Week 11 AMA: Rizzler Ball
Good morning mate
What is the biggest difference you have noticed since the DA firing please?
Attitude. 100%. I have no hate for DA but I think his personality just didn't resonate with the guys. If things were going well they'd ride with him, but that propensity to lose close games (what was his record w/ the saints... like 1-8 in games decided by less than a score?) is an absolute killer.
Even without Lattimore, Adebo, Olave, and Shaheed the Saints look revitalized. Now, is this sustainable, or is it just the fleeting ember of change that has them burning a little hotter now? Hard to say. Rizz does seem like a message guy, and that kind of keeps things fresh from week to week. DA was more subdued, outwardly anyway, and while he may have been presenting answers during the week, those answers tend to resonate less when they aren't spoken with emotional conviction.
In terms of more tangible differences: a return to identity on offense (McCoy, Carr, and most importantly, Hill being back healthy has facilitated this); more sound play-calling and defensive structure (Werner is healthy, DD is looking like himself). Also shoutout to Penning for playing lights-out this last week and the scouts/coaches for finding and utilizing this new WR corps which is basically fresh off the street.
Things are cascading in the right direction for a change. The immediate impact of Rizz has to be, at the very least, recognized and appreciated.