Name: Jamie P.
From: New Orleans, LA.

Mike, I appreciate the site and your comments.
All I really want to know is, why do most Saints fans see that Brooks doesn't have it mentally to play at a high level week in and week out , but Haslett and Co. don't? It's absolutely ridiculous to see what he is doing out there including: Late decisions, backpedaling and throwing off his back foot, throwing at either the ground or the stands, very slow scrambling, bad anticipation, lazy demeanor, etc..

Please tell me why?


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From: Mike Detillier
To: Andrew
Date: 9/18/03

Jamie, I appreciate the nice words, but I can't agree with you on your assessment on Aaron Brooks. Yes, he has made some poor decisions with the ball, but I can't understand how the not having the smarts to play the quarterback spot comes from. If anything, I question the offensive scheme the Saints have Brooks running at this time. He seemed so comfortable in the 2nd half against Houston when they spread the field out a bit and let him pick and choose from more of a variety of receivers than opening the game with multiple tight ends in the lineup.

Aaron has to learn to give up on a play quicker. It's a bad habit with young QB's that they really believe they can make big plays each and every snap and that just doesn't happen, so throw the ball away and live another day. Don't throw up a bad pass that goes for a turnover.

He did a good job protecting the ball against Houston. What killed them the week before was dropped passes, fumbles, numerous offside and procedure penalties and just poor concentration. Those factors more than anything led to drive-killing situations.
Every game I watch I see QB's with bad footwork and throwing off their back foot, including guys like Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Rich Gannon and Donovan McNabb.

Jamie, I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but in my mind I really feel as though Mike McCarthy tries to do too much scheme wise and tries too many things, instead of really concentrating on certain plays and formations that seem to work for this team, like running more three wide receiver sets. This team relies too much on running Deuce M. on first and 2ns downs and then setting up long third down situations. The Saints need to throw more on first down and keep defenses from crowding the line of scrimmage to contain Deuce. I can not blame the teams lack of success on offense just on Brooks, there is more to it than just one man, believe me.

This is an assessment of Aaron Brooks from a veteran AFC scout who was at the Saints/Texans game:

" Overall I think Aaron Brooks has developed into a fine NFL quarterback. I really think he did a good job with a gameplan I really didn't understand in the 1st half. Brooks could only go to Joe Horn or Deuce because the multiple tight ends were not getting separation from defenders. He was smart not to force the issue and then McCarthy opened things up in the second half. The gameplan given to Brooks didn't him much of a chance to succeed in the opening minutes.

This club has talent, but at times they seem to be confused on how to use all the weapons at hand. The Saints want to establish the run first and I don't think it's a bad idea because Deuce is a great player, but they need to get those defenders off the line and throw the ball deeper down-field. They don't have a real physical line, with the exception of LeCharles Bentley, so they can't just bang away at people each and every play.

People don't understand that they really want to bang away at people, but they don't have the big, physical guys up-front to play this style. Their line is built to pass block and they should understand this more from a coaching point of view. The system does not always play to the strength of their club.. Really it doesn't.

With Stallworth, Horn and Pathon in the lineup, they need to stretch things out at times, even if it does not lead to a completion, but it will get that safety off the line later on. It's eventually going to open things up for McAllister. To be honest I think Mike McCarthy calls too much of a deliberate game. He's very conservative and it seems as though he tries too hard to build up to take advantage of something he feels he can get later on in a game, when he should try and be more aggressive and go after a teams' weakness early on. The coaches talk about their speed a lot, but they don't use those big-play skills enough unless it's in a panic situation.

Brooks is a streaky thrower, but he is a good player. I would roll him out more and let him use his feet to make more plays for me. I can tell the Saints want him and they teach him to stay in the pocket, but I really don't think it fits his style. While he's not one of the top 6 to 8 QB's in this league, he is in that 9 to 12 range as for as QB's in this league are concerned."

Just a couple of opinions..
Take Care..