Cowboys vs. Saints
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scubadoo
Active Member
Originally Posted by emmitt2
Y Of course, Parcells doesnt blitz much so if you can hadle our front 4 straight up, you may have a chance.
You play a base 3-4...so I am uncertain what you mean by control your front 4.
Big time Jr and High School football...I knew that was you Al Bundy.
Y Of course, Parcells doesnt blitz much so if you can hadle our front 4 straight up, you may have a chance.
You play a base 3-4...so I am uncertain what you mean by control your front 4.
Big time Jr and High School football...I knew that was you Al Bundy.
scubadoo
Active Member
From a Dallas homer.....
David Moore: Cool Brees blows 'em away
Saints' QB is writing feel-good story of NFL season (sorry, Romo)
02:33 AM CST on Monday, December 11, 2006
David Moore
IRVING – Those enamored by Tony Romo's rise, those so bold to suggest he should find himself in the Pro Bowl, could be right.
He'll be the one holding the clipboard for Drew Brees.
It's time to put Romo-mentum – and all the other trite phrases that have sprouted in recent weeks – to bed. There was no question as to the better quarterback Sunday night at Texas Stadium.
There is no question as to the better team.
Chicago owns the top record in the NFC, but the Saints' 25-point victory over the Cowboys proved they are the team to fear moving forward. The Saints' rise from obscurity – not Romo's – is the true, feel-good story in the league this season.
Talk about buzz kill.
Brees won a state title for Austin Westlake the last time he started a game at Texas Stadium. No championship was captured Sunday, but the Saints quarterback treated the Cowboys defense with the same disdain he did Abilene Cooper's back in 1996.
"Hey, that's a very good defense," Brees said.
He must have been talking about Abilene Cooper.
Brees carved up the Cowboys secondary, completing 26 of 38 passes for 384 yards and five touchdowns. He led the Saints on scoring drives of 88 and 95 yards.
And that was before halftime.
The Saints held the ball so long in the first half that Romo could have flown to New Orleans, enjoyed a nice, leisurely meal at Antoine's and returned to Texas Stadium without missing a Cowboys possession. New Orleans held the ball nearly 11 ½ minutes longer than the Cowboys in the first two quarters and ran more than twice as many plays.
"That defense [Cowboys] has been playing very, very well," Brees said again, hoping someone would believe him. "But we feel like we're very good on offense, too. We know if we come in and we're balanced, if we take care of the football, if we just execute the way we know how, we should be able to score on anybody.
"I think we proved that tonight."
The Saints proved the beauty of having Reggie Bush on your team is that no one pays attention to Mike Karney, Jamal Jones or any other player in a New Orleans uniform who picked Sunday to score his first NFL touchdown.
OK, let's not exaggerate here. Karney and Jones were the only Saints to score their first career touchdowns. But Brees did concede that coach Sean Payton's knowledge of the Cowboys allowed the Saints to run certain routes against certain defenders. When the Cowboys rushed their outside linebackers and pressured Brees early, he adjusted by getting the ball out to Bush in the flat.
One of those resulted in a beautiful, 61-yard touchdown reception for the rookie back. He finished with six catches for 125 yards.
"There were times when he came out of the backfield and he was doubled," Brees said. "But hey, you can't double him all the time. There are times you have to play man-to-man and put pressure on the quarterback.
"We were able to get the ball to him in space, and he was able to take it the distance that one time."
Bush has admitted to wondering if he's built for the NFL game. His four-touchdown, breakout performance against San Francisco last week helped ease those concerns.
This was the next step on the road to stardom.
Then he can join Brees.
"The crazy thing is, I've almost come to expect it every week," rookie receiver Marques Colston said of his quarterback. "Having someone like that in your backfield, leading the team, it's the biggest plus in the world."
Even more remarkable, the Saints have come to expect victory.
Who would have thought that before the season started?
"We're re-adjusting the bar on ourselves," Brees said. "I feel like this team will continue to rise to the occasion, rise to the challenge."
E-mail dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore: Cool Brees blows 'em away
Saints' QB is writing feel-good story of NFL season (sorry, Romo)
02:33 AM CST on Monday, December 11, 2006
David Moore
IRVING – Those enamored by Tony Romo's rise, those so bold to suggest he should find himself in the Pro Bowl, could be right.
He'll be the one holding the clipboard for Drew Brees.
It's time to put Romo-mentum – and all the other trite phrases that have sprouted in recent weeks – to bed. There was no question as to the better quarterback Sunday night at Texas Stadium.
There is no question as to the better team.
Chicago owns the top record in the NFC, but the Saints' 25-point victory over the Cowboys proved they are the team to fear moving forward. The Saints' rise from obscurity – not Romo's – is the true, feel-good story in the league this season.
Talk about buzz kill.
Brees won a state title for Austin Westlake the last time he started a game at Texas Stadium. No championship was captured Sunday, but the Saints quarterback treated the Cowboys defense with the same disdain he did Abilene Cooper's back in 1996.
"Hey, that's a very good defense," Brees said.
He must have been talking about Abilene Cooper.
Brees carved up the Cowboys secondary, completing 26 of 38 passes for 384 yards and five touchdowns. He led the Saints on scoring drives of 88 and 95 yards.
And that was before halftime.
The Saints held the ball so long in the first half that Romo could have flown to New Orleans, enjoyed a nice, leisurely meal at Antoine's and returned to Texas Stadium without missing a Cowboys possession. New Orleans held the ball nearly 11 ½ minutes longer than the Cowboys in the first two quarters and ran more than twice as many plays.
"That defense [Cowboys] has been playing very, very well," Brees said again, hoping someone would believe him. "But we feel like we're very good on offense, too. We know if we come in and we're balanced, if we take care of the football, if we just execute the way we know how, we should be able to score on anybody.
"I think we proved that tonight."
The Saints proved the beauty of having Reggie Bush on your team is that no one pays attention to Mike Karney, Jamal Jones or any other player in a New Orleans uniform who picked Sunday to score his first NFL touchdown.
OK, let's not exaggerate here. Karney and Jones were the only Saints to score their first career touchdowns. But Brees did concede that coach Sean Payton's knowledge of the Cowboys allowed the Saints to run certain routes against certain defenders. When the Cowboys rushed their outside linebackers and pressured Brees early, he adjusted by getting the ball out to Bush in the flat.
One of those resulted in a beautiful, 61-yard touchdown reception for the rookie back. He finished with six catches for 125 yards.
"There were times when he came out of the backfield and he was doubled," Brees said. "But hey, you can't double him all the time. There are times you have to play man-to-man and put pressure on the quarterback.
"We were able to get the ball to him in space, and he was able to take it the distance that one time."
Bush has admitted to wondering if he's built for the NFL game. His four-touchdown, breakout performance against San Francisco last week helped ease those concerns.
This was the next step on the road to stardom.
Then he can join Brees.
"The crazy thing is, I've almost come to expect it every week," rookie receiver Marques Colston said of his quarterback. "Having someone like that in your backfield, leading the team, it's the biggest plus in the world."
Even more remarkable, the Saints have come to expect victory.
Who would have thought that before the season started?
"We're re-adjusting the bar on ourselves," Brees said. "I feel like this team will continue to rise to the occasion, rise to the challenge."
E-mail dmoore@dallasnews.com
emmitt2
Member
Originally Posted by ScubaDoo
You play a base 3-4...so I am uncertain what you mean by control your front 4.
Big time Jr and High School football...I knew that was you Al Bundy.
If you watched the game you know we play a 3-4 in name only. Lots of times we are in a straight 4-3 and almost the entire game every game we have 4 down lineman as ware and ellis(nowsingleton or Carpenter) are always on the line either down or standing along with
[hr]
/canty and ferguson, but rushing the passer. Again, nice try though.
And no, not Al Bundy. I played at BIG TIME schools with great coaches, way too bigtime for me. I barely played except for senior year because of alot of injuries.
You play a base 3-4...so I am uncertain what you mean by control your front 4.
Big time Jr and High School football...I knew that was you Al Bundy.
If you watched the game you know we play a 3-4 in name only. Lots of times we are in a straight 4-3 and almost the entire game every game we have 4 down lineman as ware and ellis(nowsingleton or Carpenter) are always on the line either down or standing along with
[hr]
/canty and ferguson, but rushing the passer. Again, nice try though.
And no, not Al Bundy. I played at BIG TIME schools with great coaches, way too bigtime for me. I barely played except for senior year because of alot of injuries.
scubadoo
Active Member
Originally Posted by emmitt2
If you watched the game you know we play a 3-4 in name only. Lots of times we are in a straight 4-3 and almost the entire game every game we have 4 down lineman as ware and ellis(nowsingleton or Carpenter) are always on the line either down or standing along with
[hr]
/canty and ferguson, but rushing the passer. Again, nice try though.
And no, not Al Bundy. I played at BIG TIME schools with great coaches, way too bigtime for me. I barely played except for senior year because of alot of injuries.
Nice try
If you watched the game you know we play a 3-4 in name only. Lots of times we are in a straight 4-3 and almost the entire game every game we have 4 down lineman as ware and ellis(nowsingleton or Carpenter) are always on the line either down or standing along with
[hr]
/canty and ferguson, but rushing the passer. Again, nice try though.
And no, not Al Bundy. I played at BIG TIME schools with great coaches, way too bigtime for me. I barely played except for senior year because of alot of injuries.
Nice try
emmitt2
Member
Are you joking? Watch any highlight of the game and i guarantee we had four lineman. Watch any highlight from this year and i guarantee you we have four lineman. Before Ellis got hurt 99% of the time we had Ellis,
[hr]
, Feguson, Ware lined up rushing the passer. Now instead of Ellis it is Carpenter or Singleton almost every play. Are you telling me that isnt true?? The only reason we even call it a 3-4 is because technically we have Ellis and Ware as lb's not defensive linemen. Just because Ware is standing up from the end position half the time instead of in a 3 point stance doesnt make him a lb
The only time we might play a true 3-4 is in prevent defense when we arent rushing the passer
I dont care what the press release says, when we have #94, 96, 95 and 98/99 on our front line, that sounds like a 4-3 to me :notsure:
[hr]
, Feguson, Ware lined up rushing the passer. Now instead of Ellis it is Carpenter or Singleton almost every play. Are you telling me that isnt true?? The only reason we even call it a 3-4 is because technically we have Ellis and Ware as lb's not defensive linemen. Just because Ware is standing up from the end position half the time instead of in a 3 point stance doesnt make him a lb
I dont care what the press release says, when we have #94, 96, 95 and 98/99 on our front line, that sounds like a 4-3 to me :notsure:
scubadoo
Active Member
Originally Posted by emmitt2
Are you joking? Watch any highlight of the game and i guarantee we had four lineman. Watch any highlight from this year and i guarantee you we have four lineman. Before Ellis got hurt 99% of the time we had Ellis,
[hr]
, Feguson, Ware lined up rushing the passer. Now instead of Ellis it is Carpenter or Singleton almost every play. Are you telling me that isnt true?? The only reason we even call it a 3-4 is because technically we have Ellis and Ware as lb's not defensive linemen. Just because Ware is standing up from the end position half the time instead of in a 3 point stance doesnt make him a lb
The only time we might play a true 3-4 is in prevent defense when we arent rushing the passer
You play a base 3-4. many teams that play this base will send in 4 or even 5 defensive linemen on occassioon . You are billed and play a 3-4 scheme...so the Saints would not plan to control your front four as you most likely would be in your base for much of the game.
Even the outside backers will often blitz...but it is not a "front four".
There is a BIG difference between a 4-3 scheme and a 3-4 scheme besides a name.
I even read in "Know Your Cowboys" that you remained in your 3-4 base for much of the game against the GIants when I was checking out Dallas before Sunday. This site claimed this is why you did not get consistent pressure on Manning.
Nice try
Of course, it did not matter last night.
Are you joking? Watch any highlight of the game and i guarantee we had four lineman. Watch any highlight from this year and i guarantee you we have four lineman. Before Ellis got hurt 99% of the time we had Ellis,
[hr]
, Feguson, Ware lined up rushing the passer. Now instead of Ellis it is Carpenter or Singleton almost every play. Are you telling me that isnt true?? The only reason we even call it a 3-4 is because technically we have Ellis and Ware as lb's not defensive linemen. Just because Ware is standing up from the end position half the time instead of in a 3 point stance doesnt make him a lb
You play a base 3-4. many teams that play this base will send in 4 or even 5 defensive linemen on occassioon . You are billed and play a 3-4 scheme...so the Saints would not plan to control your front four as you most likely would be in your base for much of the game.
Even the outside backers will often blitz...but it is not a "front four".
There is a BIG difference between a 4-3 scheme and a 3-4 scheme besides a name.
I even read in "Know Your Cowboys" that you remained in your 3-4 base for much of the game against the GIants when I was checking out Dallas before Sunday. This site claimed this is why you did not get consistent pressure on Manning.
Nice try
Of course, it did not matter last night.
emmitt2
Member
Our "base" 3-4 is 3 defensive linemen and our "outside backer" who might blitz. Our "outside backer" who blitzes is Demarcus Ware. HMMM , wonder why he wears #94 instead of a number in the 50's. Could it be because he is really a defensive lineman not a linebacker??? Demarcus Ware is lined up in a 3 point stance 50% of the time and rushing standing up about 49% of the time. Maybe he drops into coverage 1% of the time and thats usually just on screens. Maybe. That sound like any other "outside backer" youve ever heard of? Even Mcginest didnt rush the passer nearly as often as Ware does. Bill can call the defense and Ware whatever he wants but Ware and Ellis are d-linemen not linebackers and they rush the passer 99% of the time. Like i said, when you have 4 guys with jerseys in the 90's in 3 point stances rushing the passer, that sounds like a 4-3 to me.
scubadoo
Active Member
Nothing more to add to this debate. Go start a Falcons thread and see if you get any Dirty Bird fans to chime in.
I heard they may use Vick as a RB since they are banged up.
Also, I was right regarding the surprise onside kick stat. Boomer on ESPN floated a 57% success rate on surprise onside kicks in the NFL
I heard they may use Vick as a RB since they are banged up.
Also, I was right regarding the surprise onside kick stat. Boomer on ESPN floated a 57% success rate on surprise onside kicks in the NFL
scubadoo
Active Member
Sorry I did not address this...I beleive the nfl allows LB to waer numers in the 90's. Perhaps he has an attachment to the #.
From the Cowboys website....
Cowboys Single-Season
Sack Record by a Linebacker
1. Anthony Dickerson, 1983 - 10.5
2. DeMarcus Ware, 2005 - 8.0
3. Garry Cobb, 1988 - 7.5
Demarcus Ware
He executed the switch to linebacker and proved his worth at the position beyond being just a pass rusher with 65 tackles, tops among club rookies and fifth on the team. A speed rusher with the size and athletic ability to play with his hand on the ground or as an outside linebacker, Ware was one of the
fastest (4.51 in the 40) and strongest (430-pound bench press) players to play at Troy.
From the Cowboys website....
Cowboys Single-Season
Sack Record by a Linebacker
1. Anthony Dickerson, 1983 - 10.5
2. DeMarcus Ware, 2005 - 8.0
3. Garry Cobb, 1988 - 7.5
Demarcus Ware
He executed the switch to linebacker and proved his worth at the position beyond being just a pass rusher with 65 tackles, tops among club rookies and fifth on the team. A speed rusher with the size and athletic ability to play with his hand on the ground or as an outside linebacker, Ware was one of the
fastest (4.51 in the 40) and strongest (430-pound bench press) players to play at Troy.
emmitt2
Member
Like i said, they can say whatever they want in the press guide. The switch he executed was changing his position in the press guide. On the field he has never lined up or played as a linebacker. EVERY single play of Ware's career, EVERY single play he has been lined up at right or left defensive end rushing the passer. Literally not 1 time in his career has he lined up off the ball 1-5 yards like a linebacker waiting for a play to develop. Check any replay of any game this year or last and ware is lined up on the line of scrimmage like a lineman EVERY single play. The press release for Ellis is the same but regardless of what they called him, Ellis was a Lineman as well and rushing the passer EVERY single play.
Again, nice try though trying to be condescending
This time when you reread the posts trying to find something , make sure you are right unlike the last two times. It sounds really stupid being condescending when you are wrong. Its "hosed" not "housed", now that made me laugh, lmao.
Again, nice try though trying to be condescending
scubadoo
Active Member
I assumed you meant hosed as I do not frequent the street corners. I am not trying to be condescending and had posted the 3-4 q to you much earlier in the thread.
I beleive you are the one that has acheieved in most if not all your posts an arrogance and attitude.
I don't care if Ware lines up in a 3 point stance, on his heaa, standing or lying on his back screaming the Saints are my daddy...you play a base 3-4 defense.
Nice try.
I'm done with the subject and will no longer be repsonding to your posts and/or directing anything at all towards you with my responses or posts.
Perhaps the Saints will see the COwboys again and their 3-4 base defense in the playoffs...if Dallas can makes the playoffs.
You are the one that liikes to continually point out errors that are in your mind that others state. I see you do not like it when someone does the same to you...only Dallas does play a base 3-4...so again I am correct.
Really a nice try to twist things to suit your agenda and a nice attempt to cover up your lack of knowledge regarding your own team...its laughable.
Exit stage right......
I beleive you are the one that has acheieved in most if not all your posts an arrogance and attitude.
I don't care if Ware lines up in a 3 point stance, on his heaa, standing or lying on his back screaming the Saints are my daddy...you play a base 3-4 defense.
Nice try.
I'm done with the subject and will no longer be repsonding to your posts and/or directing anything at all towards you with my responses or posts.
Perhaps the Saints will see the COwboys again and their 3-4 base defense in the playoffs...if Dallas can makes the playoffs.
You are the one that liikes to continually point out errors that are in your mind that others state. I see you do not like it when someone does the same to you...only Dallas does play a base 3-4...so again I am correct.
Really a nice try to twist things to suit your agenda and a nice attempt to cover up your lack of knowledge regarding your own team...its laughable.
Exit stage right......
emmitt2
Member
Your right, you got me, i have never heard or read we supposedly play a 3-4
Whatever, Ware plays defensive end EVERY single play of his career and has never lined up at linebacker even once in his career. No matter what they call them, Ellis and Ware are linemen. Its the difference between actually watching and understanding things rather than just reading something somewhere and repeating it trying to sound smart because you dont understand
Enjoy your victory. I'm sure its the closest you will ever come to an actual Superbowl
Good, i'm done with you as well.
Whatever, Ware plays defensive end EVERY single play of his career and has never lined up at linebacker even once in his career. No matter what they call them, Ellis and Ware are linemen. Its the difference between actually watching and understanding things rather than just reading something somewhere and repeating it trying to sound smart because you dont understand
Enjoy your victory. I'm sure its the closest you will ever come to an actual Superbowl
Good, i'm done with you as well.
ruaround
Active Member
well then by emmitts definition Lawrence Taylor is a D Lineman too...
riddle me this... why was Ware drafted as a LB and listed on the roster as a LB... like Scuba said doesnt matter how or where he lines up... he is a LB and the Cowblys do play a base 3-4 D... that means 3 linemen and 4 linebackers... even if one LB lines up in a 3 pt stance...
riddle me this... why was Ware drafted as a LB and listed on the roster as a LB... like Scuba said doesnt matter how or where he lines up... he is a LB and the Cowblys do play a base 3-4 D... that means 3 linemen and 4 linebackers... even if one LB lines up in a 3 pt stance...
emmitt2
Member
Ware played defensive end in college and he has lined up on the line of scrimmage literally every single play of his career. You can "call" him a linebacker just like we did Ellis this year but what he does on the field is a Defensive linemens job. Not once has he lined up off the ball behind the defensive line. Literally, not once. He plays the exact way Jason Taylor does(just not nearly as well) except he is in a 2 point stance a few times a game. Like i said, watch a replay of any game we have played and you will see that many times we had 4 down linemen(Ellis,
[hr]
, Ferguson and Ware) in 3 point stances rushing the passer. The rest of the time we still have 3 true linemen and Ware in a 2 point stance on the line. LT played behind the defensive line all the time throughout his career. Merriman, Porter, Mcginest, all those guys play substantial portions of every game behind the line in a 2 point stance. Ware has never done that for even 1 play of his career.
Every single play we have 3 defensive linemen and Ware rushing the passer. If you wanna call him a linebacker, go ahead. Until he plays even 1 play of his career off the defensive line, he is a lineman. He was a d lineman in college and rushes from the defensive line every single play. He is going to be the 1st LB in NFL history to never once line up behind the defensive line.
I'm not saying that I'm not being stubborn but me and my 2 Cowboy friends argued about this all summer talking about Ellis switching to LB supposedly. For all the hubbub and Ellis wanting to be traded, literally the only switch was he was he lined up in the exact position he always had except in a 2 point stance instead of 3 point stance 40% of a game. It was ridiculous all the talk of how successfully he switched to LB, he was basically playing the exact same position he always did just with a switched title.
[hr]
, Ferguson and Ware) in 3 point stances rushing the passer. The rest of the time we still have 3 true linemen and Ware in a 2 point stance on the line. LT played behind the defensive line all the time throughout his career. Merriman, Porter, Mcginest, all those guys play substantial portions of every game behind the line in a 2 point stance. Ware has never done that for even 1 play of his career.
Every single play we have 3 defensive linemen and Ware rushing the passer. If you wanna call him a linebacker, go ahead. Until he plays even 1 play of his career off the defensive line, he is a lineman. He was a d lineman in college and rushes from the defensive line every single play. He is going to be the 1st LB in NFL history to never once line up behind the defensive line.
I'm not saying that I'm not being stubborn but me and my 2 Cowboy friends argued about this all summer talking about Ellis switching to LB supposedly. For all the hubbub and Ellis wanting to be traded, literally the only switch was he was he lined up in the exact position he always had except in a 2 point stance instead of 3 point stance 40% of a game. It was ridiculous all the talk of how successfully he switched to LB, he was basically playing the exact same position he always did just with a switched title.
scubadoo
Active Member
It appears this guy likes Payton as a play caller. It also appears to me Payton was opearting in a Parcells offensive philosophy at Dallas. Interesting article. I agree with throwing to score and running to win.
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Updated Dec. 12
A few weeks ago I drooled over the way the San Diego Chargers played offense.
Yes, it was a man-crush. Now, I have a new one: I love the way the New Orleans Saints play offense. There is no better play-caller in the NFL than Sean Payton.
Payton is like a great home-run hitter: He's in a groove.
No matter what he does, it turns out right. But what I really like is that Payton's doing it with an aggressive approach.
In a league where playing not to lose rather than to win is a mantra, of sorts, Payton strays from that. And because of that his team is 9-4, his quarterback can break the all-time single-season record for passing yards (that gets extra credit from me), and the Saints are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Drew Brees has thrown for 4,033 yards and has a chance to break Dan Marino's single-season record (5,084) for passing yards. Brees has passed for over 300 yards in six of the past seven games, including 384 yards and five touchdowns in the Saints' 42-17 blowout of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, on the road.
Some coaches go on the road and play a tighter style of football. Not Payton. In their past two road victories, blowouts of the Atlanta Falcons and Cowboys, Brees is 46 of 68 for 733 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
That's a tribute to Payton the play-caller.
It's also why the Saints are in the No. 4 spot in the CBS SportsLine.com Power Rankings. Nobody could have imagined they'd be that high with three weeks to go.
But nobody could have imagined that Payton would be this up-tempo coach. We've seen good offensive coordinators change when they became the head man, turning away from the aggressive things they believed in.
Not Payton. The Saints have the top-ranked offense in the league, averaging 410.6 yards per game. That's nearly 30 yards better than second-ranked Indianapolis. They are tops in passing yards at 303.5 per game. They're 19th in rushing, which the skeptics will say isn't good enough, but they can run it when they must.
Payton is throwing to score and running to win. That's a formula I've preached for a long, long time.
It's finally nice to see a coach who isn't afraid to live it.
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Updated Dec. 12
A few weeks ago I drooled over the way the San Diego Chargers played offense.
Yes, it was a man-crush. Now, I have a new one: I love the way the New Orleans Saints play offense. There is no better play-caller in the NFL than Sean Payton.
Payton is like a great home-run hitter: He's in a groove.
No matter what he does, it turns out right. But what I really like is that Payton's doing it with an aggressive approach.
In a league where playing not to lose rather than to win is a mantra, of sorts, Payton strays from that. And because of that his team is 9-4, his quarterback can break the all-time single-season record for passing yards (that gets extra credit from me), and the Saints are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Drew Brees has thrown for 4,033 yards and has a chance to break Dan Marino's single-season record (5,084) for passing yards. Brees has passed for over 300 yards in six of the past seven games, including 384 yards and five touchdowns in the Saints' 42-17 blowout of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, on the road.
Some coaches go on the road and play a tighter style of football. Not Payton. In their past two road victories, blowouts of the Atlanta Falcons and Cowboys, Brees is 46 of 68 for 733 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
That's a tribute to Payton the play-caller.
It's also why the Saints are in the No. 4 spot in the CBS SportsLine.com Power Rankings. Nobody could have imagined they'd be that high with three weeks to go.
But nobody could have imagined that Payton would be this up-tempo coach. We've seen good offensive coordinators change when they became the head man, turning away from the aggressive things they believed in.
Not Payton. The Saints have the top-ranked offense in the league, averaging 410.6 yards per game. That's nearly 30 yards better than second-ranked Indianapolis. They are tops in passing yards at 303.5 per game. They're 19th in rushing, which the skeptics will say isn't good enough, but they can run it when they must.
Payton is throwing to score and running to win. That's a formula I've preached for a long, long time.
It's finally nice to see a coach who isn't afraid to live it.
