Week 15 Post-game AMA: The Backup Show

Optimus Prime said
How do you think the decision to start Haener was made?

They've seen them both all year in practice, seen Rattler start a few games, seen Haener a little bit in real games

You'd have to think they saw something to give Jake the nod

Was it simply we started Rattler before now it's Haener's turn?

Or if, they did see enough of Haener to legit name him the starter did the pressure of the start get to Haener?

I'm sure it was that they were running pretty even and by all accounts Haener has looked solid in practice. I think I mentioned in the last AMA that I was slightly in favor of giving the start to Haener. Rattler got the start when Carr went down earlier in the season and struggled quite a bit (he's a rookie, it's understandable). I was of the feeling that Haener has been kind of overlooked to this point and there was no harm in starting him.

While I wasn't surprised to see Rattler come off the bench and outperform Haener, the way he did it was not what I expected. The entire first half, Haener's pocket presence was completely out of wack. He looked like a guy who had worked with one of those million-dollar QB gurus and gone against cones and broomsticks and swiss balls but had very little natural instinct for how to navigate pressure. On a number of plays, it seemed like he would get off his spot based purely on time (like there was a literal alarm clock in his head) and he'd climb right up into a sack. Or instead of stepping or sliding just a little to change the rush angle and help out his blockers, he'd sprint up or left or right and he really just engineered a lot of goofy sacks during that first half.

By contrast, Rattler looked very natural and aware (though not perfect) in the pocket--and the times where maybe he was a little off he still got rid of the ball quickly and with intention. Maybe it can all be chalked up to first-start jitters with Haener and the relative low-pressure ease of coming off the bench for Rattler. But the side-by-side comparison definitely showcased the most contrast I've seen between them this year.