Does Letting DA Go Make THIS Much Difference Or Was It Also a Function of (70 Viewers)

[Rexman100]

Does letting DA go make THIS much difference or was this simply a function of playing a divisional opponent and at terrible team at the right time? Coach Rizzi beat the division leading Falcons in a nail-biter, and then smokes the Browns. We haven't scored at least 35 points since week 2.

I am legitimately curious as to everyone's take on this. Obviously DA being let go makes a difference but the team looks enthused and competent. I know Taysom Hill being back healthy was a huge factor as well.

Not for nothing but the most Saints thing to do will be to go on a fantastic run and be on the outside looking in by 1 game. And we'll look back at ALLLL of the one score games we could have (possibly should have one) the Panthers one probably stinging the most. However, the other side of that coin is without that loss, maybe we don't move on from DA and take even longer to get back on track.

We lost to Carolina and had the same team as today. Nothing more needs to be said. Yea we had McCoy, but for only the first half. The fourth Quarter we scored 21 points, without McCoy. Rizzi has made a huge difference. People have trouble articulating it, because it’s intangible is all

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Right man to build it, wrong man to lead it.

 

[CowtownSaint]

When James Hurst said the players expected DA to have been fired after last season, it made me realize just how far gone the team was under DA.

Wait where did this come from? I need to know more

 

[BreesusSaves]

Wait where did this come from? I need to know more

James Hurst article/interview after DA was fired.

 

[CowtownSaint]

James Hurst article/interview after DA was fired.

I’ll have to look it up hope I can find it

 

[new city champ]

Injuries played a big part, but the team just seemed to lack something under DA's leadership.

In old times on a sailing ship when things kept going wrong, the crew sometimes identified one person on board as the cause of all their misfortune and labeled him a "Jonah." As soon as that person was off the ship (one way or another) the crew's mood usually turned upbeat very quickly.

I think DA became the Saints' Jonah...

 

[SystemShock]

Week to week, there are many factors involved in football that determine results... but this change in HC feels like Cpt. Speirs replacing Lt. Dike at Foy.

 

[BiloxiSaint1]

Kickers never missed against DA. That alone makes all the difference in the world!

 

[St. Geezy]

Does letting DA go make THIS much difference or was this simply a function of playing a divisional opponent and at terrible team at the right time?

Go rewatch the Carolina-2 tape, and there’s your answer.

 

[limeyjohn]

One thing l have noticed, Cam has looked a completely different player these past two games

 

[Rouxble]

It would be hard to say it isn’t multiple factors given how the season started before the injuries. DA is the easy punching bag, but would anyone say the team was playing without confidence and swagger after the first two games? Is the team’s attitude only a reflection of the coach when it’s convenient for a narrative?

I would agree that players were likely tired of hearing from a coach that led them to seven straight losses, but I could also imagine a scenario where we win most of those games if not for some key injuries, and DA is still the coach (at least until Black Monday).

Also worth noting the luck factor, we have given up over 900 yards on defense the last two weeks but only gave up 31 points. In the long run, giving up that many yards will give opposing teams twice as many points, and maybe we have 1-2 losses instead of two wins. Our offense is the only thing that has really improved, and that’s where we’ve recovered most from injury.

 

[HouseCall]

It’s everything.

But we’d lost to the Panthers who we doubled in yards and won the turnover battle over.

It was a team in free fall.

Rizzi seems to have energized the players to buy in to the season - something Allen had lost.

 

[Blue]

DA was that bad. His win/loss ratio as a head coach is one of the worst ever for a reason.... He's one of the worst ever. I can only imagine how frustrating and upsetting it must have been to have to come back and play for him this year. I know what it's like to dread going into work at different points in my life, and this must have been similar for these guys. I don't know if Rizzi is the answer, but the players seem to like him and he's doing more with less. We are missing some key pieces. I don't think we should expect him to win out handicapped as we are but if he keeps us competitive, that's enough for me. He's engaged, wears his emotions on his sleeve, and seems to inspire the team to lay it all on the field. We can't ask for more than that.

 

[St4ever]

Just imagine if you will, if only Loomis would of listened to Mrs Gail two weeks sooner.nwe would most likely be tied with Atlanta right now!

 

[Saint Jack]

It’s an effect of DA being that bad.
There’s two or three games the Saints would have won during that 7 game losing streak had Rizz been the coach at the beginning of the season.