New Orleans Saints' Chase Daniel Makes His Case To Be Drew Brees' Backup

Back when Chase Daniel was putting up oversized numbers at Missouri, a lot people were saying he was the next Drew Brees—the undersized but successful quarterback of the New Orleans Saints.

On Saturday night in the Superdome, Daniel's performance was downright Brees-like as he led the Saints on four scoring drives, including three touchdown passes, in a 38-20 victory over the Houston Texas in exhibition play. The second year free-agent signing completed 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards in his first extended playing time in a Saints uniform and made a strong case that he should be Drew Brees' backup in New Orleans.

Daniel is locked in a tough battle with veteran Patrick Ramsey, a former Tulane star, for the Saints' number two quarterback job.

Third an 11 now for the Saints at the Titans 31...Daniel in the shotgun puts Colston in motion left to right...setting up the screen near sideline...Pierre Thomas...25...20...15...10...down to the five...into the endzone...Touchdown!

The drive began when defensive end Will Smith forced a Houston fumble that Sedrick Ellis recovered at the Saints 49-yardline. Thomas' touchdown capped a six-play, 51-yard drive, with the key play being a Daniel 25-yard completion to Marcus Colston on a 3rd-and-14, and gave the Saints a 21-7 lead with 6:34 remaining in the first half. 

After the game, Daniel seemed to take it all in stride. His only miscue of the evening cameon an interception in Saints territory by Houston's Danny Clark. The Saints defense stiffened, allowing only a field goal.

"It's a great opportunity for me to go out there and compete," Daniel told WWL Radio. "I think I did pretty well tonight but I made some mistakes and I'm more concerned about that than the touchdowns. Some of the calls that I missed in the run game and obviously that bad decision on the interception, but that happens and you move on and get better."

Daniel responded to Clark's interception by driving the Saints 83 yards in 11 plays in three minutes and 44 seconds and hitting Zak Keasey for another six points. The key play on the drive was a 48-yard, over-the-middle strike to receiver Adrian Arrington.

Play action Daniel...going to throw to his fullback and it's caught for the touchdown...Zak Keasey...a one yard touchdown reception.

Saints head coach Sean Payton would not allow his young quarterback any satisfaction, offering guarded praise in the post-game locker room:

"I wanted to give (Daniel) a lot of reps and I'll try to do the same with Patrick (Ramsey) next week when Drew (Brees) comes out," Payton told reporters. "I just wanted to see how (Daniel) would do with the first offense and how he would handle it with the second offense.

"His job is to move the football and score. To his credit, he did that, and, yet, his job isn't to throw interceptions and his job isn't to let the play clock run out. So, there's a lot for him to work on. That was a good experience for him," Payton said.

Daniel's last touchdown drive of the night came on a 65-yard march consuming seven plays and 65 yards and capped by another big catch by Arrington, who's having a stellar preseason. Arrington finished the night with three catches for 71 yards and one touchdown.

Play action Daniel with time...guns it downfield and it's Arrington and he's in for the touchdown!

No one may have been prouder of Daniel than the man he's been compared to the last few years—Drew Brees.

"As I look at this offseason, the time that he's committed himself to not only prepare physically but mentally studying this offense...he's a competitive guy who has had success despite the odds throughout his entire career," Brees told reporters.

"Despite his (Daniel's) size [he's only 5'11"] or whatever else everybody wants to focus on—I've been in that boat before so I know where he's at—and that's why I'm proud of him and happy for him. Now, we've just got to keep him humble and make him go out and do it again," Brees said.

As for his battle with Ramsey for the No. 2 quarterback job, Daniel told WWL Radio, "I'm just happy with how I played and I'll let the coaches decide on that. I just want to go out there and feel comfortable for once, and I actually got into the rhythm of the game which I loved and was able to go out there and play some good ball. It's one game, so you have to go out there and get ready for San Diego."

So, for now, Chase Daniel lives to fight another day.