Saints Training Camp Day 3: Spencer Rattler, offense bounce back

New Orleans Saints

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints offense needed a bounceback day and they got it.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler wanted to show out after throwing camp’s first interception and he did. Passer Jake Haener worked for first team reps and he got them. This was the first day it felt like the offense was successful in trying to open things up downfield. It was a necessary rebound following up on a defensively dominated day two.

The Quarterback Battle

No need to waste time here, Rattler was the top performer again among the quarterbacks. On a day of practice that was geared towards a variety of down and distance circumstances, Rattler spread the ball around finding big plays both downfield and on decisive catch-and-run providing opportunities. It was his second day going perfect in passing attempts.

Haener saw his first day of first team reps and started out strong. He connected with tight end Juwan Johnson for a nice yards after catch opportunity on the first play of the day, then went perfect in 7-on-7 drills (all detailed below) but then lost a little rhythm toward the end of the practice session.

Both passers understood their situations and worked within those parameters well. For instance, Haener dropped back in the final team drill series on a simulated second-and-seven and instead of forcing the ball downfield, he found an out-breaking Chris Olave at the boundary for a nice pickup that would have set up a third-and-short situation. Those were the circumstances of Thursday’s practice.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough got the short end of the stick. He saw significantly less reps and therefore significantly less passing attempts. He also had a rep cut short by a low snap from the center, which unfortunately ended his day. This was no reflection on Shough’s start to camp, but instead just the inconvenient way the cards were dealt to him on this final day before a Saturday off.

Quarterback Rep Distribution (excluding re-huddles)

Haener: 17
Rattler: 16
Shough: 9 (only six in teams, only one passing attempt in teams)

Practice Situation

The work today was focused on down and distance. We have the great advantage of being able to see yard and down markers throughout practice.

Each snap had a situation attached: first-and-10, third-and-long, second-and-short, etc. Based on these reps, the valuation of completed passes, in particular, looks a little different. For instance, a four-year completion on third-and-five would be seen as less successful than a two-yard completion on third-and-one or a three-yard completion on second-and-seven. Keep that in mind as you pursue today’s session charting.

“I thought that this was our cleanest operation practice,” head coach Kellen Moore said in his day three availability. “Which certainly you expect being the third day. (I) thought our quarterbacks operated at a high level, communicated, they pushed the tempo. So, felt good.”

Haener Rep Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (second-down work):

Second-and-long: Haener completion to Johnson for a big catch and run gain
Second-and-mid: Velus Jones Jr. run up middle
Second-and-short: Clyde Edwards-Helaire run up the middle
Second-and-long: Edwards-Helaire run up the middle

7-on-7s (varying down and distance):

First-and-10: Haener completion to Jack Stoll
Second-and-five: Haener completion to Mason Tipton (Isaac Yiadom in coverage), great catch by Tipton in the intermediate area, going to the ground
Third-and-five: Haener completion to Rashid Shaheed (Pete Werner closest in coverage) underneath, short middle
Third-and-long: Haener completion to Kevin Austin Jr. (Kool-Aid McKinstry in coverage) quick slant, short of the first down

Second Series of Team Drills (varying down and distance):

First-and-10: Kendre Miller run up the middle, stuffed short
Second-and-seven: Haener completion to Miller on second-action, some room for Miller after the catch
Third-and-long: Haener incompletion to Shaheed (McKinstry in coverage), Carl Granderson won rep versus Taliese Fuaga around right edge, possible sack
First-and-ten: Neal run up the middle
Second-and-five: Haener incompletion to Bub Means (McKinstry in coverage), play action boot right, Granderson with another pressure, throw was high to crossing Means

Third Series of Team Drills (second and third downs):

Second-and-seven: Haener completion to Chris Olave (McKinstry in coverage), quick pass to the left boundary
Third-and-two: Haener completion to Austin, nice step up in pocket, delivered on the slant for a first down gain
Third-and-12: Haener incomplete to Stoll in the intermediate right area, Chase Young with pressure

Rattler Rep Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (first and second down work):

First-and-10: Re-huddle
First-and-10: Marcus Yarns run up the middle
Second-and-seven: Rattler completion to Yarns (Danny Stutsman in coverage) dumpoff underneath
First-and-10: Shaheed run right, jet sweep
Second-and-seven: Cam Akers run left

7-on-7s (Varying down and distance):

First-and-10: Rattler completion to Tipton, well-timed throw on out-breaking route, ball out before the break
Second-and-five: Rattler completion to Shaheed (Quincy Riley in coverage) slant with yards after catch opportunity
Third-and-five: Rattler completion to Tipton (Riley in coverage) deep left bomb down the sideline, Tipton got underneath it and won the outside leverage battle near the sideline
Third-and-long: Rattler completion to Treyton Welch (Ugo Amadi and Stutsman in area) dumpoff

Second Series of Team Drills (Varying down and distance):

First-and-10: Rattler completion to Michael Jacobson
First-and-ten: Akers run left
Second-and-five: Rattler completion to Tipton (Rico Payton in coverage) play action, great pass on another out-breaking route; these two have re-claimed their rhythm from last year’s camp
Third-and-seven: Rattler completion to Shaheed (Julian Blackmon missed on diving PBU attempt) Shaheed had a lot of open real estate after the catch, which could have been a house call; we’ll call it a touchdown

Third Series of Team Drills (Second and third downs):

Second-and-five: Rattler completion to Welch quick right arc
Third-and-12: low snap, Rattler quickly scooped it up and rain
Third-and-very long: Defensive penalty and re-huddle
Third-and-very long: Rattler completion to Jacobson for a big gain on a crosser, Jacobson outstretched to make the catch; this looked like it might have been a goal-to-go situation from way out, at worst advanced to a manageable fourth down attempt

Shough Route Charting:

First Series of Team Drills (First and second down work):

First-and-short: Neal run left
Second-and-five: Shough complete to Chris Tyree (open), play action short left with some yards after catch to be earned
First-and-10: Miller run up the middle
Second-and-five: Miller run up the middle, well blocked with a big hole in the middle; nice pick up

7-on-7s (Varying down and distance):

First-and-10: Shough incompletion to Bub Means (Fadil Diggs in coverage), great coverage by the big edge rusher who dropped back
Second-and-five: Shough completion to Dante Pettis (Jayden Price in coverage), out-breaking-route in the intermediate left area
Third-and-long: Shough completion to Johnson (Elliott Davison, Terrell Burgess and JT Gray all trying to keep up with Johnson); great route by Johnson on the crossing pattern, excellent pass, anticipation and ball location by Shough as Johnson worked to the opposite sideline, ball only where his tight end could get it

Second Series of Team Drills (Varying down and distance):

First-and-10: Jones run up the middle
Third-and-seven: Low, botched snap in shotgun

Passing Completion/Attempts (Running Total)

Haener: 8/11 (15/23, one touchdown)

Rattler: 10/10 one touchdown, possible two (25/29, one interception, one rushing touchdown, at least one passing touchdown)

Shough: 3/4 (11/20, two passing touchdowns)

These totals take into account both team drills and 7-on-7s from each day of camp so far.

Attendance

Attendance has been remarkably easy throughout the first stretch of camp. Every non-PUP player was again present on Thursday, though several did not participate due to planned rest days:

Edge Rusher Cameron Jordan
Running Back Alvin Kamara
Center Erik McCoy
Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks

While each did not participate in the hour and a half long practice, they were each seen and present. Head coach Kellen Moore stated that they will participate in the remainder of the day’s work. Both tight ends Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill were also spotted after practice concluded. Moore updated after practice that there were also no new injury concerns.

Grupe Kicks

Last year’s starting kicker Blake Grupe was back up in the kicker rotation on field goal attempts Friday. After going 5/5 during his first rotation, he saw his first miss come under a sudden fit of heavier rain.

His good kicks: extra point distance, 39 yards out, 44 yards out and 49 yards away

His one miss was his final kick from 49, where the placement moved from the right hashmark to the left.

The rain, of course, almost immediately stopped following the final kick.

Hayball Returns to Punts

Punter Matthew Hayball was back up on Friday for a shorter punting session. His hang times were much more impressive and consistent than his initial showing on Wednesday.

3.84s (short-field punt), 4.91s, 4.90s, and 4.75s

The Vibes Are High

Tight end Juwan Johnson spoke with the media after Friday’s practice and emphasized the optimistic air around the team’s facility. He compared it to a time that many Saints fans will remember fondly, the hot start under quarterback Jameis Winston in 2021.

“Maybe when we were 5-2,” Johnson said when asked about the last time he felt this energy “Honestly, right be Jameis got hurt. That’s when the vibes were really high.”

Rashid Shaheed’s Role Expanding

Shahed has been getting a lot of work from his coaches and looks from his quarterbacks, keeping him keenly in the focus on everyone viewing practice. When asked about his responsibilities and how it might differ this year from last year, he discussed his growing role.

“I feel like my role is expanding and that’s exactly what I want,” he said. “And that’s exactly what I want. The more opportunities I get, I feel like it’s better for the team. Whatever I’ve got to do on the field to help us win games, that’s what I’ve got to do.”

Shaheed also laid out how he looks to be getting more yards-after-catch generating chances, which was shown during Friday’s practice. He also highlighted that he intends to play at 190 pounds this year.

Big Time Visit on the Way

It was reported earlier on Friday that free agent tight end Noah Fant would be visiting with the Saints as he looks for his next landing spot. The seventh-year tight end would be an excellent addition to the team. Moore confirmed that Fant will arrive Friday.