Drew Brees

[gear02]

Ok...I still don't get Drew Brees. I thought last year was a fluke and he's still doing it. How did he get from huge disappointment (Chargers drafted Rivers...well...essentially drafted) to Pro Bowler? Did he change something? Did he practice harder? I really don't get how someone can be crap then excellent in one year.

[MikeD]

Ok...I still don't get Drew Brees. I thought last year was a fluke and he's still doing it. How did he get from huge disappointment (Chargers drafted Rivers...well...essentially drafted) to Pro Bowler? Did he change something? Did he practice harder? I really don't get how someone can be crap then excellent in one year.

The announcers said during last weeks 'Skins - Chargers game that Marty stated that "...his arm has gotten stronger over the past two years. He can make the deep throws better now."

:eek3:

I don't get it either, though having Gates emerge and Tomlinson become the best RB in the league has certainly helped. He's definitely made Rivers expendable, but who takes on that contract for a completely unproven player?

[ialsohaveadream]

QBs do get better with experience, so that's part of it. But the fact that he's got LT really hides his flaws. If Harrington had Tomlinson in the backfield, we might be saying the same stuff about him.

[gear02]

but didn't brees have LT for a long time before last year?

[Jenny]

It's cause he doesn't wanna disappoint his fantasy owners. (Go me! 2nd place baby! ;) )

[attgig]

brees is still inconsistent. but yeah, the first couple years are really difficult for most QBs to simply adjust to the NFL. he played one game in 01, and 02 was his first real season. he started doing ok in 02 for essentially a rookie qb, but in 03, took a step back (perhaps d's started figuring him out).

He's continued to improve since then. with last year being a fluke season (imo - 7 int's for entire year is total fluke).

[DaFunkyUnit]

its the o line.

[eSDee]

Nothing like the threat of losing your job to make you want to win at all costs.

[brainsmile]

it's his wife... :P

[MikeD]

Got pics? :D

[VTGreg]

I don't get it either, though having Gates emerge and Tomlinson become the best RB in the league has certainly helped.

Ding ding ding.... we have a winner. Add Gates, Keenan McCardell and a decent offensive line to go with the best running back in football and a QB would be hard pressed to not do well.

[sizemic1]

He's definitely made Rivers expendable, but who takes on that contract for a completely unproven player?

Look at the quarterbacks around the league. There's at least a half a dozen teams that would pick up Rivers. But honestly, I don't think SD is gonna get rid of Rivers, unless they can get some kick ass draft picks.

[attgig]

brees still has been somewhat inconsistent, and management of the bolts think rivers is the QB of the future (kinda like how cincy figured kitna was ok and all during palmer's rookie year, but made the call). that's probably what's going to happen this off season, and brees will have to find a new home.

[ialsohaveadream]

We'll take him in Tampa!

[brainsmile]

They live just down the street from me...

http://www.juniorseau.org/images/laslavic_brees_yahnke.jpg

http://www.sdhumane.org/howyoucanhelp/brees.JPG





Got pics? :D

[zippyjuan]

Floutie uset to live in my neighborhood.

[navyones]

Brees finally has a line that can protect him. I think that is the key to Brees's success. It doesn't hurt having the best running back in the NFL to make teams have to keep players in to protect against the run either.

[bendogg]

Wow! His wife is hot! I agree that it all starts with the O-Line! Not running for your life on every play is huge. And yes, having a much-improved supporting cast allows for a 2 or 3-dimensional team instead of making Brees do everything. I think Rivers will be gone at year's end. Most teams would love to trade for Rivers. You know that all the up-front and guaranteed money comes in the signing bonus, which the Chargers will have to totally eat if they trade him. His salary can't be that high. A team would be getting a promising young QB without having to pay the huge signing bonus. A no-brainer!

I hope they give Brees the long-term contract he deserves and keep some consistency here for a change. I really like the direction they (Chargers management) are going in now. They lock up LT making him the best-paid back in the league, lock up Mike Scifres (sic?) making him the best-paid punter in the league, lock up Gates, but not until he signed the one-year $300,000 tender (not sure what the point of that was, it cost us the Dallas game!), and keeping Marty and friends on the coaching staff. Have you ever heard of a team bringing back all of its starters? That's awesome.

Oh yeah, and something did happen before last year. Brees got with some toxin/diet guru and really streamlined what he ate. In combination with a new, strict workout regimen, he got a stronger arm and started playing much better. Whatever it was worked.

[jonEwantsM3]

and keeping Marty and friends on the coaching staff.

I think that was a smart decision too, especially to bring in Wade PHillips as Dcoordinator and the tight end coach from Miami to coach up Gates. But Wade Phillips stated last month that was he had his ear out for head coaching job anywhere b/c he feels he can. I hope he doesnt tho.

Drew Brees on the other hand just needed time, It normally takes 3-4 years for a QB to get acquainted in the NFL (unless ur Big Ben) and with AJ Smith as general manager, 2 years was the time needed for him just to decide to move on and draft Phillip Rivers. Brees shows up in his 4th year and now AJ doesnt look bad cuz now they've got 2 good QBs and are (i think) the team with the most cap space left to use on their players.

My offseason prediction:
-They keep Brees.
-They trade Phillip Rivers to a team needing a QB for the #1 draft pick and a beastly safety (like bringing Rodney back to SD).
-They use the #1 pick on Reggie Bush and make him a hometown hero
-Chargers win the super next year and the following 5 years. =)

[GraingerGuy]

Not to hijack the thread....but does that mean that after the Texans get a good O-line and Reggie Bush....David Carr is going to be awesome? :)

[MikeD]

Not to hijack the thread....but does that mean that after the Texans get a good O-line and Reggie Bush....David Carr is going to be awesome? :)

Ehh, it could happen. "Getting a good O-Line" is easier said than done though, and it would help to have a compliment to Andre Johnson (in the same way that McCardell and Gates compliment each other).

:shrug:

[ufcrusher]

You know its sad when I see its all about the O line and think not about the "Offensive Line" as I should, but about Sabine Ehrenfeld's lovely commericals for Overstock. Yes, my immediate thought was gee someone is being funny, then it hit me and I realized my brain is mush right now.

[Yossarian]

But Wade Phillips stated last month that was he had his ear out for head coaching job anywhere b/c he feels he can. I hope he doesnt tho.


he can't.

he tried in buffalo and failed with the leagues second ranked defence

[gaemul]

got him on my fantasy football team. I'm loving him