“Faith, family and football – those are my three priorities that won’t ever change!” declared Kellen Moore upon being appointed head coach of the Saints at 35 years old. At that age he found himself leading an ambitious club looking to turn around their 5-12 campaign–their worst season since 1999! Moore found himself facing similar expectations during this transition period that ultimately lead to Sean Payton becoming head coach; therefore setting high hopes and expectations during Moore’s reign as Saints head coach.
Moore found himself quickly exposed to the reality of leading an organization in transition during his debut against the Chargers during their preseason opener, when fans and coaching staff alike eagerly looked out for signs of renewal during a 27-13 loss that tested Moore as his three young quarterbacks-Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener-navigate their NFL experiences for themselves for the first time. There were glimpses of promise amidst frequent turnovers and mistakes highlighting what lies ahead for this Saints quarterback lineup.
Moore openly recognized the mixed performances, saying, “Yeah, I think for all three, there’s gonna be some good moments, and there’s gonna be some moments we wanna have back.” The game saw Rattler’s mobility, Shough’s recovery from an interception with a 54-yard TD, and Haener’s brief but interception-marred appearance. Emphasizing the importance of ball security, Moore acknowledged, “So a big lesson for us is just we gotta protect the football.”
The Chargers’ defense capitalized on the Saints’ errors, with rookie Eric Rogers returning a Shough interception for a touchdown. The Saints’ offensive line also struggled, allowing five sacks. Moore stressed the importance of not creating turnovers and the critical nature of the players’ responses to these challenging moments.
Despite the setbacks, Moore maintained a positive outlook on Tyler Shough’s tumultuous night, emphasizing the learning opportunity presented by the interception. “I thought he did a great job,” Moore remarked, praising Shough’s resilience and ability to bounce back—a trait seen as crucial for his development.
Shough stood out, completing 15 of 22 attempts for 165 yards while showing his arm talent by throwing an amazing 54-yard touchdown pass – something Moore knows all too well from her years as coach of young talent such as Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert. This performance proved rewarding to Moore who has long championed them.
As the Saints prepare to face Jacksonville in their next preseason contest, competition among quarterbacks is intensifying. Moore’s expertise in quarterback development will prove instrumental as they navigate through preseason turbulence as he strives to build teams capable of facing hardship head on and growing stronger together.