Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Last year, the Saints traded Jimmy Graham, opting instead for a patchwork collection of tight ends. After one season of that, the Saints made a beeline for another potentially dominant pass-catching tight end.

On Wednesday, Saints quarterback Drew Brees explained what attracted the team to former Colts tight end Coby Fleener.

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“We watched a lot of film on him last year, just because we played the AFC South,” Brees told reporters. “It felt like every time we turned on the film to watch an opponent that we were about to play, I’m watching Colts film or Fleener film. It was like, ‘Man, this guy has an uncanny ability to separate.’ He is always open. There’s always a place to throw the ball where he can get it. It gets you excited about a guy who has that type of range and that type of feel.

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Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

I think Drew is going to make him a pro bowl TE.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

No drew, you just throw most people open.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Well heck. Let's just not run the ball at all. :)

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Ok.

I'll be interested to see him "separate" & hopefully Drew doesn't force it into triple coverage. I'm sure Fleener is a nice player but he is no Jimmy.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

I agree no Jimmy yet but all of us hope he becomes better than a Jimmy!

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

He will definitely be a better all around player but he will never be the receiving tight end Jimmy is.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Fleener isn't going to be a JG. He probably runs better routes and blocks better though. Let's hope all this talk about the dropsies is either bs or it gets fixed.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

As far as we know, Fleener may be better than Graham. I doubt anyone would say that either Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson are better passers of the ball than Brees. How much impact does the QB have on the success of either Graham or Fleener? We all know that Graham was great with Brees delivering the ball. He has had noticeably less success in Seattle to this point. While he has made some plays with Wilson, he hasn't been targeted with anywhere near the frequency as he was in New Orleans. Is that on him or the QB?

On the other hand, Fleener has had his moments with Luck, but has yet to show what he can do with Brees' uncanny ability to find the open man. And if Fleener can show the defense that he is even moderately able to block it could make play calling far less predictable with him on the field than with Graham.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Drew will make him great!

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

sounds like drew told them to sign him after that read

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Also gotta think about the defense he is going up against right now. We have always had trouble covering tight ends

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

80 catches 1000 yards wouldnt surprise

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

It is a good thing Brees is talking about last year. I thought for a second our defense stilled sucked.

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Mitch, I think you missed the point. Drew isn't making these observations based on Fleener now in our offense against our defense. He made those observations based to film study of AFC South teams last year when Fleener was a Colt.

I really hope though that Drew doesn't become single minded in terms of getting the ball to Fleener. The last 2 years JG was here the offense suffered because of too much of a focus of getting the ball the JG.

I am hoping that we now have a core group of receivers including Cooks, Thomas, Sneed, Fleener, Hill, Spiller, Ingram, Cadet, and even Hooman that opposing defenses will be incapable of effectively covering any group on the field.

The Saints passing offense should not be about one receiver. It should be about Brees using the best available receiver on each and every passing play.

SFIAH

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

I didn't even read the article :doh:

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

http://replygif.net/i/603.gif

This one never gets old...

Re: Brees on Fleener: “He is always open”
 

Yeah, if I was doing Fantasy Football, I might pick him over Gronk. No, I would. There were many times Drew made Graham look like the MVP and unstoppable. Without Drew, Graham is ???. Fleener is very similar to Graham physically. We're hoping Fleener is a more willing blocker though he is average at best at it but he is a more polished route runner than Graham probably with better hands. No mistake. He's tall and fast. Like 6" 6 with 4.6 speed or better. Who DAT!