News QB Spencer Rattler is a strong candidate to start in Derek Carr’s absence, sources tell Garafolo and Rapoport

[Hedon James]

He won’t get the nod. Everything we are seeing from the coaching staff is conservative and scared.
Although, at least see what you have in the guy. At this point, what is there to lose?

With you, but for a slightly different reason. I think Haener plays QB in a very similar style as DC4....not saying he's just like Carr, or the next Carr, or anything like that. Just that their STYLES are similar...for that reason, Haener may be a drop-in replacement with a lot less experience. But based on what I'm seeing with our banged up OL, I'm not sure that's a good thing.

At the risk of ruining him, or developing BAD habits early enough in his career that we won't be able to correct later on......Rattler has a LOT more experience playing behind a sieve-line. Reality is that, given the situation, Rattler may be the better option right now. And I'm a guy who hoped Rattler would sit the entire season, develop behind the scenes under Kubiak/Janosky tutelage, and bust out NEXT year to seize the starting role. Despite the best of intentions, and the best of plans....sometimes you just have to improvise. Rattler's been doing that for about 3 years now, already. Rattler doesn't know what a CLEAN pocket is supposed to look like! A leaky OL giving up lots of penetration is just another game for him.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I think Rattler is KK's guy, not DA's guy. That's why I think that Rattler will start against TB. We've seen glimpses of what Rattler can do in this system. I know it was only preseason, but he made some 2nd and 3rd stringers shine. There was definitely something that went through the entire team that wasn't there with Haener.

How can Rattler only be KK’s guy when KK is DA’s guy? Just curious how you drew no Brees that conclusion?

 

[SweetT]

With you, but for a slightly different reason. I think Haener plays QB in a very similar style as DC4....not saying he's just like Carr, or the next Carr, or anything like that. Just that their STYLES are similar...for that reason, Haener may be a drop-in replacement with a lot less experience. But based on what I'm seeing with our banged up OL, I'm not sure that's a good thing.

At the risk of ruining him, or developing BAD habits early enough in his career that we won't be able to correct later on......Rattler has a LOT more experience playing behind a sieve-line. Reality is that, given the situation, Rattler may be the better option right now. And I'm a guy who hoped Rattler would sit the entire season, develop behind the scenes under Kubiak/Janosky tutelage, and bust out NEXT year to seize the starting role. Despite the best of intentions, and the best of plans....sometimes you just have to improvise. Rattler's been doing that for about 3 years now, already. Rattler doesn't know what a CLEAN pocket is supposed to look like! A leaky OL giving up lots of penetration is just another game for him.

See I don’t put any stock into playing QBs with the same playing style. If that was the case, then every team in the NFL, would get backups who are similar to their starting QB. It means absolutely nothing. The only thing that matters, is who can sustain drives, command the team, and give you the best chance to win. Similar play styles be darned. Never in my life heard of this nonsense until this week. This “nonsense” comment was not aimed at you specifically. A lot of people are saying this and it literally has no bearing whether a guy can make the throws or not. CHURLISH

 

[austrian-saint]

How can Rattler only be KK’s guy when KK is DA’s guy? Just curious how you drew no Brees that conclusion?

I meant that KK wanted to draft Rattler and DA gave his ok. Don't think that DA wanted to draft another QB. But with the chance to draft Rattler in the 5th, I think KK wanted to pull the trigger.

 

[Hedon James]

See I don’t put any stock into playing QBs with the same playing style. If that was the case, then every team in the NFL, would get backups who are similar to their starting QB. It means absolutely nothing. The only thing that matters, is who can sustain drives, command the team, and give you the best chance to win. Similar play styles be darned. Never in my life heard of this nonsense until this week. This “nonsense” comment was not aimed at you specifically. A lot of people are saying this and it literally has no bearing whether a guy can make the throws or not. CHURLISH

Not sure I agree with that...I think there's merit (especially in a new system with new scheme and new plays) to a backup QB who is a "lite" version of the starter. But in THIS case, I think a similar playing style will result in similar play calls and similar game plans, which will result in a similar outcome....an injured QB.

I think a "scrambler" or a "mobile" QB is the better choice for the OL we have right now. I think Rattler is the best choice for THAT scenario. If not Rattler, then TH7 when he's available again. But make no mistake, Rattler is the most experienced QB on the roster when it comes to playing QB behind a leaky OL!

I think we agree on the smart course of action, just for different reasons. It's all good though....I just wanna win...I don't care how it happens!

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I meant that KK wanted to draft Rattler and DA gave his ok. Don't think that DA wanted to draft another QB. But with the chance to draft Rattler in the 5th, I think KK wanted to pull the trigger.

Why don’t you think Allen wanted to draft another QB?

 

[austrian-saint]

Why don’t you think Allen wanted to draft another QB?

Just a feeling... maybe it was his choice.

 

[rsmith2783]

Rumor at best. Just as we saw, Haener is the guy.

 

[Hedon James]

Why don’t you think Allen wanted to draft another QB?

This question wasn't directed at me, but I'd like to venture a THEORY...I would speculate that DA drafter Haener in the 4th round the year before. And at least publicly, has stated he was pleased with the rookie's progress. That's not a recipe to draft yet another QB prospect in the 5th round of the very next draft. Either DA was NOT pleased with Haener's progress, which seems unlikely given that Haener has been given the first opportunities when DC4 wasn't in); or someone else in the draft room (maybe Kubiak, maybe someone else?) saw Ratter's availability and pushed hard for a SECOND developmental prospect. Which I'm fine with...I think the Saints should draft a developmental QB EVERY year until the next "franchise QB" emerges...the position is THAT important.

So I don't know what really happened, or why it happened, but I think the SPECULATION above makes sense. But I'll admit I'm only connecting the dots I can see...I don't know what dots may exist behind the curtain.

 

[bthomas1]

Let's go Rattler

 

[Consigliere]

Starting Rattler is the obvious answer for any coach who wants to invest in the team's future, take a high-risk high-reward approach, and spark interest among the fans.

So we will start Haener.

 

[sfidc3]

I think it was Mike Triplett that pointed out that while Haener has been game day backup because he is a better fit behind Carr, they are technically co-second team QBs. Either of them could start and it wouldn't require changing the depth chart or demoting anyone.

IMO, there is no such thing as co-QB anything, thats never worked. You start the QB who gives you the best chance to win, to me it’s obviously Rattler, we will see what happens….

 

[blotch1]

Behind our o-line, Rattler might actually be a better choice than Carr anyway.

With a healthy line, Carr is definitely the choice, but Rattler's mobility may help the line.

 

[Elvis]

IMO, there is no such thing as co-QB anything, thats never worked. You start the QB who gives you the best chance to win, to me it’s obviously Rattler, we will see what happens….

My point is that they never gave the #2 job to anyone officially, just different roles while they shared the second team QB slot on the depth chart. We have no 3rd team QB.

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