Payton and Brees, стр. 38
“Their in-game adjustments are impressive,” said Daniel, who was a Saints backup quarterback for four seasons (2010–12 and 2017). “It might take a drive for those guys to figure it out, where some teams it might take a quarter or two quarters. They’re very keen on knowing exactly how the defense is playing and then what to do from there.”
A famous example of Payton’s in-game adjustments came in the 2019 NFC Championship Game. The Saints were having success passing to Alvin Kamara on choice routes out of the backfield. Kamara was the leading receiver in the game with 11 catches for 96 yards. So Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips countered by having his defensive ends and outside linebackers hit Kamara as he leaked out of the backfield to disrupt the timing of the play.
The famous NOLA No-Call play highlighted a Payton counterpunch: he inserted receiver Tommylee Lewis into the game and had Kamara and Lewis change positions. Kamara aligned in the left slot at receiver and Lewis positioned himself in the backfield as a running back. The switch confused the Rams defense, and the Saints snapped the ball quickly to take advantage of it. Nickell Robey-Coleman was scrambling to recover when he infamously collided with Lewis in the right flat on the play.
Just like the Minnesota Miracle, what should have been a highlight moment of the Payton-Brees era turned into heartbreak. The blown call and the ensuing controversy it spurred overshadowed Payton’s brilliant maneuver. It became a footnote to history, one that likely will be forgotten with time.
“Sean sees things so fast,” Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell said. “And we can make those adjustments, and Drew doesn’t even bat an eye. They’ve been together so long they know how each other thinks. There is a trust issue. Coach has a ton of trust in Drew. He knows Drew thinks the exact same way he does. He understands the situations of the game. That’s why there’s been this rapport between these two and this great working relationship.”
Payton uses highlighters and Sharpie markers to jot notes to himself on his laminated call sheet during the game. Sometimes, he’ll strike through a play because of injuries or personnel changes. Likewise, if an opponent loses a starting cornerback or safety to injury during the game, he might star a play and move it up on the call-sheet menu. If Brees has a hot hand, like he did the record-setting night he completed 29 of 30 passes against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, he’ll emphasize the passing attack. If the offensive line is winning the point of attack in the trenches, he’ll lean into the running game.
“He’s always adjusting,” Lombardi said. “He does a great job of feeding guys that have the hot hand. And he’s got a great instinct for when to take shots and when to be aggressive. I can’t count the number of times when he’s made a call and I cringed in the [coaches’] box and it turns out successful.”
One of the reasons Payton’s call sheet is so voluminous is because he wants to have options in every specific game situation so he can adjust during a game. These potential adjustments are discussed during the offensive game-plan meetings leading up to the game.
“If [the opponent] starts playing us in a bunch of this [defense] then we have got this package of stuff we can get to,” Brees said. “You talk about these situations during the week, and obviously these are in his memory bank. So the minute he feels like this is the time, this is the situation, he is able to dial it up. We all know it is coming because we have talked about it, and so a lot of confidence comes with that.”
During the week of preparation, Payton consciously tries to include a play or two in the game plan that will highlight each of his skill position players. It’s his way of keeping defenses honest and keeping his players invested in the weekly game plan. Circumstances might prevent him from calling the play during the game, but he wants his players to feel included in the mission.
“It brings a little juice to the install [process],” Payton said. “It’s important that there’s a player’s jersey number and name [each week], like that play is kind of your play. There’s some ownership to it. And it creates some excitement and confidence when it works.”
This inclusivity has been a hallmark of the Payton-Brees era. While both ardently believe in a “feed the studs” approach with stars like Thomas, Kamara, Graham, and Colston, they also are keenly aware of the importance role players have in the overall effectiveness of the offense.
When Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz elected to double-cover Kamara and Thomas in the teams’ 2018 regular season game in New Orleans, Brees completed 18 of 26 passes to his supporting cast. Smith, Arnold, Kirkwood, and Carr—a third-round draft pick and three undrafted free agents—combined to catch 18 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns in a 48–7 blowout. A week later, Arnold, Lewis, Kirkwood, and Carr accounted for all four touchdowns in the Saints’ 31–17 rout of the Atlanta Falcons.
Hill noted this after scoring the Saints’ only two touchdowns in a 26–18 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2019, “When you have guys like Mike Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook, the list goes on, it kind of creates opportunities for little ole’ me because there is so much attention that is put on those guys and Coach [Payton] is one of the best at being creative and putting guys in positions to be successful,” Hill said. “I got lucky because I was that guy tonight.”
When Payton noticed a flaw in the Cowboys’ defensive scheme in 2006,