**
Q: **What are your initial impressions of the Patriots defense?
DC:They're very sound, they're very well coached. They're obviously talented – everyone in the NFL is talented. They're very physical, they create a lot of takeaways; they do a great job of that. Again, like I said, they're very well coached. You can tell that they believe in their coaching because they're assignment driven and it shows.
Q:Not a lot of quarterbacks like to throw at Darrelle Revis. It's your first chance to see him in action. What's your plan?
DC:Darrelle is obviously one of the best players in football. The guy is phenomenal at what he does. I have nothing but respect for the guy. My plan is just to continue to watch film, continue to see what I need to do within our game plan and I'll go from there. But I have nothing but respect for the guy. He's one of the best, not corners, best players in the game.
Q:There's always this debate every year about rookie quarterbacks and whether it's best to throw them out there for Week 1. You've been thrown out there from the beginning. How much pressure have you felt because of that? Do you feel like it's been beneficial for you to be out there?
DC:Yeah, I absolutely believe for my situation, the way that I learn and the way that I grow, to throw me out there is the best idea. I totally believe that because the amount of things you watch on film and all that as you get ready can only take you so far. But that real life game experience, there's nothing like it. I've learned so much in just a short amount of time that I've been out there that I honestly don't think I would have learned if I wasn't out there on the field. I'm so happy that I was thrown in there at an early age because way down the road in my career I'm going to be able to lean on things a lot sooner and be able to say, 'Hey, I already went through that, this is what I saw,' and I can relate to it.
Q:Is it important to make sure the negative plays don't bring you down and don't carry over?
DC:It doesn't matter what happens in the football game to me. I'm always the same person. It doesn't matter if it's a good play. It doesn't matter if I threw a touchdown, it doesn't matter if I threw a pick. The next play that I play I'm the same person. It doesn't matter. There have been obviously negative things that have happened; there have obviously been a lot of positive things that have happened. Neither really matter to me. I'm just trying to grow, and my focus is taking it one day at a time with the ultimate goal in mind of winning. As long as I continue to work hard, I'm going to get better every day and eventually limit the negative plays.
Q:What's been the toughest thing about an NFL defense that you've had to adjust to coming from college?
DC:I guess just the overall speed. No one has to go to class. Everyone just does football for a living. But also you could say it's the hardest thing, but it's also a plus because I get to do the same thing. I received my degree so now I get to spend all my time during the day watching film and concentrating on my [game]. I think it works both ways I guess.
Q:You played on the same Senior Bowl team as Jimmy Garoppolo. What were your impressions of him?
DC:He's a good dude. We had a great time. We had a great QB room, that's for sure. We had a great time. He's obviously very talented. He's in a great situation. He's going to be a great player, there's no doubt in my mind. He did great things in the preseason, and he'll continue to do great things.
Q:Is there any sort of bond that you guys feel as a quarterback class? You guys are going to be linked together. Do you care at all about how the other guys in the class do or the bond you had in the offseason?
DC:Oh, I want them all to succeed. I want them all to go to the Hall of Fame. That's how I feel, honestly. I've never been one to root against anybody. I root for good people. All the guys that I was able to hang out with and be around were good dudes. I wish them nothing but the best, honestly. I hope they all have great success. Hopefully one day they can say our class was one of the best. But obviously we have a long way to go before that happens.
Q:What are your impressions of Chandler Jones? He was quiet in Week 1 but had a pretty big game this past Sunday.
DC:He's a great player. Every good thing that people say about him should be said about him. He's a great player. Again, just like Revis, I have nothing but respect for him and everybody on that defense. My focus is solely on myself, working on my game, working on the game plan and getting better every day. Him, himself, he's a great player and he's going to continue to be.
Q:I noticed watching the game last week that when there were people rushing around you, you were pretty good at keeping your eyes down the field. How difficult is that when you have rushers near your legs?
DC:In college it was something I wasn't the best at my junior year. My senior year I got better at it because I finally started working at it in the offseason. I continued to work at it so now, obviously as a professional athlete, that's your job. You're supposed to do those things. I don't mind taking hits in the face. Obviously that's shown on the film. I'll stand in there and take one as long as I can do the job to help my team win. At first, it was the total opposite thing that your body wants to do. You have people running straight at your face, usually you don't stand there and take it. But you have to train yourself. You have to train your mind to do those things. It's something I've worked on since college. I'm just happy, I praise God that the hard work is paying off on the games, standing in there and taking hits while throwing the football.
Q:Chandler Jones said you don't look like a rookie quarterback. Do you feel like one?
DC:Definitely sometimes I do. This game is nothing but the best out there. For him to say that, I really appreciate him saying that, I really do. That means a lot to me. I'm really thankful of that. To me, there's definitely times when I do. I am a rookie. I'm going to make rookie mistakes here and there. The good thing about it is I have great coaches and great teammates that believe in me and help me get better each game. As long as I continue to get better game, we're going to be on track of what we're trying to do here. But for him to say that, I really appreciate it.