AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

comments made after a very frustrating day of watching yellow flags and sandlot ball.

Is it me or does AB just not get into a game until it is on the line or something finally gets his attention? I love the kid (I'm over 50), but it seems that someone has to wack him aside the head to get him involved. I also thought McCarthy called a poor game, as did Rick Venturi, another item later. Don't we use timed routes in our version of the "West Coast Offense"? Moving AB back in the pocket and waiting for someone to uncover to use his gun of an arm doesn't work all the time, especiallyagainst a blitz. Obviously our line wasn't working too good on Sunday and maybe Reilly's DWI reflected how he felt about his performance, but we need first down passes to set up the run occasionally. The LBs and Safeties were sitting on Duce and the run on first down.

I taped but haven't had the stomach to watch it yet. I wish Venturi would stop using the three down rush. It seems every time we did, going back several games, we got burned. How can he expect three guys to contain Vick when four and five have trouble? Vick is dangerous outside the containment and that is what a three rush invites him to do. It was infuriating to watch six block three until Vick waits for an area of the field to open, to which he scambles and waits for a receiver to open.

We got outcoached by Atlanta probably twice this year, let's hope it doesn't happen a third time.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Three offensive linemen playing their position for the first time. This leads me to believe that there was no way for them to be in sync. Yes i agree that the game maybe could have been called better, but it\'s hard to know what new guys will do their first time to play together. Look for a better game this Sunday against the Browns.
GO SAINTS! :)

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Brooks has talent , this is a given and most any Saints fan will say that . What Brooks lacks is Leadership , the ability to make all the throws on the field and the ability to make all the check offs that this offense requires .

He excels when he is coming from behind and the defense is playing back and trying to avoid the big play . Brooks is simply not a west coast offense quarterback . When Walsh designed the west coast offense years ago , it was for an accurate quarterback with an average arm . Brooks has no touch on his passes and is questionably accurate .

Brooks can thread a needle on a hook route , but cannot even get it in the same zip code on a fly pattern . 2 receivers run a 4.2 or better 40 and Brooks cannot get the ball to them on a fly pattern . This pass completion alone could be a game breaker and Mc Carthy cannot call it because Brooks cannot make the completion . The Saints are wasting the wide receiver talent they have , by just running hook and slant routes .

By week 10 , enough defensive coordinators around the league know that Brooks has trouble hitting certain patterns and the defenses start cheating up . The Falcons had this knowledge before hand , from cousin Vick .

Benching Brooks at this point might show him there is more to the position then throwing fast balls , collecting big checks and smiling when you are losing badly . Benching Brooks would also confuse opposing defensive coordinators and give the Saints an advantage in that area . Duece would be the key to this success .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

I think AB is one of the questions. Here\'s why, He is the best QB we have ever had, why? Well for one his name isn\'t Billy Joe, Ha Ha HA. No seriously. His capabilities compared to another saint QB is top of the line. But having served in the armed forces I can tell you that Heart, intensity, and pride were the dally regiment. AB has spurts of these qualities showing threw, He leads on day and smiles on the other. He has heart, but sometimes takes a back burner for ego. And I hate to say it but I have never seen this mans intensity. I know I\'m not in the locker room to see all there is to the man, but even in interviews he shows that he has alot to learn about being the leader. I\'m not down on him, And I would never want us to trade him, but I would like to point out that there is room to grow.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

I agree. Brooks has a lot to learn. Maybe he is just the type to mask his emotions with smiles and jokes. He had better start playing with playoff intensity now.

Saintz08 do you really thing Brooks should be benced?

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Certain players only respond to the extreme .

Brooks has been the man since Blake went down and has not really had any set backs , Haslett handed him the keys and said your the driver . Taking Brooks out of the lime light , may send a signal to Brooks and get him hungry to play and lead .Kordell has the same problem and Cowher has done it , and Kordell has responded in the past . Jake has leadership qualities , the Dallas victory showed them , he was in and out of the huddle quickly , talked to receiver when on the sidelines and took it personally when a mistake was made . He may not have the talent of Brooks , but he is a capable quarterback . Montana was no great athlete , but he could move the team and chains .

Jakes time is coming , and I feel he may end up in Carolina as the starter next year .if Brooks does not start pushing this team and leading them then the Saints will be another talented team that for some reason never made it . The some reason, is usually leadership.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

isnt jake under contract for next year?

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

I must say that was the one thing about Mueller that really got under my skin , the one year non veteran contracts . Jake may be a veteran at this point but I think he was one of those 1 year deals . I think 3 years if he is questionable , 5 years if he is good , and 8 if he is great . 1 year is a fill in player , Jake is not a fill in player , if he goes elsewhere that leaves the Saints with J.T. as the back up and a rookie to be drafted . I think he pulled that number on one of the current linemen too .

The team always carries the right to cut someone , keep the option open is my thought . Willie Jackson was a 1 year deal and what a brain fart that was , he could have been traded if things did not work out .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

yea, he signed i think it was jacox to a 1 year deal. but i think they want jake for the long haul, he is a home state guy (ULL) and he probably could be starting for several teams in the league and his cap #s are minimal

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Jakes last contract was 1 year for $ 563,000 .

Would love to see him ink a 5 year deal . What always bothers me was the statement that Haslett made when they signed Blake on the first day of free agency .

\" Blake is a good quarterback , he threw for a lot of yards against Pittsburgh when I was coaching there \".

Hmmmm, I see he still has those holes in his defensive scheme . Not really sure about Hasletts judgement on quarterbacks and corners .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

My thoughts were the reverse for some reason , with the recent headaches of other free agents and the abundance of draft picks next year , I would assume Haslett would draft defense and add some cost effective free agents . Corner would be the only exception to the rule I think .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Must we go through this,after every loss?

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Not after every loss , just when the Saints get swept or spanked like they were against the Falcons .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

AB has some stuff he needs to work on. Should he be benched, definetly not. He is 7-3 as a starter this season, thrown 21 TD\'s , 2373 yrds, and is the 5th highest rated passer in the NFC. Those are numbers that dont sit on the bench. I know hes thrown 10 ints and he throws off of his back foot too much. I know he makes bad decisions and he cant make certain throws. The offensive coordinator knows this too. Set your offense up around what he does. You take Brooks out of the offense at this stage of the season and you lose everything you have done thus far. I am not a big AB fan as I have stated before, but he is winning and to me winning is everything.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

The backup is always \"the best QB\" on the team when the starter isn\'t hitting on all cylinders. Remember Forcade? This team would be undefeated if it weren\'t for the defense giving up 25 pts a game...that\'s our weakness. No one would be questioning AB if our D was stepping up to the plate.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Have you been peeking in on the Lions and Steelers chat boards Billy ??

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

i like AB, i always have, i think without him, we wouldnt be in the position we are today, but the thing i do not like about him, is that he isnt using our TE. we need to get them the ball more, we have to excellant TE in sloan and boo. gettin the ball to these 2 guys will help take the safetys off our recievers and open up some holes.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Not throwing 3 int\'s 2 in the red zone and a fumble in the red zone would help too.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Corners around the league are starting to cut off Brooks hook routes. The interceptions Brooks is giving up are due to the fact he cannot throw a pass other than a bullet . All a corner has to do is time the turn and step up .

That J.J. type smile after the picks are killing me , I keep waiting for the words Dynomite to come out of Brooks mouth .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

i can not tell a lie, brooks played like sheet today

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Perhaps the only thing worse than Brooks performance today , was the simple fact that Haslett watched without emotion , even the commentators commented on the mild manor in which Haslett had on the sideline as mistake after mistake came to pass . You almost wonder if Haslett himself has become immune to it or if he was simply saying under his breathe \" Here we go again \" . You almost have to wonder how much longer he will be willing to stand by and watch , rather than make changes .

Does it seem rather odd to some that the game Duece is missing and the focus is on the passing game , is Brooks worst game this season .

[Edited on 25/11/2002 by saintz08]

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

how many yard rushing did we have today? i know it wasnt that many

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

Pak

21 attempts for 74 yards .

Fenderson came out with a 5 yard per carry average .

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

I have to agree with all the Jake talk above. Delhomme is a perfect fit for the West coast offense - especially with our receivers. The entire idea behind the west coast offense is to get the ball in short routes to your players that are truly talented (receivers and backs).

Brooks believes that he is the super star on the team. He also make terrible decisions all the time and does not take care of the ball. Delhomme is not the athlete, but he is much smarter than Brooks.

And again, to echo what was said above, Delhomme will see this as his chance to prove something. He\'d go out and play his heart out. Brooks believes that he was given what he deserves - worse, he is probably still pissy about having to hold out to get the organization to give him the team (as he sees it).

Regardless of what happens now, this team needs three things to be unbeatable next year.

1. A smart quarterback who makes good decisions, takes care of the ball, and realizes his only job is to get the ball out of his hands and into the hands of the real stars.

2. Linebackers, because the ones we have now are not good.

3. A defensive coordinator. This year\'s defense is not all that different from last year\'s in terms of personnel. You can\'t tell that from watching them b/c the defense is so bad this year, but realistically, the D line got bigger and the secondary is much more talented. How much do the Saints miss Ron Zook right now?

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

The Saints took 3 points off the board just so Brooks could throw an interception. Brooks looked staraight at the defender , ran toward him, then threw the ball directly to him. This is one of the top rated QBs in the NFL? To top it all off he grins at his goof ups. Love him all you want I\'m sick of his silly crap.

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

For some rather amusing footage of Brooks talking about fans Booing , go to the Video clip post and enjoy .

The fans are lucky , we have been giving them a really good show .

Do you feel lucky ??? :o

AB, or not AB, is that the question?
 

This pretty much signs , seal and delivers this debate on his abilities to read defenses and make the quick reads , the staple of the west coast offense . The one were supposed to be running .

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index.../browns25.html

The word is out ...........