By Ross Jackson
PALM BEACH, Fla. – Last year, former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen kept the team’s backup quarterback position battle raging all through the season. Veteran passer Derek Carr was the clear starter, but rookie Spencer Rattler and second-year passer Jake Haener were in early competition to be his No. 2.
#Saints head coach Dennis Allen says that he wants to the backup quarterback competition to remain throughout the season. Not ready to make any declaration on who the QB2 is at this time.
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) August 27, 2024
However, the battle never really felt like it reached a definitive end. The, Allen was fired and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi stepped in as the interim head coach.
Allen kept the duel between Rattler and Haener going until the end of practice weeks, even while Carr was sidelined with injury.
That forced both young signal callers to split very limited reps throughout practices.
New Saints head coach Kellen Moore told reporters during Tuesday’s annual meeting availability that he will handle that situation very differently. He went so far as to clearly state that he intends to definitively decide the backup before Week 1.
“In almost every circumstance, you want to have (the backup quarterback) defined going into the season,” Moore said. “You’ve got to know who your backup quarterback is and just understand that there’s a progression there. Not going to say ‘never-ever,’ but feel like it’s pretty strong just because of the reps in season, you have to have it set in a certain way.”
Moore said that he’ll lean on providing opportunities throughout OTAs, training camp and the preseason to make his decision.
This decision should be seen as a positive one not only by fans. It’s also good news for the young quarterbacks and veteran passer Ben DiNucci, a midseason addition last year. This means that they, or a potential new quarterback, would be settled into their role from the very beginning of the season, getting the majority of backup reps and preparing behind the starter all year with no questions and no uncertainty about their role.
#Saints HC Kellen Moore said that “in almost every circumstance” the backup QB should be defined going into the season. Said he’ll never say never about a competition going into the season, but with the limited practice reps during the season, defining the backup is important.
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) April 1, 2025
