It took nine practices at New Orleans Saints training camp, but we finally saw it: Spencer Rattler was working with the third-team offense.
It's notable, of course, but pump the brakes on the decision meaning anything of consequence in the QB competition.
“Just balancing out the rotations," head coach Kellen Moore said. "Really just looking at the numbers on an off day and making sure we keep rotating these guys and kind of going through that.”
That desire for balance between the three QBs has been stated throughout, but up until Saturday it had primarily been Jake Haener in that role, with the exception of the two days he worked with the 1s. Shough worked with the 3s on those days.
The rotation will continue to be fascinating to watch on Sunday, which will primarily be a scrimmage-style practice with all "call-it" situations, meaning there will be no script for the offense. The calls will be sent in by Moore and DC Brandon Staley on the fly. My assumption would be that dialing down Rattler's workload today was geared more toward giving him extra run in the more competitive session than anything else.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
The Saints had their first bit of major injury adversity this week, with backup G Nick Saldiveri headed to season-ending IR due to a knee injury suffered during Thursday's indoor practice. It shouldn't impact a ton in terms of how the team will be operating, but it marks the latest in a series of injury frustrations for the 2023 fourth-round selection.
With that spot open the team opted to bring back Shane Lemieux, who saw significant run last year due to injuries and went through a tryout earlier in the offseason. He'll be back in the same No. 66 that he wore last year.
The only other absences were S J.T. Gray, who continues to work back from a hamstring injury, and DT Khalen Saunders, who was an excused absence, Moore said.
The positive injury news came with the returns of TE Treyton Welch and DT John Ridgeway, each of whom had missed the prior two days. TE Juwan Johnson also continued to ramp up activity after a minor groin issue.
QB WATCH
The offense continues to look a little behind the defense, but I did think this was one of Tyler Shough's better days. He continues to look shaky at times, reasonable for a rookie at this stage, but I am seeing more aggressive reads and throws, which likely means he's trusting what he's seeing a bit more.
It was a second-consecutive practice with no 7-on-7 work. Shough's best throw of the day came during the first set of 11-on-11 drills with a sharp ball to Chris Olave that split linebackers Pete Werner and Demario Davis as they dropped into shallow zones. Olave found the gap in the coverage and the ball narrowly missed Davis' diving attempt for what would've been a 15-plus yard gain.
The read still looked a half-tick late, which is what allowed Davis a chance to play the ball, but all is well that ends well. It's just a matter of reps. The more Shough and Olave work together, the more the QB will trust the WR to be in the right spot, which allows the ball to come out early. That's less of a criticism than it is an observation, because I'd wager it's a throw Shough doesn't make this time last week.
The biggest negative I'll point to is a lack of accuracy on passes in the flat to running backs. There were two or three throws today that either came in high or low and eliminated a chance for the RB to turn upfield and make a play. You simply have to get those balls on target if you want to be trusted to play meaningful snaps as a rookie.
Rattler continued to operate decisively and on time. There wasn't much down field passing from any of the QBs, but he got the ball to checkdowns and his only incompletion of the day was a drop by Kendre Miller.
Haener also peppered the running backs, with multiple checkdowns to Clyde Edwards-Helaire who continues to get a lot of run early in camp.
SPECIFICS
This is another section about quarterbacks, because the most interesting thing today was the situational work. The first set of situations drills was working on backed up situations, with each quarterback taking snaps inside their own 5 until they either failed times or got the first down. This isn't a situation where you'd expect a QB to be attacking downfield.
Shough found Jack Stoll for a short completion to start his first session before a run by Alvin Kamara. The next rep was one of those frustrating misses I noted above. Kamara rescued a low ball, but he was unable to recover and pick up the first down. Shough did bounce back with a ball up the sideline to Clyde Edwards-Helaire on his next rep, with the RB finding space for the first down.
Haener had his first attempt batted down by Khristian Boyd, then found Mason Tipton, who burned Jayden Price on a comeback route.
Rattler found a first down on his first attempt with a picture-perfect ball to Bub Means up the sideline, who beat Rezjohn Wright in coverage. Pro throw.
The next situation was a 4-minute drive with the Saints "leading," meaning their goal was to run out the clock. That became clear when Shough found Olave past the sticks, with the WR going in motion then sneaking out the backside. It was nice patience and a read that allowed the Saints to burn clock with their next three reps, two runs and a short ball over the middle to Rashid Shaheed.
The defense stuffed the run repeatedly -- I've been pleased with Bryan Bresee in that part of the game to this point -- and neither Haener nor Rattler were able to find a first down. Again, these are play-it-safe situations, so the QBs won't get criticized for playing risk-averse football here.
All-in-all a quality day of work. I'd still like to see some more definitive wins by the offense as we go forward.
TRENCH BATTLES
It was another day of 1-on-1s, and this time I went over and watch the offensive line and defensive line. I came away impressed with Cesar Ruiz and Erik McCoy, who really need to be the anchors on the interior.
Ruiz had an impressive rep against Nathan Shepherd where he showed off his hand strength, clamping down between the DT's pads and steering him wherever he wanted. McCoy got driven back a bit in his 1-on-1 with Davon Godchaux, but any time you hold your own against that monster of a man, you did a nice job.
Cam Jordan won his rep clean against Taliese Fuaga. He bullrushed to lift the RT's pad level, then won with leverage as he shed and blew by. I think Cam is at a point in his career where he can be effective situationally, even if he's not a three-down player anymore.
I was also impressed with Jonah Williams, who broke down Dillon Radunz with power. Isaiah Foskey beat Josiah Ezirim with an outside speed rush, but Ezirim has had a very difficult start to camp. I still need to write Foskey's name down once or twice in team drills before I come away with anything positive.
DARK HORSE
We're at the stage of camp now that we have to start picking "dark horse players" to make the roster, and it's impossible to not see Jasheen Davis as one of those players. The guy just keeps showing up. He had three sacks on Thursday indoors and another today.
“I would definitely say he’s done a nice job," Moore said. "He’s contributed in a really good way and like any of those young guys, every rep counts, every opportunity that presents itself is a really good one because when you show up like that you get more opportunities with the 2s, the 1s, all those groups, and so it’s been good.”
SANKER HITS
I don't know how much run he'll get as a rookie outside of special teams, but between Danny Stutsman and Jonas Sanker I think the Saints have a pair of volume tacklers that we'll enjoy watching for a long time. Both guys just seem to have a nose for the ball and first-step quickness to get to the spot. We saw that a couple of times today with Sanker ranging to the edges of the field to make tackles.
There's no live tackling at this point, but I think once those guys can start laying hits the excitement will grow quickly. It'll just be a question of how much they can get on the field.
I also think the chemistry in the safety room is in a very good place, considering what we saw during Sanker's press conference (one was hijacked momentarily by Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon).
SPEED BACK
I'm intrigued by Velus Jones, and it's not only because he ripped off a 35-yard TD the other day. He's just got next-level speed at the RB position that I think can add a dimension to this Saints offense.
I'd been trying to think of the last time the Saints had a player like that, and it's been a while. At first I thought it was Darren Sproles, then I realized the correct answer was actually CJ Spiller. Wouldn't be surprised if Jones ends up pushing for a roster spot if he can show RB refinement (blocking, vision, etc.) in the preseason.
TRIPLE PUNTERS
There have been a lot of firsts this offseason, and one is watching a team with three punters competing for one job. Today it was James Burnip and the new guy Kai Kroeger getting in work, and Moore said it'll be Matt Hayball on Sunday.
I always find it very difficult to gauge where things are at in punter competitions because we never know what guys are really trying to do. At this point I'd stick with my pick of Burnip, but the team wouldn't have brought in another option if they'd already made a decision.
KICKING AGAIN
I think this will be my last incremental update on the kicking battle, because it feels like it's over. Today was another Charlie Smyth day and it was another 3-for-5, with his first attempt from PAT range blocked by Justin Reid.
The results thus far:
- Blake Grupe: 19-20 (95%) long of 53
- Charlie Smyth: 12-20 (60%) long of 53 (excluding team drill kicks)
I expect Smyth to stick around on the practice squad regardless because he gets a free roster spot. Unless something dramatically changes, we can try this again next year.
JUSTICE 4 WOOD
Grupe made sure to address the media and let everyone know that Madden has updated their system and installed long snapper as a position. After years of being the lowest-rated player in the game, Zach Wood is now rated at a 79, which makes him the third-highest rated long snapper in Madden.
I had to know that, so now you have to know that. Congrats, Zach.