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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The biggest surprise from Saints' first unofficial depth chart of 2025 NFL season
The post The biggest surprise from Saints' first unofficial depth chart of 2025 NFL season appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New Orleans Saints are under no pressure to be good this season. Undoing past mistakes will take at least a year, maybe even longer since the guy who made them is still calling the shots. Fans have begrudgingly watched the team lumber through a four-year playoffs drought and will tough it out for another season or two for the hope of a fresh start. First-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore will have considerable leeway in how he forges this new era of Big Easy football. But what the city wants to see is a concrete plan. Although the Saints presented the outline of a blueprint when they selected Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, skepticism is rising. The rookie is not progressing quite as quickly as the fan base probably hoped. What is more concerning, however, is the uncertainty that New Orleans apparently feels about the entire QB room. Based on the team's first unofficial depth chart for the 2025-26 campaign, the Saints are still searching for short-term answers. They refused to reveal anything regarding the signal-caller hierarchy, listing second-year talent Spencer Rattler 'or' Shough 'or' 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener as the starter. You know the saying. If you have multiple quarterbacks, you don't have a quarterback. Yes, there is still almost a month to go before the Saints' season opener, and yes, they have yet to even play a preseason game. A camp competition can also help push young players forward. Clarity is vital, though, especially when it concerns this franchise. Longtime general manager Mickey Loomis was forced to pivot after Derek Carr retired, but he knew the situation was already murky. The front office should have been more prepared. Now, a QB free-for-all is evidentially taking place in Metairie, Louisiana. None of the candidates have inspired much confidence to this point, which means there is a possibility the ultimate depth chart decision ends up being more about who is the best of the rest rather than who outright snatches the role. Translation: patience is a virtue. The Saints still have much to figure out before training camp ends Regardless of who takes snaps under center this season, attaining stability behind a suspect offensive line will be grueling. Hence, it is wise to ease Tyler Shough into the QB 1 slot. Growing pains are inevitable, especially since he played only one full season during his long yet injury-plagued college career. But one expects a second-round pick to have a better feel for the game during training camp. Shough has struggled thus far. New Orleans is hoping that his noteworthy physical tools, which include arm strength and a 6-foot-5 frame, will consistently shine on the practice field and during preseason. This prospect is not supposed to be a project, however. He will turn 26 years old by the end of September. He also does not have a fifth-year option in his contract like first-rounders do, so there is less time to evaluate him. There is no time to waste. The Saints tabbed Tyler Shough as a potential long-term starting quarterback, choosing him over Shedeur Sanders. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year just played well in his preseason debut with the Cleveland Browns. Fair or not, Shough will be under enormous pressure to do the same when New Orleans battles the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Can either Rattler or Haener work as a short-term plan? If the Saints rookie is not ready to take the majority of snaps under center, then Kellen Moore will have to trust either Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener to run the offense at the start of the campaign. The former will start in the team's preseason opener and is the current favorite to win the job, while the latter is seemingly in a distant third behind Shough. Rattler already has six starts under his belt, throwing for 1,317 yards and four touchdowns during the 2024-25 campaign. He completed just 57 percent of his passes and tossed five interceptions, struggling profusely to move the chains behind a porous offensive line and with a depleted wide receiver room. The problem is, though, the circumstances may not be much better this year. Chris Olave keeps suffering concussions, Rashid Shaheed is coming off a knee injury and the O-line remains a mystery. We already know what Rattler can do under sub-optimal conditions. Is it worth giving him another shot? The fifth-round selection's supporters can justifiably argue that his background has prepared him for this daunting undertaking. Rattler was the No. 1 recruit in the 2019 class, ranking above both Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. He fell out of favor at Oklahoma, losing out to Caleb Williams, while his aforementioned contemporaries thrived in college (Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in 2023) and competed in the NFL playoffs last season. The Arizona native took a more unconventional route to the pros, finding his way at South Carolina before hearing his name called on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Maybe the man who has fallen from grace and picked himself up is the perfect bridge QB for this adversity-stricken squad. New Orleans must make the best out of a tough situation Who Dat Nation anticipates plenty of anguish this year. Some are even prepared to revisit the New Orleans 'Aints' days. A depth chart with no certainty at quarterback will only breed more anxiety amongst them. This organization owes it to the people who emotionally and financially invest in this diminishing product to provide reasons for hope. That is the bar for the 2025-26 season. Not a divisional title, Not a Wild Card berth. And not even a winning campaign. The people need to know that Mickey Loomis can steer the front office through this turbulence. They need to know they can trust Moore to motivate his guys enough to play above their collective talent grade. They want to see resilience even when the outcome is bleak. That is the bare minimum New Orleans deserves from its Saints. It is up to the higher-ups and coaching staff to make that happen, and it starts by selecting the right quarterback. The 'ors' next to Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough and Jake Haener will suffice for now, but a clear vision must soon emerge. Then, and only then, can the team and its fans officially enter this rebuilding phase. Related: Saints' Kellen Moore reveals starting QB choice for preseason opener Related: Saints' Tyler Shough catches social media strays amid Shedeur Sanders display
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solak at helm will 'benefit' Saints
Dragan Solak (right) has done his first sit-down interview with the BBC since buying a majority stake in Southampton back in 2022 [Adam Blackmore on X] After waiting three and a half years to have a proper sit down with Saints' owner, and now chairman, Dragan Solak, it was a relief and a pleasure to spend time with him. I haven't met many billionaires (!) and so it was great that he was warm, affable and courteous. But he was also sharp and switched on, and there was a calm confidence that I'm guessing comes from being successful. Advertisement I can't imagine him suffering fools for long. But for the purposes of my interview he was all-in and had things to say. Having taken on a more hands-on role during the disastrous season that's just unfolded for Saints, I can tell he is fully engaged in the club and putting things right. I think Saints fans should be warmed by many things he said, especially ending speculation about his ownership and his belief that the club will get things right. Sport Republic have made a number of mistakes during their first three and a half years in charge but many of those decisions were made while Solak was a "silent" owner. Now he is very much at the helm and I think that can only benefit the club. Click here to listen to the full interview with Southampton owner Dragan Solak.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Solak at helm will 'benefit' Saints
After waiting three and a half years to have a proper sit down with Saints' owner, and now chairman, Dragan Solak, it was a relief and a pleasure to spend time with him.I haven't met many billionaires (!) and so it was great that he was warm, affable and courteous. But he was also sharp and switched on, and there was a calm confidence that I'm guessing comes from being successful.I can't imagine him suffering fools for long. But for the purposes of my interview he was all-in and had things to taken on a more hands-on role during the disastrous season that's just unfolded for Saints, I can tell he is fully engaged in the club and putting things right.I think Saints fans should be warmed by many things he said, especially ending speculation about his ownership and his belief that the club will get things Republic have made a number of mistakes during their first three and a half years in charge but many of those decisions were made while Solak was a "silent" he is very much at the helm and I think that can only benefit the here to listen to the full interview with Southampton owner Dragan Solak.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Still's appointment is 'innovative'
I've just spoken to some Southampton fans who are already in the ground and have heard the confirmation that Will Still will be their new words came up in conversation a few times, "innovative" and "patience".Their overall happiness at the appointment comes from the feeling he has been innovative in his previous management role in France, and his tactical thinking and player acquisition skills could be a good some of those I spoke to are urging fellow Saints fans to be patient with him, and give him the time to rebuild and get the club back to the Premier fan said he'd be happy with a consolidation season in the Championship before going may be a minority view. But, there is a desire for him to have time and not to panic if they're not chasing for promotion from the start of next season.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints 'can pull off the great escape' or 'playing for their future in the Championship'?
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 win against Ross County. Here's what some of you said: Ellie: One of the most stressful matches I have sat through as a Saints fan (especially the VAR check, one of a slim amount to go our way this season) but a well deserved win - Elliot Watt and Josh McPake were outstanding. Let's hope we can take this form through to the end of the season as our job is far from done. Jimmy: We had numerous chances to score, reason being we didn't. Could be 'match rustiness'? The chance County had, they took well and deserved it. We didn't let our heads down, we knew what we had to do. We did get lucky with the disallowed County goal. Defence frailties are still there, but I still have faith in the players we have. Hopefully, we can get a defender that's fit enough for the run in. Robin: It's always the hope that gets you! A good performance, but without someone taking these clear chances it is just prolonging the life support. It is not nice wanting Dundee to win a game, as we now need them to on Wednesday, but it's better that than being without hope. Linsey: Much better, but cant help feeling it's come too late, finally saw a bit of wing work by McPake which we are badly needing as a team. We need to actually start using all of the pitch and open up our game at home. All the players played for the badge for once, they can pull off the great escape and leave everyone else in this league scratching their heads and saying 'how on earth did those jammy farmers from Perth manage that one?' Dunc: Saints were up for the battle, but they were all mostly playing for their futures in the Championship. Not sure who should be retained, or want to go. We are gone, but if we recruit well we might not be down too long. That could though, be wishful thinking!
