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Brees is the engine that drives the Saints

By JIM MASHEK - jwmasheksunherald.com


He’s become the face of the New Orleans Saints, the leader, the guy who pulls the trigger, makes quick decisions and knows how to get his team in the end zone.
Drew Brees hasn’t missed a start since joining the Saints in 2006 and made two Pro Bowl appearances, including last year’s amazing season when he passed for 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns, just 15 yards short of the single-season yardage record set by the Miami Dolphins’ Dan Marino in 1984.
The bottom line, however, is that the Saints went 8-8 last year, and that wasn’t good enough for Brees, or his coach, Sean Payton. It wasn’t good enough for anyone with the Saints.

Brees is the engine that drives the Saints - Sports - SunHerald.com

PATRICK SEMANSKY/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets.
“With Drew, the bar is set so high,” Saints offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb said.
Brees tied a club record on opening day last month, throwing six touchdown passes in a 45-27 rout of the Detroit Lions. He was equally effective the next week, when the Saints went on the road and thumped the Donovan McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles.
Their defense has taken the lead in their last two games, victories over Buffalo and the New York Jets, and now the Saints are off to the third 4-0 start in club history.
“In the end, we’re going to execute our offense,” Brees said. “We’re going to take our shots (at the end zone). We’re going to try to throw for completions. We’re going to try to run the ball effectively. We’re going to try to formation you to death and personnel you to death and all those things.
“We go into every game with the attitude that we’re going to dictate the tempo of the game.”
Actually, that’s one of Brees’ secrets.
There is very little wasted motion with the Saints’ quarterback. He locks himself into film rooms and puts in extra time on the practice field.
His play fakes are usually crisp, he knows how to read defenses, and he knows how to read his teammates.
And his coaches, too.
“This isn’t about style points, guys,” Payton said. “It’s about the formula to win each game and move on to the next week, and that’s the truth.”
A big key to the Saints’ success this season is getting away from totally relying on Brees and establishing a strong running game.
They did that in the first two weeks with journeyman Mike Bell at running back, and Pierre Thomas came back from a knee injury to give the Saints a presence between the tackles in the 24-10 victory over the Jets.
The constant, of course, is Brees. He hasn’t missed a start since joining the Saints and at the age of 30, should be in the prime of his career.
This season, he’s being compared to the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, guys like Tom Brady and Payton Manning.
He isn’t as tall as some of his contemporaries, and he isn’t going to dazzle you with his speed, either, but few quarterbacks are more prepared. Few quarterbacks understand their job better than Drew Brees.
“It’s about taking care of the football,” Brees said, “but when teams do pressure you, you want to be able to make them pay.” So far, the Saints have been doing just that.

Rugby Saint II

This writer put into words what I've been trying to say since Drew came to New Orleans.

DeadmaN

nice read
good find QBREES9

21counterZ-trap

.........and his accuracy is amazing. I didn't see that mentioned in the article but, you don't realize how accurate he is until you watch other games and other QBs around the league, then you appreciate him even more. Good article

QBREES9

Thanks, I thank AJ Smith every day for letting Drew leave San Diego.