WhoDat!656

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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"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

RaginCajun83

That fat waste of space has it wrong again, pretty sure the suspension ends when the scoreboard at the Superbowl read 0:00 ..... jacknut

SloMotion

That's what I thought, where'd he come up with April 19th?

SaintsBro

Technically Payton has to "apply" to be re-instated, but even a slow timeline for that is well before April. Especially given the amount of egg on Goodell's face about this whole mess these days. Right now, Goodell wants the whole thing to be over with almost as quickly as Saints fans do.

Danno

Several reasons for this, one being an inordinate amount of drops reduces the completion percentage, and our total failure on screen passes this season inflate the downfield number.

We also had an inordinate amount of negative plays that forced 3rd and very long.

Also our total lack of a running game for the 1st half of the season forced a ton on 3rd and longs.

The article nails it, Sean Payton was missed way more than most of us thought.

Cory9289

Agreed, Sean Payton was missed greatly. It just shows you that you need a team to make it. The Saints were literally swiss cheese this year.

hagan714

Suspended for one year

darstep

Too many swing thoughts for Brees with Payton not around.
He over analyzed and pressed too hard all season.
Payton will take that extra pressure off, get him back to center
and help him relax and flow.
From home, maybe Payton was able to see what I saw and sit Ingram
and run PT and Ivory.
Now we have a bunch of 2nd-and-3's and not all those 2nd-and-9's.