No game this weekend doesn't mean Saints players are taking a vacation somewhere. The Black & Gold don't have a game but QB Drew Brees says the goal right now is to recharge and refine for the NFL's second season. New Orleans has no idea who they will be hosting in the divisional round of the playoffs on Jan. 13th, so are getting back to the basics this week and working on themselves. Here are some of the highlights from Brees' session with the media on Wednesday.
How unusual is this kind of week where (it’s the) middle of the season and there's not necessarily a team to prep for and you are just kind of working on yourself? Is that unusual for you to not have that you know game prep?
“It is unusual, but it is exciting. It is the position you want to be in so (it is) different than a bye week during the season where you know who the upcoming opponents are going to be. You still approach that bye week similar to what we are doing now which is rest and recovery first and foremost. That is the benefit of the bye week and you get to basically leapfrog the first round of games and go right to the second round and you get to host it. So all those are good things. (We are) really just focused on ourselves right now. Getting guys rested. Getting guys recovered. Focusing on some details. A chance to self-scout a little bit. Take a look at some snaps from the season and see the areas that we really want improve upon this week as we approach our next game.”
How much is gained from that introspection at this time of the year?
“It's good. It's good just because you're so focused week to week during the season that you really don't have time to go back in and self-evaluate too much. It's on to the next opponent, onto the next opponent. You start grinding on that film and putting together a game plan and this gives you a chance to really take a step back take a good hard look at yourself and then say ‘wow you know I thought that was much better than it is.’ Obviously, we need to make some improvements and then maybe there are some other stuff where (you say), wow this has been pretty good for us. Let is continue to build on that.”
Is there any more pressure to being the number one seed or no?
“No, I don't think we look at it that way. Again, we're focused on ourselves right now and then once we know who we're playing then you just prepare for it like it's any other game. If you approach every game during the season like it's the most important game of the season then is this game any different? Not for me.”
You have always been good about throwing to the open guy whoever that is. How unusual is it to have a receiver with a 125 catches and 1,400 yards this season and what does that say about Mike (Thomas)?
“It's pretty awesome. That says a lot about him, obviously, he gets a lot of attention. It is not like they just put him on an island every game. He's getting a lot of double coverage. He is getting a lot of safeties leaning his way and different things. He has to work hard to get open and he does. He does a great job of that. He is highly competitive. He expects to be the guy to get the ball and make the big play so that's great. It also opens up opportunities for other guys. We've gotten into games this year where a team is really going to try to take away Mike (Thomas) and that's where the other guys (have) got to step up and make plays and they've done that and we've got to continue to work on that as well.”
Have you made more throws than ever before in your three years with him where you say I don’t care who’s covering him, I need to get this ball to Mike because we need a first down?
“You make good, wise decisions. Smart decisions. If he's one-on-one, I like our odds. Even when he's two-on-one, it had better be a really good two-on-one or else there's usually still a place you can throw the ball where he can get it and they can't. You assess that. That’s my job as a quarterback. Be a great decision maker, get the ball in the hands of the playmakers, but you'll make those good decisions.”
How much have you seen Alvin Kamara grow as a receiver from year one to year two now?
“A lot. I do not know how his numbers compare from last year to this year, but he’s reliable and I know what he is going to do. We ask him to do a lot. Do a lot from the backfield, do a lot splitting him out, putting him in motion, (and) different things. His versatility’s really valuable. I feel like his route tree’s broadened from last year to this year.”
Do you look at any film this week on Philadelphia, Dallas, or Seattle or is it just kind of futile effort until after this weekend’s game?
“We’ve been watching a lot of cut ups. Some cut ups on us and watching some cut ups of other people just to see what they're doing just to maybe gather some information not just about defensive schemes, but offensively things that we can incorporate into what we are doing. Similar to what we already do, but maybe some nuances. Just trying to get better.”
Is there a different kind of playoff intensity when the playoffs arrive?
Well I said it earlier. If you approach every game during the season like it’s the most important game, then I don't think there's any difference. It's not like, ‘oh it's time to crank it up now.’ We've been cranking it up. I've had the same approach, had the same preparation, had that same process so that when these games come around it's to me I've been there. Been there done that, but of course just understanding that it is a single elimination tournament right? It's win or go home and, obviously, we want to win.”
Is Mike Thomas one of the more intense teammates you’ve had?
“Oh, for sure. Yeah, for sure. Highly competitive. Every rep is a game rep, playoff rep, Super Bowl rep, whatever you want to call it, it is meaningful. It is the most important play. There's only one speed. There’s few guys you play with in your career where you can legitimately say only one speed. Like every time there's a walk-thru, we have to remind Mike (Thomas) it is a walk-thru. Tone it down. Let's wait till practice to start cranking it up and running people over.’ But Darren Sproles is that way, and there's some other guys. But these guys are fun to be around because once they flip the switch man, it’s time to roll.”
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