By Ross Jackson
METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints took the field for the first time since minicamps wrapped up in what was a lighter, shorter practice than we expect to see moving forward. It’s the first day back, and while the action was limited, the team ran its first team drills of the offseason and found some standout moments on both sides of the football.
The Quarterback Battle
Spencer Rattler impressed and continued his hot start from OTAs and minicamps with the most consistent day. But all three quarterbacks, Tyler Shough and Jake Haener included, had some big moments as they looked to catch a rhythm early in camp.
Rep Distribution
Rattler: 17 snaps with the first team
Shough: 15 snaps with the second team
Haener: 10 snaps with the third team
Head coach Kellen Moore explained Rattler got first team reps because of his seniority over Shough. It was an interesting bit of information to highlight considering Haener has seniority over each, though Rattler has more NFL starts than the rest of his cohort. This felt like a clear indication, even if accidental, that the quarterback battler is going to be focused on Rattler and Shough.
Rattler Rep Charting
First Series of Team Drills:
- Alvin Kamara run to the left
- Kamara run to the left
- Rattler complete to Akers, short left
- Rattler run right
9-on-7s:
- Rattler complete to Juwan Johnson (Pete Werner in coverage) in the right intermediate area
- Rattler complete to Devin Neal, short right
- Rattler complete to Kamara, short right
- Rattler complete to Chris Olave, deep middle. Big play between the two (up-tempo)
Second Series of Team Drills:
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire run right
- Edwards-Helaire run right
- Rattler complete to Mason Tipton (Kool-Aid McKinstry in coverage), intermediate right. This pass was a well-anticipated and well-placed pass at the sideline. One of the better throws of the day.
- Rattler complete to Neal (Werner in coverage), short middle after re-huddle.
- Rattler complete to Kamara, behind the line of scrimmage, blown up by Khalen Saunders
- Kamara run up middle
Up-Tempo Team Drills:
- Rattler run up middle
- Rattler complete to Brandin Cooks (Isaac Yiadom in coverage), right intermediate
- Kamara run left, Safety Jordan Howden with a great run fit here, redirecting the run direction
Throughout Rattler’s reps, he looked comfortable orchestrating the offense, moving through progressions and getting the ball out quickly. It’s clear that the game has slowed down for him and that he’s sped up his process as well. It was a strong first day for the second-year passer. It’s likely that he’ll be with the second team on Thursday. It will be interesting to see the impact of not working with the presumed starters. Rattler was also given a couple of designed runs, which was interesting to see.
Shough Rep Charting
First Series of Team Drills:
- Neal run middle
- Nathan Shepherd sack. Play-through: complete to Jack Stoll dumpoff middle
- Shough incomplete Treyton Welch, quick pass to the right
- Kendre Miller run right
9-on-7s:
- Shough incomplete to Jack Stoll, left side
- Shough scramble, had Dante Pettis open short
- Shough complete to Rashid Shaheed (Rico Payton in coverage), short right
- Shough incomplete to Donovan Peoples-Jones deep. Great ball placement, only where Peoples-Jones could make a play on it (up-tempo).
Second Series of Team Drills:
- Shough incomplete to Stoll, Ball was high but needed to be. Off the fingertips of Stoll
- Miller run left
- Chris Rumph II sack. Shough looked to have lost his footing and Rumph won around the offensive right edge.
- Shough complete to Welch, great pass under pressure. Got the ball out quickly.
Up-Tempo Team Drills:
- 30 run left
- Sack. Playthrough: complete to Cooks
- 30 run middle
Shough’s day was loaded with pressure from the opposing defense. He had a lot to navigate in that regard. In some cases, he did so very well. His best pass was the throw to Peoples-Jones down the left sideline. The pass was placed where only the receiver could make a play on it and although the catch wasn’t made, the throw was still impressive. Shough’s deep ball accuracy is very impressive. If he’s with the first team on Thursday, benefiting from the speed of Olave, Shaheed and Cooks may lead to an exciting day.
Haener Rep Charting
First Series of Team Drills:
- Sack by Chase Young
- Haener scramble to the right
- Jasheed Davis pressure, Haener incomplete to Tipton
- Cam Akers run middle, D’Marco Jackson forced fumble, Khristian Boyd recovers
9-on-7s:
- Haener complete to Velus Jones Jr. (JT Gray in coverage), short read
- Haener complete to Velus Jones Jr. (Elliott Davison closest in coverage), swing left
- Haener complete to Michael Jacobson (Davison in coverage) (up-Tempo)
- Haener incomplete to Donovan Peoples-Jones (Dalys Beanum PBU), deep left
Second Series of Team Drills:
- Haener complete to Jacobson (Davison in coverage), great play action fake by Haener
- Haener complete to Jacobson (JT Gray and Davison in coverage), leaping grab by Jacobson on a great ball from Haener. Had to go high to get the pass over Davison, but without leading Jacobson into Gray. Very well-placed.
Haener saw fewer reps, but had an excellent connection with Jacobson, who he found multiple times throughout the day. He had a few plays that were disrupted by pressure or that sent him scrambling. He’s at his best when he can stay in the pocket and deliver. He’s still got an uphill battle ahead of him in the quarterback conversation, however, despite those bests.
Passing Completions/Attempts:
Rattler: 9/9
Shough: 2/6 or 4/8 if you count the playthroughs following sacks
Haener: 4/6
Plays Of The Day
- Rattler completion to Olave over the middle in the intermediate area was the early contender for the best throw and play of the day.
- Rattler’s completion to Tipton on a well-timed out-breaking route looked polished and in rhythm. A lot of Moore’s offense is going to be about timing, and this was a good example of how to execute it.
- Shough was under pressure quite a lot behind the second-team offensive line. His pass to Welch during his second set of team drills was a quick response to some pressure coming his way.
- Haener and Jacobson’s connection over the middle of the field was great. Haener had only one place he could have placed the pass and did so surgically. Jacobson went up and got it.
- Jackson’s punch out was in the middle of a lot of congestion at the line of scrimmage. Lining up that punch-out and then executing it is going to be on repeat in the film room. Heads up play by Boyd to jump on the ball.
Blake Grupe’s Kicks
Grupe was first up in the kicker rotation and nailed all five of his first kicks. Kick distances were from extra point, 38 or 39 yards (our angle was weird), 41 yards, 47 yards and 49 yards.
Matthew Hayball’s Hangtime
Hayball was up first in the punter competition with James Burnip, likely to follow tomorrow. The Aussie put up some good times on his punts.
4.08s, 4.18s, 4.77s, 3.66s, 4.17s, 4.43s, 3.65s, 4.52s, 4.38s, 4.38s, and 4.50s
While Hayball was punting, two players rotated at personal protector: Terrell Burgess and Jonas Sanker.
Safety Rotation
Following the surprise retirement of Tyrann Matheiu, the safety position has become a keen focus for many. During Wednesday’s practice, the first team safeties looked to be Justin Reid and Jordan Howden. Second team rotation included Jonas Sanker and Terrell Burgess. JT Gray and Elliott Davison covered the third team reps.
No Changes to the Offensive Line
Moore said that there will be rotations made along the first team offensive line, so we won’t be surprised when that eventually happens. But the same lineup from minicamps and OTAs was seen during Tuesday’s first team reps with Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle, Trevor Penning at left guard, Erik McCoy at center, Cesar Ruiz at right guard and Taliese Fuaga at right tackle.
Running Backs Getting First Team Work
Beyond Kamara, two backs saw a majority of first team reps: rookie Devin Neal and returning veteran Clyde Edward-Helaire. Neal also saw snaps with the second team along with Kendre Miller. Cam Akers worked with multiple units as well.
One Small Note
During one of the third team 9-on-7 drills, the defense saw something as they lined up against the offense. Something the offense did triggered the need for communication among the coverage unit. At one time, three or four voices were heard shouting out the same adjustment or call. It was a positive sign for a team undergoing a defensive change like the Saints are.
Changing your scheme and verbiage can be challenging for any team or player, but it’s a great sign when your third-team players are seeing the same thing and calling out the exact same communication at the same time. There’s some promise there about how quickly things are sinking in for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and his unit.
No New Face Just Yet
The Saints are reportedly in the process of signing safety Julian Blackmon following Mathieu’s retirement. With that signing not yet announced or official, the vet was not seen during the first practice day.
