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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; http://www.saintsreport.com/cgi-bin/...&id=1063937261 Name: Jamie P. From: New Orleans, LA. Mike, I appreciate the site and your comments. All I really want to know is, why do most Saints fans see that Brooks doesn't have it mentally to play at a high ...

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Old 09-18-2003, 09:32 PM   #1
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

http://www.saintsreport.com/cgi-bin/...&id=1063937261



Name: Jamie P.
From: New Orleans, LA.

Mike, I appreciate the site and your comments.
All I really want to know is, why do most Saints fans see that Brooks doesn't have it mentally to play at a high level week in and week out , but Haslett and Co. don't? It's absolutely ridiculous to see what he is doing out there including: Late decisions, backpedaling and throwing off his back foot, throwing at either the ground or the stands, very slow scrambling, bad anticipation, lazy demeanor, etc..

Please tell me why?


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From: Mike Detillier
To: Andrew
Date: 9/18/03

Jamie, I appreciate the nice words, but I can't agree with you on your assessment on Aaron Brooks. Yes, he has made some poor decisions with the ball, but I can't understand how the not having the smarts to play the quarterback spot comes from. If anything, I question the offensive scheme the Saints have Brooks running at this time. He seemed so comfortable in the 2nd half against Houston when they spread the field out a bit and let him pick and choose from more of a variety of receivers than opening the game with multiple tight ends in the lineup.

Aaron has to learn to give up on a play quicker. It's a bad habit with young QB's that they really believe they can make big plays each and every snap and that just doesn't happen, so throw the ball away and live another day. Don't throw up a bad pass that goes for a turnover.

He did a good job protecting the ball against Houston. What killed them the week before was dropped passes, fumbles, numerous offside and procedure penalties and just poor concentration. Those factors more than anything led to drive-killing situations.
Every game I watch I see QB's with bad footwork and throwing off their back foot, including guys like Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Rich Gannon and Donovan McNabb.

Jamie, I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but in my mind I really feel as though Mike McCarthy tries to do too much scheme wise and tries too many things, instead of really concentrating on certain plays and formations that seem to work for this team, like running more three wide receiver sets. This team relies too much on running Deuce M. on first and 2ns downs and then setting up long third down situations. The Saints need to throw more on first down and keep defenses from crowding the line of scrimmage to contain Deuce. I can not blame the teams lack of success on offense just on Brooks, there is more to it than just one man, believe me.

This is an assessment of Aaron Brooks from a veteran AFC scout who was at the Saints/Texans game:

" Overall I think Aaron Brooks has developed into a fine NFL quarterback. I really think he did a good job with a gameplan I really didn't understand in the 1st half. Brooks could only go to Joe Horn or Deuce because the multiple tight ends were not getting separation from defenders. He was smart not to force the issue and then McCarthy opened things up in the second half. The gameplan given to Brooks didn't him much of a chance to succeed in the opening minutes.

This club has talent, but at times they seem to be confused on how to use all the weapons at hand. The Saints want to establish the run first and I don't think it's a bad idea because Deuce is a great player, but they need to get those defenders off the line and throw the ball deeper down-field. They don't have a real physical line, with the exception of LeCharles Bentley, so they can't just bang away at people each and every play.

People don't understand that they really want to bang away at people, but they don't have the big, physical guys up-front to play this style. Their line is built to pass block and they should understand this more from a coaching point of view. The system does not always play to the strength of their club.. Really it doesn't.

With Stallworth, Horn and Pathon in the lineup, they need to stretch things out at times, even if it does not lead to a completion, but it will get that safety off the line later on. It's eventually going to open things up for McAllister. To be honest I think Mike McCarthy calls too much of a deliberate game. He's very conservative and it seems as though he tries too hard to build up to take advantage of something he feels he can get later on in a game, when he should try and be more aggressive and go after a teams' weakness early on. The coaches talk about their speed a lot, but they don't use those big-play skills enough unless it's in a panic situation.

Brooks is a streaky thrower, but he is a good player. I would roll him out more and let him use his feet to make more plays for me. I can tell the Saints want him and they teach him to stay in the pocket, but I really don't think it fits his style. While he's not one of the top 6 to 8 QB's in this league, he is in that 9 to 12 range as for as QB's in this league are concerned."

Just a couple of opinions..
Take Care..






[Edited on 19/9/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]
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Old 09-18-2003, 10:51 PM   #2
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

Thank you Billy! Is this not what I have been saying?!

Every posts I have stated has been that AB is not the problem with this team. Period! My beef all along has been with the coaching staff.

Quote:
\"If anything, I question the offensive scheme the Saints have Brooks running at this time\"

\"but in my mind I really feel as though Mike McCarthy tries to do too much scheme wise and tries too many things, instead of really concentrating on certain plays and formations that seem to work for this team, like running more three wide receiver sets.

\"I can not blame the teams lack of success on offense just on Brooks, there is more to it than just one man, believe me. \"

\"He was smart not to force the issue and then McCarthy opened things up in the second half. The gameplan given to Brooks didn\'t him much of a chance to succeed in the opening minutes. \"

\"I can tell the Saints want him and they teach him to stay in the pocket, but I really don\'t think it fits his style. While he\'s not one of the top 6 to 8 QB\'s in this league, he is in that 9 to 12 range as for as QB\'s in this league are concerned.\"

You have been bashing me for being a Brooks basher when every post I have made about the guy has been for these exact reasons. Of course you will not admit to them because then I would be right and you would be WRONG.

Remenber I am the one who always says Brooks is not the problem with this team. KMA!!!!

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Old 09-18-2003, 11:12 PM   #3
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

Ok, so we don\'t have the linemen to play the power running game, which I guess is OK as Duece isn\'t really a major power runner (even though I think he\'d be better at it than a lot of folks give him credit for).

But the major issue is the Saints are an offense designed around pocket passing, quick smart decisions etc. The space cadet is the square peg to our round hole it seems. However, for teams like Arizona, Philly, etc, we could doubtlessly dump the space cadet off to be the entire offense, freelance all he wants and we have a fistfull of high draft picks to play with. (Provided that Hazmat doesn\'t give the whole draft away to move up 6-7 spaces)

The offense calls for a smart, quick, fairly stationary QB, why aren\'t we going out to get that guy? It\'s like putting the donut spare on a Jeep Wrangler, you can make it work, but you aren\'t going to be thrilled with the performance you get.

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Old 09-18-2003, 11:38 PM   #4
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

Exactly Gator. It is not Brooks most of us is complaining about. the problem is some people can\'t see that.

B&B, questioned why or how I could bring up Tim Rattay as an equal or better QB than Brooks on another post. My reason is Rattay is a smart quick response QB who would work well in this offense. Do I think he is a better talented QB? No, but this saints coaching staff does not use Brooks to all his abilities and that makes him a liability.
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Old 09-19-2003, 07:17 AM   #5
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

Everyone keeps talking about the \"West Coast Offense\". Why are some members here under the impression that the \"West Coast Offense\" requires a QB that isn\'t moblle, when the exact opposite is true. Joe Montana was a very moblile QB. He wasn\'t a runner but he was very mobile. Bill Walsh then brought in Steve Young to run the West Coast offense? Why? Because it added an extra variable to the West Coast offense. So this impression some of you guys are under that a mobile QB or a quarterback that can run is not capiable of running a \"West Coast\" offense is not true.

Do you guys think that QB\'s that are capiable of running are too stupid to run a west coast offense?

I agree that it takes a QB that is capiable of making quick decisions, but it also requires receivers to run precise routes and not be more than 2ft. from the spot the QB is supposed to throw the ball. This offense is very complex and is based off precise routes and timing. It takes time not only for the QB to become efficient but the whole offense. You need the same players in the system for a while so they are on the same page.

Whether Brooks can or cannot be the man for the \"West Coast\" offense remains to be seen. But I like what Brooks brings to the table and good coaches know that you adjust your game plan to fit your strengths.



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Old 09-19-2003, 08:50 AM   #6
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

You\'re absolutely right Billy, there is no reason why a mobile QB cannot succeed in the West Coast Offense. And while I think that term has degraded into a wider array of offensive schemes, the mobile QB does add that extra dimenson to force the defense to attend to.

The problem is, as you say the precise routes and timings that the system requires. Either our recievers do not run crisp routes, or our QB does not have exceptional timing or read skills. I will say that when things go right, this unit looks as good as any offense in the history of football. I liked the article you posted by Phil Simms that went into detail on how confidence is such a major factor in how a QB, or any position for that matter, plays the game. If you have lost some confidence, you read defenses differently, timing is off, you second guess throws, etc.

We are a powerful offensive force, but I think everyone will agree we are also an erratic and inconsistent unit. Is it confidence that causes this? What does anyone think is the reason that we are so inconsistent? I also like this last statement:
But I like what Brooks brings to the table and good coaches know that you adjust your game plan to fit your strengths.
I also like what skills Brooks brings to the table, making me wonder why a QB with his mobility is asked to stay in the pocket so much. Does he not want to be a scramblling QB or does the coordinator want to not utilize this strength in his game?
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Old 09-19-2003, 09:05 AM   #7
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/wcoff09.shtml


\"It\'s just a way of making things easier for your quarterback, so you have to design it for whoever that happens to be,\" Shanahan said.

Whether it\'s Elway, Young, Favre or Jon Kitna.

\"You have to have the quarterback,\" Holmgren said. \"You\'ve got to have that guy so he\'s making good decisions most of the time, and he\'s pretty accurate. If you don\'t have that, then you might as well run the ball.\"

LummOx -- I have to believe that McCarthy is coaching Brooks to stay in the pocket. I think if they demanded that Brooks rolled out more and ran more that he would have to do it. That\'s just my opinion BTW.

The West Coast Offense is just a name these days. Not too many teams really run a TRUE west coast offense. The 49er\'s had Montana and then when Steve Young replaced him they adjusted their offense to suit Young\'s mobility.

As far as why the Saints offense has been inconsistant -- I believe part of the problem is Brooks, but I blame more of it on the coaching. I also blame part of it on the players not being together long enough. Last year was Deuce and Stallworth\'s first year as starters. Even some of the great QB\'s of the West Coast offense took 3 or 4 years to master it. IMO- the QB\'s that have success quicker are those that play in more of a true west coast offense that diink and dunk the ball 5 yards down the field. We don\'t run that type of offense. We run a variation of it but it\'s different. Green Bay runs pretty much the same offense as us. The Jets run more of a true west coast offense.

I posted part of an article to show that coaches adjust their offense to the QB, even if it is a west coast offense. I know you know this and I did not post it for you.
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Old 09-19-2003, 09:38 AM   #8
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The Latest ask Mike on Aaron Brooks

I think we should play Deuce at QB.
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