Week 11 AMA: Rizzler Ball
Can you pinpoint any noticeable differences between DA coaching and Rizz? - Aside from the extrovertedness of Rizz. I know it's a small sample size vs DA, but I'm curious about the small changes that are impactful, if there are any, technical and otherwise.
Follow-up: Anything looking better on the D-Line in terms of position, play, etc?
Aside from their personality differences (Rizz is more my style and was a good choice as an interim b/c that alone offers a huge change in messaging), I do see a lot on the field that lends itself toward some more substantive changes in practice and preparation.
In all three phases the Saints are executing more efficiently. On defense in particular they just appear to be more sound. There hasn't been a massive departure in terms of scheme, but its more just the pace at which the players are showing up and executing their assignments. I'm seeing less LBs and edge players in conflict. Fits are hitting more on time. The intensity in general seems to have gone up a notch.
On offense things seem more creative and the identity is back. We're seeing the boots, the play action, the screen game, the shot plays, the crossers--and it's all coming off the zone ground game. Individual players are shining in their performance, and even with a brand new cast of receivers the offense looks more explosive (massive credit to the scouting department in digging up guys like Valdes-Scantling and to the coaches for knowing how to use them).
Now a lot of this, by the way, has to do with health at key positions. The one thing that became clear in Derrick Carr's absence is that neither of the young guys on the roster are very close to matching or supplanting him right now. Erik McCoy had the offensive line looking a lot more like it did in week 1/2 than the other games.
And, as I have said consistently--Taysom Hill is the most important player on this offense. You could make a very strong argument for Kamara, and Carr and McCoy are definitely key players in their own right and the offense drops off significantly without them. But Hill is just so damn important to efficiency and identity and low risk/high reward explosiveness. I'm happy to see Kubiak using him less as a lead blocker (though he still does that) and making a concerted effort to just get the ball in his hands--though, for the love of God, don't put him in there to throw deep balls. You can go back to my analysis of Hill from years ago--he is a starting caliber QB MINUS his just horrible timing for shot passes down the field.
Same story on defense. Pete Werner being back is huge, and Demario Davis is back to looking like himself. I talked earlier in the season about how poorly he was showing and said it could have either been age or injury. I think we can cross out the former, and maybe just having Werner back next to him-- who is an absolute lightning bolt when it comes to diagnosing plays and fitting/dropping/getting to where he's supposed to be--has Davis back in his comfort zone.
I love Taylor back outside at CB and I've always liked Amadi at the nickel. The secondary looks solid even without Adebo and Lattimore. Will Harris is being moved around and used more near the LOS. Situational play-calling in general is just light years away from where it was during that horrible stretch of losses.
Up front the pressure is creeping up and getting better, and I've been happier particularly with the play inside. Chase Young is still a bit frustrating. On that 92-yard Browns TD drive early in the 3rd he took a few plays off in a row, both vs the run and on pass rush, that gave up some plays where he probably had an opportunity to disrupt. And it wasn't fatigue--he'd just rotated in for Turner and there was spill/chase play on a run where he just jogged and a pass rush situation where he looked pretty lax (and I have to rewatch but I think the rest of the DL was actually getting push).
I know I'm forgetting some stuff right now, but I'll come back to it later or maybe it'll be addressed in other questions. But oh yeah--Trevor Penning. WOW. Just... wow. He is really turning up the dial on his play.