Jake Haener has spent the offseason working with Jon Gruden and is ready to prove what he can do in Year 2

Jake Haener is confident.

You can tell the quarterback believes. He looks and talks and carries himself like someone who knows something, like he can already see the depth chart that will come out at the end of training camp with his name No. 2 on the list behind Derek Carr.

Even if he doesn't care what you or anyone else thinks, you can tell he's dying to get on the field and compete for the Saints' backup quarterback job.

And he intends to win.

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That's because he's confident in the work he's been putting in over the last year to prepare for his moment. He spent last year studying everything he could study as a rookie. Paired with the work he did away from the facility and has put in this offseason, he's feeling good about his ability to beat out Nathan Peterman for QB2.

At the end of training camp last season, Haener asked Jon Gruden, who consulted with the team last summer, if he'd be interested in working with him. The coach agreed and made himself available to the quarterback.

"When he came down to watch some of our stuff, (I was not) scared to ask for his advice, his number," Haener said. "And then just building a relationship and then trying to develop from him. He's (become) someone I trust and someone who obviously knows quarterback play."

The two worked together throughout last season, including getting on video calls and watching film (both of Haener and other players) together. Haener estimates they watched 50 or 60 games together. Then this offseason, Haener went to Tampa to continue working with the coach.

There have been a few other players around this offseason, but most of Haener's time with Gruden has been spent one-on-one. Gruden has helped Haener learn the system new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will install, but most of it has been about Haener's development and getting him ready to elevate his game.

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"We're watching other people's games, watching people I can emulate," Haener said. "Obviously, when I get an opportunity, (I need) to put my best foot forward and really leave no stone unturned. I think learning ball from one of the best to do it is obviously a powerful thing. When you can spend seven, eight weeks with (him) and get coached on the field with him, it's a powerful thing."

Haener was selected in the fourth round of last year's draft and impressed throughout training camp with his accuracy, ability to quickly pick up the offense and to play with confidence. His preseason was up and down, but he played with the third-team offense and showed some flashes.

The second-year player built enough momentum that the Saints felt confident in allowing Jameis Winston to walk and only brought in Peterman and Kellen Mond to compete as backups. The stage has been set for Haener to lock down the job if he can build on what he did last season.

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The quarterback will need to prove himself in a new offensive system to accomplish his goals. He's only been around Kubiak and new quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko for a few days, but the early impressions have been good, and Haener is looking forward to working with them.

"These are guys who love ball, which is awesome," Haener said. "There's an energy, there's a passion for it, which I totally respect. I think it's good for me being here, really kind of understanding who they are as people and learning for the system.

"For me, it's really reminiscent of what I did at Fresno State. If you go back, you look at the tape, there's a lot of similar concepts."

All of that should help Haener as he competes. He's ready. In fact, it feels like he can barely wait to show what he can do. If Haener wins this job, it'd be a huge boost for this team and would mark the first time the Saints have gotten a return when drafting a quarterback in a long time.