The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

But here’s the thing: According to Sports Info Solutions, Rodgers (40 percent), Brady (46 percent) and Rivers (25 percent) aren’t that much better than the rest. Only Brees, at 55.5 percent, is a cut ahead. His mark is the best in the league among quarterbacks who have attempted 15 or more fades since the start of last season.

So, what’s Brees’ secret? One reason for his success might be that Michael Thomas is on his team. The Saints wide receiver has somehow turned one of the hardest plays into something that is borderline automatic, like a 5-yard out route for most other players.

Dating back to the start of last season, Thomas has caught 10 of the 14 fades thrown to him, making him the most productive player on the route in the NFL. Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown and Marvin Jones rank second with six each, according to Sports Info Solutions. No one else has done anything worth mentioning.

The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays | Saints | theadvocate.com

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

@nick_underhill & @JoelAErickson have outproduced, outwritten, outcovered and outperformed the entire TP/ESPN bloat of yes men...

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

Brees has always been a master at placing the ball, and that trick of "throwing the ball where the other guy can't get it" and hitting the perfect spot. I was actually kinda enjoying watching Hundley on Sunday, there were several passing plays for the Packers (not all fades, but tight passes) where the receiver dropped it or it was batted down. And I turned to my wife a bunch of times and said, "See, Rodgers would have made that throw right there." The placement of the ball to the receiver's hands in traffic can sometimes be a matter of inches and micro-seconds. So it's no surprise to me that Drew is exceptional at it. It was really an interesting day. to watch the Packers offense in action without Rodgers. Parts of it looked the same, just not as good, but other parts you could tell where they simplified or dumbed it down. A lot of third downs where I was like, "oh Rodgers would have had that, no question."

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

Except I was saying how glad I was not to be looking at that ****** grinning as he did put it in there. This was a win I'm very happy for us to have regardless as to how it came about.

Back to Thomas and the fade; if he stays healthy and dedicated, I could see him adding a year or two onto Drew's longevity all by himself.

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

To recap :

Saints young defense will continue to grow & build confidence.
Get solid performances (Cam, Lattimore, Okafor etc) each week.
Keep doing what we do on offense.

There is a very real possibility to win this division & do damage in the playoffs.

Continue to grind.

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

Very real possibility of the NFCC game being played in the Superdome.

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

We're what, a game back of the Iggles after we beat the Bears? Whoda thunk that?!

Re: The fade: Why the Saints are better than most on one of the NFL's lowest-percentage plays
 

We are what our record says we are! :bng: