Saints Show Improvements: Few Negatives Against Patriots

Welcome Back, Brandin Cooks; Come Home, Brandon Coleman

Aug 22, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) celebrates after a touchdown with fullback Austin Johnson (35) and running back Mark Ingram (22) during the first quarter of a preseason game against the New England Patriots at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Sophomore receiver Brandin Cooks showed that last week’s performance was not a fluke as he bobbed and weaved his way through New England’s secondary.

You had to cringe a bit as Cooks one one play tried to sweep around the left side of the line with tight end Josh Hill leading the way and cornerback Malcolm Butler absolutely lit Cooks up from his right side when Hill missed the block.

But Cooks had the play of the game when he and Drew Brees hooked up for a 45-yard touchdown pass that was a thing of beauty, with Cooks slithering his way through the defensive and Brees placing the pass perfectly over the head of safety Duron Harmon.

He would finish the night with four receptions for 117 yards with one touchdown and one rush for seven yards.

I’m not saying that Cooks would have won games by himself last year but you can see how valuable he is to the offense and just how dangerous he can be in the open field.

Former NFL receiver Randy Moss gave Cooks some huge praise recently after revealing the Cooks had been working out with him and it seems pretty justified.

Jun 10, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Coleman (16) during minicamp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Coleman is said by some to be a lock for the #3 wide receiver spot and I’m sure I’ll draw some heat for saying this, but I just don’t see it yet.

I hear how he’s catching everything in practice(Nick Toon anyone) but it doesn’t seem to be showing up in the playing time he’s been given, which has been limited I’ll give you.

Coleman had a chance to silence me last night when he had a sure touchdown catch that he was unable to secure before defensive back Devin McCourty slapped it away.

It was a good play by McCourty but I’ll agree with The Advocate’s Nick Underhill on the matter, which is at 6-6, 225 lbs. you’ve got to make that catch on a defensive back who is 5-10 and 195 lbs.

Next: Fight to the Finish