sending wide receiver Phillip Dorsett to the New England Patriots in exchange for Jacoby Brissett.
As a Patriot, Brissett was a long shot to see the field behind Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo, but through three weeks of football, it seems that Ballard may have found exactly what he needed in the former Patriots third-stringer.
Our first glimpse of Brissett came when he replaced Scott Tolzien in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ 46–9 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams. While he only had three passing attempts for 51 yards, he connected with Donte Moncrief on a deep ball for a 50 yard completion. After only six days with the Indianapolis Colts, Brissett had already established himself as the most talented quarterback available while Luck continues to recover.
With a full week of practice under his belt and the starting position his, Brissett went up in week two against a stout Cardinals defense and played a great four quarters of football. Completing 20 of his 37 passes, Brissett threw for 217 yards and managed to pick up 22 yards on the ground. The Colts clung to an early lead as they headed into overtime, bur were ultimately undone by a Brissett interception, demonstrating his prevalent inexperience at the professional level. While they would go on to lose the game, there was promise in the young passer.
With the Colts facing an 0–3 start to the season, Brissett rose to the occasion and proved his worthiness in a dominate performance against the Cleveland Browns. Throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown, while managing to find the end zone twice on the ground, Brissett had a 94.3 QBR and easily his best performance as a Colt. His awareness in the pocket, touch on his deep ball, and accuracy on his short game led him to his best performance as a pro, establishing a small level of confidence the locker room.
While Andrew Luck is undoubtedly the face of this organization and the quarterback for at least the next decade, the Colts have something rare in Brissett. Still on his rookie deal, Brissett is under contract with the Colts through the 2019 season while earning an average salary of $735,076, making him a cheap option in the backup spot. Furthermore, the length of his deal provides stability should Luck remain injury-plagued. On the other side of things, Brissett’s play this season should hike up the asking price from other organizations looking for their future quarterback, heightening his trade value, should the Colts feel comfortable moving forward with another option behind Luck.
No matter what the long-term plan for of Jacoby Brissett may be, the Colts will enjoy and appreciate their best backup talent of the century as he tries to keep this team in the playoff hunt while Andrew Luck heals his surgically-repaired shoulder.
