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Sean Payton can't start working with his team again until approximately April 19, the start of the official Saints' offseason program, and that must be maddening for such a micromanaging worker bee. But when he does, he has to start working anew with Drew Brees on his efficiency.

I've heard Payton noticed one glaring thing about Brees when he watched Saints' games this year while serving his year suspension -- how many times he took chances downfield when the chances really were long shots, and when his focus should have turned from the deep ball to the checkdown or intermediate ball. That's a big reason his completion percentage without Payton was a shell of what it was with him.

Drew Brees by the Numbers

Season Completion %

2009 70.6

2010 68.1

2011 71.2

2012 63.0

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Brees' average depth of target (how far downfield his target was, on average) was 8.2, 8.0 and 8.2 yards in 2009, '10 and '11 -- and rose markedly to 8.9 yards this year. So if you want to know why the numbers in the table to the right say what they say, look to the fact that Brees was throwing downfield more, and with less success overall, than he had in the past.

So many have wondered about Payton's impact on the Saints' season, and I discussed some of that above. But think of how many camera shots you saw over the years with Payton and Brees on the sidelines in deep discussion. With due respect to offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, he never had the kind of in-the-face impact on Brees that Payton did. There is zero question that Brees missed Payton more than most people thought he would.


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