After calling plays from the press box booth in the New Orleans Saints’ first two preseason games, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will try working from the sideline during Sunday’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Kubiak has been given the option to find which approach works best for him so he’ll give both approaches a fair shot.
“The plan all along was to do both in the preseason, so probably going to be down for this game. I’ve done them both. Really good sightlines up there, have good coaches on the sideline, we’re going to try both in the preseason so we’ll try the other way this game,” Kubiak said after practice this week.
Obviously calling plays from the field level at the Caesars Superdome is a different experience to seeing everything from up in the booth. Kubiak pointed to the eye-to-eye contact with his players and ease of communication compared to talking through a headset, though he values the perspective in viewing the whole field from up high.
“There’s positives to both,” Kubiak acknowledged. “So no preference, I’d like to see how it works out this week.”
Expect backup quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener to split reps nearly-evenly in kickoff with the Titans. While the Saints haven’t said whether their starters will play many snaps in their final exhibition game, it would be unusual to see Derek Carr spend much time on the field at this point in the summer.
As to where Kubiak will be calling plays from when the regular season starts on Sept. 8? That’s yet to be determined, and his experience on Sunday will play a big part in making that decision.
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