Analysis Week 11 AMA: Rizzler Ball (12 Viewers)

[TCUDan]

Hey guys - just took a new coaching job and have been neck-deep in recruiting. But back just in time to discuss the Saints... turnaround? Glimmer of hope? Shoot your questions and let's talk about the new spark hitting in all 3 phases--and how long it's gonna last.

 

[SaintsSpringBayou]

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?

 

[lavered]

What would you look for in the next Saint's Head Coach? Do you have any realistic favorites for the job?

 

[limeyjohn]

Good morning mate
What is the biggest difference you have noticed since the DA firing please?

 

[TCUDan]

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.

 

[TCUDan]

What would you look for in the next Saint's Head Coach? Do you have any realistic favorites for the job?

I know everyone in the NFL loves Ben Johnson but I haven't really been cataloguing names. If Rizz keeps things going the way they are I think he deserves a shot. I love Brian Flores, as well, and maybe he'd be OK with keeping Kubiak around--assuming the offense keeps gathering traction and momentum.

Right now I'd just ride this Rizzie train and see how far it takes them. Once the season is wrapping up I think there will be a good hard look at the coaching landscape. A creative coordinator who is either young and hungry or has already dipped a toe in the HC end of the pool would be dominating my radar.

 

[TCUDan]

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.

 

[Rouxble]

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.

You have said that consistently, and the evidence has definitely been there these last few weeks. Could we even win these last two games without him?

And one other question—while the defense appears to be playing better, the results are still not great (900+ yards given up these last two weeks). What does this team need to do to not depend on missed field goals and other errors to stay in games?

Congrats on the new job, and good luck.

 

[TCUDan]

You have said that consistently, and the evidence has definitely been there these last few weeks. Could we even win these last two games without him?

And one other question—while the defense appears to be playing better, the results are still not great (900+ yards given up these last two weeks). What does this team need to do to not depend on missed field goals and other errors to stay in games?

Congrats on the new job, and good luck.

There's still issues with pressure. While they got to the QB a few times last game, the pressure wasn't great considering the sheer number of drop backs (going off of memory/film, I didn't take notes or check stats). There's also still the chunk and explosive plays and general leaky yardage on certain drives.

What stands out is the defense playing better situational ball. I kind of put weeks 5-9 in a different bucket than weeks 1-4 and 10-11. The week 3 and week 4 losses were really an abject defensive failure when it came to situational football (you could actually throw week 9 into that group too). Tons of 3rd down conversions and the defense committing penalties and coverages late on game-clenching drives.

Right now there seems to be a bit more resilience. That shows up on 3rd down, in the red zone, late in games, etc. I don't think they're gonna be able to shore up the pressure (other than bringing more guys) in the next few weeks, but if they can keep winning the situational battle, there's a chance ot keep things on track (i.e. winning games).

 

[SailorJerrysHorse]

Thank you for doing this. I was wondering what your process and plan would be for this team if you were hired as the next head coach? What players would you try to keep? What positions would you prioritize upgrading? What positional coaches might you keep and what qualities would you be looking for in any new coaches or staff (medical, therapeutical, etc)? Are there any changes you would make to practices, training camp, etc?

I know this is an exercise that is very subjective to you and can only be based off of information that you have/are privy to (including a not so great but seemingly malleable salary cap), but just curious what you would try to do to turn us back into contenders given your own expertise and where we are now.

 

[football]

I don't mind Taysom going deep. But as a quarterback he should have known not to throw it in double coverage. As far as the defense is concerned that front line is not winning one-on-one battle. I don't know if it's coaching or individual effort but we need to improve in that area.

 

[Cgrob81]

Happy to see the moral of this team get raised a lot higher since the new coach, and yes they're playing a bit more inspired, but I still see an undisciplined, bad football team. Hopefully Rizz will work on the small details and fix this team, but I say we all come back down to reality week after next against the Rams.

 

[Taker597]

Really like Rizzi. He's showing a lot of poise and just seems to be maximizing talent the right way.


Making things simpler
Focus on details
Great A motivation

I think the most apparent quality of Rizzi besides his personality. He understands what football culture is and that it's always changing. You have to cultivate and mold culture not just writing it on a dry erase board, but from a personal relationship between as coach and player.

 

[St.Dan]

TCUDan, it's not surprising at all that you'd admire Rizzi's personality for a head coach. He's brought energy and excitement to what had turned into an injury-marred disaster of a season.

As for X's and O's, we can see how much better the run game is when AK, Taysom and McCoy are all healthy. And the light appears to have come on for Penning. But how do you feel about the passing game going forward with no clear-cut consensus WR1? MVS has re-emerged on the NFL scene like a house afire the past two weeks. What are some ways you'd use our scrapped-together WR group to keep defenses guessing if you were KK?

 

[DSnfla]

Hey Dan, what's your new coaching gig?