Skip to main content
New Orleans Saints
Advertising

Saints News | New Orleans Saints | NewOrleansSaints.com

Drew Brees Ready to Utilize Offensive Weapons Against the Redskins

Saints QB says the team has high expectations for 2012

brees_cards_article.jpg

QB Drew Brees is known for spreading the ball around in an explosive offensive system in New Orleans.

Brees completed passes to 13 different receivers last season and five of that group registered 50 or more catches.

The Saints also have a stable of running backs in the backfield including four returning runners (Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Chris Ivory) and undrafted free agent Travaris Cadet.

Ten players, including Brees and backup QB Chase Daniel, carried the ball last season with six players averaging more than four yards per carry.

"The great thing we have at the running back position is that they're so versatile," said Brees. "Each one of them is great at certain things, but they really can do so many things. You add that with the receiver position, the tight end position and its pick your poison."

Three wide receiver mainstays (Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore) are returning but the departure of Robert Meachem to San Diego provided an opportunity to other players to step up and show off their skills including Adrian Arrington and Joseph Morgan among others.

"All those guys look good," said Brees. "Each guy has his own set of strengths so within the gameplan, we work to those guys' strengths to try to put them in the position to succeed."

Among other weapons, Brees will rely heavily on two of his primary targets from last season: TE Jimmy Graham and Sproles.

Graham set a franchise record by catching 99 passes and set the yardage mark for a tight end with 1,310 yards before being surpassed by Patriots' TE Rob Gronkowski.

Sproles set the NFL single-season all-purpose yardage mark with 2,696 total yards on the ground, through the air and on special teams.

Sproles was able to have so much success because of his hard work and ability to cause mismatches with opposing defenders.

"You talk to any defensive player in the league and they (say) they don't want to cover that guy," said Brees. "He wants to be great and he also, more so than anything, wants to be reliable and dependable. He's one of the most complete football players I've ever played with."

Now that the roster is down to 53 players, Brees knows that it will be a team effort to enjoy the success the black and gold reached last season, setting numerous club and league records.

"We know this - the 53 guys that made it deserve to be here," said Brees. "They worked their tails off to have this opportunity. We're going to need everybody down the stretch. That's for sure."

After spending months preparing in the offseason and the preseason, Brees is ready kick off the 2012 regular season campaign against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Sept. 9. He knows however that the Redskins defense will bring a challenge.

"They're tough both against the run and getting after the passer," said the Pro Bowl quarterback. "They're a veteran group that plays hard and plays well."

Brees and the Saints are excited to open the regular season this Sunday, especially at home in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

"(With) everything that happened this offseason, you want to come out and put your best foot forward," said Brees. "We have a lot of high expectations for this season. Every win counts a lot."

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content

Advertising