A Q and A with Drew Brees
NewOrleansSaints.com
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 3:15 PM
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Q: How has training camp gone for you so far?
Brees: I think we’re getting a lot of work done. The weather hasn’t been quite as hot as last year. I feel like we’re getting a lot of plays run and a lot of reps going. I think a lot of these young guys look pretty good.
Q: Do you feel better about things this year compared to last when you were working on a pitch count?
Brees: I feel like we’re hitting that midseason form where things are starting to click. We have had a lot of work with the new guys like David Patten and Robert Meachem. I am obviously continuing to gain that trust with (Marques) Colston, Devery (Henderson) and (Terrance) Copper. I think the offensive line is playing great. I think the effort level from everybody is tremendous. We kind of consider these two a days the dog days, because we have quite a few of them in a row, but guys are continuing to fight through.
Q: Can you talk about the progress of Devery Henderson?
Brees: I think he’s been great. Obviously he has been thrust into that starting role, but he started a lot last season when Colston went down and made a lot of big plays for us. I think he’s continuing to elevate his level of play and gain more confluence. He knows how much confidence I have in him. He’s obviously a guy who’s going to be very productive for us.
Q: Can you discuss the progress of Robert Meachem?
Brees: He’s a rookie. I don’t care how good he is. You’re always going to have coaches yelling at you and teammates for that matter. That’s just part of being a rookie, but he’s doing great. For him, learning a new offense and gaining confidence after coming off of the knee surgery, the more reps he gets and more comfortable he gets out here, the better he’s going to get. He made some great plays. He did some things today that I’ve seen him working on over the last week. He’s been working and repping and those things are going to start to pay off.
Q: How impressed are you by the way that David Patten is working himself in today?
Brees: I think he’s doing a great job. I think obviously from a productivity standpoint, I think he’s going to do a great job for us with as much ability as we have to spread the field. I know that he’s going to get a lot of opportunities. Also with his veteran leadership and mentorship with those younger receivers, I think he’s doing a great job.
Q: Do you have any thoughts on the Hall of Fame Game with the Steelers?
Brees: I like it. I’m excited about the opportunity to get out under the lights again and see what some of these young guys can do. The more game type reps you can get, I think it only prepares you for the season and what you can expect. I think you just get better and better each time.
Q: Is this exhibition a little bit more special because it’s in Canton and is the Hall of Fame Game?
Brees: I think it will be fun to be there and be a part of that. We have a chance to see the Hall of Fame. I’ve never been there. I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Is there one Hall of Famer that stands out to you?
Brees: Joe Montana was a guy who I looked up to myself as well as Troy Aikman being a Texas kid and the Dallas heyday. I had the chance to meet Thurman Thomas back in 1991 when my grandfather got inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame at the same time as him. I was there when I was 12 years old, getting his autograph and thinking how cool that was. I know he’s getting inducted this year, but I’ve had the chance to meet him on a few occasions again, play in a golf tournament with him, my wife and his wife talk occasionally. Every time I see Thurman, we’re old buddies. It’s really cool to look back to a time when I was a kid looking up to a guy like this. That was during his heyday with Buffalo. Now he’s getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, which obviously now that I’m in the NFL, I’m trying to do the best that I can do. I’m trying to win championships and I’m trying to win there too.
Q: Have you seen a difference in the way Reggie Bush hits the hole or if he hits the hole quicker making that decision?
Brees: He is. What I love is that the last two practices have been red zone and what I love is that when we get down to that end, Reggie smells it. It’s like he kicks it into a another gear. We are working on a move the chains drill at the end of practice. You hand that ball off to him and he starts flying into that hole in the end zone.
Q: What does Eric Johnson mean to you in the red zone?
Brees: He’s doing great. I think he’s really hitting a comfort zone with the terminology of the offense. He’s in a similar offense coming from San Fran. He’s had some good years there. I know he’s excited just to be healthy again. I think he’s going to add a great element to what we’re doing here offensively.
Q: You’re always had the reputation as a quarterback who likes to utilize a tight end. A coach once told me that tight ends are open, but quarterbacks don’t like to look there because there’s always traffic. Why have you been so comfortable throwing to your tight ends?
Brees: I feel like I’ve always had some pretty good tight ends to throw to going back to the San Diego days. I think that’s always been at the top of my mind. I think usually your tight end is one guy who is matched up one on one. It’s hard to double the tight end, because there are so many other guys too. Typically that’s where you get a good matchup. If you have tight ends like we do that are good route runners who catch the ball well, especially a guy like Eric Johnson, it’s exciting to know when you get down to the red zone. There is definitely traffic down there, but when you trust a guy’s ability to catch the ball, you’ll throw it in there.
Q: Is that something Kevin Kaesviharn found out last season?
Brees: Thanks for bringing that up. He knew that play was coming. We talk about it and joke about it.
Q: If it was your decision, what would you do playing time wise on Sunday?
Brees: I’m ready to get out there and play a series or two.
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Articles/2...ew%20Brees.aspx
NewOrleansSaints.com
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 3:15 PM
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Q: How has training camp gone for you so far?
Brees: I think we’re getting a lot of work done. The weather hasn’t been quite as hot as last year. I feel like we’re getting a lot of plays run and a lot of reps going. I think a lot of these young guys look pretty good.
Q: Do you feel better about things this year compared to last when you were working on a pitch count?
Brees: I feel like we’re hitting that midseason form where things are starting to click. We have had a lot of work with the new guys like David Patten and Robert Meachem. I am obviously continuing to gain that trust with (Marques) Colston, Devery (Henderson) and (Terrance) Copper. I think the offensive line is playing great. I think the effort level from everybody is tremendous. We kind of consider these two a days the dog days, because we have quite a few of them in a row, but guys are continuing to fight through.
Q: Can you talk about the progress of Devery Henderson?
Brees: I think he’s been great. Obviously he has been thrust into that starting role, but he started a lot last season when Colston went down and made a lot of big plays for us. I think he’s continuing to elevate his level of play and gain more confluence. He knows how much confidence I have in him. He’s obviously a guy who’s going to be very productive for us.
Q: Can you discuss the progress of Robert Meachem?
Brees: He’s a rookie. I don’t care how good he is. You’re always going to have coaches yelling at you and teammates for that matter. That’s just part of being a rookie, but he’s doing great. For him, learning a new offense and gaining confidence after coming off of the knee surgery, the more reps he gets and more comfortable he gets out here, the better he’s going to get. He made some great plays. He did some things today that I’ve seen him working on over the last week. He’s been working and repping and those things are going to start to pay off.
Q: How impressed are you by the way that David Patten is working himself in today?
Brees: I think he’s doing a great job. I think obviously from a productivity standpoint, I think he’s going to do a great job for us with as much ability as we have to spread the field. I know that he’s going to get a lot of opportunities. Also with his veteran leadership and mentorship with those younger receivers, I think he’s doing a great job.
Q: Do you have any thoughts on the Hall of Fame Game with the Steelers?
Brees: I like it. I’m excited about the opportunity to get out under the lights again and see what some of these young guys can do. The more game type reps you can get, I think it only prepares you for the season and what you can expect. I think you just get better and better each time.
Q: Is this exhibition a little bit more special because it’s in Canton and is the Hall of Fame Game?
Brees: I think it will be fun to be there and be a part of that. We have a chance to see the Hall of Fame. I’ve never been there. I’m looking forward to it.
Q: Is there one Hall of Famer that stands out to you?
Brees: Joe Montana was a guy who I looked up to myself as well as Troy Aikman being a Texas kid and the Dallas heyday. I had the chance to meet Thurman Thomas back in 1991 when my grandfather got inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame at the same time as him. I was there when I was 12 years old, getting his autograph and thinking how cool that was. I know he’s getting inducted this year, but I’ve had the chance to meet him on a few occasions again, play in a golf tournament with him, my wife and his wife talk occasionally. Every time I see Thurman, we’re old buddies. It’s really cool to look back to a time when I was a kid looking up to a guy like this. That was during his heyday with Buffalo. Now he’s getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, which obviously now that I’m in the NFL, I’m trying to do the best that I can do. I’m trying to win championships and I’m trying to win there too.
Q: Have you seen a difference in the way Reggie Bush hits the hole or if he hits the hole quicker making that decision?
Brees: He is. What I love is that the last two practices have been red zone and what I love is that when we get down to that end, Reggie smells it. It’s like he kicks it into a another gear. We are working on a move the chains drill at the end of practice. You hand that ball off to him and he starts flying into that hole in the end zone.
Q: What does Eric Johnson mean to you in the red zone?
Brees: He’s doing great. I think he’s really hitting a comfort zone with the terminology of the offense. He’s in a similar offense coming from San Fran. He’s had some good years there. I know he’s excited just to be healthy again. I think he’s going to add a great element to what we’re doing here offensively.
Q: You’re always had the reputation as a quarterback who likes to utilize a tight end. A coach once told me that tight ends are open, but quarterbacks don’t like to look there because there’s always traffic. Why have you been so comfortable throwing to your tight ends?
Brees: I feel like I’ve always had some pretty good tight ends to throw to going back to the San Diego days. I think that’s always been at the top of my mind. I think usually your tight end is one guy who is matched up one on one. It’s hard to double the tight end, because there are so many other guys too. Typically that’s where you get a good matchup. If you have tight ends like we do that are good route runners who catch the ball well, especially a guy like Eric Johnson, it’s exciting to know when you get down to the red zone. There is definitely traffic down there, but when you trust a guy’s ability to catch the ball, you’ll throw it in there.
Q: Is that something Kevin Kaesviharn found out last season?
Brees: Thanks for bringing that up. He knew that play was coming. We talk about it and joke about it.
Q: If it was your decision, what would you do playing time wise on Sunday?
Brees: I’m ready to get out there and play a series or two.
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Articles/2...ew%20Brees.aspx
Damn, that's harsh.
