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Drew Brees smiles when he discusses his rapport with his receivers. How he knows Marques Colston and Lance Moore will break off or alter routes without verbal communication, how a glance at Jimmy Graham on what is supposed to be a running play transforms into a first-down reception.

During offseason workouts, younger receivers marvel at this NFL version of ESP. Then they go to Brees, the Saints’ all-pro quarterback coming off his third 5,000-yard campaign.

Um, that wasn’t in the playbook?

Sorry, young fellas. Still gotta learn it.

“It’s probably frustrating in the beginning because you’re like, ‘Ah, I don’t do that; why did he do that?’ ” Brees said, still smiling. “But I just tell those guys that it will come. It’s just time and repetition.”

It’s perhaps the biggest challenge this offseason for third-year receiver Joe Morgan, second-year pro Nick Toon and rookie Kenny Stills, who headline a group of young players vying for the No. 3 receiver job made available when the Saints opted to not re-signed Devery Henderson. They must learn not only the offensive playbook but sudden, often unannounced route changes that can’t be found on a sheet of paper.

Brees calls it “feel.” The guy who does it best has a clearer path to becoming the new guy in last season’s top-ranked passing offense.

“It’s going to make for a heck of a training camp,” said Moore, who last season caught 65 passes for 1,041 yards with six touchdowns. “That competition should bring out the best in all of us.”

Last season, Brees passed for 5,177 yards and 43 TDs with 19 interceptions.

Graham said Brees learns body movements not only through practice repetition but film study.

That preparation has helped Graham evolve from a college basketball player to a Pro Bowl tight end with the potential to be one of the best ever at his position.

It’s familiarity that has allowed Colston to catch 58 TDs from Brees, the most by an active quarterback/receiver duo. Time together has transformed Moore from an undrafted free agent to a multi-millionaire.

“Oh, it’s serious,” Graham said. “Just little, hint things.”

Read more: Catching on is the goal for Drew Brees and his young receivers | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

homerj07

Woah. It will take a lot of time & study for the WR that becomes the 3rd receiver

Choupique

maybe that will help some fans understand why certain receivers are in the game, and others are on the sideline...

TheOak

To learn the book plays yes... To sync with Drew... its actually more Drew learning the receiver.

Drew knows how many seconds it takes a receiver to get where and that is where he throws the ball. That takes an azz load of reps to learn the speed and break of a receiver.

dizzle88

Probably why Brees to Colston is the leading TD scorer of active players, brees does not go home until he has done everything in the film room.

Also all our receivers have spent like 7 years with drew, a first down run turns to a quick slant to Colston with just a glance between them.

QBREES9

Good read.

Rugby Saint II

I'm telling you guys........Brees has ESPN. It's uncanny. lol

Crusader

Good read. It will be interesting to see what Brees can do with these young guys.

billyt81

This is the most optimistic I've been about our wr in a few years. Between Morgan, Toon, Stills, and two or three others I'm hoping we'll be set