THE MASTER PLAN: Slowing down Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) rallies teammates in a huddle before taking on the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. (Associated Press Photo/John Amis)
FLOWERY BRANCH – New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is still pretty dangerous, but his play has dipped some this season.
His passer rating of 93.5 is well below the 109.5 he had last season while guiding the Saints to the Super Bowl.
His touchdown percentage of 5.4 is below the 6.6 mark he had last season.
Safety Thomas DeCoud "congradtulating" Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2. The hit led to a Falcons touchdown.
Brees has also thrown a career-high 19 interceptions and has been sacked 21 times. He was sacked just 20 times last season.
While there are signs that Brees is not invincible this season, the Falcons are still high on him and consider the reigning Super Bowl MVP in the top echelon of quarterbacks.
“His completion percentage and his ability to distribute the ball has just been unbelievable,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s a great fit for head coach Sean Payton’s offensive scheme and what they want to do. He’s almost completing 70 percent of his passes and last year I believe he was over 70 percent if I’m not mistaken.”
(Coach Smith is always on top of his stats. Brees is completing 68.5 percent of his passes after completing 70.6 last season.)
In basketball, when playing a team with a high scorer sometimes you try to take away the high scorer. But if he’s too good, then you have to take away the lesser players and see if the high scorer can beat you by himself.
Against the Saints, the Falcons have to decide if they want to take away Brees, who controls everything or try to eliminated some of his weapons. He has so many weapons that it’s nearly impossible to take all of them away.
Here’s how the Falcons can take away some of Brees’ vast weaponry.
Reggie Bush breaking loose against Arizona. (Associated Press)
ATTACK BREES: The defensive line must get to Brees and take him out of his game. They call it moving him off his spot.
The Falcons got two sacks and four quarterback back hits in the previous matchup. The defensive line has eight sacks over the last three games.
They need to get more than two sacks and many more than four hits on Brees to knock him off his game.
“We’ve been effective recently in our pass rush and better in pressure,” defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. “Our speed and pressure has been better the last couple of games. It’s still an area where we are constantly talking about and working on and emphasizing. But I thought last week out in Seattle it was outstanding especially in the third quarter when we
Rams wide receiver Laurent Robinson (19. right) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons safety William Moore (25) during the first quarter. AP
came out and affected the quarterback and had three straight takeaways. All of that was a big result of pressure to the quarterback.”
STOP BUSH & THE RUN GAME: Rookie LB Sean Weatherspoon needs to shut down Reggie Bush on the screens and swing passes out of the backfield. He’ll have to be a sure tackler and not go for Bush’s smooth fakes and stutter steps.
The Falcons held the Saints to 43 yards rushing in the last matchup.
“If you’ve played them as much as we have, we’ve had a number of games where they’ve been very effective running the football against us,” VanGorder said. “We always start our defense there. Let’s concern ourselves with stopping the run and we certainly have had a number of games where we haven’t played very well against the run with New Orleans. That’s where we start our day.”
TAKE AWAY SHOCKEY: Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey caught eight passes for 78 yards and one touchdown in the last meeting.
Second-year safety William Moore was making his second start against the Saints on Sept. 27.
Let’s just be kind and write that he was taught a few things about covering tight ends in the league in that game.
Brian Williams had an impact in his first game. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)
“We play them a little different each time we line up with them,” VanGorder said. “Every game has been a learning experience with them. They are a handful. . . they are always a great, great challenge for everybody in the NFL.”
Moore has been coming along nicely.
“I like where he is in terms of his study habits right now and his attention to detail,” VanGorder said. “I’ll be quite frank with you, he’s done a better job than even I had anticipated early on as he entered our lineup and that’s a credit to him. . . he’s going to make mistakes, but we look forward to him really playing through some of those mistakes.”
Also, safety Erik Coleman, who lost his job to Moore, has been a professional about the move after being the team’s second-leading tackler over the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
“Erik is tremendous,” VanGorder said. “He’s very knowledgeable. He’s a good solid man that has been extremely helpful to William through this process.”
(Feel free to come up with your own ways to slow down Drew Brees and the Saints’ sixth ranked offense. Nickel back Brian Williams should do a better job on Lance Moore. He didn’t play in the first game, either.)
–D. Orlando Ledbetter
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179 comments Add your comment
BEVO
December 27th, 2010
10:07 am
Saints bleaux!!! Their time is already up!!!!!!
papadawg
December 27th, 2010
10:07 am
I don’t care what Brees stats are to this point, all I know is if the Birds allow him to get in his groove it’s going to be a long night
truth
December 27th, 2010
10:08 am
Slow……long…….10+ play drives. That’s what I hope to see from Atlanta. Make it boring all night long. Don’t want a shut-out with Brees.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 27th, 2010
10:18 am
FALCONS FEVER — That video is HOT!!!! Love Abe and Coy flying out of the tunnel and the tribute to the 98 Dirty Birds.
gadome
December 27th, 2010
10:29 am
What ever happened to the Falcons black uniforms other teams have multi colored unis and the birds only the current and the 66 versions would be good to see them change it up once in a while. For tonight theirs no chance we lose it wont be easy but we will.
Givonti
December 27th, 2010
10:39 am
Falconsrise up
Rico as in Puerto
December 27th, 2010
10:39 am
Sandy, welcome to the sport of football. If you hang around for a while you’ll understand how much falcon fans hate ain’s fans and how big this rivalry is! Falcons have not lost at home this year – NO the aint’s cannot take it if they want it bad enough.
Steve C
December 27th, 2010
10:41 am
The only thing that worries me is the quick strike big play. That’s how Philly beat us, and we can’t let NO beat us the same way. If we play our game and control the ball and the clock then we should win. If our safeties bite on some trick play or some misdirection Brees can capitalize. NO BIG PLAYS and we walk out winners.
Givonti
December 27th, 2010
10:41 am
FAlcons rise up and the Saints fall down
Rico as in Puerto
December 27th, 2010
10:42 am
The Grime Reaper will be at work tonight! (can’t take credit for the nickname – someone on the another blog came up with it)
mark
December 27th, 2010
10:43 am
We don’t let ANYBODY come into our HOUSE and push us around. GO FALCONS !!!!!!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 27th, 2010
10:48 am
Damion Sims and Falcons Fever — Hope y’all don’t mind if I post the video for the fans.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 27th, 2010
10:53 am
Rico — I like the Grime Reaper. That’s a good one.
falconfiend
December 27th, 2010
10:59 am
can you feel it. its time. RISE UP ATLANTA. REPRESENT THIS GREAT CITY.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & TIred
December 27th, 2010
11:04 am
Hopefully the fans will come with some energy tonight to rock the GA Dome. It should be loud in there from the first whistle starting the game until the very end. When the Saints have the ball, MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!! WE NEED IT SO LOUD IN THERE THAT BREES CAN’T EVEN HEAR HIMSELF THINK!!!! GO FALCONS!!!!!
jay
December 27th, 2010
11:05 am
Wow! There is no ex-saints on the team. Going to lose.
stendek
December 27th, 2010
11:11 am
Have been Falcon watcher since 1966 so put those tar and feathers away. Could this scenario occur? Close loss to Saints at Georgia Dome. Unthinkable upset defeat against Panthers? No division title. No home field playoff advantage. Wild card playoff spot. Could that nightmare occur? Hope not! Honestly. Packers scare me Hell of a lot more than Philly Vultures. Like Falcon chances in rematch with thug dog killer Michael Sick birdies. Do not feel confident about rematch with Packers. Anyone else concur? Oh well. Just rip Saints to wipe that distasteful scenario out entirely! GO FALCONS! STENDEK
gadome
December 27th, 2010
11:24 am
Crazy as it may be I don’t see Falcons losing any more games even with New England if they make it to the Super Bowl. The Falcons will go on a five game win streak which will make them this seasons SB champs.
gadome
December 27th, 2010
11:25 am
Dallas get ready here the comes Falcons.
GT_Falcons
December 27th, 2010
11:26 am
FALCON FEVER—that video was AMAZING. I replayed it about 10 times so far. Here’s the link people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPqx6nRYnpU
falconfiend
December 27th, 2010
11:27 am
brees likes to throw the deep ball especially on the first series of the game. he cant help to throw the ball deep. need to time blitzes. line backers are going to have to hit recievers at the line and lance moore on the crossing patterns because that is where moore gets most of his catches. we need to do the little things like jam recievers and get after brees.
gadome
December 27th, 2010
11:27 am
“here comes the Falcons”
Adrian
December 27th, 2010
11:43 am
I love how you say us Saints are talking smack, and when I read these comments, they really hurt, and just want me to win more.
I give total respect to the Falcons, they are a pretty good team, they really proved it against the Ravens. But the Saints are going to win, when we put our heart into it, we dominate.
34-28 Saints
Keith Redding
December 27th, 2010
11:47 am
as the King would say, TCB babyyyyy Win and we’re home for a long stretch!!!!
BLACKNGOLD
December 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Until the Atlanta Falcons get a ring, Then you can call yourselves ELITE..UNTIL THEN..PLAY FOOTBALL, STAY HUMBLE, and KEEP UR MOUTH SHUT(RODDY WHITE)!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bandwagon Fans
December 27th, 2010
11:50 am
Falcons fans are a joke! Most of you, and you know who you are, never attended a game or paid attention to your team until this year. True fans, like Packers, Giants, Eagles, Saints, or Cowboys fans show up whether their team has a good or bad season. You want respect, support your team whether its good or bad!! I remember watching a couple of Falcons games over the last few years and it looked like a soccer game with all the empty seats.
JONESBORO SLIM
December 27th, 2010
11:51 am
Let me repeat “I welcome all Saints fans to Atlanta with JOY…and I remind you that I will be here to COMFORT you in your lost TONIGHT and your hours of pain”
Supes
December 27th, 2010
12:00 pm
to Bandwagon Fans (I’m gonna say you are a Saints fan full of jealosy so this is for you)…remember seeing their dome half empty and seeing them wearing the brown paper bags over their faces when their team was 3-13…It happens man!
Falcons don’t have the tradition of the Packers or Dallas or the Giants. But they will…and to put the Saints in that list is right down laughable…seen that New Orleans Dome half full MANY times during their lean years.
JONESBORO SLIM
December 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Bandwagon….If I remember Saints fans weren’t there for team in the “not so long ago years”…and when the Saints were in the tank the few fans that showed up were ashame of the team by wearing paper bags over their heads…I sure you don’t remember that……..
gadome
December 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
@Bandwagon Fans:
Sure some are fair weather fans but I can tell you about me I was five when the Falcons started in Atlanta and have always been a fan through the bad years when they had no talent or was considered a professional football team. Along with the Aints we have shared many losses together but tonight will be different there will be more fans nation wide to get on the Falcons bandwagon.
JONESBORO SLIM
December 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
Way to go Supes we’ve got to protect the OUR Falcons…….
Right on Target
December 27th, 2010
12:06 pm
“Most of you, and you know who you are, never attended a game or paid attention to your team until this year.”
Congratulations! Very good description of the New Orleans fan base starting last year.
Huh
December 27th, 2010
12:09 pm
Remember all those saints bumper stickers, etc. you saw before 2009?
Me neither.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
December 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Falcons Fans, Saints Fans….were all the same, aren’t we? We Saints blew the last meeting with our choked field goal – do you recall? The better team won last meeting, no question. Tonight, in your dome, you will be let down. It’s not a prediction.
JONESBORO SLIM
December 27th, 2010
12:19 pm
@ Huh ……that was funny as *%#@
Jeff
December 27th, 2010
12:19 pm
Congratulating*
The Dogkiller Returns
December 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
taints will lose, and our blogs will finally be free of toilet trash.
whodat matt dat
December 27th, 2010
12:42 pm
win tonight, bucs win next week, aints go home and the whodat gutter rats will shut up,
Who dat done swept us!
December 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
Get out your brooms… Let’s sweep the division…
Whodat done swept us!
December 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
Geax back 2 da levys dat done brokeded…
mgm
December 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
I say play the second string. Don’t show the Saints anything. Let them win tonight. Take care of Carolina and lock up a week off and home field next week. Then beat the hell out of the Saints in the second round when they come back. The Falcons will be rested, at home and have had three weeks to gameplan. But no coach would ever do that.
Who is the idiot that came up with RISE UP?
December 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
The only good time to RISE-UP is after you’re buried. So I guess its going to fit the FALCAN’TS tonight becasue the SAINTS are going to come in a bury your SUPER BOWL hopes. The Flowery Branch defense is going wilt under the pressure of a real SUPER BOWL CONTENDER tonight. That cracks me up a team from Flowery Branch. LMAO. How tough are we? We’re from Flowery Branch… LMAO
Trey
December 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
When I read “geaux” I think of the sound of the Hershey runs. With that being said; the Falcons will win tonight and send them Saints marching back down there.
The Joker...
December 27th, 2010
12:54 pm
@Bandwagon Fans:
Let me add on to everything my fellow Falcons Brethens have already said….prior till a few years ago, Saints Fans were wearing bags over their heads and not showing up to Saints games….So what’s your point? I will admit that Falcon Fans did the same same thing for years but that is what happens with almost every professional organization that is known for losing…it happens (Unfortunately) and cities such as Green Bay and Philly(especially in the cold seasons) have nothing else better to do in those cities but to randomly attend games and cities like New York have huge (HomeGrown) populations so even if some people do slack off from the games they have the population to fill up any event at any time……
The Joker...
December 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
Who is the idiot that came up with RISE UP?
December 27th, 2010
12:51 pm
LOL…His name is Samuel Jackson, What is the name of the facility or swamp that the Saints practice at?
Saints in PRIME TIME!!!!!!
December 27th, 2010
12:59 pm
EQUALS FALCAN’TS CRYING TIME!!!! No one in the NFL ia afraid of the sissy team from FLOWERY BRANCH…LMOA
Cajun crap talker
December 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
Hey birdies, don’t you see that the Falcons are just setting you up for post-season disappointment, like every other team from Atlanta?
MY PIONT EXACTLY!!!!
December 27th, 2010
1:02 pm
What does Samuel Jackson and The Flowery Branch Tweety Birds have in common = LOSERS
Trey
December 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
No one n the NFL is afraid of a second place team from the Bayou.
Trey
December 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
Hell, the Falcons are not in second.