Saint_LB

Hey, bro, how ya been?

Anyway, I read a thread the other day and almost couldn't believe my eyes. JK was actually bashing AB. You must have really been frustrated about the loss.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to give my take on AB. I think he is, as we all know, very talented in certain areas, such as arm strength and accuracy. I feel certain that if he were playing behind an offensive line that never allowed him to be pressured that he would do well. The only problem is that I don't know if a line like that exists. It would not surprise me if he went to another team and had much more success. I, for one, would be curious to find out. I would think that any fan of AB would hope for that, also. It is apparent that they are never going to put enough quality people around him to provide him with the protection he needs, and, unfortunately, AB's game goes down the toilet when people are in his face. Would another QB have more success by reading these defenses and blitzes and checking off to another play? Would AB have more success if he played in a system that protected him better and whose coaches taught him how to counter-attack certain defensive schemes? We may never know, but, at this point, I would think that any fan of AB would be ready for him to get out of this pressure cooker and into a better situation where he could shine, and all the AB supporters could say, "I told ya so!!"

xan

I don't think the untapped potential of an AB behind the perfect line that makes up for the unpressured, untouched fumbles that happen at supremely critical moments of over 70% of the games he's started (or the inability to lead a receiver in a route.) I want this guy to succeed because he's a Saint. I want him to win. I want him to go to the Pro Bowl. It just AINT gonna happen.

JKool

Heya LB.

I think it was safe to say that even AB supporters (a group I fall in, now and again) never thought he was a great QB - safer to say, just not as bad a QB as his detractors made out.

I like your assessment of the "beat down" AB. However, I have to agree with Xan (and everyone who said this before, even if I argued against them, like Whodi) that there are too many unforced errors. Sure, AB goes to carp later in games when he is really being asked to make all the plays, but it has gotten to the point where it is more likely he'll throw a pick of fumble than lead the team to a TD (which, by the way is statistically different from previous years).

I can't put my finger on what is wrong with him, but I don't think it is only the line. He just makes bad plays on a somewhat regular basis. Sure, he has all the tools to make things happen; he just doesn't more often than he does any more. Thus, my complaint wasn't that he was a shiznit QB, just that, statistically speaking, a decent rookie would be just as good - and a rookie's mistakes would be more watchable. My plug for A-Mac was based on this statistical reasoning.

I suppose, I don't have much interest in "I told ya so's", but it would be interesting, as you point out, to see what AB could do on another team - this would be a good way to test which analysis of his play was most accurate.

As a side note, I'm not sure it is coaching that is AB's problem anymore. Here is a quick argument: coaching finally taught AB to throw a screen pass (we saw it work effectively in our first couple games), this was an improvement in his game; play calling has improved (more play action and AB being turned loose to run), working to AB's strengths; yet, AB still fails. Thus, coaching of AB and the team improved some, but AB is doing worse than ever.

Good to hear from you too, LB. Also, good work Xan on picking out that problem. Further, it is nice to get back to talking Saints football!

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

Halo

Saints_LB,

I agree that in another time and place Brooks could be a very good QB. I believe his only weakness is he hasn't been coached properly. They never allowed Jeff Blake to mentor him into the position, and that season when we won our first playoff game, it was Blake that did most of the work on the way in. Brooks has so much talent and glimmers of hope, but not only is he on the run this year, but also there's some mental element involved with him that holds him back.

But I agree completely with your statement "It would not surprise me if he went to another team and had much more success." But I also disagree with this, "I would think that any fan of AB would hope for that, also," because you know the guy would come down here and spank us when we played against him!!! It's like a franchise trademark we have.

Nice post, Thanks

Saint_LB

Oh, there is no doubt about that. To tell you the truth, Halo, I wouldn't mind seeing it happen if it happened to the San Antonio Saints.

Halo

No kidding Saint_LB, don't you think that if they became the San Antonio Saints by some rediculous reason (doesn't look to me or many that it will happen) that they will be the most hated team around her or in the country for that matter. I wouldn't even feel as bad if they were the L.A. Saints or something.

Fortunately I think we will have them and have some time to prove ourselves! But you know Brooks would come back and roll us up and smoke us. I remember the Bobby Hebert Atlanta Falcons game when he played and Iron Head Heyward busted us too.

Serves us right with Bobby, the organization treated him like crap and he sewed them for it. Serves them right, and believe me Benson was owner at that time too.