Even for a team that has consistently had bad luck over the years, the New Orleans Saints have had one of their most chaotic seasons yet in recent history. Previous starting quarterback Spencer Rattler was recently replaced by rookie Tyler Shough midway through the season. This unusual shakeup is drawing attention in the NFL world, and Saints fans are hoping Shough will usher in a new era for the team. However, he is up against staggering odds.
Rattler has had a very inconsistent career so far. He has now fallen to 1-13 in career NFL starts. In his past six quarters, he has been sacked seven times and has not scored any touchdowns. There were also predictions early on that he wouldn’t be likely to remain the starting quarterback for long due to his lackluster percentage of completed passes and yards per attempt.
However, head coach Kellen Moore’s narrow-minded approach also deserves some blame.
Moore’s transition from Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator to first-time NFL coach has been difficult. His offense-focused strategy hasn’t been effective when the Saints’ offensive lineup is dealing with the same frequent injuries and inconsistent plays that plagued them the previous season. Moore hasn’t been able to justify his decisions under pressure. He repeatedly shuts down and gets clammy when asked tough questions about strategy or roster changes.
As for Shough, he’s had a tumultuous career of his own. He began his college career at the University of Oregon, showing early promise as a backup quarterback. He eventually ended up at Texas Tech University and became their starting quarterback, but missed large chunks of multiple seasons due to repeated injuries.
Before he was selected as a second-round draft pick for the Saints, Shough played at the University of Louisville, where he broke several records, including placing second all-time at Louisville for both yards per game passing at 266.3 yards and touchdowns per game passing at 1.92. His pre-draft measurables were notable for showcasing both traditional quarterback hallmarks like arm strength and pocket presence as well as mobility.
In his first starting game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Shough started off strong and managed to complete 17 out of 30 passes at a 57% success rate. However, like many rookie quarterbacks, he struggled to keep turnovers to a minimum when his pass to wide receiver Chris Olave was intercepted by Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Saints are now part of a three-way tie with the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans for the worst record in the NFL. The strongest Saints quarterback in recent history, Drew Brees, stood out for his strength, as well as benefiting from the coaching presence of Sean Payton and an offensive line that was able to help him consistently execute successful plays.
Shough is not coming into a team with that level of presence or structure. He may be the savior Saints fans are hoping for, but if he’s not, don’t blame it on him. Blame it on the miraculous dysfunction of the Saints’ organization.