FOX8 Sean Fazende’s take on Rattler/Haener backup QB situation (3 Viewers)

[B4YOU]

Rattler looked like a rookie QB coming in mid-season, playing on a bad/unhealthy team against two of the top scoring defenses in the league. Projecting him as a #2 is severely premature, and the upcoming QB draft pool is too shallow to reach when we have other needs. We can't move on from Carr. I'd roll with the same QB depth chart for one more season.

Here is the bottom for passer rating this season. I'd argue that rookie Rattler essentially matching the more experienced Jones, Young, Ridder, Huntly, and Brissett suggests he looked like a #2.

We are stuck with Carr's contract for one more year. That doesn't prevent taking a QB if the value is there. Minny and Pitt are example of teams that stocked the QB room with as much talent as possible with good results. Rolling with the same QB room as this year.........keep chopping wood.

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

I saw it and I agree. It really wasn't fair to Haener. If you really think about it, he was the number 2. You would think he gets first dips as the starter once Carr was injured. Rattler started 3 games and struggled. Haener got the opportunity to start this game and was beached at half time. How is Rattler able to have 3 games and allowed to struggle but Haener only had 2 quarters? But Haener is the clean up man for all the games. This type of dynamics is unusual and unfair for both quarterbacks. And I do feel for Haener.

Because Haener didn't just "struggle". He was unplayable. He was god awful.

Was he in a bad situation? Yes absolutely. But so was Rattler those 3 games and he never looked that bad.

 

[nolaswede]

Makes sense. I like Rizzi, think he should be allowed to bring in his own staff. Gives me Orgeron vibes

Thats what worries me. Coach O wasn’t very good, pretty good recruiter, but was pretty awful when all the playmakers left.

 

[No2DC]

Rattler struggled mightily with accuracy and anticipation in his starts.

This fanbase is desperate for hope since Drew and every guy that's showed a glimmer of potential has been prematurely declared the future. There's a poster on here that proclaimed Ian Book the that now says Ratt is the one. I thought Jameis would be a guy but it wasn't meant to be, just like some guys thought Taysom would be the guy. We're all wrong and I don't think the answer is in the building. That's why I think we need an outside hire

 

[Filaphill]

I saw it and I agree. It really wasn't fair to Haener. If you really think about it, he was the number 2. You would think he gets first dips as the starter once Carr was injured. Rattler started 3 games and struggled. Haener got the opportunity to start this game and was beached at half time. How is Rattler able to have 3 games and allowed to struggle but Haener only had 2 quarters? But Haener is the clean up man for all the games. This type of dynamics is unusual and unfair for both quarterbacks. And I do feel for Haener.

You say that with a straight face after watching Haener play the 1st half?

 

[No2DC]

Rattler struggled mightily with accuracy and anticipation in his starts.

This fanbase is desperate for hope since Drew and every guy that's showed a glimmer of potential has been prematurely declared the future. There's a poster on here that proclaimed Ian Book the that now says Ratt is the one. I thought Jameis would be a guy but it wasn't meant to be, just like some guys thought Taysom would be the guy. We're all wrong and I don't think the answer is in the building. That's why I think we need an outside hire

 

[Pocket Hercules]

Here is the bottom for passer rating this season. I'd argue that rookie Rattler essentially matching the more experienced Jones, Young, Ridder, Huntly, and Brissett suggests he looked like a #2.

Career Passing Attempts:

W. Levis - 539
D. Jones - 2,241
D. Watson - 2,305
J. Brissett - 1,759
T. Huntley - 408
D. Ridder - 586
B. Young - 823
M. Jones - 1,477
T. Boyle - 233
A. Richardson - 337
D. Lock - 876

Average - 1,053
S. Rattler - 120

I'm not entirely sure that you're even serious, but if you are, congratulations on making a solid point that Rattler has played about as well in his first 120 throws as a group of multi-year starters, high draft picks, and experienced backups with an average of 8.5x more throws under their belts...

 

[football]

You say that with a straight face after watching Haener play the 1st half?

I don't need to repeat myself. And you excuse rattler for the 3 games he played.? Interesting. Yes I say with any face you like

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

I would maybe feel bad for Haener if he didn't come across so arrogant.

 

[Saint Greg]

While we're at it, here is Caleb Williams' rookie season, the guy who was picked #1, installed as the unquestioned starter in the preseason, and has taken every meaningful snap for the Bears this year with a healthier cast surrounding him:

Passing

season	Team
2024	CHI
Career

GP	CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	LNG	SACK	RTG	QBR
14	288	465	61.9	2,937	6.3	17	5	47	58	87.7	48.1
13	270	434	62.2	2,746	6.3	16	5	47	56	87.8	-

Rushing

season	Team
2024	CHI
Career

GP	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	FD	FUM	LST
14	67	408	6.1	0	24	24	2	1
13	63	405	6.4	0	24	24	2	1

All things considered, Rattler's passing averages compare reasonably well with Williams', including a lower sack%, and he has a higher average per rush. It's HARD to play well as a rookie QB on a bad team. Within that context, I wouldn't say that Rattler has "severely struggled". He's a good developmental prospect and should start our last 3 games.

That’s an insane statement. You’re saying a guy who threw 17 TDs and 5 ints and has an 87.7 QB rating has stats similar to someone with 2 TDs, 2 INTs and a rating of 62?

 

[CowtownSaint]

I can understand that situation. And that's fine. My argument with those people above is how the team handle the quarterback situation for both players. We have seen some good and bad from both quarterbacks. If winning is important then Carr needs to start the rest of the way.

If winning is important why go Carr the rest of the way? In any way? Even next year? He has a losing career wpc% . You have more upside sitting there with Rattler, at some point it’s time to rip the bandage off. Denver is better off because of it. Also why wouldn’t we go with Rattler to start next year? Do we forget how bad Payton Manning was his first season? Let him get in there and see what he can do!

 

[Cajun Mike]

I think it is fair to say that Kubiak can't develop QB's.

I don’t see how you can make that comparison even not a complete season.

 

[Brock Meaux]

Haener:

Passing

season	Team
2024	NO
Career

GP	CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	LNG	SACK	RTG	QBR
8	18	39	46.2	226	5.8	1	1	36	6	62.6	13.8
8	18	39	46.2	226	5.8	1	1	36	6	62.6

Rushing

season	Team
2024	NO
Career

GP	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	FD	FUM	LST
8	11	22	2.0	0	9	0	0	0
8	11	22	2.0	0	9	0	0	0

Rattler:

Passing

season	Team
2024	NO
Career

GP	CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	LNG	SACK	RTG	QBR
4	69	120	57.5	706	5.9	2	2	41	14	73.1	42.0
4	69	120	57.5	706	5.9	2	2	41	14	73.1

Rushing

season	Team
2024	NO
Career

GP	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	FD	FUM	LST
4	9	61	6.8	0	28	3	1	0
4	9	61	6.8	0	28	3	1	0

For as much as Rattler struggled in the 3 games he started (2 of which came against teams that are tied for the NFL's #1 scoring defense) he posted appreciably better passing numbers and rating than Haener (including a lower sack%) and generated 6.8 yards per scramble vs. Haener's 2.0. Coming off the bench on Sunday, working alongside the same players Haener started with (minus Kamara for much of the 2nd half) against the same defense, he turned the same 0-point/38-yard chicken s*** 1st half offensive output into a 19-point/207-yard chicken salad in the 2nd half. On top of that, he is a rookie, while Jake is a 2nd-year player.

What are we even talking about here?

Rizzi made the right decision, and there really isn't an argument to be made otherwise. Jake shouldn't be written off by any means, but he had an opportunity to show something, and simply didn't earn the right to play the 2nd half.

This is basically all that needed to be said in the thread.

 

[texasjefe]

I've seen Spencer Rattler develop and improve every season since his freshman year at OU, and that includes Sunday's 2nd half.

He has an arm, mobility, and moxie. He has plenty of upside. Give him every rep they can.

Jake Haener I'd never heard of until his draft, being that I don't live in the WAC or whatever conference he played in. What does he have? I do not see any talent there worth the investment of developing him.

Good for Rizzi for making the switch.

Haener's had an extra year in the system, but so what? His PED use was his own admission that he does not have NFL chops. He can deny that all he wants, and even if true, he's a far lesser talent than Rattler.

Next year... Carr starts only because he's paid to, Rattler will be the backup, and Jake can be a training camp QB in Vegas.

 

[football]

If winning is important why go Carr the rest of the way? In any way? Even next year? He has a losing career wpc% . You have more upside sitting there with Rattler, at some point it’s time to rip the bandage off. Denver is better off because of it. Also why wouldn’t we go with Rattler to start next year? Do we forget how bad Payton Manning was his first season? Let him get in there and see what he can do!

That's a totally different discussion. I am staying within the topic base on the podcast.