Tag Archives: Drew Brees
Just how important is Drew Brees to the Saints?
There is no doubt the New Orleans Saints are dependent on quarterback Drew Brees but just how much are they? Are the Saints like the Colts? Are they basically a one-man team? I realize that in even considering this, it’s tremendously insulting to the many other professionals within the Saints’ organization to speculate that their efforts are potentially marginally impactful and, instead, the fate of the team rests mostly on the performance of one elite player. It’s disconcerting to say the least.
2012 NFL draft: Is Kellen Moore the next Drew Brees?
Former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore isn’t getting a lot of attention these days. On the eve of what will soon become the biggest day in the lives of some former collegiate players, Moore has been lumped into the masses of those who are projected to be less than exceptional when it comes to their NFL productivity. Could the so-called experts be wrong, again?
9 unlikely candidates for Saints’ interim coaching vacancy
With the news that New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will indeed serve a one year suspension for his role in the bounty scandal the question has to be asked why would Bill Parcells even consider the Saints job? Here are three reasons Parcells would consider the Saints position and nine other unlikely candidates who could fill the New Orleans coaching vacancy.
Drew Brees: Player profile
Born January 15, 1979 in Dallas, TX, Drew Brees or legally, Andrew Christopher Brees, attended Westlake HS in Austin, where he lettered in Football, Basketball and Baseball. In 1996, as a senior, Drew led his High School team to a perfect 16-0 season. Under his leadership, they also won the 5A State Championship and Drew was named the 5A Offensive Player of the Year.
2012 NFL Free Agency: Where Will the QB’s Land?
Deciding your quarterback is one of the most important factors in the NFL and as 2012 free agency approaches there are not many options for those teams searching. Players like Drew Brees and Alex Smith are free agents, but unlikely to go elsewhere. Matt Flynn, Donovan McNabb and Vince Young each offer something different but are they difference makers? Here is a look at the 2012 Free Agent list of quarterbacks and where they could end up next season.
Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
Drew Brees is by far the best possible free agent in the 2012 class, but it’s obvious the New Orleans Saints will do everything to lock him up. Brees has made a home in New Orleans and his family is loved by the fan base. He is not the type of player that would go to another team for more money. Prediction: Saints
Matt Flynn (Green Bay Packers)
Matt Flynn could be a difference maker, but he could also be another Kevin Kolb. Rumors started swirling that Aaron Rogers backup could be following Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin in Miami, but Matt Moore’s strong play to close out the year could have put an end to that. Prediction: Jets
Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers)
Alex Smith’s game against the New Orleans Saints showed just how much he deserved a new contract. The 49ers have taken notice and are making it priority number one to resign the now eight year pro who is coming off his best NFL season. Prediction: 49ers
Donovan McNabb
The best years are behind Donovan McNabb and chances are he isn’t interested in playing back up anywhere. Let’s not remember McNabb for the last few years, but instead remember how great he was for the Eagles organization. Prediction: Unsigned
Vince Young (Philadelphia Eagles)
An argument can be made that the Eagles may want to sign Vince Young to another deal because of the injury prone Michael Vick. Did Young show enough during his time to shine? Probably not, he’s nothing better than a back-up QB. Prediction: Eagles
Dan Orlovsky (Indianapolis Colts)
Orlovsky is a solid back up for teams that need one, like the Buffalo Bills or Denver Broncos. No team would offer him a starting job after watching him play with the type of offensive talent in Indianapolis and being unable to do anything with it. Prediction: Bills
David Garrard
Garrard was a pro-bowl quarterback in 2009 and then suffered a neck injury which would lead to his dismissal from the Jacksonville Jaguars. He missed the entire 2011 season after undergoing surgery on a herniated disk, but there weren’t going to be any teams that were really interested. Garrard stated he would only sign for a starter’s gig. Prediction: Unsigned
Chad Henne (Miami Dolphins)
Henne said he wishes he would have had the chance to make his case to the Dolphins, over a 16-game season, that he’s a practical long-term starter. The Dolphins have not ruled out re-signing Henne to be a backup, but Matt Moore likely will stay in that role. Prediction: Dolphins
Rex Grossman (Washington Redskins)
The Redskins are on the clock and desperately searching for quarterback of the future. No where in their plans should be sexy Rexy. Grossman will probably find a home with a team that needs a less competitive back-up, but someone capable to take the reins if desperately needed. Prediction: Packers
Jason Campbell (Oakland Raiders)
Disrespected or was it the Raiders trying to save the season? Campbell may have been the better starting quarterback, but now that Carson Palmer is there it could spell the end for Campbell. A broken collarbone knocked him out of the 2011 season and while he might not get a starting nod automatically he will earn it. Prediction: Jaguars
Kyle Orton (Kansas City Chiefs)
Way to go Kyle, you beat Tebow and got your revenge, but that could be the highlight of your career. Orton was mediocre in the win, completing 15-of-29 passes for 180 yards with no touchdowns. Rumors have started that Orton could be signed as a backup at Jacksonville but the Vikings could be better suitors. Prediction: Vikings
Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Steelers are not expected to keep Dixon, but he does make an intriguing backup option on the open market. Dixon has an interesting set of skills as he has shown in his four career appearances completing 35-of-59 passes (59.3%) for 402 yards (6.8 YPA), one touchdown, and two interceptions. Dixon has rushed 10 times for 56 yards (5.6 YPC) and another score. Prediction: Seahawks
Charlie Whitehurst (Seattle Seahawks)
“Check-down Charlie” attempted just 56 passes in 2011. He was so ineffective in his second of two starts that Whitehurst was pulled after only seven throws in favor of Tarvaris Jackson, who was dealing with a debilitating pectoral injury. Look for Charlie to land somewhere with a solid quarterback but in need of a back up. Prediction: Ravens
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Californiacation: West Coast Curse Could Follow Saints
The West Coast isn’t for everyone this time of year; just ask Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Last year, as the defending Super Bowl champions, the Saints fell to Seattle Seahawks in the Wildcard round of the playoffs to the tune of 41-36. This year, they will try to avoid the same fate against a very similar team in the San Francisco 49ers.
The Saints offense has propelled them to be the favorite on the road this weekend. Drew Brees will be trying to run up the score early with his explosive offense against a possession oriented, run-first offense. This all sounds too familiar…
Furthermore, the San Francisco 49ers will try to utilize Frank Gore in the same fashion that the Seahawks used Marshawn Lynch last year. Jim Harbaugh isn’t dumb. To stop one of the most explosive offenses and one of the hottest quarterbacks in NFL history, you have to run the ball… a lot. Saints’ fans will rebuttal with the fact that they only let up about one hundred and nine yards per game this year. Then gurus will point out that last season they only let up one hundred and twelve yards per game, and that didn’t stop Lynch from going into a skittles-fueled “beast-mode.”
Another factor not often mentioned, is the atmosphere that the crowd will make at Candlestick Park. The crowd played a big role in the upset last year in Seattle. Obviously, Seattle’s “12th Man” is one of the best in the league and Candlestick is an old baseball stadium that is on its last leg. However, this will be the 49er’s first home playoff game since their 2002 Wildcard victory against the New York Giants. Trust me, the fans in the Bay Area will be very lively during this encounter, thus creating problems for the Saints’ offense.
Of course, this is a new year and the Saints have picked up their game from last year. Also, they seem to be even garnering the popular vote to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. However, don’t be surprised if Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, and Co. leave a mark on the Saints so profound that Brees won’t even want to attend the EPSY’s in L.A. later on this year to keep free of that West Coast air.
Steve Gross is a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag and can be contacted at SGross@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com
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Catching The Mark: Saints’ Receivers Make Life A Brees For Drew
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints had one of the most prolific passing seasons ever, eclipsing Dan Marino’s 27-year-old single-season passing record in only 15 games. Brees is usually among the league’s passing leaders year in and year out but you don’t accomplish a feat like that without quality receivers which the Saints have in abundance.
The Saints’ receiving core is so good that Brees’ top five receivers all caught 50 or more passes this season. Tight end Jimmy Graham led the Saints with 99 receptions, Darren Sproles had 86, Marques Colston caught 80 passes, Lance Moore had 52 and Pierre Thomas caught 50.
As you can see Brees loves to spread the ball around but having that many guys catch that many passes is just insane. Brees is also one of the best at putting the ball in places where only his receiver can catch it but what really sets him apart as a passer is his ability to place the ball where his receivers can gain yards after the catch.
The Saints were ranked second overall in yards-after-the-catch (YAC) with 2,534 of Brees’ record 5,476 passing yards coming after the catch. That’s over 46% of the total yards Brees passed for on the season. As accurate as Brees is and as good of a job he does putting his receivers in good positions, those YAC numbers are more a testament to the play-making abilities of his receivers.
The most dangerous guy in the group is running back and return man Darren Sproles. Sproles was a great offseason acquisition for New Orleans and ended the season ranked second in the league with 724 yards-after-the-catch. Sproles usually got the ball on screens and dump offs but his explosive speed and elusiveness allowed him to make big plays once he got the ball in his hands.
Graham and Thomas also ranked in the top 20 in yards-after-the-catch. Although not as explosive as Sproles, Thomas was also used on screens and dump offs coming out of the backfield. Graham on the other hand was just a matchup nightmare with his height, speed and athleticism. He’s too fast for linebackers and too tall for defensive backs to cover. He was also the only non-wide receiver to rank in the top ten in catches of over 25 yards.
Only two other teams had multiple players rank in the top 20 in YAC which just goes to further illustrate how big of a role the Saints’ receivers played in helping Brees break the record. On top of that, the Saints were the only team to have more than one player rank in the top ten in yards-per-game.
With Thomas, Sproles and Graham wreaking so much havoc on an opposing team’s defensive coverage, it just opens things up for when Brees does throw to his wide receivers. Speedsters like Devery Henderson, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem all had at least one touchdown over 40 yards during the season. Then teams still have find a way to keep the big 6’4” 225-pound, Marques Colston from using his size and craftiness to find open spots in the defense.
So as you can see, the Saints’ receiving core was very instrumental in helping Brees break Marino’s record. Now the challenge is to see if this group can help Brees carry New Orleans back to the Super Bowl. Catching a record is one thing but if they can catch fire in the playoffs then the New Orleans Saints could be celebrating their second championship in three years.
Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag and can be contacted at RHall@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @rhall_tpfb.
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San Francisco 49ers say ‘Bring on the Saints’
As the San Francisco 49ers get their well deserved rest they have the luxury of watching plenty of game film on the New Orleans Saints. It is a forgone conclusion that these two 13-3 NFC division winners will be squaring off in the divisional round of this year’s playoffs.
Despite the record-setting season and possible MVP for their quarterback Drew Brees, Saints’ fans everywhere will be a little nervous about the fact that their defense gives up a lot of yards and points to the opposition. Not to mention that New Orleans has never had the reputation of being a good road team, with all three of their losses this year coming outside the safe comfort of the Superdome.
How on earth does a team like the Saints drop two mid-season games to the likes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams? Let us not forget there was a 55 point shellacking of the Indianapolis Colts in New Orleans sandwiched in between those two losses. That seems to be the motive of this year’s Saints team. Win, and sometimes lose, a close game on the road. Get revenge on the next team with the misfortune to step in to the Superdome the following week. Their point differential at home compared to on the road is staggering. At home this season the Saints have outscored opponents 329-143, an average score of 41-18. That is truly mind-blowing and anyone faced with going against that home field advantage should be very worried.
That is why it was so crucial that the 49ers were able to secure home field and the second seed. They knew how important it was to stay away from Drew Brees, in his house. They wanted to invite the Saints over to their house for some mid-January, city by the bay, San Francisco type weather. It could be sixty degrees and sunny or forty degrees and raining. Who knows? But what IS known is that the natural grass at Candlestick will most certainly slow down a fast paced New Orleans squad that does not have the running game to fall back on if the game gets sloppy. Saints fans should also be concerned with their team’s offensive output on the road. In their eight games on the road this season they have only outscored teams 218-187, an average score of 27-23. That sounds remarkably like a San Francisco 49ers vs. anybody, kind of score, this season.
The 49ers, however, have made it very clear the type of team they are. At Candlestick Park this season they have outscored their victims 221-97. And in those home wins they have only allowed 10 points to be scored on them at home in the last three tries, all three of which were without pro bowl linebacker Patrick Willis controlling his stingy defense. They average scoring 28 points to the opposition’s 12. It will more than likely be a low scoring, one possession game, that lends right in to the hands of the home team.
Amongst all the hype that will undoubtably surround this inevitable contest it will not be a surprise too many people if the Saints escape with a victory. It will not be a surprise to those expecting the 49ers to be one and done. That is exactly how these San Francisco 49ers want it…surprising.
Adam Smith is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at asmith@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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When the Saints Go Marching . . . Watch Out San Francisco
It is hard to deny how well the New Orleans Saints’ are playing right now. The dark horse with the fleur-de-lis might not have landed that 2nd place NFC slot but should have no trouble reaching the divisional playoffs.
This is a team that hasn’t lost a game since October (currently an eight game winning streak) and has won all games since their Week 11 bye, helmed by the record-breaking Drew Brees. Considering the shaky history and often over-emotional play of the Detroit Lions, the more seasoned and stable Saints should have no trouble sending Detroit home.
The numbers align in favor of the Bayou Boys. In their 45-17 rout of the Carolina Panthers, Brees broke his own 2009 record of pass completion percentage with 71.6; Peyton Manning’s 2010 number of completions with 468 (Manning finished with 450); and the monstrous tight end Jimmy Graham briefly held the NFL’s record for most receiving yards (tight end) with 1,310. And, of course Brees now holds the single season passing record (previously Dan Marino’s) with 5,476 (40,742 career).
The first time these two teams met, Brees set another record. After leading New Orleans to a 31-17 win, passing for 342 yards and three touchdowns, Brees became the first play-caller to record more than 4,000 yards in the first 12 games of the season with 4,031. But, everyone was talking about some guy in Denver.
Not to undermined the Lions or underestimate them. Led by the 5th best quarterback in the league, Matthew Stafford, and a defense that won’t quit, Detroit is a formable opponent. New Orleans will need to be sharp on defense.
Although the Lions have the talent, the experience is not there. This is a team that hasn’t reached the post season since 1999. And, since the playoffs are different beast, a major collapse is plausible for the Lions. The inconsistency’s they exhibited during the regular season are only going to be amplified and exposed postseason.
Couple that with how amped the Saints are, equals doom for Detroit. But, the beauty of the playoffs is, nothing is set in stone. Remember the favored Saints last year? Fell to a Seattle Seahawks team that was the first team to reach the playoffs with a losing record.
The underdog Lions could pull off an upset, but with all the voodoo in favor of the surging Saints, it’s a highly unlikely charge. (Vegas odds are currently set with Saints a 10-point favor.)
Matchup wise, the Saints air game is going to be a dominate factor. Detroit is 22nd in passing defense, while the Saints still hold 1st in the league in passing offense and 6th in rushing. All of Detroit’s corner-backs are vertically challenged and there are only a few six-foot defenders. Meaning, that coverage of the 6-6 Graham is going to be a challenge. As we all saw in the Panthers game, Graham is able to go up over man-coverage and pull down impossible catches.
Oh, and when the Saints decide to go to the ground, they go to the NFL single season all-purpose yards (2,696) record holder, Darren Sproles. A dangerous option, even for Ndamukong Suh to handle. The Lion’s secondary has also been a real problem this year, as evidence by how the Packers destroyed it en route to a 27-15 win in their first matchup.
Detroit is not without their own star players. Besides Stafford, the Lion’s boast the number one receiver in the league with Calvin Johnson, who led the league with 1,681 receiving yards. This is also a team that started the season 5-0, but struggled New Years Day to stop the Packers bench players.
Expect this to be a close game in the first half and then watch as the Saints go marching past the Lions in the second half and right on to the San Francisco 49ers; in what would probably be the most interesting matchup of the year.
Joshua Peacock is a freelance writer and sports journalist based out of Savannah, Georgia. Original from Tennessee, he follows the Tennessee Titans in the AFC and the New Orleans Saints in the NFC. He can be contacted at jpeacock@thepenaltyflagblog.com
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Could Breaking the Passing Record Equal MVP for Drew Brees?
The last guy who broke the NFL’s single-season record for passing yards was also voted the leagues’ MVP. You know….some guy by the name of Dan Marino. Sadly New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees won’t be following in Marino’s footsteps in that regard.
Marino’s record stood for 27 years before Brees broke the record on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite such a monumental accomplishment, Brees is still a distant second to the Green Bay Packer’s Aaron Rodgers in the MVP voting. Rodgers has more wins and touchdowns than Brees has so far this season.
Rodgers has also thrown seven less interceptions than Brees has thrown this season. Even if the Packers lose their last game and the Saints win theirs, Rodgers will still have a one game lead over Brees for the season. Rodgers unfortunately won’t break the 5,000-yard threshold though.
Tom Brady is close enough to join Brees in besting Marino’s record. He is currently 187 yards shy of Marino’s mark. If Brady passes Marino also it would only serve to lessen Brees’ achievement. Especially when you consider that Brady already owns the record for touchdowns in a season.
So I guess we can just crown Mr. Rodgers right now. Then again there may be a chance that the voters realize how big of an accomplishment the passing record was and rightfully award Brees the MVP trophy. On second thought, Brees probably has a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than of that happening.
Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag and can be contacted at RHall@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @rhall_tpfb.
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Drew Brees Breaks Marino’s Record but is he an Elite QB?
Coming into Monday night’s matchup New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees needed 305 yards to break Dan Marino’s single season passing record set back in 1984. Brees came out firing early and often and eclipsed the coveted 27 year-old mark late in the 4th quarter hitting Darren Sproles for a nine yard touchdown. Brees can take pride in his accomplishment for now but knows if he really wants to put his name amongst the elite quarterbacks past and present he’s got to be better than Marino in more ways than one. Luckily for Brees, his best opportunity to do so may just be now.
In 1984 Dan Marino threw for 5084 yards as he led the Miami Dolphins to a 14-2 record and an appearance in Super Bowl XIX. The Dolphins were dominated in the Super Bowl at the hands of Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. At the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Marino had set the single season passing record and got his team to the Super Bowl in only his second year in the league. Surely with the skill set Marino possessed he would return to the big game several more times throughout his NFL career. As the story goes, unfortunately over the next 15 seasons Marino and the Dolphins would not return to the big game. This of course is the one blemish on Dan Marino’s hall of fame career. He never won a Super Bowl.
Drew Brees has been a bit more fortunate than Marino. In 2009, Drew’s 8th season in the league, he led the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl appearance and subsequent victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Not only was Brees named Super Bowl MVP but he had also separated himself from the have not’s in the world of NFL quarterbacks as he now had a ring. One ring is better than Marino but to truly be considered elite, a quarterback needs two.
With the setting of the passing yards record, Brees and the Saints’ season is shaping up to be eerily similar to Marino and that ’84 Dolphins team. At 12-3, the Saints are the most complete team in the NFC and arguably the NFL. This presents New Orleans with an excellent opportunity to return to the Super Bowl. If they do, Brees will look add insult to injury by again out doing Marino and winning a Super Bowl in the same season the record was set.
For Brees, a second title would put him in an elite quarterback status as he would separate himself from the likes of Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Steve Young and Peyton Manning; all having one Super Bowl title. With a second title, Brees would join the ranks of Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, John Elway and Ben Roethlisberger; each with two rings.
Aaron Moon is the CEO and Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. An active duty Navy Chief and avid writer, Aaron is a lifelong Bears’ fan who writes about his team from a critics’ point of view. You can contact Aaron on facebook or follow him on Twitter @DA_Bear_Truth. Contact Aaron directly by emailing him at amoon@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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