Can Drew Brees still throw it deep?
I watched the Saints-Eagles playoff game last nite. Again, there is no question in my mind that Brees can lead us to one or more SBs if he plays beyond this year.
That said, the answer is definitely "Yes" to loss of arm strength. The Saints were at the 42 yard line of the Eagles. Brees drops back, has a perfectly clean pocket, winds up, steps into the pocket and heaves it. Taysom Hill is 10-yards clear of the DB. The ball flutters on the down flight with no speed and lands at the 5-yard line, only 42 yards in the air, 5-yards or more behind a wide open Hill. It was so slow, the DB had time to make up the distance and bat the ball down. It should have been a clear TD.
This had nothing to do with the O-line or receivers. I saw Brees make one perfect 55-yard strike in the air in the the 1st half of the season. It was clear that his arm wore down as the year progressed. But he still throws the most beautiful 20 yard outs in the NFL.