Irvine, Calif. – Spencer Rattler’s preseason debut hardly could have gone much better.
The New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback scored the team's only touchdown on a 4-yard run, engineered the game-winning field goal drive in a 16-14 victory over Arizona and completed 9 of 17 passes for 70 yards in his NFL debut.
But heading into the second preseason game, on Sunday against San Francisco at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Rattler is looking to raise his level against the 49ers.
"I think just continuing to get through my progressions," Rattler said Friday, following the Saints' final training camp practice at Cal-Irvine. "A few times I got out of the pocket a little quicker than I wanted, but I felt like we handled situations well. I think we can convert on third down a little better at a higher rate, so just improving those little areas."
Rattler has shown marked improvement since joining the Saints, progressing from uneven timing and accuracy for stretches, to a better understanding of where and when the ball needs to be delivered to his receivers.
And he displayed a pivotal in-game adjustment against the Cardinals on the game-winning drive.
On first-and-10 from Arizona 37-yard line with 35 seconds left, Rattler missed receiver Samson Nacua on a deep back-shoulder throw down the right sideline. After Arizona committed a neutral zone infraction on second down, New Orleans went back to the same play, and Rattler connected with Nacua on a 13-yard pass, to the 19-yard line.
Two plays later, Charlie Smyth kicked the game-winning 37-yard field goal.
"I love that (offensive coordinator) Klint (Kubiak) called the same play," Rattler said. "I think if it's not broke, keep doing it. We ran that play, it looked good, put it on the back shoulder there, we missed a little bit. We went right back to it and knew we could hit it and Samson made a big-time catch to put us in field-goal range.
"You've got to learn from those misses and then just dial it back in. The little things. You've got to do better that next rep. If you know you've got it, then you've just got to make a quick move and just go right back to it. Just keep pushing."
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints workouts during 2024 Training Camp at the University of California, Irvine on Friday, August 16.
Rattler's push has helped as he vies with Jake Haener for the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Derek Carr . He missed the Sunday practice following Saturday's preseason game with a thigh contusion – despite a strong plea to be cleared to practice – but was back on the field Tuesday when the Saints resumed.
"I just like to stay out here as much as I can, not miss any time," he said.
The on-field misses are much less frequent as Rattler has begun to grasp Kubiak's concepts.
"I think just improvement and wanting to get better every day," he said. "I feel like not just me, but as a group we've gotten better every single day – 1s, 2s, 3s. Our defense makes it hard on us, they give us great looks every day."
