Top Takeaways from Day 2 of Saints' Training Camp

Kellen Moore

Head coach Kellen Moore continues to ease the team into training camp, limiting Thursday's practice to 75 minutes. Moore talked briefly about some of the team's decisions during camp, having sports science behind them to limit injuries. The Saints have been notorious for collecting injuries in recent years, so it makes a lot of sense for the rookie head coach to take it slow.

QB1 Battle

Tyler Shough

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough was given the chance to run with the first team offense on Thursday. Shough struggled during the team's opening training camp practice, completing just 2/6 passes and taking three sacks, but was better on day two.

During 7-on-7, the rookie went 4/4, ending the session with a touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed. Red zone drills were rougher on Shough, however, but the second-round pick was able to throw another touchdown to Shaheed after facing an all-out blitz.

Shough looked antsy in the pocket at times and is still adjusting to NFL-style defenses. It will take more than just two days of practice for the 6-foot-5 passer to get comfortable, but a solid day with the first-team offense is a promising start.

Spencer Rattler

With Shough getting the keys to the first-team offense to start day two, Spencer Rattler worked more with the twos. Similar to Wednesday, Rattler continues to look poised in the pocket and is a factor against the defense on his feet.

After Shough's impressive sequence in 7-on-7s, throwing 4/4 and ending it with a touchdown, Rattler immediately responded with a nice pass to Chris Olave, who would find the endzone. The former fifth-round pick showed composure and the ability to respond.

Rattler's ability to respond was put to the test, however, after he threw an interception to rookie Quincy Riley during red zone drills. The 2024 draft selection said during his press conference that the interception was intended to be a throwaway, but he didn't put enough juice on it.

Jake Haener

Despite the consensus believing the QB1 battle is exclusively between Shough and Rattler, Kellen Moore has named third-year quarterback Jake Haener as a candidate for the job. Haener has a longer road to be the starter, but he will get his opportunity nonetheless after Moore announced he will see work with the first-team in some capacity on Friday.

Haener had the best throw of the day with a beautifully placed ball to Juwan Johnson towards the sideline of the end zone.

Haener was decisive when he saw the field and was able to find success, but his press conference after practice may have been what was the most impressive. Haener admitted to understanding he was the underdog for the job and acknowledged that many are already counting him out. Despite standing in front of many of his biggest critics, he talked with confidence and was able to show his high IQ for the game.

Moore said Haener will get his chance to play with the first-team on Friday; now it's up to the third-year quarterback to prove he belongs in the competition.

Camp Fight!

Wednesday presented our first fight of camp. Veteran wide receiver got into it with cornerback Alontae Taylor, who was quickly aided by the rest of the Saints' secondary.

Fights in camp aren't the worst thing in the world, and in some light, could be seen as a positive. These guys are out in the mid-Louisiana summer competing at the highest level. Everyone wants to win, and emotions are at a high. Head coach Kellen Moore responded to the situation, saying, "Obviously, you want to try to eliminate them [fights] as much as you can, but sometimes it's good to get guys together."

Special Teams Battle

Kicker Charlie Smyth had a rough showing on Thursday. The second-year kicker went 2/5 on field goals, missing two to the left and a third to the right. Smyth was brought back during the offseason to challenge Blake Grupe.

Kicking is cutthroat in the NFL, and a rough showing by the Irish kicker makes challenging the third-year Saints kicker.