Saints’ Brees unfazed by receiver changes

METAIRIE, La. Willie Snead’s recent suspension, combined with the off-season trade of Brandin Cooks, means Saints quarterback Drew Brees is currently without two of his top three receiving targets from last season.

The first look at Brees’ and coach Sean Payton’s adjustment to changing personnel in New Orleans’ passing game comes Monday night in Minnesota.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer worked with Payton when both were assistants in Dallas and is familiar enough with Brees’ work to conclude that a New Orleans passing game that ranked first in the NFL last season remains a concern for his defence, even with different personnel.

“Snead is a good player and made a lot of catches for Drew, but Drew has a lot of weapons. That offence hasn’t been number one in the league for the last three years because of one guy, so they are always tough to defend,” Zimmer said this week. “Whether they have Willie Snead or anybody else.”

Zimmer said New Orleans’ top returning pass-catcher, Michael Thomas, newly acquired veteran receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and tight end Coby Fleener give the Vikings plenty to worry about, for starters.

“They have all kinds of weapons, so (Drew) may be disappointed he has one less, but he’s still got a lot of bullets in that gun,” Zimmer said.

Cooks led New Orleans in yards receiving last season with 1,173 and his eight touchdown catches were second on the club behind only Thomas’ nine.