The question of whether Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler will start on Sunday will be answered at practice this week, according to interim head coach Darren Rizzi. The New Orleans Saints are having a real quarterback competition in the wake of Derek Carr’s injury.
Rizzi said earlier in the week that he wasn’t going to be a fence-sitter about this, but after meeting with his offensive coaching staff he felt a competition between the two young backups was the best path forward.
“We all met, staff-wise. Both Jake and Spencer bring certain attributes to the table. They’re very similar in a lot of ways, so game-plan wise, it doesn’t change much,” Rizzi told reporters after practice on Wednesday.
While he acknowledged that it was a “horrible example” Rizzi said it wasn’t like comparing Michael Vick with Jim Everett, as in there isn’t a clear answer here. There are things each passer does well that Rizzi and the staff see value in.
“They’re both guys that throw the ball well, they’re both similar-size guys, athletic ability is very similar. There’ll be some nuances in the game plan, depending on which guy starts, naturally,” Rizzi said. “But it’s not going to be this wholesale deal.”
So may the best man win. Both Haener and Rattler will have the opportunity to make their case over the next three days.
