Week 11 AMA: Rams incoming (2 Viewers)

[RaginCajun83]

What’s the best way for the Saints to not allow both Puka and Kupp to have big games? Zone or man? Rolling coverage to one and let the other beat them?

 

[DCTransplant]

What do you think about coaching going forward?
Do you agree that DA had to go after the Carolina loss?
How much of the difference in the last 2 weeks is attributable to Rizzi and the energy that he's clearly brought to the team?
Should he be considered as a full time HC if he finishes strong?
Is it fair to make Dan Campbell comparisons?
I love the energy he's brought, but wonder if interim coach energy really translates well to how it would be for a new full season.

Thanks!!!

 

[Rexman100]

Is this the first real test for Rizzi? Can the Saints offense keep rolling or will the Rams have answers for its patchwork WR corps? Where are the matchup strengths and weakness?

Are they guys really clinging to playoff hopes, or has that ship truly sailed?

Shoot your questions and I'll try to come up with some completely non-speculative and scientific answers .

IMO, this game will be decided depending on how well we contain the Rams DLINE (Currently, the core four: Young (#23 DE), Verse (#31 DE), Fiske (#5 iDL), & Turner (#41 iDL), are all ranked in the top 50 at their positions) Through the first eight weeks of the season, Jared Verse leads all rookies with 32 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. That’s the most for a rookie since Nick Bosa in 2019 who had 35. His 32 pressures are tied for the third-most in the PFF era behind Bosa and Chandler Jones. However, Jones had more in eight games while Verse has only played seven. For a second consecutive season, the top of the top five rookies in pressures are Rams players. Fiske is behind Verse with 21 pressures and his first seven career games are actually pretty similar to Donald’s who had 14 pressures at this point during his rookie season. Thats a fearsome foursome. Do you think Fuaga, Saldiveri/Patrick, McCoy, Ruiz and Penny can win their matchups?

 

[TCUDan]

What’s the best way for the Saints to not allow both Puka and Kupp to have big games? Zone or man? Rolling coverage to one and let the other beat them?

Honestly - getting to the QB.

Whether it's zone or man at a certain point you end up in 1-on-1s. I actually trust Taylor with 2 weeks under his belt outside and 2 weeks of prep work to have really studied up on their individual tendencies. Hopefully the entire DB room is locked in.

You can of course roll coverage in one direction or the other. You can bracket and box and all that stuff. But you can't repeatedly commit extra resources to one or two players at the expense of the rest of the defense.

I think you find a way to get to the QB and the DBs need to lock in and do their prep work on alignment and release and route tendencies so they can use every advantage at their disposal.

 

[BreesusSaves]

If Rizzi goes say, 6-2 as interim, do you believe he has earned the job?

 

[TCUDan]

What do you think about coaching going forward?
Do you agree that DA had to go after the Carolina loss?
How much of the difference in the last 2 weeks is attributable to Rizzi and the energy that he's clearly brought to the team?
Should he be considered as a full time HC if he finishes strong?
Is it fair to make Dan Campbell comparisons?
I love the energy he's brought, but wonder if interim coach energy really translates well to how it would be for a new full season.

Thanks!!!

1) I do think that DA had to go after the Carolina loss. This was a team the Saints had trounced earlier in the season--but, more importantly, it was the way the game was lost. Another one-score game where poor game management and situational football led to the Saints losing. That horrible win/loss record in close games, along with the fact that he is a defensive HC and his defense was playing terrible situational football--that's what, in my mind, lead to the long leash DA was given two years ago finally running out of slack.

2) As far as Rizzi and the last two weeks - he deserves a mountain of credit. As an interim HC sometimes your instinct is to just land the plane with minimal additional damage, but he is doing the hard work of changing course and addressing the issues, and that's showing on the field. His message appears to be really landing with the guys, and a lot of that comes with delivery and the emotional conviction he brings to the job. Players can spot inauthentic coaches from a mile away, and if there's one thing I'm comfortable saying about Rizzi, it's that he is authentic.

3) As far as his future as a more permanent answer at HC, I think there's a process there to be had. Most of it will depend on how these last 6 games unfold. There will also be feedback from the players and conversations with Rizzi. If he can manage to 4-2 in the remaining games I think he's in serious consideration; 3-3 I think he gets to interview but the Saints will take a serious look outside the building. Anything less than .500 and I think they'll be pretty committed to bringing in someone new.

I'm very "wait and see"--but if he continues on this trajectory, Rizzi + current offensive staff and a proven DC and defensive staff or at least some new coaches at key positions could be an answer.

4) The Campbell comparisons are fair in terms of vibes. They are stylistically similar and Rizzi brings similar personality/energy to his approach. If he finishes 6-2 or better, I think maybe we can start to talk about other ways they're similar.


X's and O's is so often the focus of football analysis. It's the fun stuff. But that is only one part of the game, and winning takes a lot more. Rizzi's energy and authenticity--if backed up by an emphasis on accountability, attention to detail, and unified focus when it comes to preparation, process, and goals--can certainly take this team to where it wants to be.

We just have to wait and see if all the ingredients are there.

 

[TCUDan]

If Rizzi goes say, 6-2 as interim, do you believe he has earned the job?

I think he'll get serious consideration and will probably be the leading contender--especially if they beat the Rams this week and another one of those 6 wins is against Green Bay.

 

[TCUDan]

IMO, this game will be decided depending on how well we contain the Rams DLINE (Currently, the core four: Young (#23 DE), Verse (#31 DE), Fiske (#5 iDL), & Turner (#41 iDL), are all ranked in the top 50 at their positions) Through the first eight weeks of the season, Jared Verse leads all rookies with 32 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. That’s the most for a rookie since Nick Bosa in 2019 who had 35. His 32 pressures are tied for the third-most in the PFF era behind Bosa and Chandler Jones. However, Jones had more in eight games while Verse has only played seven. For a second consecutive season, the top of the top five rookies in pressures are Rams players. Fiske is behind Verse with 21 pressures and his first seven career games are actually pretty similar to Donald’s who had 14 pressures at this point during his rookie season. Thats a fearsome foursome. Do you think Fuaga, Saldiveri/Patrick, McCoy, Ruiz and Penny can win their matchups?

Yes. If they play like they have the last couple of weeks, I think they certainly can.

The Saints OL, when healthy, has actually looked pretty damn good. Especially in these last 2 games.