Saints still struggling to limit pressure on Spencer Rattler

Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints were riding high coming off of their first win of the season in Week 5. Now, as they ready themselves to take on the New England Patriots, continued improvements will be necessary. One of the most glaring thus far is going to be in the pass blocking category.

Second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has the fourth-fastest time to throw among 33 quarterbacks with at least 70 passing attempts (2.63 seconds), per Next Gen Stats (NGS). However, he is still one of more pressured quarterbacks in the league.

Rattler currently ranks No. 12 in quarterback pressure percentage (37.2%) among the same group of qualified passers. NGS charted the Saints’ passer as being under pressure on 53.1% of his snaps against the New York Giants, the most for any quarterback in Week 5.

New Orleans has had eight players start on the offensive line. Pro Football Focus has compiled their pressures allowed over the course of the season so far.

LT Kelvin Banks Jr. – 17 pressures, one sack

RT Taliese Fuaga – 13 pressures, three sacks

OL Torricelli Simpkins III – 12 pressures, no sacks

OL Asim Richards – Nine pressures, no sacks

LG Trevor Penning – Six pressures, two sacks

OL Dillon Radunz – Five pressures, no sacks

RG Cesar Ruiz – Five pressures, no sacks

C Erik McCoy – Two pressures, no sacks

The good news for New Orleans is that the team’s sack percentage (4.8%) with Rattler at quarterback is one of the ten lowest in the league. But at times, the team will need to be able to let its young passer hold on to the football a little longer in order to allow downfield plays to develop.

For instance, last week’s 87-yard touchdown connection with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed only happened because of solid enough protection up front allowing 3.10 seconds before the ball was released.

This will be the next step in creating sustainable success on offense along with addressing the team’s red zone woes, which could see a big boost thanks to the return of quarterback Taysom Hill.