Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers
 

I don’t buy it. Brees would still be a top 10 QB if in the league. His Y/A the last 2 seasons did not go drastically down as he had lower numbers earlier in his career. He had crap production from his WRs the last two years outside of Thomas; and Cook was an untrustworthy TO machine who cost them a playoff loss with a fumble and a tipped pass that turned into a Int. His dump-offs to Kamara were the result of him being the better receiving option over under-producing and injured receivers. If “31 other NFL teams knew that all they had to do was squat inside 20 yards“ the team would not have been 17-6 under him the last two years, would not have won their opening round playoff games the last two years and won the division (beating Tampa twice last year) multiple times consecutively. They would not have been a top 5 scoring team last year. Maybe he couldn’t make those throws because there was no window to throw into due to poor WR separation.

Tampa had a damn good D down the stretch run. They forced 2 playoff Ints from Mahomes and 1 from Rodgers (he only threw 5 ALL SEASON). Were those INTs the result of Mahomes and Rodgers weak arms too? Of course not. Brees may have lost some velocity, but no way was he the noodle armed washed-up player you are portraying.

Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers
 

Mr. Brees’ own words when going through his progressions were:

“...Because it's like, 'Well I know I can't make that throw, I can't make that throw, I can't make that throw. So, what's now in my toolbox?'...”

It’s not my portrayal, it’s his own words. He just didn’t have the arm/health/body to make throws. Once again, not my words, not my “portrayal”, it’s the future HOF QB’s own words. To be clear, he directly stated the above bolder quote. Turnover Machine in Jared Cook? Hardly. Cook has nine fumbles over 12 years in the league. Only one fumble in two years with the Saints.

https://www.pro-football-reference.c.../gamelog/post/

Only one. That fumble was costly, but Brees’ three interceptions were all bad passes, passes he very well could have made as a younger man imho. As far as Cook “tipping” a pass. It was actually tipped by LDavid underneath when Brees threw into triple coverage.


I realize there is a lot of animosity towards Cook bc he and Brees had an on the field issue earlier in the season. I’ll hold no grudge against a player, on or off the team, emotional attachment to an entertainer-athlete/politician etc..., just isn’t my cup of tea..., but to each their own. Those were bad passes, all three of them, with Brees being mostly protected well.

There is no such thing as a perfectly clean pocket 100% of the time, but of the three int’s, only one was while under pressure. (Video below :45 mark)


As far as TB’s defense playing lights out? Yes, absolutely, agreed. The Saints defense played well also, Brady didn’t light the Coliseum up. TB just took advantage, in a huge way, off the Saints mistakes. Nothing complicated there.

Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers
 

Agreed, but completion percentage has either slightly increased or actually gone up bc of Drew choosing the gimme of a dump off instead of the incomplete or interception when pushing the ball downfield.

I’ll say it again, for the ten millionth time, it amazes me as to the level of success the Saints have had when starting a QB who, after the season stated he was healthy only one game, and couldn’t make the throws needed.

And THAT is why I am so optimistic wrt the future of the team sans DB#9. It’s a good team, a very good team.

Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers
 

Brees toolbox at the time included recovery from broken ribs. Doesn’t change that he would still be a top 10 QB and clearly starting over Winston or Hill and throwing for 20+ TDs and about 4000 yards if he was on the team. I guess machine was the wrong word to use about Cook but he disappeared from big games regularly. There’s obviously a reason he’s bounced around so much in the league.

My points are these. Brees was better last year than many other Super Bowl winning QBs have been, especially before the broken ribs. Teams certainly weren’t beating the Saints by squatting down on them...their blow out win against Tampa and other games from last year prove that. When healthy players were on the field they were more than effective. Brees was not solely (IMO even primarily) to blame for the playoff loss. Those are just my opinions of course. Brees has always been the type of player who takes responsibility, self criticizes, and avoids throwing fellow players under the bus. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he makes these statements about himself in an interview. It doesn’t mean he could not step in and still play.

Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers
 

I believe that he was playing good football before he broke his ribs and would have had another league leading season if not for that. After the rib injury he just wasn't the same player that he was before he got injured. Not to mention he had a soft tissue injury that limited him as well. He's a warrior but even warriors reach the end of the line.

Re: Zach Strief: Erik McCoy is on his way to becoming one of NFL’s top centers
 

What this all comes down to is that the offensive line was not to blame for our woes the past couple of seasons. If you could call 13-4 and 13-5 having woes, of course. Injuries to our QB that rendered him somewhat average was a major contributing factor, however. I doubt there's many, if any, teams in the league that would not take our offensive line room in trade in a minute. That wouldn't be the case if two of our five starting positions were truly "very weak" as described.