Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

We all remember how many of the countless articles that we saw back during the off-season, about how the Saints were going to be royally screwed without the presence of Graham — who was traded to the Seahawks for a number #1 draft pick — as a part of their offense.

The pundits were all saying how horrible of a trade that it was, and how insane Saints management was for pulling the trigger on the deal that netted them a #1 pick (31st overall, spent on rookie LB Stephone Anthony from Clemson) and All-Pro Center Max Unger.

After 9 weeks of the NFL season, the Seahawks are 4-4 and a half game better than the 4-5 Saints; while Graham has caught 38 passes for 450 yards and 2 TD’s — far below the expectations of the pundits who were calling Seattle a LOCK for their 3rd straight trip to the Super Bowl.

Saints No. 1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham?

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Drew Brees.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Further proof that even a competent defense would get us into the playoffs

Our D is so incompetent even the Number 1 offense can't win us games.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Yeah, pretty bad that our offense is the best in the NFL and our defense is the worst. Talk about opposites. And to think that we have all these high end "play makers" on defense. Pffffft.

Like someone said before, a top twenty defense this year and we'd probably be undefeated or at worst 6-3.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

I always thought it would open our offense up more that he is gone. It is so much easier to hit his target than anyone else might as well dump it off... what that did was limit the touches to the other big play makers. This way it forces to spread the ball around more and get it to players with speed.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

It's too bad we aren't even average on the defensive side of things.

Sometimes I feel we have wasted 2, 3 years of Drew and all of his brilliance at the position.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

At this point we have wasted far more than 2 or 3 years...

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

The answer Drew Brees is the answer to the question.
Also like what Benjamin Watson is doing.
Regular Season Rec-43 Yds - 532

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

I long thought and said the same thing about spreading it around. Trading Jimmy was one of the few moves I have liked over the last few years by the Saints. All I heard from certain fans and pundits was that we wouldn't have a redzone target... As if that's really a thing. You throw it to the guy who's open.

The Saints far too often wanted to MAKE Jimmy the target, not only in the redzone, but on just about all third down plays when EVERYONE knew where the ball was going. So Jimmy had his numbers, but we had a lot of drives killed over the course of the season.

Now that Drew looks healthy, people can finally see what some of us were talking about. If our Offensive line wasn't so bad, it would be far better, but imagine if we hadn't gotten Unger...

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Of course we have the number 1 offense*. We start every drive on the 20 and have 80 yards to go every drive as our defense is asuch use as trying to stop a leak with a sieve


(*NFL stupidity in claiming the team with most yards is best offense over points scored)

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

So an 80 yard drive is bad by the offense? I agree that being number in yards doesn't necessarily make you the best offense, but in the last 4 weeks or so it's been about as good as any.

We've had a few years where we lead in yards and not in points. So in other words, things haven't changed much. People said it would without Jimmy. The same people who forgot that we won a super bowl without him.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Graham was a product of Paytons system. #1 or not the O-line is still shaky.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW!!!!!

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/8045...ek-630x388.png

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

We have the 6-7th offense when using PPG or total points. More accurate, YPG doesnt mean much.
But thats never going to mean much either when you also have the most incompetent defence for the last 10 years.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

The offense could be more efficient. They don't pass or run block well, so that hurts quite a bit, obviously. But I find it interesting that when offenses struggle, everyone talks about how it hurts the defense because they wear down. That is true, though not an excuse to be dead last in defense as we were when the our offense was struggling (and we've seen just how that D looks when we DO play well on offense... Pretty much the same right now).

Yet nobody ever mentions how when the defense fails to get off the field, the offense has less possessions. That also effects how many points your offense can score. The line play is our biggest issue, but having a defense bleed to death doesn't help. And they can't use the excuse of not getting rest. It seems obvious, but it's never talked about.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Who here was calling for trading Drew? Fess up.

Drew Brees would probably be a good quarterback in a wheelchair. But, seriously -- if we don't start protecting him -- he will be in one.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

You pegged the big one. Our defense loses most games becuase they bleed the clock to death. Everyone claps when we get a 3 and out on our 40, or just a field goal but they forget that 5-7 minutes just came off the clock. I keep on talking about this, and glad someone sees it. Its the #1 problem with the defense.
I also believe most teams offenses get hot later because they have so much time to on the field to figure things out.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

The system is solid on offense. saints do it with smoke and mirrors. that and everyone forgot about Watson. that helps a whole lot.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

People forgot about him because the Saints refused to use him before this year. I had dreams of a two tight end system similar to what the Patriots have had at times but, once again, they just ignored Watson like they did with so many others and forced the ball to Jimmy. I'm glad Ben is having the kind of year he's having, not only because it obviously helps us, but even more so because he's showing Payton what a stubborn butt hole he was for not using him.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

If we had a defense that was even in the mid to upper 20's this team would have been able to compete for a Super Bowl birth every year since Payton and Brees came to town. It would be us and the Patriots and thats it. We would no doubt have 3 rings by now. Too bad a ****ty defense is going to ruin Brees chances of ever getting another one.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

If we could just get a pass rush on defense.....Orakpo was setting out there in free agency this year. Jared Allen was had by the Panthers for little to nothing. We should have picked up both and went back to the 4-3. But oh well.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

+1 Rez,
Interesting stat I read on our defense...
Saints have allowed 6+ passing TD over 40 yards. Leads the league. I think that if we can acquire a nasty DE/pass rusher, things would improve considerably (Brian O would have been nice). Get Kikaha, Cam & Anthony some help this off season (draft & FA) :bng:.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

defense is an embarrassment.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

I'm still not getting all the love for Anthony, without Ellerbe in ,our D needs leadership, nothing there I see. Ellerbe has had to cover alot of ground for Anthony when on the field. When Ellerbe hasn't played our lb.'ers get eaten alive all game long. Everyone can say what they want but for a #31 pick in the draft and 1st ILB taken off the board by mid- season I should be seeing a field general lining up the troops for battle positions instead I'm seeing non of that. Kid might be in way over his head.

Re: Saints Are the #1 Offense WITHOUT Jimmy Graham? How Did That Happen?
 

Yay! We're #1! :razz: