Barry from MS

Cutler's Bears: 2-3
Ryan's Clowns: 2-3
Brees' Saints: 2-3

Maybe coincidence, but giving the other team more opportunities to have the ball and score is not a winning formula, especially since our defense struggles to get turnovers.

And Brees' 2014 picks have been inopportune...2 returned for TDs (@ Cle & vs TB), 1 in the end zone (@ ATL), 1 on our side of the field (vs TB).

The O-Line, the RB's for blitz pick-up, and his receivers can take some of the blame...but you have to look at the man pulling the trigger. Brees does not get a pass on blame for the decisions he's made so far.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day" ~ Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it" ~ Ron Swanson

Jack Vegas

the point of comparison is always 2009 Drew Brees. Most every other year - including record-setting 2011 - he looked more like the guy who misses short on half his deep passes and throws head-shaking dumb picks every once in a while.

2009 Drew Brees was something to behold though. That is the Drew we will always remember.

WHODATINCA

Here is a chart comparing Bress to Rodgers.

Statistically, over time, very similar.

In fact, since 2003, the trend line for Bress shows consistent improvement -- minus this shi++y year.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Barry from MS

Like someone said earlier, I want the 2009 Brees with 34 TD/11 INT (13-2 record). Or the 2013 Brees with 39 TD/12 INT (11-5 record). Or the 2011 Brees with 46 TD/14 INT (13-3 record).

He's on pace to throw almost 700 times this year, more than any other year in his career. Play-calling has a lot to do with this conversation as well. 2014 Brees is on pace (roughly) for 29 TD/20 INT.

TDs trend up & INTs trend down, we win this division.

BTW, I don't want Rodgers...Brees is the heart & soul of this team and this area. Rodgers is not.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day" ~ Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it" ~ Ron Swanson

leilung

Seems like too many of us like to give #9 a mulligan on his play too often. If you get the stats and the glory, you should also be the goat when its deserved.
That being said, two things I've noticed this season:
1) His inability to hit a deep route in stride. Just about every deep shot, the receiver has had to pull up short when he had his defender beaten.
2) His inability to hit targets on short timing routes. In the past, he had the vision (and confidence in his receivers) to place that rock where he knew the receiver was going to be in the pattern. Now he's holding the ball longer and the window vs the defender closes faster.

Not sure if these are indicators of 'decline' per se, but his mechanics are definitely off.

A wise man once said, "Poo-poo smells just as bad as s#!%. One just SOUNDS cuter!"

burningmetal

Exactly. It's not an indictment on his physical ability, necessarily, though some will disagree. But the timing is off. So many people are quick to just pass it off on the O-line, and while they deserve part of the blame, Drew definitely seems to be holding the ball way too long when he does have the time, as you pointed out. If people don't believe that then they aren't paying very close attention.

halloween 65

Excellent assessment!! I'm seeing the same thing, but I do think it's decline.

burningmetal

What a bunch of jumbled noise. I hate when people try to write funny/snarky columns like this. You're not funny!

And who's to say Brees is not in decline? I don't know how is arm feels or where his head is, and I don't claim to. I just know he's not playing so well. And he's not the only one. Colston has surely BEEN in decline, and that is not up for debate. The line has been ok in the run game but not so great against the pass. Everybody sees those things. It's not like it's one guy problem. But is Drew just struggling because of what's going on around him? Absolutely not. He has made some terrible decisions.

This stupid article wants to paint a picture of a bunch of meat heads who don't remember the past and have no ability to put anything into perspective. Don't get me wrong, those people definitely exist, but they have nothing to do with this. I, for one, am not basing my opinion on how many pick sixes he's thrown this year as opposed to any other year (which seems to be 90% of the basis of that crap above). That would be the meat head's argument. I'm looking at all of the decisions he's making, all of the underthrows, overthrows... Everything. We haven't seen these kinds of prolonged slumps too much.

Drew is one of my favorite people of all time, not just athlete, and I know he wants to play far better. I'm not down on the guy's character, but man, sometimes I don't know what he's thinking out there. When you're paid to be the franchise player, you know what's expected of you and I doubt Drew feels as complacent as this article wants the rest of us to be. There were high expectations for everyone on this team, and those expectations have not come close to being met. That's the bottom line. Nobody knows if he's physically in decline. But his play, lately, has been. As has been the case for many players on this team, unfortunately. What's wrong with saying that? Nobody cares when we complain about the defense, but it's morally wrong to question the play of the team leader?

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

|Mitch|

Barry from MS

Oh, so you're not 100% in agreement with me? You suck.

That 2-3 record thing is obviously not all Brees, but those costly INTs were contributing factors in those 3 losses. They certainly didn't help matters; no one can deny that.

I just have to watch my 6 on here if I criticize Drew. I love that he's our QB, and believe it or not I'd take him over Manning, Brady, and Rodgers.