how can the offense NOT take a step back?

Le_Moyne said
On one hand, I think that anyone who pretend that who we have at receiver doesn't matter because Brees would make anyone look great is either a hypocrite or has a short memory. Just look at 2013, our pass protection was pretty good but when Graham went down our offense could not move the ball and everyone was complaining that our WR couldn't get separation.

So yes, we do need some of these young guys to step up because if they don't we won't be that good. We do have a lot of player with potential but potential and production are not always the same thing.....

I don't think anybody is arguing that Brees doesn't need some talent around him to succeed. The team has always found some standouts and then plugged-in role players.

A foundation of Colston, Cooks, Spiller, Ingram, and Watson looks like a solid starting point at the skill positions and then the consideration becomes whether some of the more unknown/unproven players are ready to step up.

There are certainly question marks but the cupboard isn't bare of talent.