That’s a wrap for the New Orleans Saints’ first week of training camp. Let the heated competition for the starting QB job begin!!! Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener are all competing for the job, making their case in practice to win the trust of their coach. Plus, the continuing stability for the team’s offensive line and an impressive kicking battle developing, too.
Through the first week, it’s been Shough, Rattler and Haener taking turns with the first-team offense on a rotating basis. No quarterback has been given a full offseason and training camp to show what they’re capable of. Shough made a notable impression with a touchdown throw to Juwan Johnson and even executed a successful touchdown run during 11-on-11 drills. Rattler and Shough have alternated as the No. 1 signal callers on the first-team offense, each serving a two-day stint with the top group. Conversely, Haener has had a lot less reps.
“These competitions aren’t just won with one rep,” Haener stated, emphasizing the importance of consistency over individual performances.
The Saints’ offensive line has remained intact since OTAs. Penning has been a left tackle since joining the Saints, but McCoy and Ruiz have been a mainstay at center and right guard, respectively. Taliese Fuaga has moved to right tackle from left. The offensive line’s ever-improving cohesion will add to the sense of stability. This will aid quarterbacks in bettering relationships and more importantly their cohesion with their fellow teammates.
Along with the quarterback competition, a war for the kicking position is warming up. Blake Grupe and Charlie Smyth are battling tooth and nail for the job. Grupe has made a strong impression by nailing all but one field goal attempt at training camp. By contrast, Smyth has struggled, connecting on just 5 of 10 tries during the first week.
How smooth is it? Are we able to move in and out of the huddle quickly? I’d say that’s the biggest part, Rattler explained when asked about his work against the first team defense.
Head coach Dennis Allen is focused on the quarterback performance. He’d like to have them all prepared for their initial preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on August 10. He explained that the starting quarterback will be determined when they can tell which one rises above the pack. They have a high bar for clarity in the competition to be set.
As soon as the decision is obvious, we’ll decide, we’ll go ahead and roll with it that can happen at any time. Allen stated. And if it reaches all the way to the end, it reaches all the way to the end. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
With training camp fully under way, players are staying locked in on the field and trying to avoid being sidetracked by outside forces. Cooks emphasized this mindset: “Just coming here, ready to compete and not worrying about all the outside noise.”
It’s Shough’s performance that seems to amaze coaching staff with each passing week. “Tyler’s done a nice job. He’s communicating at a really high level. He’s making good decisions,” Moore remarked, highlighting Shough’s development over the past week.
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