Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Time to see how Josh Hill has developed.

Jimmy Graham expected to miss 2-3 weeks after bye - NFL.com

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Enough time to develop more balanced passing game.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Exactly what I was thinking. I love Jimmy, but, don't want him to be the entire offense.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I really believe we will score more in the red zone without Graham. Graham is the only pass catcher that Brees will stare down. Defenses know where Drew is passing the ball in those situations.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Dang. I hear what you guys are saying about developing other options but taking JG off the field is hard for me to think is a good thing.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Foot, I hear you. No, it is not a good thing, but it is so time to readjust. They now have to make adjustments.

Everybody else, right in what you are saying...roll with the punches thing. Saints do not need anymore setbacks.

Thanks mighty for post. I just the report on NFL Network. They did not talk too much about Saints being bye week and all.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I wonder if this is part of Coldton's problem? He is no longer Brees' go to receiver.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Just run the ball. Simple. Here it comes. Stop it if you can.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Brees forcing the ball to Graham isn't Grahams problem, its Drews.

Losing Graham is huge for us. He was the cover-2 killer. Now teams will simply play more cover-2 and our offense will be more predictable than ever.

I can only hope that we experience the Ewing theory. Everyone else steps it up a notch and we play like a top offense... oh wait, we already are a top offense.

Maybe the defense will step it up now that we've lost our top offensive threat.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Its sad that he's going to be out a few more weeks, but at least they are not trying to get him back before he is ready and giving him time to get healthy again!

GEAUX SAINTS!

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

As much as I hate to say it, Graham is soft. He shies away from hits, unlike Gonzalez and Gates.

Hopefully he will toughen up and learn that he is going to get hit anyway so he might as well catch the ball.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

More catches, more yards, more TDs = more hits.

I'd stop short of calling him "soft".

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I don't think that we are watching the same guy. I've seen Graham plow into guys and drag guys for more yardage. He injured his shoulder driving it into a defender. Why do people continue to call him soft?

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I just think he has been part of the DROP Army of receivers the Saints have this season. So many drops this year. People are down on Brees and veteran receivers who are dropping balls. The young guys - stills etc, aren't dropping as much or in critical moments, but the ball isn't getting into their hands.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Yeah, I'm not sure how losing our best receiver is good.
It's not like he's the first read on every play, and it's not like Brees has to throw to him.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I'm not worried about Graham being out, let him sit until 100%. Josh Hill and Ben Watson have proven that they can pick up the slack well enough...

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Agreed. JG is awesome but Watson and Hill can handle things for a few weeks. Watson is a seasoned vet and we are just starting to see Hills potential.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

True, I saw a stat that said Graham is being targeted 10 times/game out of about 70 offensive snaps/game.

That's not exactly forcing the ball to Graham.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Tell that to Drew. ;)

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I will. He's coming over for the Falcons game.
God, I hope he doesn't bring the kids.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I wonder how Crabtree will be inserted in this offense. Jimmy being out is not good no matter how you spin it.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

not good that jg is out but its time for a reality check for drew and payton and jg himself, this will help it will bring us back to what we know is our offense . jimmy will get wide open when he does return; you will see.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

We all seen Graham not reach for catchable passes when a defender was near; some of Brees' interceptions have been because of it.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

THIS

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Exactly

He does it all the time, let's the ball bounce of his hands and turns and looks around while the DB is running the other way with the ball

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Well the bye came at a good time for JG, I still like our chances better with him on the field.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Ingram back, Graham out. We have Robinson and PT. We have one of the best run blocking O-Lines in the NFL. Watson & Hill & Crabtree aren't superstars, but they do the job of an NFL TE pretty well.

I like our odds.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Will he back for the SanFran game?

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

There's some merit to both opinions and undoubtedly a QB of Brees' talent would be able to take advantage of the opportunity and work on developing a more balanced passing attack. The Lions are going through a similar situation with Calvin and it is wreaking havoc on Stafford's game though, despite the wide range of offensive weapons made available to him this season.

Hehehe ... there used to be a picture floating around here of Graham dragging a Lion defender across the goal line in the 2011/12 playoff matchup ... yeah, he might be a little older, banged up or something, but I wouldn't go so far as to label him "soft", :).

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Like I said pre contract. He will always miss several games a season. Its how he plays. This is why I had hoped they wouldn't pay him what they did. We are playing huge money to a player that is only good for 1/3 or 1/4 of the season.
Also wanted more wide receivers via draft or FA. If Colton goes down we aren't left with anyone who is really proven, albeit Colston has not looked great this season.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

Pretty much only 4 pass catchers I trust this season

Cooks, PT, Watson and Hill

Speaks volumes that two of those are backups and one of them is a 3rd down back.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

I don't think it means "soft" in shying away from hits or running someone over. It means soft in allowing pushy, clingy DBs to nullify him (like the Patriot's Talib last year showed could be done).

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

As others have said, it's a good time for Brees to refocus himself on distributing the ball more to everyone else. I have a feeling there are open guys on certain plays when Brees forces the ball to Graham anyway. We can run a very effective two-TE run-heavy offense with Watson and Hill.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

You've got to be kidding.

In four years, Graham has only missed two games.

Jimmy Graham Stats - New Orleans Saints - ESPN

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

It's The Dude. He is always kidding or being sarcastic.

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

He's always negative, more like it...

Re: Graham out 2-3 weeks
 

When brees forced the ball to an injured Jimmy Graham 3 times in the red zone, on 2nd down Cooks was wide open in the end zone

That's why I think we can be better offense without Jimmy, because every defensive player knows where the ball is going on 3rd down when he's in there

On a somewhat unrelated note, the rookie QB for the raiders is having a better season than Brees and threw 4 TD's against the chargers top ten D.