daviddrake2

I know it's only pre-season and there are much bigger concerns right now -- a pittiful pass rush, way too many istances of blown coverages, lack of a proven back-up RB, a highly paid QB that still seems to be way too nonchalant when he screws up passes, too many stupid penalties and sputtering drives, just to mention a few -- but I hope we are not going see a repeat of last season's penchant to go for (and usually fail to convert) two-point conversions.

I'm all for running up the score every chance we get, but the SAINTS have just not shown that they can come anywhere close to converting anywhere close to half of those 2-pt. tries. They all to often seem to come back to bite us in the ass later when we REALLY need the points.

If Haz wants to play the gambler, I beleive I would much rather see plays that have the potential for a bigger payoff. I say try to catch our opponents off guard from time to time with a fake field goal, fake punt or an onsides kick early in the game. At least they won't be expecting it and we might be a little more successful than we have been with the 2-pointer.

Anyway,

Go SAINTS!!!!

David in Houston

BillyCarpenter1

David- I\'ve been on every Saints board and read every article about last nights game and you are the only one who sees this?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but what the hell are you talking about?

daviddrake2

BillyC,

I did not have the pleasure (or displeasure for some, I\'m sure) of watching last night\'s game. I had to fight with spotty coverage from NFL.com\'s play-by-play, a little bit of coverage from WWL radio (when I could get the signal) and some of WJBO\'s (Baton Rouge radio) live Internet stream, which was also intermittant. Therefore, I could not see Brooks\' reactions to the passes he missed last night (not as many as in past games, I\'ll admit). He may have actually surprised me and been genuinely upset with himself after screw ups and may not even have smiled. But I can\'t say for sure, cause like I said, I did\'t see it.

If Brooks is showing more maturity and seriousness with each passing game, I am as happy or happier than anyone on this board. That has been one of my biggest problem with this QB that by all accounts has what it takes to be one of the best, if not the best passer N. O. has ever seen. But he has to take the game more seriously!

He\'s already got the big contract and he does\'nt have to worry about Haz pulling him (his failure to do so late last season when Brooks\' shoulder was bothering him and his performance was slumping badly proves that) even if he does make more than his share of mistakes or does\'nt quite give 100%. And I am NOT saying that is what happened last night. But I AM saying that I beleive that is what DID happen all too often last season!

The QB spot is a leadership role, whether or not Brooks or any other QB wants it to. They are paid the big bucks to lead the offense (hence the term \'field general\'), fire up their teammates and score points. I\'ll happily admit that Brooks helped the SAINTS score a hell of a lot of points last year, but he also looked like he had lost his personal drive too many times; he didn\'t seem to care when he threw interceptions or missed wide open receivers -- even smiling or smirking at times ight after screwing up); he often seemed too worried about getting hit to run when we needed him to; and used poor judgement when pressured too many times, leading to unnecessary sacks and for too many lost yards and drives being killed.

So I really do hope that AB has his ****e together this year, takes his leadership role and the game more seriously and becomes the team leader we need him to be. I think I have the right to expect that from him.

His performance, from what I can glean so far, was better last night that earlier. But, I still believe he had a couple of passes that were less that spectacular and did not scramble as good as he could. So, there is at least SOME room for improvement, is there not??? Or is Brooks already (in your mind) the quintessential QB that every other club would kill to have and a sure ringer for the Probowl this year??? If so, I must just be missing something.

These are just my thoughts and no one hopes I\'m wrong on at least some of them than me. Anything to help the SAINTS be a better team. But I gotta tell it like I see it.

Go SAINTS!!!!!

David in Houston

Go SAINTS!!!!!

David in Houston

BillyCarpenter1

David- By your comment I thought you saw him doing something last night that showed he didn\'t care. I see that is not the case. I thought you saw something I didn\'t and I was looking for the way he reacted.

I think you\'re on the mark with most of your post except for the part that Brooks doesn\'t have anything to worry about. Of course when a team invests a tremendous amout of money in a QB they are going to stick with them a little longer. But, he\'s not bullet proof- Tim Couch had a fat contract and now he\'s sitting on the bench, so it happens more than you think. Just think back to Ryan Leaf.

Your arguement about Haslett not pulling Brooks last year doesn\'t mean he\'s going to stick with him no matter what. All that proves is he thought Brooks could get the job done. I have no facts that support my beleif that Haslett would pull Brooks, just as you have no facts that he wouldn\'t. But, I have a hard time beleiveing that if Brooks played very poorly that Haslett wouldn\'t pull him.

And no, I don\'t think Brooks is without flaw. I do think fans don\'t give him enought credit and unfairly bash him(yourself included) when everything is taken into consideration.

I understand your concerns with Brooks and some of them are legit, but, I think you\'re making too much about him acting like he doesn\'t care. That\'s the way you preceive it. That\'s not the way it is according to his coaches and team mates. Do you think they are lying for him?