It feels like forever since the Saints have been relevant

[St. Geezy]

Andrus,.. as good as it would be for our next franchise QB to have great arm talent, I believe the thing that propels a QB to the top is the 5 inches between his ears. I believe most NFL starting QBs have enough physical talent to move around and hit open receivers.

What made Drew Brees great was a complete knowledge of the game, the playbook, his teammates, and of what is happening on the other side of the line of scrimmage. As much as I would desire a big brawny QB with a cannon for an arm, I'd take a guy with average physical abilities who could develop the mental skills that we saw when #9 was running the show on the field.

From what has been reported, both Haener & Rattler are known for their grey matter and could excel at the QB position even if they are less than stellar with their physical tools. I liked the way Haener ran the offense during his limited opportunities under center. He also has a head start over Rattler at studying the playbook. However, if Rattler is a better physical specimen and can grasp all the mental things that made Drew such an outstanding QB, then I'm all for him moving into that role.

That said, I don't believe any great QB is able to earn that status on his personal abilities alone. Even the great ones of the past needed a 'perfect storm' of the right supporting cast... including a coaching staff that understands how to showcase their talents. If either Haener or Rattler has what it takes to emulate what Drew Brees brought to the Saints, let's just hope their career isn't spent carrying clipboards while the Saints return to the era of the Baghead Brigade of the 70s & 80s. I don't think I could endure another decade of such misery.

The “QB Greatness trait” that I believe doesn’t get talked about often enough is the ability to a.) see a guy about to become open before he’s actually is open, and b.) the ability to “throw a guy open.”

These are two things that made Drew incredible, along with many of the other greats over the years.

They just have an uncanny ability to know and process that “Hey, my guy is covered at this moment but I know the route he is about to run and when he does it he will have his man beat based on what I am seeing and what I know his abilities are as well as that defender’s abilities, as long as I put it in THIS exact spot at this exact millisecond.” So many of the average-tier QBs must SEE their guy open before pulling the trigger, and that hinders them tremendously, or when they try to do what Drew and other greats do, they miscalculate it significantly more often than not or they're not as accurate with the placement, and as a result throw interceptions.

You can have all the arm strength, all the accuracy, and all the brain power you can get…if you don’t have that Anticipation Trait that I don’t even know if it can be taught, you’re never going to be as great.

There are even some Hall of Fame/multi-Pro Bowl QBs that didn’t have this gift, and this is one of the things that creates the separation of the true all-time greats from the normal-tier good QBs.

 

[Bill]

The “QB Greatness trait” that I believe doesn’t get talked about often enough is the ability to a.) see a guy about to become open before he’s actually is open, and b.) the ability to “throw a guy open.”

These are two things that made Drew incredible, along with many of the other greats over the years.

They just have an uncanny ability to know and process that “Hey, my guy is covered at this moment but I know the route he is about to run and when he does it he will have his man beat based on what I am seeing and what I know his abilities are as well as that defender’s abilities, as long as I put it in THIS exact spot at this exact millisecond.” So many of the average-tier QBs must SEE their guy open before pulling the trigger, and that hinders them tremendously, or when they try to do what Drew and other greats do, they miscalculate it significantly more often than not or they're not as accurate with the placement, and as a result throw interceptions.

You can have all the arm strength, all the accuracy, and all the brain power you can get…if you don’t have that Anticipation Trait that I don’t even know if it can be taught, you’re never going to be as great.

There are even some Hall of Fame/multi-Pro Bowl QBs that didn’t have this gift, and this is one of the things that creates the separation of the true all-time greats from the normal-tier good QBs.

I totally agree. This is the part I mentioned about knowledge of what is going on across the line of scrimmage. It really takes more mental ability than physical ability to be able to pull off such spectacular completions, particularly for a guy like Drew Brees who didn't have a Howitzer for an arm. The ability to "anticipate" the progress of a receiver and figure in the closing speed of a defender is what made Drew great, especially on intermediate routes.

I just hope whoever gets the starting QB gig in the future will be able to master this part of the job as much as anything else. Gotta keep the sticks moving!

 

[jahsoul357]

Remember SP had the reins, he screwed up the personnel. I know some people love SP but I’m not one of them, he squandered a great opportunity.

I agree that we were pretty thin some years but we weren't in 2022, which is my point. We had a worse overall team in 2021 than we did in 2022 but yet won more.

Add in HOF QB, the most accurate in NFL history.

I understand, but if neither Winston or Taysom gets hurt, we are a playoff team fighting for the NFC South in 2021. With a better team, we performed worse the next season. Coaching was key

 

[webster]

I agree that we were pretty thin some years but we weren't in 2022, which is my point. We had a worse overall team in 2021 than we did in 2022 but yet won more.


I understand, but if neither Winston or Taysom gets hurt, we are a playoff team fighting for the NFC South in 2021. With a better team, we performed worse the next season. Coaching was key

Right, comparing SP to one of the worst NFL coaches doesn’t help bolster his profile. A decent coach with Brees would’ve been a dream come true for this franchise. Lightening can strike twice.

 

[dvdman]

Some of you must need to see another 3-13 to be reminded of what irrelevant really is.

I've couldn't have said it any better. We were 9-8 and the last time I checked that means you were a winning team.
Oh I don't want to hear about the easy schedule talk. No NFL schedule is easy. That's all media and fan talk.

 

[Bayouboy]

So, Haener or Rattler? Who you got as the next great Saints QB?

I think that Haener might well be the the better QB right now, but Rattler will get first shot after Carr due to arm talent. Then again, I really have no clue!

What if one of them gets his chance this coming season?? Wouldn't that take away some of the "meh"! It would definitely be interesting.

Sorry! Just trying to take your mind off the gloomy side of things.

Thanks Big A! Just kind of going through the motions right now.....with the Saints and life!

 

[Bayouboy]

I've couldn't have said it any better. We were 9-8 and the last time I checked that means you were a winning team.
Oh I don't want to hear about the easy schedule talk. No NFL schedule is easy. That's all media and fan talk.

In the 80's or 90's, last season might have been something to cheer for. I've been along for the ride quite a while now. But after tasting success, last season was an explanation point on how far we have fallen. No NFL schedule is easy? Take a look at the starting QB's we faced in 2023. You won't find an easier lineup in the history of the league. Yet, we land basically at 0.500 and out of the playoffs. But I digress....if you were satisfied with the 2023 New Orleans Saints, you are easy to please.

 

[Cgrob81]

Personally, my expectations of this season aren't high at all. I will just casually watch and see what happens. Saints are being picked to finish third in the South. Everyone down here disagrees. I can actually see it happening. I won't get too invested in this season until we win like 5 or 6 in a row. But honestly, I think those days left with Payton.

 

[los226]

In years past, I welcomed the lack of a spotlight on us by the national media. But I found my feelings a bit different heading into last season. It was more of a "hey, don't forget about the Saints".

This year, the lack of media coverage is so obvious, I have to wonder if we're even a franchise anymore. Did Roger and the league drop us and I just didn't know it?

I know people are gonna say it's because of Allen's personality or because of zero playoff appearances the last few years. I get it.

But it just feels like even the really bad teams are getting much more attention this season than we are, and it's kinda pissing me off.

There’s nothing to be excited about from the media’s perspective. If you’re not a playoff team or a big market team, then you better have some high producing fantasy players. If not, then no coverage.

Not only did Sean Payton have this team relevant, but he consistently had highly producing fantasy players. We have zero expectations for fantasy production after the media had high hopes for Chris Olave last season.

 

[St. Geezy]

In the 80's or 90's, last season might have been something to cheer for. I've been along for the ride quite a while now. But after tasting success, last season was an explanation point on how far we have fallen. No NFL schedule is easy? Take a look at the starting QB's we faced in 2023. You won't find an easier lineup in the history of the league. Yet, we land basically at 0.500 and out of the playoffs. But I digress....if you were satisfied with the 2023 New Orleans Saints, you are easy to please.

Ah yes...the good ol' "Exaggerate my opponent's position to close out my post and make him look foolish" trope...an internet/social media favorite.

Literally no one here is saying they were “satisfied” with the 2023 New Orleans Saints. The point being made here is that many are acting like they just watched a 3-13 season or as if we weren't a made FG away in GB from a 10 win season and a division title.

We are not as bad as many are making us out to be, including the media, who clearly just wants to see us tear the team apart and become the old baghead Saints again while in general not understanding our accounting books or how their desire isn't a very realistic approach, as those media think pieces never truly do deep dives into how we should do the tank (the actual exercise would prove it futile).

You can only beat who you have on your schedule. For the most part, we beat who we were supposed to beat last year, minus maybe the Minnesota L, we dominated some of the teams we were supposed to dominate, and some of the other Ls we took ended up being close games against teams that were a lot better than we realized at the time we played them, such as the loss in Houston, or the aforementioned GB game in which our starting QB got injured while up 17-0.

I understand that win percentage wise, the schedule was "easy" and that the season result was not satisfying, but lets stop acting like we were out here losing to the Tommy Devitos and Tyson Bagents of the world every week. We had a winning season, and were THIS close to a division title and hosting a playoff game, this despite the injuries, despite taking an L we shouldn't have taken likely directly due to our QB being hurt in GB, and despite having deficiencies in offensive coaching that many feel have now been corrected.

 

[Bayouboy]

These were the QB's the Saints faced in 2023:

Tannehill
B Young
Love
Mayfield
M Jones
Stroud
Lawrence
Minshew
Bagent
Dobbs
Ridder
Goff
B Young
Stafford
Mayfield
Ridder

Whew!!! Tough sledding! I can see how the Saints only went 9-8 and lost the division with that type of arm talent each and every week. I stand corrected!!!

 

[DerrickB]

Training camp is here and the season is a little over a month away, yet my level of excitement is meh. I knew it when it was happening (our "glory days")....that it wouldn't last forever, but now that we are officially irrelevant, it hurts! Man, gimmie back Drew Brees in his prime!!!

After you have tasted success, just being a Saints fan is not good enough. You want that winning feeling again.

WHO DAT!!!

That tends to happen when a team is no longer winning.

 

[St. Geezy]

These were the QB's the Saints faced in 2023:

Tannehill
B Young
Love
Mayfield
M Jones
Stroud
Lawrence
Minshew
Bagent
Dobbs
Ridder
Goff
B Young
Stafford
Mayfield
Ridder

Whew!!! Tough sledding! I can see how the Saints only went 9-8 and lost the division with that type of arm talent each and every week. I stand corrected!!!

Here's the point I am making. When you list it out like above, it makes it look like we were playing against and losing to a bunch of bums, but it doesn't tell the whole story.

Tannehill - Defeated

B Young - Defeated

Love - Turned out to be an actual really good QB, playoff team, blew a 17-0 lead after our QB got hurt, and we missed an easy FG, resulting in an anomaly loss on the road that literally was the difference between us going 9-8 versus us being a 10 win division title winning team

Mayfield - Better QB than we knew, made Pro Bowl, led team to a division title, beat us. Worth noting this was Carr's first full game with the injured shoulder also, and it isn't like some crazy event that we would lose to a divisional rival.

M Jones - Defeated soundly

Stroud - Turned out to not only be an actually really good QB, but he was a superstar impact QB, Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowler, for a division title winning playoff team that beat us in a close game

Lawrence - QB on par with Carr statistically, they were 5-2 when we played him, beat us in a very close game that came down to one of our TEs dropping an easy TD pass

Minshew - Defeated soundly

Bagent - Defeated soundly

Dobbs - We got caught slipping here, which I've acknowledged. We have always struggled with QBs of his type, and like Atlanta the previous week, we got caught unprepared

Ridder - Split the season series with ATL, this isn't some out of the ordinary thing, regardless of how good or bad these teams are

Goff - NFC title game participant, 3 time Pro Bowler, beat us by five points

B Young - defeated soundly

DeVito - you missed this one, who we defeated soundly

Stafford - Super Bowl winning QB, two-time Pro Bowler including 2023, beat us in a one touchdown game on a short week

Mayfield - Better QB than we knew, made Pro Bowl, led team to a division title...and despite all that, we defeated soundly

Ridder - Defeated soundly

You can only beat the teams on your schedule. And guess what...have you looked at the list of NFC QBs as of late? It's not like we dodged some incredible Murderer's Row of talent to play against.

 

[T.Sneden84]

These were the QB's the Saints faced in 2023:

Tannehill
B Young
Love
Mayfield
M Jones
Stroud
Lawrence
Minshew
Bagent
Dobbs
Ridder
Goff
B Young
Stafford
Mayfield
Ridder

Whew!!! Tough sledding! I can see how the Saints only went 9-8 and lost the division with that type of arm talent each and every week. I stand corrected!!!

to be fair the defense wasnt the problem. The offense (carmichael) was so putrid you cant really blame the D at all