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INDIANAPOLIS – Frank Reich has not been afraid to say it about his backup quarterback.
Reich believes, if you are ranking the top-20 quarterbacks in the NFL, Jacoby Brissett would have a spot on that list.
When Reich evaluates quarterback, he does it on a three-pronged criteria:
-Toughness
-Accelerated Vision
-Accuracy
How does Brissett check those boxes in Reich’s eyes?
-Toughness: “Physical and mental toughness, he’s got that.”
-Accelerated Vision: “You have to think fast on your feet. I think his mastery of the offenses has really stepped up this year. I just feel his confidence and presence in the huddle and on the field even more.”
-Accuracy: “I just feel like his accuracy (has improved). I think he’s throwing the ball really well.”
For the entire 2019 offseason, Reich has seen firsthand Brissett quarterback his starting offense.
It’s not the sight Reich would want to see, but the head coach clearly has a comfort level with his backup QB, much more so than others around the league.
When the Colts return from Buffalo this Saturday, Brissett will have been the team’s starting QB in all 11 of their practices so far at camp.
While all the focus, and rightfully so, remains on the health of Andrew Luck, this is a massive month for the future of Brissett, who is in a contract year.
Even Luck, who is also a big fan of Brissett, acknowledges that uncertain future.
“He’s awesome,” Luck said of Brissett to NBC Sports’ Peter King over the weekend.
“One, he’s helped me improve a lot. He’s challenged me in many ways. I’ve learned a bunch from him. I think he’s a really, really, really good quarterback. I don’t know what his path will be, per se. I hope we can play together as long as we can, but I don’t think Jacoby is destined to be a backup forever. I think he’s very talented. I think he works incredibly hard. He works on improving his play as a teammate, quarterback all the time. Again, he’s challenged me and he’s been a pleasure to play with, and will continue to be a pleasure to play with. And we’ve become very good friends in the process so I’m excited about what his very bright future holds.”
At camp, the 26-year-old Brissett has made some strides from an inconsistent spring.
The big-armed QB has shown a nice progression with the shorter, rhythm throws that are so key for this offense having its desired flow.
The full expectation remains Brissett will slide back into his backup role for Week One, but that doesn’t diminish what his head coach thinks of him.
“I think the world of Jacoby,” Reich says.
