Former New Orleans Saints quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan has launched a successful career as a media analyst with his “The QB School” YouTube channel, and he’s circled back to Spencer Rattler after reviewing the rookie’s preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals. It was largely positive.
Rattler’s final preseeason action with the Tennessee Titans obviously excited a lot of Saints fans. He threw a beautiful touchdown pass and led several scoring drives. But it wasn’t perfect, and O’Sullivan found some dangerous flaws in this game after studying the coach’s film.
He says Rattler needs to do a better job protecting himself and his teammates. Tight end Michael Jacobson was roundly criticized for dropping an early pass from Rattler, but after reviewing the play from multiple angles O’Sullivan said that the inexperienced quarterback put his receiver in a bad spot with multiple defenders closing in.
“The arm talent, it’s an impressive throw, ripping it down the middle. But the decision is bad,” O’Sullivan explained, highlighting three Titans defenders ready to crash down on Jacobson at the catch point, “And this is how people get hurt. And I don’t love it. I don’t want to see it on film, ever. This can be an absolute death shot.”
He says Rattler should recognize the threat of the deep safety given where the route combination positions each defender. The collision jarred the ball loose for an incomplete pass, but it could’ve been worse. He added, “This is just one of those things, I’m telling you, in a locker room with perimeter players, wide receivers, tight ends and backs, they don’t want to see this stuff. Dangerous.”
It isn’t just his receivers Rattler needs to watch out for. He needs to keep his head and be aware of how he’s putting himself in danger out in the open field. Rattler has been eager to prove he has the mobility to make plays outside the pocket, and he did have some positive scrambles in the preseason. But he needs to understand when it’s time to tuck and run.
“Just run full speed out of bounds man. That’s a low football IQ, that’s an unsafe play. Protect yourself, get out of bounds. Preseason, you take an unnecessary shot,” O’Sullivan chided. “Go full speed out of bounds or slide and protect yourself, full speed. Boom. Bench press in the back, he hits him, it’s in bounds and he hits him, that’s a dumbass play by the quarterback.”
Everyone makes mistakes. O’Sullivan was clear about where this criticism was coming from. He wants to see Rattler enjoy a long, productive career and develop into a star quarterback. That isn’t going to happen if he’s getting blasted by linebackers in exhibition games because he wasn’t situationally aware. And while Rattler has the arm talent to make any throw, that doesn’t necessarily mean he should try every throw. There are times when it’s better to live another down and not put his receivers in danger. The rookie has a lot of room to grow and if he can learn from these mistakes, he’ll have time to meet that potential.
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