Spencer Rattler on preparations for Arizona Cardinals | New Orleans Saints

Spencer Rattler on preparations for Arizona Cardinals | New Orleans Saints

How we doing? Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Great. Great. What’s this week like for you, you know, getting me prepared for? Um, sorry. One more time. What’s the week like for you so far? Yeah, it’s been it’s been good. You know, good uh first day out here on the field. Um, you know, I thought we obviously got some things to clean up with the with the first day putting in some stuff, but um flying around, loving loving the game plan. Um, just got to execute throughout the week, keep building. I know you’ve been here before having started six games last year, but is it how is it different going from training camp into being the week one starter for you? Yeah, definitely a little different. You know, obviously more prepared um you know, been able to work with these guys all throughout camp and OTAA. So, it’s been been real uh beneficial for me and um I mean, we’re just we’re excited to get out there and uh show the world what we got. What’s the challenge with like some of the stuff they do in coverage and their their safety rotations and that? Yeah, they they they’re great at disguising. um you know, they do a lot of different things, so we’re going to have to be really good at what we do. Um up front, out wide, at running back, everywhere. So, we’re going to have to be dialed in. They’re going to uh obviously present a challenge. That’s it’s a good defense, and um they can create some havoc, but we we have to uh do our best to eliminate that and just execute our plays. The type of defense that like you kind of just have to be sped up more like to react or is it like is it different facing this type of defense? Um, I mean, we’ll see when when game day comes. But, um, like I said, they’re going to present a challenge. You know, they’re really good at disguising. They do a lot of different things. Obviously, um, have some good guys up front, too. And, um, you know, we we just have to be great at what we do, and that’s communication at a high level. Uh, have to get in and out the huddle. Um, communicate very well and play fast and, um, start fast, stay ahead, stay ahead of the chains. Did you uh I mean I assume probably so. Did you grow up like a Cardinals fan, Ker Warner or stuff like this? This is special in a different way just because it’s maybe your hometown team. I think it’s pretty cool. You know, obviously grew up in Arizona. Um was never like a Cardinals fan, but I always, you know, I remember going to one of their training camps as a as a young kid and um obviously got a lot of respect for Kurt, you know, stay in touch with him, um you know, here and there and been able to, you know, work with him a little bit. Um, but yeah, it’s pretty cool hometown team and you want to go out there and have a good showing. But also, this game will be on in Phoenix as like it’s that market, right? I don’t know how insulated you are from your personal life, but is that are you, you know, during a game week, but are you hearing from people people back home? Yeah. Um, yeah. I mean, friends, family, they’re excited. Um, you know, I got a few people coming out from Arizona, so uh, you know, should should be a fun environment. Looking forward to it. Does this feel like in a way your real your real first game as a starter because last year you were kind of coming in in relief for you know for an injury? Yeah, I guess I guess you could say that. Yeah. Um fresh start, you know, new opportunity and looking forward to attacking with these guys. Kind of going off that, I mean quote unquote first start considering when you think about all the you know obstacles you’ve overcome in your career. I mean, does that kind of make running out of the tunnel on on Sunday, you know, more special in that moment when you think about, you know, obstacles that you’ve overcome so far? Um, you know, what’s in the past is, you know, shapes a person for the future. So, you know, um, obviously I won’t be thinking about that running on the field, but you know, it’s always special running through that tunnel and um, you know, hearing the Saints fans going crazy. So, want to go in the dome and and have a good showing with the guys and um, we’re excited. What did you make of not being named a captain and were you disappointed in? No, I mean I’m not looking too deep into that. Obviously, um the guys we have on the offensive side are very experienced, great vet, great vets on our team and um you know, very deserving of it. So, I think we picked the right guys. Yeah. And something Kell was saying is like you don’t need to see to lead. You just like what’s your approach to to leading the guys? And is there an opportunity here for you to like command that respect even more so? No doubt. you know, you want to um earn the respect of your teammates and um you know, fight for them cuz you know, they’re going to fight for you and um you don’t have to be a captain to lead. I guess that’s what I could say. Um as a quarterback, you’re naturally going to be a leader. So, um stepping into that role fully and um attacking it. What’s your relationship with Kyle Murray? How do you know? Um know him a little bit. Um you know, cross paths with him a few times. Uh got a lot of respect for him obviously his game. He’s a great player and uh excited to um go up against him. What’s kind of the the process for bringing melee up to speed and like how quickly can you guys be like like comfortably on on on the same page? Yeah, he’s uh he’s done great. I mean, he he’s super smart. Uh super reliable for him to come in and already know, you know, our install for this week is it’s pretty impressive. So, um he’s been great. I feel like we’re starting to get some chemistry down and um want to continue to build that, you know, before the game. How helpful is that for you guys just to have like for you to have a a big target like that third down red zone stuff like that? Very helpful. You know, having a a guy like that um you know can can go catch the ball at a high point and um you know fight through contact and stuff like that and we got other guys that can do that as well. But you know with his frame I think he’s going to be very useful um for our offense. Speaking of the the install, has it been just cool this week? I guess just kind of seeing Kell Moore go through a game plan kind of what you’re installing. Is it kind of cool or do you kind of sit back at times going that’s actually kind of a creative way of how we’re going to attack, you know, the Cardinals? Has it been that way this week during the preparation? Uh, it’s a good question. I mean, I I think obviously he’s very dialed in to what he wants to accomplish out there and makes it clear to us, gives us a clear plan, not too much clutter in our minds, and he wants us to play free, play fast, and I love that. You know, I think that fits us well, and um, you know, we he’s going to put us in the right situation. We just got to execute. Does any of you does any of you confidence, you know, because of, you know, his pedigree, how he calls plays, is that like does it feel like you’re prepared to to go out there? No doubt. No doubt. Yeah, definitely feel prepared and we’re going to keep building um throughout this week. Got a few more days and uh just want to finish strong throughout the week putting together that like final call sheet. Will you guys get together and like kind of collaborate on like, hey, I like this. I feel real comfortable about that. Like what’s that going to look like? I’m sure we will. You know, um um you know, whatever. I’m sure he doesn’t want a QB. That’s a you know, yes, man. that says it, you know, you like this? Yes. Yes. Yes. Um there’s going to be some stuff obviously you want to tweak and maybe some stuff you don’t see right or um you know, feel in your footwork, but you know, we’ll get to that at the end of the week. I think he’s done an amazing job communicating with us um earlier on this week and we’ll keep going throughout the week. As you went along last year, was that something that you found yourself like becoming more comfortable to express? Like were you a yes man at first or anything like Yeah, I mean I think as a, you know, a younger guy, you want to just do what you’re told and, uh, try to execute the play at its highest level, but, you know, sometimes you’re not going to feel something right with your footwork here, your eyes, the vision, timing. Um, so I think, you know, you got the ball in your hand every play. You want to be super confident, super comfortable with with what you’re doing. How would you describe like where your I don’t know, emotional level is right now. I’m guessing on Wednesday you’re trying to keep it, you know what I mean, keep it in check, but I mean obviously it’s a huge deal starting the first game of the NFL season. How would you describe where you are right now? Yeah, I feel I’m just taking it day by day. Um staying in the moment. We don’t want to look too That’s something we’ve been preaching is the game’s not today, game’s not tomorrow. Let’s be our best each day we can and keep building and then go into the game and have the plan ready. play free, play fast, and uh but yeah, I mean, obviously there’s going to be some emotions going into the stadium on Sunday, and uh everybody’s going to be fired up. I think the energy will be super high, and um you know, it’s just it’s another great opportunity that we’re all looking forward to. How much better does it feel knowing you’re going into a game, you’re not going to be down eight starters, like just kind of knowing that like you got you guys? Yeah, I mean, it’s great. You know, having a a full stable of guys is great. Um up front, out wide, uh really on both sides of the ball. I think it’s I think it’s um gives you confidence in what we can do and obviously we have the talent, we got the guys and now we just got to go out there and do it. This is this is a very dumb question, but can you tell the difference in like these guys are back, but yeah. Yeah. I mean, even throughout camp, um it’s just, you know, obviously those are our guys. Those are our top guys and you want to get them to rock and they’ve been doing a great job. to that point just rotating every day through camp maybe not getting as many reps with those guys. Just how big of a jump do you feel like you guys have made this last week you know being with the same group every day? Yeah, I mean I got a lot of reps with them throughout camp so felt good building then. Um you know but now like you said it’s a lot more reps. So um you know especially with game planning and stuff like that it’s good to get all that in. Um you know this last past week or however long it’s been. How much of an emphasis has there been on, you know, just kind of staying out of third and 12, third and 15, like having positive plays early in drives? Obviously, there was a lot of sacks last year. Like, how much of an emphasis has it been of just kind of stacking positive plays? Yeah. On on top of that and protecting the ball, those are probably the two biggest things, you know, moving the chain, staying out of third and longs, you know, it’s it’s hard. You’re in third and nine plus in this league. It’s low percentage you’re going to get it. So, um, getting positive plays on first and second down, running the ball, throwing the ball, whatever we got to do. Um, that’s what we have to do to give our give ourselves a chance. With the way, you know, you use your legs, has that been something that you’ve worked on in terms of a plan or is that more kind of reactive? Like, do can you go in with a with a plan of like, hey, if I don’t like this look, I can go like, how do you approach that? Yeah, I mean, good question. A little bit of both, I would say. Um, kind of just like a natural feel for it. And then obviously, you want to pick your moments to do it. How conscious are you of Buddha Baker every play? Like is is that almost where you start? You have to know where he’s at. Um he’s super active. Uh you know, he’s like a bullet coming out of the back end and um you know, he causes a lot of havoc. Great tackler. Um and yeah, obviously a great player. We got to know where he’s at at all times. What’s been the result for you coming into this spot after spinning an offseason doing things like those call periods, a lot of situational work, things like that? What’s kind of been the impact of that value of it? Yeah, I think we we’ve banked so many reps on that every situation you could think of and um I think it helps getting it done in practice and throughout the offseason and then, you know, obviously rolling into game day with it. You know, you’ll always be in some sort of situation in a game if it’s end of half, if it’s backed up and into game, um you name it. So, you know, we definitely get reps at all of that and um you know, credit to our coaches for making us do that. It’s great. I know uh I know Alden only played one play in the preseason. I forgot last year because of all the injuries how many teams you all are actually on the field together last year, but this was the first time he was actually building the captain. Last year they just named him the captain took over. Is he like a safety blanket for you or how comforting is it to know that he’s a captain? He’s an established player. There’s a lot of uncertainty. Maybe I can lean into him. Yeah, I mean he’s a guy obviously one of the best in the league. Um captain of our, you know, one of the captains on our team. He’s a great uh vet for me and and everybody else on the team and obviously super dynamic player and you know it is kind of like a you know nothing’s there. You get it down to him, he’ll make something happen. So um you know definitely want to get him the ball and and get him rolling. Thanks. Thank you.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler speaks with the media ahead of Week 1 vs. the Arizona Cardinals from the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
#saints #nfl #neworleanssaints #arizonacardinals

🔔 Subscribe to the New Orleans Saints YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2VDAItA

▶ For more Saints action:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/

▶ Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/neworleanssaints

▶ Follow us on Twitter:
Tweets by Saints

▶ Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/saints

▶ Find us on Snapchat:
https://www.snapchat.com/add/saints

▶ Get the App:
http://apps.yinzcam.com/nfl/no

*** From New Orleans Saints.com ***

📰 Latest Saints News:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/

📻 Latest Saints Audio:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/audio/

📷 Latest Saints Photos:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/photos/

**************************************
📅 New Orleans Saints Schedule:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/schedule/

💪 New Orleans Saints Roster:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/players-roster/

🏥 Weekly Injury Report
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/injury-report/

📊 New Orleans Saints Stats:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/stats/

⚜️ New Orleans Saints History:
https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history