### **Saints quarterback Tyler Shough**
**On his first time playing QB in the regular season:**
"Ultimately, we didn't score enough points and did not get the job done. So I was proud of how those guys battled. But ultimately, we just got to go back to the drawing board and keep getting better."
**On stepping in with little practice as a young QB:**
"I felt prepared. The whole quarterback room, the offense, I think we're preparing well. I've got to continue to increase that. But for me, I was just going out there and doing everything I can and just having fun with it. But I'm going to continue to look at what we did wrong, what we did well, to try and improve on those and go from there."
**On the conversation to switch QBs:**
"I was just ready to go in there and try and do my job and go out there and play. It was awesome to get in there and play. But ultimately, we're going to continue to get better and just go from there."
**On if he knew there was a possibility of playing after halftime or if it was in the moment:**
"I was just in the moment, yeah. Just in the moment. Just told me to get ready to go. That was it. But, yeah, just, I mean, preparing each week and my head from every game since, you know, I was ready to go and got to continue to be ready."
**On the nerves and emotions when told:**
"No nerves. Preparation-wise, body-wise, I was feeling good. So just going out there and doing everything I can. Like I said, we'll continue to kind of get in the groove, get better. It was ready to go. I just got to continue to keep building."
**On reception from the fans cheering when he went on the field:**
"No, I was more focused on the play. You're not really focused on that as much. But I think my earpiece wasn't really working on the first drive as much. So I had to switch helmets immediately, which was not ideal. But we got (it) fixed."
**On his self-evaluation and what he liked/disliked about how he played:**
"Not yet. I mean, obviously, I've got to watch the game to completely look at everything. But at the end of the day, we didn't score enough points. So it sucks. But we will look at it, and especially myself, and see how I can get better. And then we'll continue to grow as an offensive unit to try and get the job done. Because ultimately, the defense, they played really well. They made some huge stops. They're bringing the juice. We just got to go up there and execute and protect the ball. That's really on us."
**On his approach this coming week:**
"The same as I have been. I think going in each week preparation-wise, like I am going to go in, you have to continue to do that no matter what. So nothing is going to change. Just continue what I'm doing and try to have a sense of urgency this week coming into offensive meetings, preparation, and practice, because ultimately that's on us, and we've got to get better."
**On if he's ready if it's time for him to start next week:**
"Oh, 100%. Yeah, I feel ready. I feel ready every single week. Obviously it's good to get there and get some reps. But, like I said before, we continue to have that sense of urgency to continue to grow and do everything we can to win."
**On what it's like having to wait for the opportunity:**
"Yeah, I've learned a lot. I've learned a lot because Spencer's done some really, really good things. I've been able to see that growth myself. I've been getting, most of the reps in practice from a scout team perspective. You're going against live bullets with those guys, and it's usually not the best look. Each week I've been continuing to grow, and I feel really ready to go. And, it's been good, but I've got to continue to grow. So that's got to be the answer."
**On his first completion being to another QB:**
"Yeah, it was a good play call. Taysom obviously was out there in the flat, but it just kind of happened that way. Yeah, it was pretty good."
**On preparing during the course of the week:**
"Just like I said, continual preparation. I think being a backup quarterback, you have to prepare like you're the starter because you don't know when you're going to go in. And obviously, that can be mentally and physically just a different challenge. And then when you go in there when you are playing, you lean on that preparation. So for me, it is going to be no different. And that's why you can come into games and go out there and play."
**On what is unique about developing and growing on the scout team:**
"For me, it's just football. You are not going against a scouted card look at what you may see. You've got cards, and you're essentially in the same plays you're running. So, how can you make it like a game? And that's kind of been the emphasis that my quarterbacks coach (Scott Tolzien), Kellen, and all the guys, how can I make this game like? And I'm trying to be really intentional toward, I mean, there is no difference. And obviously, when you're going against a really good defense like the Buccaneers, it's going to be a slight difference between that. But for me, I felt really prepared and got to continue that preparation."
**On if he finds it helpful to be able to go up against the first team defense in those situations:**
"100%, yeah. The pocket's real. The coverage, everything, like I said, you've got to find a way to make a play. And that's what I've kind of enjoyed throughout this moment and continue just to build that preparation and attack each day."
**On his conversation with Spencer after the switch:**
"It was just a dap each other up. There wasn't really a conversation. We're just trying to get going as an offense. So there wasn't too much, but Spencer's my guy. We're preparing every single week. We're going to continue to do that, and we're going to continue to all get better as an offense."
**On if the majority of his practice reps have been with Luke (Fortner) at center this season:**
"Yes, in the past, not this week, obviously, but yeah, in the past. So I've felt extremely comfortable going out there with him and all the guys just getting those reps in."
**On Fortner getting into the organization so far into the preseason and picking up the offense:**
"Yeah, he's done an excellent job. He's so smart to come in immediately, learn it like that, and contribute in multiple ways. So really proud of him and his preparation, his work, because that's not an easy task either, especially going against that front. So really proud of him and the whole line. I think they did a really good job. So we just got to continue to grow, and we'll get it done."
**On if there's an area that he's really grown in since the preseason:**
"Like I said before, making it game-like, because it is game-like, it's the time clock football element for sure. It's a lot different when you're on offense going against scout team B and when you're giving the defense look because they're obviously first team D. So you've got that time clock football element trying to make a game like, that's where I feel like it kind of helped me out a lot, especially when you're going against a good front. But I think for all of us and as an offense and myself, we're going to continue to prepare more and continue to do everything we can."
**On his mindset attacking the field:**
"My mindset is I'm going to attack no matter what, and I've got to try and do everything I can to score points and then find completions. But also, that's part of the game when you're down and you've got to go, and the clock's against you, and that's just part of it, and you're having to throw it more. You can't run the ball as much just because of the time. So, part of that, a little bit of both, but I think I've learned a lot from Spencer and the offense and around the league, watched a lot of film, and you don't have the ability to get through four or five progressions, just because of that time clock element. So, you've got to find the best way to get out of your hand and your playmakers."
**On if he planned to step out of some sacks or if it was instinct:**
"It's just instinct. You are obviously trying to play the rep as it is, and that's the battle as a quarterback is you don't want to predetermine it. So, you're just playing as it is, and it's an instinct if something happens, and if they give you a certain look, then you might change it a little bit."
**On if anything surprised him about the speed of the game:**
"No, no. I think just execution-wise and all that stuff, it has got to be better, but speed of the game-wise, no, I think that is why the past few weeks, and scout team-wise, I think that has been the best thing for me to continue to learn and grow. Even preseason, I felt solid with that, and it's obviously when you get to regular season and continue forward, it's going to continue to build."
**On opportunities to throw to the starters on offense:**
"In practice reps, zero, but I'm trying to do everything I can to get some after practice. Routes on there, obviously, you're getting a few but very minimal with those guys, so it was good to kind of get some reps with them. But we've given as much reps as I can after every single practice going through the whole script and throwing to Kevin (Austin Jr.) and Dante (Pettis) and all those guys, and they've done a really good job, so I'm obviously wanting to continue to grow myself. But yeah, (Chris) Olave, (Rashid) Shaheed, (Brandin) Cooks, they did a really good job just getting it out of routes, and I've got to put a couple more balls better on Juwan (Johnson) as well. He's a big difference maker, and I've got to help him out."
**On if he needed to adjust to the speed of the receivers:**
"No, I think it's just football. I think there's a slight chemistry element. Each guy has different body movements or chemistry— that can continue to grow, but at the end of the day, you're just playing."
**On if he got messages from other veteran players going in:**
"Yeah, Cooks came up to me and we've been talking all year and talking and he just kind of said everything that we talked about to this point, just go out there and be you. I think that's everyone, I couldn't remember, but a bunch of people came up to me and just said to be you, keep doing what you do in practice. So yeah, that was kind of the message from them, and obviously it was good to hear because I look up to those guys, love those guys, and I got to continue to be the guy for them."
**On if he feels like it's summer again to make the decision at QB:**
"I don't know if that's the right comparison, but I think for me, we just got to have a better sense of urgency and as a collective offensive unit be able to go out there and execute. I think the entire defense has been playing really well, and we just got to go out there and help them out."
**On what he wants to come from this "I want to win. I want to help growth continue:**
I think we've got to go out there and execute and win, so I think to do that J (Justin) Reid said you have to go back to the little things and the little details and all that stuff, so it's been great for me to see from afar, watching just how an NFL game goes and how valuable those possessions are especially. So protecting the ball, time clock, all that stuff, finishing in the red zone, how viable that is to collect it, we've got to do it."
**On if there have been any discussions on if his time was coming:**
"In the moment, yeah. I think for me, in my own head, I've been preparing the same exact way for that exact moment, so it wasn't a surprise in my head because I have to be ready, but there wasn't a preliminary conversation though."