Saints shaking up quarterback battle two days into training camp

METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) – “I’ve been in three or four different quarterback battles now. I don’t think I was favored to win any of them. I think the biggest lesson you learn is just focusing on what you can control,” third-year quarterback Jake Haener said.

Thursday afternoon, Haener was showing the proper approach, when it came to the Black and Gold quarterback competition. Both general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore said it would be a three-man race, and each QB will get his turn to run with the starting unit.

Wednesday, Spencer Rattler with the ones. Thursday, Tyler Shough got his turn, but Friday became uncertain for the Fresno State alum.

“We’ll talk about it as we keep going, and I anticipate him being with the ones in some capacity tomorrow,” head coach Kellen Moore said.

“This league does not care about your feelings. It doesn’t care about who you are, what you do. It’s all about ‘what you’ve done for me lately.’ If they didn’t truly believe that I could be a guy that they think could win the starting job, they wouldn’t include me in it,” Haener added.

From the third year QB to the sophomore signal caller, Rattler did go with the second string unit on Thursday, and although the quarterback threw the first interception of training camp, Rattler’s ability to bounce back and score his own rushing touchdown was the highlight of the day for the Saints first year head coach.

“Guys are going to make mistakes. Spencer threw an interception today in a red zone period, which he had done so many good things down there, and he gets to evaluate it, learn from it, and I thought he responded really well,” Moore continued.

“That was a really clean day up until that. I think that’s the biggest focus: Finish the day out strong. Make a smart play, throw it away further, if I’m going to do it, in the back of the end zone, but you got to respond: Next play mentality,” Rattler explained.

Finally, the rookie QB got his chance to run with the starting unit. Shough was not changing his approach mentally, but the former Louisville QB showed demonstrative effort, during his time with the starting unit: Completing deep passes to the top two receivers, Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave.

“I’m going to go in and command the huddle to the best of my ability, but I think today I was really intentional about my first time getting in with them: Coming in, and having a presence, being loud, and we’re having that dialogue with all those guys. I wanted them to know that I’m coming in ready to do the job,” Shough said.

Friday will determine if this is truly a three man race or a two man quarterback competition.

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