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."

I posted this last week ---

I only posted part of it but provided a link to the rest. But, yeah tweeky the guy nailed it on the head. This board offers plenty of insight to what the REAL problem is with the Saints. The problem is some of us (ME) get caught up into trying to quieten the one\'s who want to pin everything on Brooks. Maybe one day I\'ll learn to let them say what they want and not reply................ :casstet: