Saints’ Michael Thomas praises Drew Brees, eager to win more ball games (1 Viewer)

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Article: Saints’ Michael Thomas praises Drew Brees, eager to win more ball games

Interview: https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmfantasy/saints-rookie-wr-michael-thomas-on-avoiding-the-rookie-wall

Thomas was asked about the chemistry formed between him and quarterback Drew Brees, to which he responded, “I feel like he’s just the ultimate example of a great quarterback in the NFL. If you want to play receiver and you want to play for a long time, you want a guy like him behind center.”

Thomas added, “And when the game’s on the line in crunch time, you want to have him behind center. He just makes tremendous decisions and always helps this team.”
 
Nice read. I didn't realize he led the team or was so high in the rankings for targets, catches, TD's, etc. I guess it's because of the way he conducts himself on the field in games. Very Colston-like in that he doesn't do any real celebrating or taunting type stuff after making a big catch or TD. Just makes the play and goes about his business getting back to the huddle or off the field.

I think we've got a stud for years to come in Michael Thomas.
 
While they will operate in very different ways, Cooks and Thomas are going to be an amazing 1A & 1B for the rest of Brees' career.

The best part about having them as a tandem? Both have an elite skill that will allow them to be a deep threat: Cooks with his speed and Thomas with his hand size/high point ability. Most WR duos don't both have that. Either one can open up the intermediate route for the other or the seam for the TE by taking the top off the defense and Fleener has the ability to do the same for both of them.

When it gets humming again, this offense is going to be a headache for all but the couple of elite defenses out there.
 
While they will operate in very different ways, Cooks and Thomas are going to be an amazing 1A & 1B for the rest of Brees' career.

The best part about having them as a tandem? Both have an elite skill that will allow them to be a deep threat: Cooks with his speed and Thomas with his hand size/high point ability. Most WR duos don't both have that. Either one can open up the intermediate route for the other or the seam for the TE by taking the top off the defense and Fleener has the ability to do the same for both of them.

When it gets humming again, this offense is going to be a headache for all but the couple of elite defenses out there.

I liked the wrinkles with Tommylee Lewis last week as well. I'd like to see him get more of those jet sweep type calls and maybe use him like we did Sproles for screens where he can literally hide behind the goons of the OL out in front of him because he's so short and then use his speed and shiftiness to take it to the house.
 
I liked the wrinkles with Tommylee Lewis last week as well. I'd like to see him get more of those jet sweep type calls and maybe use him like we did Sproles for screens where he can literally hide behind the goons of the OL out in front of him because he's so short and then use his speed and shiftiness to take it to the house.

Payton having him line up in the backfield last week shows me that they have a few plays specifically designed for Tommy Lee, including the jet sweeps. The jet sweep one way with Ingram going the other way is going to be good for a few 1st downs this year due to the 1/2 second "freeze" that it forces the LB's to do to make sure the sweep does or doesn't have the ball. Having him line up as a RB also tells me that while he may not be able to pass protect, he very well can probably run a simple draw play and there will be a play or two, here or there, for him at specific times in the game.

Payton likes him and sees the unique skill set he brings, and will use him to create mismatches, even if it is just to force the defense to declare a package or coverage, allowing someone else to have an advantageous match up.

Oh, and before I forget, Snead is really, really good at what he does as well.

WR is going to be a very, very hard position group for newcomers to crack into next year.
 
It's crazy, I don't think many people realize but Michael Thomas is actually a few months OLDER than cooks, even though Cooks is in his 3rd year. I can't wait to see how our core 3 receivers develop over the years.
 
Thomas reminds me more of Colston than Coleman does. The guy makes all the tough catches (and the easy ones).
 
We hit a home run with this draft pick. That 4th quarter TD Thomas caught was big time clutch.

You are right about it being clutch.

I hate those plays as they are typically low percentage plays and especially hate it on 4th down. But he went up and got it. Very underrated play of the game as he made look so routine.
 
You are right about it being clutch.

I hate those plays as they are typically low percentage plays and especially hate it on 4th down. But he went up and got it. Very underrated play of the game as he made look so routine.

I was actually stunned that they went with such an "all or nothing" one read type of play on the most critical play of the game. Usually those types of plays have multiple options, allowing your QB 3/4 different reads to find a guy open. Not this time.

Trusting your 1st ballot HOF QB, all time most accurate QB ever to read the coverage and put an accurate ball in the right spot? Sure, I get it.

Trusting your rookie 2nd round pick to read the coverage exactly the same way and position himself to either make the catch or draw a penalty (one that is NEVER called for the Saints on offense)? And then trusting him to make the catch.

When you are already 0-3?

Wow. That's some chutzpah.
 
I was actually stunned that they went with such an "all or nothing" one read type of play on the most critical play of the game. Usually those types of plays have multiple options, allowing your QB 3/4 different reads to find a guy open. Not this time.

Trusting your 1st ballot HOF QB, all time most accurate QB ever to read the coverage and put an accurate ball in the right spot? Sure, I get it.

Trusting your rookie 2nd round pick to read the coverage exactly the same way and position himself to either make the catch or draw a penalty (one that is NEVER called for the Saints on offense)? And then trusting him to make the catch.

When you are already 0-3?

Wow. That's some chutzpah.

When I watched the replay I was surprised they didn't call Thomas for an arm bar or push off as he turned and adjusted for the catch
 
The jet sweep one way with Ingram going the other way is going to be good for a few 1st downs this year due to the 1/2 second "freeze" that it forces the LB's to do to make sure the sweep does or doesn't have the ball. Having him line up as a RB also tells me that while he may not be able to pass protect, he very well can probably run a simple draw play and there will be a play or two, here or there, for him at specific times in the game.

Totally reminiscent of the "Ghost Sweep" we used to run with Deuce and Reggie. Most of the time, it seemed like they'd fake the sweep to Reggie and give it to Deuce who would promptly run it up the gut for 6-15 yards.

Lemme find the thread from a few years ago about it.

edit to add link:

It was actually referred to as Ghost Motion in the past. Here's the thread requesting we run it with PT/Sproles like we used to with Deuce/Reggie.

http://saintsreport.com/forums/f2/ghost-motion-pt-sproles-la-deuce-reggie-315728/#.V_aUMPArKUk

damn...looks like the NFL finally got around to blocking the video content in that thread but the discussion is still relevant (the video was still up and running this pre-season. I was asking about Ingram/Spiller being the backs in that play and referenced that same thread.) Oh well. Maybe I'll see if I can find that video put up by another user who the NFL hasn't discovered and shut down yet.

edit to add again:
OK - it appears that the video is only blocked in the embedded version. Click on the youtube link in the bottom of the video frame and it links to a working highlight video and the times are marked in the thread for the ghost motion plays.
 
I said it a while ago. Michael Thomas will be our #1 receiver. Teams are eventually going to switch their #1 corner onto him. He and Cooks should be the premier WR duo in the NFL for years to come. Snead makes it a trio. And Coleman has become a more reliable player as we've gone on.
 
I said it a while ago. Michael Thomas will be our #1 receiver. Teams are eventually going to switch their #1 corner onto him. He and Cooks should be the premier WR duo in the NFL for years to come. Snead makes it a trio. And Coleman has become a more reliable player as we've gone on.

Seriously, we seem to be pretty set for years to come with our WR's. Of course, new deals for Cooks and Snead and even Coleman, if they decide to keep him, will need to be worked out in the coming years, but I don't see any reason they'd want out of this offense.
 

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