New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore hasn’t completely ruled out adding a veteran quarterback to help a relatively young room with Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener competing for the starting job.
But based on his comments, and the team’s actions, such a move doesn’t appear likely to happen anytime soon.
Why? Well, when it comes to experience, the Saints still have plenty of people who can guide their young quarterback room along. They just reside on the coaching staff — a group that’s littered with former quarterbacks.
The Saints’ offensive staff has four coaches who have played the position, starting with their head coach. Moore spent six seasons as an NFL backup after a decorated college career at Boise State, while offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier played for multiple teams in the 1990s — including the Saints. Quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien was a journeyman in the NFL, notably with the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts. And even senior offensive assistant Scott Linehan started for the University of Idaho in the 1980s.
That experience, the signal callers say, is evident as the Saints have spent this offseason learning a new offense. It becomes quickly apparent that Moore and those involved in installing the offense have played quarterback.
“It allows you to see different perspectives,” Haener said. “The coaches understand that, ‘Hey, every quarterback is different.’ And my footwork at times may be different from Spencer’s and Tyler’s. And we’re going to build this thing up to the point where, ‘Hey, you do whatever’s comfortable if you’re throwing the ball on time and on rhythm.’”
Said Shough: “That’s the greatest thing you can have as a quarterback. Those voices are all speaking the same language, but … they do a good job of playing off each other in the room.”
After Derek Carr’s retirement in May, New Orleans does not have a passer on the roster with an NFL win under his belt. If the room stays as is, the Saints would be the 11th team since the start of the century to enter Week 1 with that criteria, according to The Associated Press’s Josh Dubow.
But even last year, the Saints were comfortable with a youth movement. Though Carr was the starter, New Orleans opted not to re-sign veteran Jameis Winston and relied on Rattler and Haener as backups. When the duo had to play because of injuries to Carr, however, they struggled: Rattler went 0-6 in his starts, while Haener was benched at halftime in a game that New Orleans also lost.
Haener, though, seemed to shrug off the idea that the Saints needed a veteran quarterback to mentor them along.
“I mean, what are you going to get from that?” Haener said. “Those guys (on staff) are veterans, man. They’ve done it. They’ve been through it. … You’ve got everything you need in terms of what to look for, what to ask, what to see. They’ve seen it all. They’ve been around it.
“If there’s anything we’re missing, that we don’t have all the answers to the test — we’re still young, we have a lot to learn — they’re great resources to have.”
Interestingly enough, Drew Brees has publicly said that he’d like to see the Saints add a veteran to the room. Speaking at the opening of one of his new businesses a few weeks ago, the former quarterback said that person can serve as a “buffer” between the player and the coaching staff.
“Honestly, you need that,” Brees said, later adding, “I think if there was one other thing to do, it would be go out and get a veteran guy who could not only to push the young guys, but also be a great resource for them.”
The Saints didn’t wait long after Carr’s retirement to add a fourth arm, signing undrafted free agent Hunter Dekkers. That spot, in theory, could have gone to someone with experience. But the Saints opted to go with Dekkers after they identified him in the pre-draft process and were impressed by his rookie minicamp tryout.
The other options, too, may not have been appealing to the franchise. Signing someone like Aaron Rodgers would have upended its quarterback competition — and that’s even before Rodgers strongly emphasized that he had no interest in playing for the Saints. Veterans like Carson Wentz and Teddy Bridgewater are available, but there are only so many reps to go around.
In the meantime, the Saints’ coaching staff will work to develop the passers on the roster. As a coach, Tolzien said his profession is all about the delicate balance of loading his players up with information — but not too much information.
Having played helps them understand where the line is, Tolzien said.
“We’re in a first-year system, so you don’t want to assume anything,” Tolzien said. “We’re starting at the 101 level and I kind of love that. You get to mold them how you want.”
