MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

Man, is Drew Brees excited

The Saints snuck up on the rest of the league. Here they are, one of five division leaders with a 6-2 record, and Drew Brees swears: “I’m just telling you, I see this team every day. We’re just scratching the surface.” Look at what Brees did in the feisty 30-10 rout of the Bucs: completed 81 percent of his throws for 263 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, a tidy ballgame for someone used to far more explosive days. But the Saints don’t need that from Brees now. That’s because there’s a very good running game here with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara (26 total rushes, 145 yards on the ground Sunday, and another 86 receiving yards), and a defense that’s allowed 15 points a game in the past six. Not so coincidentally, the Saints have their first six-game winning streak since 2009.

“They say a quarterback’s best friend is a great running game and a great defense,” Brees said Sunday. “We’ve been getting both.” Another good friend is a good draft—and GM Mickey Loomis provided that. Marshon Lattimore, the 11th overall pick, is probably the leader for defensive rookie of the year. Kamara, picked in the third round, is the latter-day Reggie Bush, with 652 rushing/receiving yards and five touchdowns in eight games. And the defense, with Lattimore starring in a renewed secondary and Cam Jordan playing at his peak only with more help, is a legitimate top-10 unit.

Recent history treated the Saints right. They almost acquired Malcolm Butler from New England in the spring, but couldn’t figure the right deal—either for the Patriots or in a contract. So they dealt wideout Brandin Cooks to the Patriots for the 32nd overall pick in the draft, and New England kept Butler. One other X factor: The top two players on New Orleans’ board, in some order, were Lattimore and Texas Tech quarterback Pat Mahomes. So things went very well when:

• Kansas City traded up to the spot ahead of New Orleans, at 10, to take Mahomes. The Saints happily took Lattimore at 11. Lattimore has been a top 10 cornerback in the league this year. It was interesting to hear Lattimore post-game talk about the cheap shot Bucs wideout Mike Evans took at him, using a running start and a blindside hit to drill him. “I was shocked,” Lattimore said. “But it’s football. It is what it is. We got the W. That’s all that matters. I’ve seen that before.”

• With the pick acquired from New England, the Saints were going to take Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster. But the Niners jumped them and took Foster. New Orleans took tackle Ryan Ramczyk, which was fortuitous: Ramczyk been their best offensive lineman, and he’s played every offensive snap at right tackle.

• In the second round, free safety Marcus Williams was there, and he was an easy pick; now Kenny Vaccaro can play down in the box and do what he does best—play the run and be a cover guy on intermediate routes. Williams has played more snaps than any defensive back on the team.

“The significance of the draft class can’t be overstated,” Payton said Sunday night. “It’s made all the difference.”

And maybe without all the pressure on him, Brees can be healthier later in the year, and play longer, and keep playing at a high level, the way Tom Brady is. “I don’t feel any different than I’ve felt in the past few years,” Brees said. “I feel like, like I’m sure Tom does, that I’ve got a great routine and great process to stay on top of the physical part of the game. There’s probably a lot of similarities between us that way.”

Here’s one: New England is 6-2. New Orleans is 6-2.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/11/06/ja...ce-week-9-mmqb

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

Kamara, picked in the third round was a great pick.

I walked into the season with an "IN SP I Trust" draft label on him and said I would not have traded up for him.

well I am ready to eat what crow I must. The kid is loving it here with Drew at the helm.

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

So far it looks like he is everything we hoped Bush would be.

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

This part from the awards section in the article:

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Cam Jordan, defensive end, New Orleans. The Bucs totaled 200 yards of offense in a 30-10 beatdown by the Saints, and about six Saints could have been in this space. I chose the best all-around player on their front seven. Jordan’s seven tackles and 1.5 sacks—and two additional quarterback pressures—set the tone for the suddenly defensively imposing Saints.


SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Justin Hardee, cornerback, New Orleans. A superb punt-rush by the former practice-squad player from Illinois led to Hardee breaking free up the middle and smothering a punt from Bryan Anger. Hardee picked up the blocked ball on a perfect hop and ran it in for a touchdown. Textbook example of a block, scoop and score.

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

GOATS OF THE WEEK

Mike Evans, wide receiver, Tampa Bay. Midway through the third quarter against the Saints, near the Tampa sideline, Evans took a running start and blindsided Marshon Lattimore, the Saints rookie cornerback, like he was trying to knock his head off. Bush league, and totally uncalled for.

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

On the ATL podcast they were saying they think Evans had given up and wanted out the game. Was looking for the ejection.
Maybe some truth to that,has Lattimore let him out his pocket yet or is he still carrying him around

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

I will say this now, The Saints have turned it around. I don't care if Winston was out yesterday. Our offense was unstoppable when they actually wanted to score. Didn't run it up when I thought they would after the Evans incident but coach kept his cool. The defense and again I don't care if Winston was out only allowed 215 total yards and 10 points. Kamara and Ingram are Beauty and the beast in the backfield. Coby catching more and Snead back. Ram Jam is a killer and the line doing good as well. Lutz is kinda off right now for some reason but he'll get it back on track 1 extra point not his fault. Good time ya'll good time! I'm not going to say it but we're so much better than most of the teams in the NFL not just the NFC. There I said it anyway and definitely not going to say the other thing. With Dallas down, Green Bay with QB, Falcons out we look to be the best team in the NFC right now but they can reassure us all with another great game this weekend.

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

As much as I love the Saints, IMO the Eagles and Rams are better than the Saints right now; if the Saints beat the Rams on the road in 3 weeks we will officially be on EVERYONE's radar screen!

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

If you buy into Peter King's comments, he should have been a top ten draft pick in the first round. Bush was special in his own way. That memorable 15 yard leap against Miami comes to mind. But Kamara appears to have much better vision.

Re: MMQB: Man, is Drew Brees excited
 

Bush was really good for us but most people expected him to be the second coming of Barry Sanders.
That leap against Miami is still the best performance I ever seen live. Don't know if I'll ever see that topped.