Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The battle for the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback role will continue in July as the team reassembles for training camp.
Following the offseason programs, OTAs and mandatory minicamp, the battle is close enough that if six media members that have seen both Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough in action were asked, the answers would likely be split down the middle.
That might sound disappointing to those hoping for one candidate over the other.
However, for the Saints and head coach Kellen Moore, the closeness of the battle so far is a best-case scenario.
Rattler, with one year of NFL experience, more collegiate snaps and passing attempts and who has faced SEC competition in college, looks like the most polished of the two, so far. If the Saints were forced to make a decision right now, the second-year passer would make sense.
But that won’t be the case.
Instead, the clash will continue through camp and the preseason, which will give Shough more than enough time to either completely even up the conversation or possibly take the lead.
The status of the battle is still going to be very much up in the air from the team’s perspective, and that is exactly where it should be this early. Had one signal caller called behind early, that would have been a major concern for New Orleans. Having both remain competitive, therefore pushing one another, will only lead to more development for each quarterback.
