LurkingSaintsFan

I think he's got to be going bald. He had that Ditka thing going on when he was there and in Washington, now he's wearing hats.

When I say that I mean the crazy numbers he's been putting up since he's been with the Saints. He was starting to come into his own in San Diego but Payton took him up a few more notches.

As I said in the other Brees thread, his success is due to the fact that he's in Sean Payton's system. If he'd gone to Miami, Oakland, or Detroit he'd just be an average QB.

He was pretty good in San Diego but his numbers were nothing like they are now. The most he threw for when he was there was 3576, and has thrown for 4400+ for 3 straight years in NOLA. The rest I also agree with for the most part. Last season Brees led the NFL with 635 pass attempts and was sacked only 13 times. Some may think the o-line was great, but the reality is that Brees has one of the quickest releases in football and a great pocket awareness that allows him to avoid defenders. The o-line gives him just enough time to do what he has to do. Me personally, I think our o-line is barely above average. Our run blocking last year left a lot to be desired. At the same time, a really bad o-line will hurt any QB, regardless of who's back there. I can say that because I'm a Saints fan. I've seen some REALLY bad o-lines. We have a saying in NOLA that if Archie Manning had gone to Pittsburgh he'd easily have 4 rings, and maybe more. He's the perfect example of a really good QB behind a really bad o-line. In '78 they finally started to get it together and he finished 2nd in the NFC in passing, just behind Staubach. Then the 1-15 cocaine season hit one year later (Not him, but the rest of the team). I think the biggest factor is the system, and if it's designed for that particular QB's skills. Manning is perfect for their system, and so is Brady for theirs. Montana was perfect for the 49er's West Coast offense, but I don't think he would have succeeded as well as say, Oakland or Miami. Elway put up big numbers, but they couldn't win the big one until Shannahan installed a new system there. You get some coaches that aren't flexible at all and want the QB to fit into it, rather than make the system around the QBs strengths. JMO

Brees' success can be attributed to Sean Payton. You'll be hard pressed to find a more dynamic coach/QB combo in the NFL. Payton had success in the past with turning old, sent-to-the-pasture QBs around, ie Collins in NY, Bledsoe in Dallas, and Brees came into a prime position. I can say with confidence that if Brees had gone to another team, especially one with a defense-minded head coach, then he wouldn't be having the success he's having now.

I've lived in the DC area since I retired from the Navy (wife's from here) and I work with a lot of deadskin fans. Even they think the 'skins are going to lose this weekend. A bunch of them hope they lose a bunch of games and fire Zorn because they think they'll get Cowher. I keep trying to tell them that Cowher's waiting for the Carolina job to open.

He didn't have any games like Jake Delhome did in week 1, that's for sure. We were 8-8 last year because of a really bad defense. Our offense got owned only once, and that was the 1st Carolina game when we only scored 1 TD. Brees only threw for 231 with a pick and no TD. Otherwise our offense never scored below 20. Unfortunatley our defense gave up more than that.

One thing that really works into the Bills favor is the no-huddle. Seriously, these guys are that out of shape. I don't know what'll happen if your offense has a 15 play drive with that no-huddle. They'll probably have to carry Grant and Smith off the field on stretchers. Personally, I'd rather see the Saints start McCray and Hargrove. They're in much better shape, show up to play, and can last longer on the field while your offense is doing their thing. This is probably Hargrove's last chance with the NFL and he's really turned it around and stepped it up. If he keeps it up and stays out of trouble he should see some nice offers next offseason, hopefully from us.

During Brees' first couple of seasons in NOLA he had some problems with his passes getting tipped at the LOS. Not a lot, but some. If I was an opposing team's DC (which I'm not, so this might not make sense) I wouldn't have my 4 linemen try to get to him because he avoids that better than most QBs, but to create a pocket and get in his way by jumping, waving, or whatever, then blitz a LBer or safety to apply the pressure. In other words, contain him in the pocket and make him throw it over them while still applying pressure with a blitz. I'd maybe try that on a couple of possessions and see how it works. Otherwise, your best bet is to take him out the night before and get him good and drunk so he passes out. Then strip him down, throw him in the bed, and surround him with some nude high-priced hookers. Take pictures and threaten to send them to his wife.

Special K, you couldn't be more wrong about this. Again, my fellow Saints fans in here may disagree, but here goes; Grant and Smith hit their respective paydays and have become the most overrated, overpayed, and overweight DEs in the NFL. This is from last week; Smith - 1 tackle, 0 sacks, 0 QB hits Grant - 1 tackle, 0 sacks, 0 QB hits As compared to their backups; McCray - 1 tackle, 1 sack, 2 QB hits Hargrove (mainly DT, but bounces around) - 3 tackles, 0 sacks, 2 QB hits Charleston - 1 tackle, 0 sacks, 0 QB hits (limited play, I barely noticed him in there) Grant and Smith both played well when they were rookies and the next couple of years, but unless Greg Williams somehow lights a fire under them, then they should be the least of your worries, as far as our defense goes. I have no love for either of them. They bitched and moaned for a bigger contract and have yet to live up to it. This will sound pretty bad, but I was hoping they would've gotten suspended for four games just so the backups could show how useless they've become. JMO

Maybe my fellow Saints fans on here may disagree, but I think a lot of smack is coming from "new" fans, those that started following the Saints from the past few years on. I've been a fan since the '70s and have been through some seriously rough times, including being ridiculed by other fans when I was in the Navy. So as excited as I am about our start, I'm still hesitant to declare us the NFC champs. I'll wait and see where we are later in the season before I start talking smack.

In my opinion the strength of our o-line is the middle. Our center (Goodwin, former Jet) is average to above average, but the two guards (Evans and Nicks) flanking him are very good. Brown is still out at LT and his backup has done well for the most part considering he had to block Cole last week. Stichcomb at RT is another average to above average. Colston, as good as he is, is far from being the only weapon at WR. Henderson has fixed his case of the drops and has led the league in avg yds per reception the past couple of years. Meachem has finally come around and is making big plays as well. As Streetcar pointed out, Lance Moore should play. He's a sure-handed receiver not afraid of going over the middle.