Drew Brees is most of the problem
 

I hate to say our Superbowl MVP quarterback is struggling but it is clear to me.

Last year Brees was decisive. The ball was out of his hands when his back foot planted on his drop back. He didn't hesitate. This year he is taking longer to release the ball. A split second is enough in the NFL. Sometimes Drew is holding the ball far longer than that. He is looking for an open receiver instead of fitting into tight spaces or releasing the ball before the receiver makes the break.

Of course there are other problems. Drops, fumbles, poor special teams but Drew Brees isn't in championship form, for whatever reason.

If he gets his mojo back the Saints will be close to unbeatable with the defense playing the way it is.

If he plays this way for the entire year, then the Saints still will win games but a deep playoff run is unlikely even if all of the other problems are corrected. An indecisive quarterback in Payton's offense is the worst thing that can happen.

Can't really disagree with you about that, but it doesn't seem like anyone is getting open.

Reggie being out is the X-factor that is missing.

No, there is no one for him to throw to that is open. When Reggie is in the game, he takes 2-3 defenders out of the play just because they are watching him.

Lets see what happens after the baby is born and he get all of his weapons back, everybody looks a lil mis-communicated, the coaches seem to can't put anything together either..
So after all of the adversity is gone and Brees has a clear mind and can "RELAX" which is the Key to him being the perfect QB then i have a feeling we'll get our Brees back..

I don't think Saints receivers ever really got "open" last year either. I've watched every game from last year at least twice and all of this years as well.

The difference is Drew would pull the trigger and let the ball go even if the receiver wasn't open last year. And our receivers would make the play because the ball came out fast and was extremely accurate.

This year he doesn't do that. The ball is late and not particularly accurate. The defense has time to key off the receiver's break and react to the ball.

Drew can make up for receivers that cannot create separation with his decisiveness (last year) and accuracy. The receivers have to be able to catch a football that is on the way before they ever look back for it.

Last year that was happening. This year it isn't. It is the difference between a great passing attack and an average one.

there's less vertical passing and less running. Teams aren't scared by this offense. It's not Brees, it's the O-line

Brees is ranked 4th is passing yards and has a 95.7 QB rating. He is still performing at a very high level.

Now he has 5 INTs but from I can tell he is also getting much more immediate pressure. I don't think that the o-line is performing very well. I can only attribute that to what Sapper mentioned. The lack of Reggie, Reggie, Reggie.

But this may not even be a discussion had a few FGs been made.

I don't think that there is anything wrong with Brees.

I agree, Drew's passing rhythm is a little off. He needs to "throw them open", for example when he fits the ball into the seam to Colston it's indefensible.

Play action isn't freezing anybody because there is no real action to play off of. You can still ride down the road with a couple of spark plug wires disconnected, but you definitely won't have a smooth ride. That's where we are right now. Fuel injectors are clogged, brakes are grinding, trannie is stuck in 1st gear, rinding on 3 twenties and a doughnut. Injuries are just a piece; no passion plays a part; turnovers play a BIG part. Brees has been marching the team down the field at a pretty good clip, but everytime we fail to finish it kind of takes something out of you. Success has a way of breeding success. If we nail some things down this week, it may get us back on track to some solid wins. We really need about 4-5 solid performances in a row and this well oiled machine will look fantastic once again.

Two things...Dropped passes and Red Zone offense. Brees is getting us to the red zone, he just can't get us in the end zone.
How many time have we been in the red zone this year and not been able to score a touchdown...or a field goal?

Darstep nailed it on the head. Also the lack of a running game is what is really killing us, I think play action is useless with out a running game.

Drew Brees most of the problem.Go back and watch some game film you have lost your marbles sir.

Drew hasn't been as sharp as last, or previous years, but by no means is he the "problem". Much more so has been the fumbles, blocked field goals, lack of blocking, lack of catching, and injuries.....oh yeah, did I mention the fumbles?

Review last year's number of passes defensed versus this year on film.

It only takes a few games to see the difference.

DB's didn't suddenly get better. The QB is hesitating enough to give them an opportunity on defense.

How many times last year did Bush make that big play in the red zone? We really need him back. He is the key to our offense.

Right on.

drops and fumbles aren't Brees' fault

lack of creativity in the red zone isn't his fault, either.
Why is it SP can dial up triple reverses and half time onside kicks, but continues to call dives and off-tackle plays near the goal line? Run a pitch, rollout, PA fake, even Wildcat... anything

There was a stat last year heading into week 12 vs Patriots, that Bush had scored 5 Touchdowns in 6 games, IN THE REDZONE. He's a huge weapon everywhere on the field, but he is on another level when we get into the redzone. We need him back!

Just what I am saying. The problem isn't Brees at all. It is Bush. Or the lack of Bush.

The Flying Frenchman as well. PT is under valued but he only lost 1 fumble last year and he is very sure handed out of the backfield. Unlike our current backs.

It only takes a few games to see the difference in our fumbling the ball more, blocking less, and dropping more passes too. Did DTs suddenly get better and so are breaking through our line more? Did LBs get better and are hitting harder and causing more fumbles and injuries? Did the goalposts get closer and are therefore causing more missed kicks? There has been plenty enough under-performing on the team collectively to label Brees as "most of the problem".

Manning coming back from his knee took time. Brady too. Drew's knee is hurt and it affecting his game.

Brees is not the QB he was last year, but I think there are many factors to consider. The biggest issue is there is no running game right now, so teams are just lining up in deep cover 2 and taking the deep pass away. Teams are basically daring the Saints to run, which they are very capable of doing, however the guys who are running right now have major ball handling issues. Once the running game is going right, hopefully it will very soon, it should open up the rest of the offense. I mean all these guys need to do is just hold on to the ball and the rest will take care of itself. Yeah, the kicking woes is another issue, in close games these guys need to be able to kick field goals. If these FG's were being made on a consistent basis, could very easily be 5-0 right now even with a struggling offense.

I agree that Brees is not most of the problem. Without Bush nobody is so concerned about the run. Last year people keyed on Bush and made Drew beat their secondary which he did. Now they are playing the pass and making the Saints try to beat them with the run which they arent. Healthy and with Bush, the Saints are a great team. Right now though they are just mediocre and not getting any breaks.

Please give it a rest.

"it" ...as in the Saints team as a whole with all the injuries?

Its Brees huh? Lets just analyze that statement.

This Season as of the start of week 6.
Who has the highest completion % in the NFL? Drew Brees at 71.4%
Who has the second highest completion # in the NFL? Drew Brees at 142
Who has the fourth highest passing yards in the NFL? Drew Brees at 1410

You see where that is going?

Now if frikken Mark Sanchez is getting it done and he is not even in the top 18 in any of those categories... Drew gets a pass from me.

There are fundamental changes with the Saints this season. Coaching is different, play calling is less aggressive, no one can hold on to the ball..... we have what... 7+ in injured reserve?

You may want to think twice before you put the blame or majority of the blame on Brees.

I refer to my previous remarks.............................

O-line, then Brees.

Guess you had a point all along.

O-line didn't throw the ball 6 times to the other guys..........

Good thing they can't catch.

Brees wasn't the only problem but he definitely lost this game.

The curse is legit, 10-24-2010 made me a believer.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.c...1271949495.jpg

I had to register here just comment.

Brees IMO isn't the issue. Like previous posters had stated. No running gaming puts alot more on the QB and all the teams know it.
He had over 55 attemps today... Thats double what he normally does.
I honestly think when Bush and Thomas both come back things will get better.

At this point I'm not to concerned. The Saints are still one of the best in the NFC.

I referred to this in a another thread and it got deleted..........

Bowens, Browns shock Saints, dreadful Brees - NFL - CBSSports.com Game Recap

Dont forget about the O-line, they have to give Brees time to throw. We can sit and point fingers all day, but bottom line everyone needs to get better!

No.

The Saints problem is defense. They are not making the big plays on defense like last year.

One bright spot. THE TIGHTENDS LOOKED GREAT. That's not a joke. Graham, Shockey, and Thomas all looked good. Moore did his job. One of the announcers said this, and I have to agree. Brees struggles against 3-4 defenses. He always has. For some reason, that base defense, seems to fill the passing lanes, alot faster than the 4-3. I noticed today, that a linebacker, almost every play, stayed put in the middle, to try and bat down his passes. Which it worked, because alot of them were knocked down, or intercepted. I think it's all in his head. And I'm not buying the baby excuse. As I pointed out before, Polomalu had two of his best career games, right before the birth of his son, and right after. Just like you leave everything on the field, you leave your personal life at home.

Good one. LOL

This team is looks like the bizarro team of last season. Even when Bush and PT were on the field the Saints were barely scraping by so I don't see how that is going to change the offensive production much.

What I notice today more than anything though is the O line getting blasted on almost every play. That O line is in some serios funk right now. It's hard not to throw a pick with people in your face in 2 seconds. They keep playing like that and Brees is not going to make it through the season.

I am so sick and tired of hearing people repeat this dribble. Our offense was crap in the first two games of the season when Reggie was in. We barely beat Minney and SF who have a whopping 1 win between the two of them. Reggie has missed signifigant playing time every season since we have drafted him and we have done fine in the past without him. In fact up until this year we had a better record with him out than when we he was in. I am not saying we are a better team without him, but he single handedly does not make or break this team. Our problems will continue when he is in the lineup if #1 Brees continues to play shakey, 2 or offensive line does not tighten up, and 3 our special teams remain pourus.

Did anyone else see the IRONY in the fact that Bowen intercepted Brees TWICE today for TD's and he named his kid Bowen this week!?!?!?!?!?

504 - Relax, some fans will NEVER say it like it is ... Admitting faults or weaknesses is too much to bare. Let it go --- Someone will ALWAYS turn a post like this into "us vs. them" BS. You're a fan --- I'm a fan --- We're all fans.