Tag: Drew Brees (Page 15 of 34)

      Fantasy Fallout, Week 2: Where you lose the game you think you’ll win and win the game you think you’ll lose

      September 21, 2010 /
      SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

      Funny story (at least to me): I had two games up for grabs last night. In one PPR league, I was up 13 points facing Marques Colston and wasn’t particularly optimistic about my chances given the way the Seahawks shredded the 49er pass defense in Week 1. But Colston was held to 5-67, so my team held on. In my other league, I was trailing by 12 with Drew Brees (254 yards, 2 TDs), Pierre Thomas (103 total yards, 8 catches) and Michael Crabtree (1-32) going, while my opponent only had Frank Gore. Seven catches, 168 yards and two TDs later, I lost by two. Ugh. To make matters worse, I had Jahvid Best sitting on my bench, which serves as the ol’ double kick in the nuts. UGH.

      What’s the lesson? Anything can happen in fantasy football. Just when you think you’ve locked a game up, you’ll find a way to lose, and when you’re holding on for dear life, the lead will be just enough.

      Oh, and don’t bench Jahvid Best.

      But back to the SF/NO game…Alex Smith (275 yards, TD, 2 INTs) looked pretty good at times, but both interceptions were his fault. He threw a few very nice passes to Vernon Davis (4-78, seven targets) and Josh Morgan (6-70, eight targets), but Crabtree only saw three passes come his way. I’d keep him on the bench until he’s starts producing.

      For the Saints, Reggie Bush looked great (34 total yards, TD, four catches) before leaving the game with a leg injury, and now ESPN is saying that he’s going to miss at least 6 weeks. Bump up Thomas and put DeShawn Wynn on your radar. Heath Evans might get some extra work as well, but it’s more likely that Sean Payton will elect to feature Devery Henderson (3-28) or Robert Meachem (0-0) more in the passing game to account for Bush’s production there.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, News, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      A minute and 19 seconds might as well be a lifetime for Drew Brees

      September 20, 2010 /
      New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees looks to pass in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during their Monday night NFL football game in San Francisco, California September 20, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      If Alex Smith goes on to have a solid year in San Francisco, people are going to point back to this night as the moment everything turned for the 26-year-old former first round pick.

      The 49ers turned the ball over four times in their 25-22 loss to the Saints on Monday night, yet there they were with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth and a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and a 2-point conversation.

      What Smith did next was exactly what quarterbacks have to do in that situation: he orchestrated a flawless two-minute drive and tied the game. He completed four of five passes for 51 yards and managed to scramble for 24 yards on two carries after New Orleans defenders crashed the pocket. Frank Gore capped the drive off with a 7-yard touchdown run and then Smith found Vernon Davis on a successful 2-point conversation attempt, although the play had to be reviewed because the original ruling was that Davis was stopped short of the goal line.

      Unfortunately for Smith and the 49ers, Drew Brees still had 1:19 left on the clock and three timeouts. With his team only needing a field goal to win, Brees led the Saints on a seven-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a Garrett Hartley 37-yard field goal (which was partially blocked, yet still had enough mustard on it to get through the uprights).

      Smith did what he had to do to give his team a chance to win, but too bad for him Brees has long mastered the art of the game-winning drive.

      It was a significant win for the Saints because in all honesty, it was a game they couldn’t afford to lose. Obviously there’s an entire season yet to be played, but the 49ers handed this game over on a silver platter and had San Fran completed the comeback, we would be looking at a reeling New Orleans team heading into a huge divisional matchup with the Falcons this Sunday. (A game in which they may not have Reggie Bush, who injured his leg on a muffed punt midway through the fourth quarter.)

      But at 2-0, the Saints remain perfect on the young season.

      External Sports, NFL

      Michael Turner’s groin is fine, should play against Saints

      September 20, 2010 /
      ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 19: Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons walks to the locker room with trainers after injuring his groin against the Arizona Cardinals at Georgia Dome on September 19, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      I don’t know why I didn’t realize this before, but I just re-read the headline to this piece and it hit me that part of my job is to write about other mens’ groins.

      Mom must be proud.

      Falcons head coach Mike Smith reiterated today what he confirmed yesterday following Atlanta’s 41-7 thrashing of the Cardinals: Michael Turner is fine and barring a setback, will play against the Saints this Sunday.

      After rushing for 75 yards on nine carries in the first quarter against the Cardinals, Turner suffered a groin injury and wasn’t inserted back into the game. But he didn’t need to go back in, as the Falcons built a big lead thanks in part to Jason Snelling’s (24 carries, 129 yards, 3 total TDs) monster day. It would have been foolish had Turner gone back into a blowout and risk further injury.

      With a trip to New Orleans coming up this Sunday, the Falcons will need a healthy “Burner.” The Saints’ biggest weakness defensively is arguably up the gut and with the way Atlanta ran the ball yesterday against Arizona, having the backfield duo of Turner and Snelling is vital. The key to beating the Saints is a) getting pressure on Drew Brees and b) keeping him and his offense off the field. The Falcons can accomplish one of those two goals with a healthy dose of Turner and Snelling.

      That said, this is also a game that Matt Ryan needs to step up. He played extremely well in the win over the Cardinals (21-32, 225 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs), but he failed to make plays against the Steelers in Week 1. That’s not to say that he didn’t play well, he just didn’t play well enough. When Pittsburgh shut Atlanta’s running game down, Ryan couldn’t come up with that one play in the passing game to turn the momentum on its head. If he’s in a similar situation this Sunday, it’s time for “Matty Ice” to produce.

      This will be a great test for a team that many consider to be a sleeper Super Bowl contender this season. If Turner is 100%, the Falcons certainly have enough weapons to go toe-to-toe with the most explosive offense in the NFC. The Saints and Falcons played two thrilling games last year (both NO victories), and their first meeting this season should be more of the same.

      External Sports, NFL

      Why the shotgun is taking over the NFL

      September 15, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints drops back to pass against the Minnesota Vikings at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

      In the latest issue of ESPN the Magazine, David Fleming discusses why the shotgun has become so prevalent in the NFL.

      For starters, the shift is proof of the influence of college football’s spread offenses. The NFL is always reluctant to give credit to its minor league affiliate (the NCAA), but you can spot a trend in the NFL when someone puts money behind it. Drew Brees, who set a league record last season with a 70.6% completion rate, actually fell to the second round of the 2001 draft because he had a reputation as a “shotgun QB” at Purdue. Cut to last April: The Rams took Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford No. 1 overall and handed him $50 million guaranteed, even though he threw just one pass from under center last season. Teams are not passing more frequently — attempts have fluctuated over the past four seasons — but they are throwing differently. From 2006 to 2009, the use of shotgun passes jumped an astronomical 24 percentage points.

      That’s an interesting bit about Brees versus Bradford. Just nine years ago, Brees’ stock took a hit because he was known as a shotgun QB. This summer, the Rams took Bradford #1 even though he was exclusively a shotgun QB.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL

      The Scores Report chats with Drew Brees’ trainer, Todd Durkin

      September 15, 2010 /
      New Orleans Saints quarter back Drew Brees celebrates after the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on February 7, 2010. Brees was named MVP for the game. UPI/Rob Hobson

      At your local gym, you may have been offered a chance to try out a tool called the TRX Suspension Training, which is an innovation by former elite Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick.

      As a Navy SEAL, Hetrick often found himself in remote safe houses with limited means to keep he and his soldiers in shape. Using only salvaged parachute materials, Hetrick created what would eventually be named the “Best Total Body Tool” by Men’s Health magazine.

      The TRX Suspension Trainer was born.

      One of the many trainers that have incorporated TRX not only in his athletes’ workouts, but also into his own workouts is Todd Durkin. Of the many athletes Todd works with during the offseason, perhaps his most recognized is New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees.

      During the offseason, Brees flies all the way from Louisiana to train with Durkin and the TRX, which obviously speaks to Todd’s credibility as a trainer. And considering Brees is coming off a Super Bowl win this past February, clearly Todd’s methods work.

      We recently had the opportunity to chat with Todd about a variety of topics, including his work with Drew, TRX and the “Get with the Movement” campaign, which is defined as a rally cry that dares American fitness enthusiasts to free themselves of their everyday routine. It encourages people to get off their exercise machines and take a more dynamic, moment-focused approach to building their overall health and achieving personal goals.

      We also asked Todd to share his favorite Drew Brees story, what specific workouts he uses to train a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and how the TRX can help everybody from the “weekend warrior” to yes, even grandma.

      For more on Todd, TRX and his new book The Impact! Body Plan, please visit www.fitnessquest10.com and www.todddurkin.com.

      Also for more on the “Get with the Movement” campaign, visit www.getwiththemovement.com.

      The Scores Report: Hey Todd, how are you?

      Todd Durkin: Real good! Things have been a little crazy around here, but it’s exciting with the new book coming out.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Interviews, NFL

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