OTAs are always an intriguing time for fans around the NFL. Players are getting back on the field, and the hype for a promising season can reignite after a slow period following the NFL Draft. For the New Orleans Saints, they've been consistently releasing image and video content from practice over the past week.
Young quarterback Spencer Rattler has received some less-than-ideal flak over the past day due to an error that was in a video posted by the team's official social media accounts.
Rattler makes dangerous overthrow to Chris Olave
In a recent practice clip from the Saints' social media account, Spencer Rattler overthrew wide receiver Chris Olave over the middle. Luckily, this came against no defenders, so Olave did not take a crushing blow due to the misplaced ball.
Regardless, here lies the issue. There are no defenders. No pads. No opposing fans screaming at you. Yet, this mishap still occurred. Of course, this is OTAs, and it's one throw.
Rattler may have made a much better, cleaner throw on this route multiple times prior or after this one. No matter what, though - this is a throw that Olave simply cannot afford to have thrown to him during an actual game.
Olave's injury history from hits
Fans remember multiple hard hits that Olave (and other pass catchers) suffered over the middle while Derek Carr was the starting QB in New Orleans. For Olave, the concern reached an all-time high because of some of those thumps last season.
The wideout suffered two concussions during last season, including one in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers that ended his season.
Olave has dealt with concussions since his college days at Ohio State, only increasing the danger he puts himself in just by suiting up for New Orleans. He still does it every week he is available to, though. Olave's dealt with four confirmed concussions over the course of his pro career.
He changed his helmet to a model considered to be safer after sustaining his first concussion this season, but he elected not to wear a Guardian Cap during games.
-- ESPN
For Rattler, this bad throw was hopefully just a learning experience and not a pass that we will see thrown to Olave from any quarterback for the Saints this season. They must avoid putting him, or any other receiver, in this sort of danger too often.
