By Ross Jackson
After a commanding day in front of the media during his third day of OTAs, New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler looks to be off to a hot start.
Rattler completed all eight of his passing attempts during 7-on-7’s, but more than that, he looked to operate the offense comfortably and without many hiccups. That’s something that head coach Kellen Moore has attached a lot of value to when it comes to the starting quarterback competition.
“I think a lot of it comes into the operation,” Moore said during rookie minicamp. “And the way they operate the offense, the way they communicate with everyone on the field. Again, the quarterback has no choice, it’s a leadership role, and there’s no real way around that. So, it’s really, really important to see those guys take ownership and go for it.”
No decisions are going to be made based off of OTA performances, but a strong start is crucial. Especially for Rattler who is battling against Moore’s hand-picked passer in rookie Tyler Shough.
Rattler faces an uphill battle that he’ll need to manage with consistency in his performance. So far, it sounds like that has been the case, despite a bit of a reset with the new coaching staff.
“It’s good having a blank slate,” he said. “Coming out here, communicating with the guys, playing free. But I think the mindset stays the same no matter what situation you’re in. Just attack each day, try to be the best guy out there and just lead your guys,”
The second-year passer is in a precarious position. He will have to outperform Shough outright if he wants to land the job. The expectation is that this battle is already skewed toward Shough as he is the highest selected quarterback in the NFL Draft by New Orleans since 1971.
Rattler will have to leave no doubt that he’s the better option through the process. His start during OTAs looks to be on the right track. He’ll have to keep showing progress throughout training camp and the preseason in order to not let the gap close as Shough eventually gets more comfortable.
