re: Chris Simms: Shough will be the starter

I think the experiment is ready to go.
We have a qb on 3rd year 2nd year and first year and 18 more games. Seems like CKM will have plenty of results to ponder next off season to me.

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Most who cover the Saints more intently think the opposite

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These folks are often wrong.

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You took him in the 2nd and guaranteed him $10M. Shough absolutely needs to start and play as much as possible this year so you know with certainty if you'll need to take a QB in round 1.

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That’s under $3 million/year. In comparison, they paid Jameis Winston over $10 million/year to ride the bench.

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I truly don’t get the “let’s start Rattler for the first few games then let Shough play”. If it’s this close of a competition you give Shough the shot to show this team he’s the guy. We’re gonna be really bad this year and qb is in play next year.

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I'm not advocating for the Saints to start Rattler for the first few games. I'm just saying I think that's what they will do. We view things from a fan's POV. That is we want to see who the best guy may be without much regard for the results. For Moore, he owes an obligation to his players to try to win games. If there is little separation between the two QBs, then most coaches will lean on experience. Rattler has NFL starting experience. Shough doesn't. If after the first few games Rattler isn't good and the Saints aren't winning, then there would be no harm in making a change.

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I know what we have in Rattler and that is a mediocre backup qb with one hell of an arm.

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That may ultimately be the case. But the variables that existed at the time you made that decision aren't the same as they are now. Namely, that was last season under a completely difference coaching staff, and in many of his starts the OL was injured and the availability of his top pass catchers was spotty.

There is really no "good" option. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation. But I can understand why a new HC might lean towards experience to start the season.

In a perfect world you could let Rattler start the first 4 to 6 games and then bring Shough in when the team is more settled and the schedule is easier, and perhaps the pressure is off because we're 1-5. That's why most teams have journeyman vet like Jacoby Brisset around in these situations, someone who expects to be benched eventually for the draft pick. The Saints have made it weird by basically having two rookies, both of whom have at least some potential.