The score really doesn't matter in a preseason game, but there was a fair share of ups and downs for all three Saints QBs in a 27-13 loss to the Chargers in Week 1 of the preseason.
Spencer Rattler got the start and moved the ball, but failed to get on the scoreboard. He also lost a fumble. Each of Tyler Shough and Jake Haener led scoring drives, but also threw turnovers. Shough bounced back from his interception, a pick-6, with a majestic deep shot to Mason Tipton, who had burnt his defender on a double move.
There was a lot to digest, and some parts easier than others, as the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert explained in his postgame rant.
"Good for the coaches and the play call to help Shough out to be able to have that kind of play, considering he had threw an interception before that," Hebert said. "I thought overall, I mean, it’s a mixed bag. I don’t know, it’s like a rollercoaster for all the quarterbacks."
Listen to Bobby Hebert's full postgame rant in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
There were some obvious caveats we do have to mention. The Saints were playing without several key starters on offense and defense, a group that included playmakers in Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Center Erik McCoy also got the day off, and you could make a very easy argument that it's a group that represents the Saints' four best offensive players.
When Shough got in the game for the final drive of the first half he was playing with exclusively backup offensive linemen, and the same could be said for Haener. Quarterbacks, for obvious reasons, will play better with stars around them.
The final tallies:
- Rattler: 7-11 (63%), 53 yards, 22 yards rushing, fumble lost
- Shough: 15-22 (68%), 165 yards, TD, INT
- Haener: 5-8 (62%), 41 yards, INT
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“I can tell you right now what I look at, these three people have to stay healthy or we ain’t even winning five games, we don’t have a chance," Hebert continued. "We need Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and right now tight end Juwan Johnson. They have to be healthy, you might say, oh, Bobby, next man up, oh well, no, I’m just telling you right now.”
One thing that could come back to haunt the Saints again: OL backups. The starting line has the chance to be elite, but injuries are inevitable. Will the fill-in players be able to hack it? We may have to find out sooner rather than later depending on the status of Trevor Penning, who was carted back to the locker room midway through the second quarter with what appeared to be a foot issue.
“I’m still concerned with the depth on the offensive line and what’s going to come about there, because the better offensive line play that we get, our quarterbacks will play better," Hebert continued. "I think they’ll learn to be productive quarterbacks and be able to lead this team.”