QBREES9

New Orleans Saints First and 10: An homage to Drew Brees
By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune
September 25, 2009, 11:06AM
First (take)
As we went enter the final week of the ninth month of the year, a tribute to the ninth wonder of the world, Drew Christopher Brees, No. 9 in your program, No. 1 in your heart.
Nine things you should know about No. 9:
Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been outstanding so far this season.
•He has only thrown 12 “bad” passes in two games, according to statistical analysis by Stats, Inc. The independent statistical research firm charts every NFL pass and categorizes incompletions by six types: pass dropped; poor throw; pass defensed; pass hit at line; intercepted; or “other.” In 68 attempts, Brees has thrown 12 “negative” passes: six poor throws, four passes defensed and two interceptions. That percentage of 17.6 of “negative passes” is the second lowest in the league. Brett Favre has only two poor throws, one pass defensed and zero interceptions in 48 attempts. But his 6.25 negative pass percentage is skewed because Favre is not throwing the ball downfield. His average yards per attempt is a career-low 5.5, compared to 9.8 for Brees, which ranks second in the league. Brees, for example, has six pass plays of 25 yards or more. Favre has zero. In short, Brees is throwing the ball down the field, making big plays and still being more accurate than any other quarterback in the league.
•He's particularly lethal from the shotgun formation, where his passer efficiency rating of 155.6, tops in the league. Perhaps channeling his days from the spread offense at Purdue, Brees has completed 26 of 33 passes for 391 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s been sacked once from the shotgun.
•He’s democratic. His 51 completions have been spread to 10 receivers. Five different receivers have caught touchdowns.
•He’s on fire. Brees has thrown for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games: 351 vs. Detroit and 386 vs. Carolina in 2008; 358 vs. Detroit (Week 1); and 311 last week vs. Philadelphia.
•He’s consistent. Brees has thrown for 200 or more yards in a game 22 consecutive times. The last time Brees did not top the threshold was Dec. 2, 2007, when he threw for 179 in a 27-23 loss to Tampa Bay (the infamous Superdome Special game).

•He’s on a record-setting pace. His nine touchdown passes in the first two games is tied for the most in NFL history for the first two weeks. Charley Johnson of the St. Louis Cardinals also did in 1965. Brees needs two TD passes Sunday to set the NFL record for touchdown passes in the first three weeks. Several players have 10, the last being Tom Brady in 2007.

•He’s the best thing that ever happened to the Saints. Since joining New Orleans in 2006, he has 14,579 passing yards, the most by quarterback in his first 50 games with a new team. Kurt Warner had 13,864 yards passing in his first 50 games with the St. Louis Rams.
•In that 50-game span, Brees leads the NFL with 97 touchdown passes and 25 300-yard passing games. Peyton Manning of Indianapolis is second with 13,043 yards and 92 touchdowns. Tony Romo has the second most 300-yard passing games with 17.
•He’s a history buff and sports fan. He chose No. 9 because of his favorite player, former Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams. His parents named him after former Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson.
... And 10 (more observations)
1. Casual locker-room observation of the week: The players keep a placard with the “Saints Core Beliefs” affixed to their lockers. It reads in part, “We only select character individuals who are tough, physically, mentally and morally. We do not bring in dumb football players, because dumb football players do dumb things. Each player has a burning desire to excel and improve every day.”
2. Tweets of the week:
“Ready for the task at hand at work tomm. ... The Bills have a great team. ... it’s going to be a street fight.. every one tune in!!!” – Jeremy Shockey, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24.

“Who Dat! Our squad is something serious, we're in for one exciting year! Great win today, back to work tmro.” – Pierre Thomas, 9:04 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20
3. Quote of the week: “The coaches told me to die a slower death. I was like, ‘I’m getting blasted! Get me out of there.'” – Defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove on his struggles in protection along the front line on place kicks. The Detroit Lions bull-rushed Hargrove to block a field goal in Week 1. Hargrove has subsequently been replaced as a blocker by offensive lineman Jamar Nesbit.
4. Didya notice of the week: The Saints did not play any exotic defensive fronts against the Eagles. No 3-4. No 46. Straight 4-3, with an elephant package sprinkled in a down or two for good measure. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams kept things pretty basic. I expect that to change this week in Buffalo.
5. Fact of the week: With a win Sunday, the Saints will record their sixth 3-0 start in club history and first since 2006. The Saints also started 3-0 in 2002, 1998, 1993 and 1991. The only advanced to the playoffs in the 2006 and 1991 seasons.
6. Encouraging stat of the week: The Saints are second in the NFL with seven takeaways. Philadelphia -- thanks to Jake Delhomme -- leads with eight. Their six interceptions are tied for the league lead. The Saints didn’t record their sixth interception until Week 8 of 2008.
7. Disturbing stat of the week: Reggie Bush’s yards-per-carry average continues to hover around his career mark of 3.7. In two games, Bush has carried 17 times for 47 yards, a 2.8-yards-a-carry average. Mike Bell, meanwhile, has averaged a healthy 5.1 yards a carry on 45 attempts. Bush said he planned to hit the holes more decisively and dedicated himself to running more north and south this year but it hasn’t translated to the field so far.
8. Something I liked from Week 2: The play of Malcolm Jenkins. The rookie defensive back made a pair of impact plays on special teams. He forced a fumble from Ellis Hobbs on the second half kickoff, which led to a quick momentum-changing touchdown for the Saints. And he delivered a punishing open-field tackle on DeSean Jackson in punt coverage. The plays opened the eyes of the Saints, who plan to get Jenkins on the field more in the regular defensive rotation.
9. Something I didn't like from Week 2: The play of Charles Grant. The veteran defensive end is obviously hampered by the hamstring injury he suffered in preseason. In two games, he’s been largely ineffective, recording two tackles. The Saints are replacing him in most passing situations with Bobby McCray. Credit Grant for playing hurt and soldiering on, but he's extremely limited out there right now.
10. Fearless prediction for Week 3: After a quiet day in Philadelphia, Jeremy Shockey will enjoy a big afternoon against Buffalo. The Bills play primarily a Tampa 2 zone defense, which leaves the middle open for seam routes to the tight end. That’s how Tom Brady beat the Bills on Monday night, zipping two late touchdown passes to tight end Benjamin Watson. Last week Tampa Bay tight end Kellen Winslow led the Bucs’ receivers with seven catches for 90 yards.

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