Spencer Rattler didn't know exactly when his opportunity would come, but he's ready to make it count.
His head coach would call it a "no-flinch" mentality, something the player himself says has been built up his whole life, whether it was dominating in dodgeball during PE class or in SEC football or now, in the NFL. It's something that he's hoping will serve him well when the rookie makes his pro debut Sunday against the Bucs at the Caesars Superdome.
"You’ve got to be fearless as a quarterback," Rattler said, "and I think that’s the No. 1 key you gotta have.”
Perhaps it's a help that Rattler hasn't had to overthink the scenario much. He hasn't been on the active roster for any of the first five games, with second-year Jake Haener serving as the gameday backup. It was Haener who got in for mop-up duty in Weeks 1 and 2, and also Haener that went in for triage duty late in a loss to the Chiefs after Derek Carr left with an oblique injury.
Carr got an MRI Tuesday morning to confirm the injury and coaches said ample discussions were had, but it certainly didn't take long to confirm the Rattler route. The rookie told assembled media on Friday that he learned he'd be the starter on Tuesday morning, and though his conversation with OC Klint Kubiak was brief, the message was delivered loud and clear.
“I feel very confident about the plan," Rattler said. "Something I love about Klint and our offensive staff is we tailor to who’s playing, you know, so I like that a lot, feel confident about it and we’ve had a great week so far.”
Rattler hasn't gotten many reps prior to this week with the regular offense, but he'd been standing out on scout team and the arm talent has never been in doubt. That's something Rattler mentioned himself, noting that going against the first-team defense on the daily was excellent practice, even if he was reading his scout team offense off of a card and at time locked into specific reads.
Something both Kubiak and Rattler see as an advantage is his leadership mentality, forged through some difficult situations in college. Rattler was the toast of his QB class and shined early on at Oklahoma, at one time even considered to be a potential No. 1 overall pick. That certainly didn't come to fruition and he was ultimately bypassed as the Sooners starter by a future No. 1 overall pick in Caleb Williams. Rattler transferred to South Carolina and began to rehabilitate his QB image, but he was done no favors by a Netflix special that displayed some questionable leadership during his time in high school back in Arizona.
It was rumored that those images never really faded in the draft process, and was a factor in why he was available to be had by the Saints in the 5th round despite being graded as a potential early Day 2 pick by many analysts. The Saints didn't mind, and there don't seem to be any such concerns from his coaches when it comes to leadership -- quite the opposite, in fact.
“I think there’s a level of maturity there … when you’re on multiple rosters you have to make new friends and it’s a lot of different teammates and you can tell he’s comfortable in his own skin and comfortable talking to guys and communicating and just being one of the guys," Kubiak said. "I think he’s got a really cool personality, him and Jake both, those guys, when you’re a quarterback you’ve got to be able to relate to the whole team and you’ve got to have a little moxie to you and you’ve got to have confidence and Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener all have that.”
A few things that's never been in question: The arm talent and the hype around the rookie. Fans have placed significant, and in many ways unreasonable, expectations around the young player. But it's nothing that many of his teammates would disagree with.
"That boy is good. Whenever he gets an opportunity, you're gonna ... see what I see, because that boy his special," said rookie WR Bub Means during training camp. "He's got a special arm. I believe he's gonna be a great pro."
Those type of endorsements certainly aren't loss on the social media crowd and fans that have been pushing to see Rattler more and more with hashtags and snake emojis. They got their wish, though the player made it clear he's not really aware of their existence.
“I just try to focus on what we’ve got going on in here, you know what I mean, try to keep my mind just thinking about the game, thinking about how we’re gonna do, how we’re gonna execute," Rattler said. "Obviously got a big challenge on Sunday, but I know it’s gonna be a great atmosphere, happy we’re at home and obviously want to come out with a win.”
The talent is there, the leadership is there, the opportunity is there -- the challenge will be turning all of that into the kind of result the Saints need. The team is currently mired in a three-game losing streak after a scorching hot 2-0 start to the season. There's still significant questions along the offensive line, something that Rattler's mobility could help mitigate. To do that, Rattler will have to lead the Saints against a squad with its own quarterback that's fought through adversity to get a second chance. That would be Baker Mayfield, a player who actually recruited Rattler to Oklahoma and one whom the rookie has said he's always looked up to and respected.
Also in that category is Saints legend Archie Manning, who reached out to the rookie this week to share his congratulations. The pair has stayed in contact since their time working together at the Manning Passing Academy.
In all there'd been too many texts and calls to respond to as of Friday afternoon, and those will certainly keep pouring in throughout the weekend. Still, Rattler's head coach wants to make sure things stay grounded. There's a game to win.
"I think sometimes you can make too big a deal of it and create more of an issue than you really need to," Allen said. "So, you know, we’ll go through the things that he needs to know. We’ll get him prepared and then we’ll let him go out there and play.”
Carr has offered help in whatever way it's needed, and the head coach has made it clear that the job is Carr's when he's healthy enough to play again. At this point that would look to be Week 8, after Sean Payton and the Broncos arrive for a Thursday Night Football showdown.
"That’s the most solid dude I’ve been around, you know what I mean, just a people person, great character," Rattler said. "That speaks volumes of who he is, so just giving you a little information about what to expect. ... Derek’s been awesome and couldn’t ask for a better leader in that room.”
Could the winds change for the Saints if they feel like they've found their QB of the future? Who's to say, but it won't really matter unless they win some games soon. Rattler gets his first chance to make his case on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.
"This is something you work toward your whole life, you know, as a kid," Rattler said. "Very fortunate to be in this position. ... it sucks that Derek got hurt, a leader of our team, one of the best dudes in the building, but, you know, have a job to do, got to go out there and execute at a high level.”
