Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

Drew Brees sits behind the line of scrimmage and surveys the Washington Redskins’ defense.

The two cornerbacks are lined up about 10 yards off the receivers and the safeties, who split the middle of the field, are only about 2 yards behind the corners. It looks like a zone concept, perhaps Cover 4.

Brees points out the middle linebacker and raises his left leg, signaling for tight end Ben Watson to motion to the other side of the formation.

The quarterback calls for the snap, and Brandin Cooks immediately takes off the down the field from the left side of the formation. The safety on that side of the field stands his ground and continues to survey the field before him. Willie Snead, who lined up on the right side, runs about 10 yards down the field and then cuts over toward the left sideline on a crossing route.

Snead is picked up by the safety on his side of the field. As he continues to cross, the second safety, who has already dropped his hips to begin trailing after Cooks, turns back to make sure Snead is covered before flipping back around and resuming his pursuit of the vertical route. If the safety doesn’t recover quick, Cooks is going to be left in one-on-one coverage.

Back near the line of scrimmage, C.J. Spiller, who lined up flanking Brees, runs into the flat on Cooks’ side of the field, where he’s picked up by one of the outside linebackers.

As Brees drops back and studies the field, the routes being run by the three receivers creates a triangle of sorts on the left side of the field, with Cooks as the point, Snead in the middle, and Spiller low. The three-level arraignment of the players allows Brees to quickly make his reads.

It doesn’t take Brees long to spot how the defense broke. After he steps up in the pocket to avoid linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and receives a key block from tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, he draws his arm back as soon as he sees the safety turn toward Snead and fires. The pass leads Cooks toward the middle of the field for a 60-yard touchdown.

Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Re: Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

new twist to an old game plan.

Re: Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

And yet the Saints, with an old, washed up QB and a few no-name WRs manage to consistently have one of the best offenses!

Re: Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

And what happened in that game ? 44-14.

Re: Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

Difficult to win a game when you play against two defenses. Ask Carolina.

Re: Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

When I watch this team play, it doesn't look like there is much imagination in the route running. Too many vertical routes when all we need is 5 yards on third down. When the pocket collapses, I see a lot of standing around by the receivers. They seem poorly coached at improvising and coming back to the ball.

The fact of the matter is our scoring is kind of middle of the pack in today's NFL. They manage to move it around, but things break down too often leading to FG attempts instead of TD's.

Re: Special report: Inside look at how Saints' '3-level' passing concept powers NFL's most prolific attack
 

Oh, look..........diagrams.:party: