Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
METAIRIE, La – After making the decision to name a new starting quarterback, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore clarified a day later that his decision will stretch beyond the team’s Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Tyler’s [Shough] starting,” Moore said during his Wednesday media availability. “So, we’re not looking back on that.”
The team named rookie quarterback Tyler Shough as its starter moving forward two days after benching previous lead passer Spencer Rattler during its Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At which time, it felt like the decision as to where the Saints would seek its on-field offensive leadership was clear.
Rattler and Shough battled for the position throughout training camp and the preseason with Rattler being announced the winner of the competition on Aug. 26, just ahead of the team’s bonus week. Exactly two months later, that has shifted.
From the very beginning, Moore has expressed his desire to avoid flip-flopping quarterbacks, so this firm stance for Shough remains consistent with those insinuations. Moore reiterated that intent on Wednesday.
“We’re not doing this back and forth thing,” he said. “I think that’s the goal. I think, just the same way we talked about when Spencer went in there, we weren’t going to get into this whole debate each and every week. Tyler’s in there, he’s ready to go.”
While a weekly back and forth between the two passers is out of the question, Moore has shown a willingness to make changes when necessary. This initial quarterback change is the paramount example, so far, in his tenure.
So, if the second-rounder struggles mightily, there could be a shift down the road. For Shough, he’s aware that one promise to not make the quarterback conversation a weekly one isn’t the same as guaranteeing him free reign over the next nine weeks no matter his performance.
“I think it’s twofold,” Shough said during his first media availability as the starting quarterback. “I think you have to perform. It’s a performance-based league and I think my job is to go out there and do that. The other part of that is just to have fun. I feel like my mindset whenever I’m playing the best is just attacking, feeling like I have nothing to lose as far as that, because I’m super blessed to be in this opportunity, and I’ve learned a lot.”
