Tag: QB

Spencer Rattler, not Jake Haener, will take the field as Saints’ QB2 vs. 49ers

Spencer Rattler, not Jake Haener, will take the field as the New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback against the San Francisco 49ers:

It’ll be Spencer Rattler, not Jake Haener, taking the field as the New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback on Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Rattler was seen warming up with the second-team offense and will take over for Carr once the starters call it a night.

This was expected, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. The rookie led a game-winning drive in last week’s preseason action and now he gets an opportunity to show what he can do with the second-string offense instead of the third-stringers.

Let’s see how he performs against one of the league’s better teams, even if he’s running against other backups. Rattler has been pushing Haener for thee backup job all summer and a big day at Levi’s Stadium could help his case  to back up Carr this year.

Haener has been ahead throughout training camp but Rattler’s natural arm talent and polished mechanics have cut into the second-year pro’s lead. If Rattler can improve on his decision-making and work out some bad habits like dropping back too far under pressure, the sky is the limit for him.

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B/R argues Spencer Rattler is the Saints’ biggest talking-point

This B/R writer likes what he sees from Spencer Rattler and is eager for more. They argue the rookie QB is the Saints’ biggest talking-point:

The New Orleans Saints have their second preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon looked at the biggest talking point for each team in the NFL.

Gagnon looked back at Spencer Rattler’s performance against Cardinals in the preseason debut and came away with an appetite for more. He understands one game doesn’t tell the full picture, especially not a preseason game, but the intrigue is there. Here’s why he’s watching Gagnon so closely on Sunday night:

I’ve been doing this long enough to know not to overreact to action from the second half of a Week 1 preseason game, but I at least want to see more of Spencer Rattler. If the rookie fifth-round pick can keep flashing, the Saints seriously need to consider a short leash on Derek Carr in what is likely a make-or-break season.

The determining factor on if Gagnon is over-exaggerating is what does he mean by short leash. Carr is definitely entering a make-or-break season, but the decision between pass or fail will likely be made at the end of the season. If a short leash means Carr’s job is in immediate jeopardy, that’s a harder sell. Dennis Allen is loyal to Carr and will give him every opportunity.

It’s safe to say everyone wants to see more Rattler. Of all the training camp battles, there isn’t one that has delivered more than the battle at backup quarterback. Rattler and Jake Haener have been pushing each other all offseason. All signs are the battle remains close.

So before we talk about him supplanting Carr, Rattler has to tackle the challenge in front of him first. Either way, Rattler needs to continue flashing the talent that sets him apart from his competition.

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Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener should switch roles vs. 49ers

The New Orleans Saints backup QB battle continues vs. the 49ers. Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener should be in line for a role-reversal:

Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are embroiled in the New Orleans Saints’ most compelling training camp battle. The battle is the epitome of iron sharpening iron, and it heats up the closer we get to the regular season.

Backup quarterback battles don’t typically see as much attention, but the Saints are a special case. Derek Carr is the starting quarterback, but the battle feels like more than just being the backup. The feeling is Haener and Rattler are fighting to be the top choice for the heir apparent.

As quarterbacks, there can only be one on the field at a time. Last week, Haener entered the game immediately after Carr then Rattler handled the entire second half. The exact time on the field will be impacted by the first team’s usage, but in general, Rattler and Haener should switch roles against the 49ers.

This is typically the case in quarterback battles, so if it doesn’t happen, it should be taken as a sign Haener has the edge over Rattler.

The thought process is allow Rattler and Haener showcase their abilities with the same supporting cast. The only way for that to be possible is for them to alternate in the pecking order. Can Haener elevate the third-string offennse? Can Rattler make more plays on  the second team? It’s worth trying them out to see. Next week will be the final part of the evaluation. Who’s starting between the two young quarterbacks will be telling.

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Former Saints backup QB Nathan Peterman re-signs with Las Vegas Raiders

Former Saints backup quarterback Nathan Peterman re-signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting with one of his old coaches:

Nathan Peterman is going back to the Las Vegas Raiders. The former New Orleans Saints backup landed on his feet by re-signing with one of his old teams, reuniting with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy — who coached him on the Chicago Bears last year. Peterman was pushed to the bottom of the Saints depth chart when Spencer Rattler fell to them in April’s NFL draft.

The Raiders must have wanted another arm for the rest of their preseason with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell still on top of the depth chart, though rookie quarterbacks Anthony Brown Jr. and Carter Bradley are still on the roster.

Good luck to him. Peterman only appeared in two games with the Raiders as Derek Carr’s backup from 2020 to 2021, completed 3 of 5 passes for a gain of 25 yards. He’s totaled 13 interceptions against just 4 touchdown passes on 160 career attempts in 15 games with three different teams. We’ll have to wait and see if he’s still wearing silver and black when the Saints host Las Vegas at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 29.

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Where does Alabama’s QB room rank among other elite teams in 2024?

Alabama returns starting QB Jalen Milroe and has some respectable depth, but how does it compare to other teams?

Before the 2023 college football season, there was great uncertainty regarding the quarterback position for the Alabama Crimson Tide. A three-man battle between Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner ensued, but it was Milroe who won the job. Ahead of the 2024 season, fans are excited to see what the incumbent starter will perform.

One of the things that makes college football special is the constant rotation of players. Whether they lose eligibility, declare for the NFL draft or transfer, there will always be players coming and going from each program. The quarterback position is no exception to this.

Milroe finished the 2023 season with enough Heisman Trophy votes to finish No. 6 in the final tally. In 2024, he’ll look to win it all and then some. Not only is Milroe a candidate for the coveted trophy, but he’s also viewed by experts as a possible early first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Recently, Pro Football Focus (PFF) put together a ranking of the 10 best quarterback rooms in all of college football for the upcoming season. Milroe and his fellow quarterbacks on the roster have the Crimson Tide ranked No. 5 in the nation.

“Alabama might be losing the greatest coach of all time in Nick Saban, but the team still returns a top-five quarterback in college football. Jalen Milroe is a big play waiting to happen with his elite tools. The redshirt sophomore ranked second in the nation with a 9.2% big-time throw rate in 2023, and his 35 runs of 10-plus yards were the fourth most among FBS quarterbacks. Milroe’s 96.9 passing grade on deep throws trailed only Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, as well.”

While the focus may be primarily on Milroe as the starter, Pro Football Focus also gives credit to the depth first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer will have in Tuscaloosa.

“Ty Simpson will once again serve as his backup, impressing in that role with an 83.5 grade on 93 snaps last year. He was also a five-star recruit and the second-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class. The Crimson Tide also have a pair of quarterbacks from the 2023 class who were top-20 recruits at the position in Dylan Lonergan and Washington transfer Austin Mack.”

The only teams ahead of Alabama in the rankings are the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 3 Texas Longhorns, No. 2 Oregon Ducks and No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs.

Alabama will be under a microscope throughout the 2024 season, as fans and analysts are curious to see how the team performs in its first season without legendary head coach Nick Saban in nearly two decades. The performance of the team will rely heavily on Milroe to orchestrate a DeBoer-led offense.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

How Kalen DeBoer can bring out the best version of Jalen Milroe

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe will be “dangerous” to opposing defenses if new head coach Kalen DeBoer does this one thing.

The upcoming Alabama Crimson Tide football season features plenty of changes. Kalen DeBoer has replaced Nick Saban as the team’s head coach, the SEC format has changed as the conference welcomes the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns and the College Football Playoff expands to a 12-team format. One of the only constants from 2023 to this upcoming season is quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Milroe returns to the Crimson Tide in 2024 and is praised nationally as one of the best incumbent starting quarterbacks in all of college football. The success of the Tide this season will rely on the performance of Milroe.

Saban was a defensive-minded head coach but had plenty of noteworthy, talented quarterbacks in recent seasons. DeBoer is quite the opposite. The former offensive coordinator has a strong record of working with and building up quarterbacks, which leads many to believe the Jalen-Kalen pairing may be a perfect match.

College football analyst J.D. PicKell recently broke down what DeBoer should do in order to get the most out of Milroe. Overall, it comes down to getting Milroe into a rhythm.

“To me, Jalen Milroe being in rhythm consistently creates more confidence,” said PicKell. “You give me a confident Jalen Milroe throwing the football play in and play out where he is consistent, that is going to be dangerous.”

Milroe is coming off of a 2023 season that began a bit rocky. Leading up to the start of the season, Milroe was working with a young offensive coordinator, had to compete in a three-man positional battle and was even benched after a Week 2 loss at home to the Longhorns.

Steady improvement led to Milroe finishing the season as the sixth-highest vote-getter in the Heisman Trophy race. He looks to build on last year’s performance and craft a strong 2024 season that will help his team win, and possibly put him in a position to be a 2025 first-round selection.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Jalen Milroe and all Alabama football news as the offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

The one part of Jalen Milroe’s game that needs improvement might be the easiest

See what experts believe Alabama QB Jalen Milroe must improve on to improve as a quarterback.

Alabama Crimson Tide football quarterback Jalen Milroe returns for the 2024 season after finishing 2023 with a stretch of strong performances. He enters the upcoming season as a Heisman Trophy hopeful, a highly-rated returning starter and a possible first-round grade for the 2025 NFL draft.

Milroe’s start to the 2023 season was a bit unconventional. After wining a three-man quarterback competition, he was benched for the Crimson Tide’s Week 3 game against USF, which immediately followed a tough loss at home to the Texas Longhorns.

From Week 4 and beyond, Milroe steadily improved and ultimately finished as the sixth-highest voter getter for the Heisman Trophy.

As the focus shifts to the upcoming season, experts want to see Milroe improve in one area. According to ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid, his biggest weakness is his short-yardage passing (subscription required).

“Milroe lacks consistency on short-to-intermediate throws due to faulty footwork. That leads to delayed decision-making and unreliable ball placement when he needs to get the ball out quickly. He shows more comfort when afforded time to see things unfold down the field.”

Ironically, Milroe’s best quality in Reid’s opinion is his accuracy in deep passes. “Milroe is aggressive throwing downfield, as his 34 completions of 20-plus air yards last season ranked fourth in the FBS.”

There are only a couple of months before the start of the Crimson Tide 2024 football season, and Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow all things Alabama football news as the offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Alabama has one of the best QB situations in all of college football

Jalen Milroe is set to return as the Alabama starting QB in 2024, and experts believe it doesn’t get much better anywhere else.

After a rocky start to the 2023 season for Alabama Crimson Tide football quarterback Jalen Milroe, he finished the season strong and returns to make an impact in the upcoming 2024 season. He’s now being praised as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, putting Alabama in a great position to succeed in a season full of uneasiness.

In 2023, Milroe appeared in 13 games and completed 187 of his 284 passing attempts (65.8) for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions. His ability to run the ball as a fast and elusive rusher also makes him one of the nation’s most dangerous quarterbacks. Last season, he ran the ball 161 times for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns.

ESPN’s David Hale recently ranked all 134 teams by quarterback situation (subscription required) and grouped them into tiers.

Alabama, thanks to Milroe, was in the highest tier along with Carson Beck of the Georgia Bulldogs, Dillon Gabriel of the Oregon Ducks and Quinn Ewers of the Texas Longhorns.

“No QB had a higher percentage of his dropbacks come vs. zone last season than Milroe (70.2%),” write Hale. “Interestingly, Milroe actually thrived vs. zone coverage (11.2 yards per pass, 64.9 raw QBR, 16 TD, 4 INT) and struggled more vs. man coverage (8.3 yards per pass, 55.4 raw QBR, 5 TDs and 2 picks).”

Along with Milroe is a mention of likely QB2 on the Alabama football depth chart, Ty Simpson.

The 2024 Crimson Tide football season is rapidly approaching and Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Derek Carr ranked as the 5th-worst starting quarterback in the NFC

PFF ranked Derek Carr as the fifth-worst starting quarterback in the NFC, a year after they listed him fifth-best in the conference:

Yikes. Derek Carr has a lot of work to do in changing his reputation around the NFL — he’s consistently landing in the 20’s with analysts ranking the league’s starting quarterbacks after the 2024 draft. The New Orleans Saints starter didn’t exactly impress many viewers in his first season with the team.

He didn’t impress the Saints, either, which is why they completely overhauled the coaching staff supporting him. Klint Kubiak has replaced Pete Carmichael as offensive coordinator with Andrew Janocko taking over as the quarterbacks coach while other positions were flipped, too. But all of that support doesn’t mean much if Carr doesn’t show improvement. It’s on him to play better.

And he may just be who he is at this stage in his career. That’s the thesis coming from Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema, who ranked Carr 21st among the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks. Here’s his explanation:

What you see is what you get from Derek Carr at this point. His PFF passing grade has finished between 77.5 and 83.5 in four of the past five seasons. Now, I want to be clear, he is more good than bad. His turnover-worthy play rate has never been above 3.3% over that span, and his big-time throw percentage has been as high as 6.7%. But it has long felt like Carr leaves too many plays out on the field.

In 2023, Carr passed for 25 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, but he recorded 17 big-time throws to 14 turnover-worthy plays, a much closer ratio. He remains a frustrating player to watch due to the dichotomy of what he’s capable of versus what he puts on tape.

This put Carr 12th among the 16 quarterbacks in his conference, which isn’t ideal. It’s a steep fall-off after he was ranked higher last offseason. This time last year PFF slotted him at No. 14 overall and fifth-best in the NFC, alongside passers like Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Geno Smith, and Jared Goff. That sentiment was shared by other offseason quarterback rankings at The Athletic (No. 14) and ESPN (No. 16), as well as NFL Network’s morning shows. He didn’t meet those expectations. Carr averaged the second-fewest passing yards per game in his career last season, so he isn’t seen as someone who can carry an offense these days.

The Saints are betting everything on Kubiak helping to change that narrative. Putting Carr in a better position to succeed with a more creative offensive scheme isn’t the worst plan. But New Orleans is stuck with Carr whether he improves or doesn’t. Trying a different approach with a new play caller is their best (and only) move.

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Alabama’s Jalen Milroe named the most dynamic QB in college football

Jalen Milroe’s versatility is what makes the Alabama football QB one of the best players in the nation

Jalen Milroe returns as the quarterback of Alabama Crimson Tide football team for the 2024 season and looks to build upon his performance from 2023. Now, he enters the new season being praised as one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the nation.

After winning a preseason quarterback battle that featured himself, Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson, he was benched for the Week 3 road game against USF. For the rest of the season, Milroe steadily improved and now finds himself as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate for 2024.

CBS Sports recently ranked the top 10 dynamic quarterbacks and Milroe sits at the top as the most dynamic quarterback in college football.

In 2023, Milroe completed 187 of his 284 passing attempts for 2,834 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. On the ground, Milroe accounted for 161 carries, 531 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His versatility adds an extra layer of danger to the Alabama offense that opposing defenses must prepare for.

With some improvement, Milroe will easily remain in the Heisman conversation, can lead the Crimson Tide back to the College Football Playoffs and will be in contention to be a first-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM.