About Those Slow Saints Starts
August 28th, 2020
With kickoff in 16 days — sixteen! — Joe is dialed in on all things Saints and devoured every second of the new SiriusXM NFL Radio visit to New Orleans training camp.
One key nugget to the Bucs opening in New Orleans is the Saints’ notoriously starting slow at home and losing their home openers.
Last year, the Saints needed a 58-yard field goal at the buzzer to win on opening day in the Superdome against Houston. Then they got blown out by the Rams before settling in to finish 13-3.
In 2018, Tampa Bay dropped a can of whoopass on the Saints on opening day, riding Ryan Fitzpatrick to a 48-40 victory. That Bucs win left the Saints with four consecutive home-opener losses. And then New Orleans squeaked by the Browns a week later and before you knew it they had a 10-1 record.
So why are the Saints not the Saints on opening day?
Drew Brees spoke this week about how he’s always been a guy whose arm gets stronger as a season progresses, and the same goes for his mind. The term “midseason form,” per Brees, is a cliché that typically applies to him.
Weeks ago, Joe listened to Brees’ throwing coach, Tom House, interviewed on the Saints official website. (House also coaches Tom Brady.) House detailed how he and Brees spent virus lockdown totally focused on improving Brees’ arm strength. And they got in more work than usual because, per House, he and Brees were holed up down the street from each other.
Per House, Brees came out of the extensive training throwing balls 56 yards with ease and accuracy, something he hadn’t been doing previously.
Interestingly, when asked on radio this week about his offseason work, Brees shared little about that strength focus and didn’t mention House and their unique work together. It was almost like Brees wants to keep it all very quiet and maybe surprise the Bucs.
Regardless, Brees and Sean Payton have accomplished a lot, but have never quite figured out how to be a great team on opening day.
Hopefully, it’s something for the Bucs to capitalize on.
August 28th, 2020 at 6:47 pm
Curious if Brees’ arm will start to wear down late in the season. At 41 years old , your body does not hold up as long. I like the fact that BA and the Bucs has forced Brady to take rest days.
August 28th, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Slow starts were because of Brees’ arm strength?
Really?
August 28th, 2020 at 7:22 pm
Hey yall. Just a heads up. I just seen NBC is showing full replay of Bucs shutting down the old Philly stadium on way to the Super Bowl.
Not a bad second choice to ice hockey being infected with political crap.
Starts at 8.
August 28th, 2020 at 7:39 pm
I already bet my Saints buddy a G head up no questions asked and nothing else.
He is Aaron Brooks’ cousin.
I want to Seriously enjoy spending that money. I am going to do it Tiny bits at a time. Texting him every time I buy anything.
August 28th, 2020 at 7:40 pm
JimmyJack Says:
August 28th, 2020 at 7:22 pm
Hey yall. Just a heads up. I just seen NBC is showing full replay of Bucs shutting down the old Philly stadium on way to the Super Bowl.
Not a bad second choice to ice hockey being infected with political crap.
Starts at 8.
…..
Thumbs Up!!!
August 28th, 2020 at 7:41 pm
Hey Jimmy…….get in our JBF pickem league.
http://fantasy.espn.com/nfl-pigskin-pickem/2020/en/group?groupID=99276
August 28th, 2020 at 7:51 pm
AlabamaBucsFan Says:
August 28th, 2020 at 6:47 pm
Curious if Brees’ arm will start to wear down late in the season. At 41 years old , your body does not hold up as long. I like the fact that BA and the Bucs has forced Brady to take rest days.
…………..
I am 56 and can still throw at least a 30 yard dime.
My son has a dream of being a WR or safety when he is WAY more set for QB or LB but he will get it sooner or later. I will entertain all of his aspirations.
Fck being 43! I could whoop any 25 year old when I was 43
I don’t think Brady has been slipping with his health for the last 20 years.
August 28th, 2020 at 7:51 pm
Sorry about the inadvertent “u”
My bad.
August 28th, 2020 at 8:52 pm
In the words of Bruce, “this team isn’t any good because we haven’t played anyone.” Or something like that. Saints are same.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:35 pm
That’s a good call on Brees keeping his arm on the DL.
August 28th, 2020 at 9:55 pm
SB,
“I am 56 and can still throw at least a 30 yard dime.”
I hope you’re joking. ….because a 30yd dime is a 10yd out from the middle of the field, 5yds from the far hash.. Not impressive.
30yd dime with your butt on the turf..,,,.that my friend is worth mentioning!
August 28th, 2020 at 10:07 pm
Well your definition of a 30 yard dime and mine are completely different I guess.
At 56 I can throw a 30 yard Rope.
How is that!?
I guess you just like conflict.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:13 pm
SB I will join that league but could you do favor and repost link later? Or I’ll forget to make my picks each week.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Not sure what you were actually insinuating D1.
Appears there was a hidden theme.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Sure Jimmy:
http://fantasy.espn.com/nfl-pigskin-pickem/2020/en/group?groupID=99276
August 28th, 2020 at 10:18 pm
Pretty sure I can still chunk it 70 yards but not like I could 35 years ago.
Point being I am a carpenter and I take care of my body differently than the G.O.A.T.
People that don’t understand that he is the Anomaly of a “43 year old” will never get it until he shows them.
August 28th, 2020 at 10:19 pm
@Jimmyjack
Joe has been really good at letting the links go through for the league.
They don’t go through right away but he puts them through
August 28th, 2020 at 10:21 pm
I need to say this somewhere… NBC channel 8 is replaying the Bucs-Eagles 2003 playoff game. I forgot how pretty damn good Greg spires was and How Michael Pittman will take 20 steps and only go 2 yards. He always seemed to run hard and go nowhere LoL
August 28th, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Seems like forever ago and yet the year before 2001/2002 was Tom Brady‘s first Super Bowl win!
August 28th, 2020 at 10:38 pm
This game could be the toughest of the season
August 28th, 2020 at 10:48 pm
Cmon now brees just retire let Jamies take over go do the Broadcaster thing
August 28th, 2020 at 11:15 pm
It was not Drew brees’s fault last time Fitzmagic showed up and hung 48 on them. That was on their defense. I believe Godwin dropped a wide open bomb fron Fitz with clear sailing to the endzone, it would have been 55. The Bucs beat them in a track meet with Fitz, they can definately do the same with the G O A T. Most likely this game will be a shootout, and least turnovers wins. GO BUCS!!!!!
August 28th, 2020 at 11:31 pm
Nice observation August
August 28th, 2020 at 11:34 pm
We’re gonna make the saints cover the whole field. I’m interested to see how both defenses perform.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:06 am
Back in ’87, I’m 50, I could throw a football a quarter mile! I bet I could throw a football over a mountain!
While ya’ll were playing patty-cake with your friends, I made $120.00.
Uncle Fanman!
I don’t ever take Drew Brees lightly. Like Brady, if he’s on your team you ALWAYS have a chance.
August 29th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
I don’t think I could ever chunk a football 70 yards, even when I was in my best shape. Not a natural athlete, but I always loved football. 🤩
Assuming both teams are as well prepared as they can be in spite of the virus I expect a tough game. By the time we face KC (assuming no drastic injuries for either team) that game should be a dandy also.
August 31st, 2020 at 6:11 pm
You open the can of whoopass, not drop it.