Following a disappointing loss to the Eagles on SNF, the L.A. Rams can rebound against the New Orleans Saints in Week 13. New Orleans is coming off its bye and has brought a little momentum and swagger to Who Dat Nation under interim coach Darren Rizzi. Taysom Hill also played a sizable role in the Saints’ two-game win streak after his jaw-dropping outing before the break.
To find out more about what makes Hill so hard to defend and how Rizzi is nailing his audition for the full-time gig in NOLA, I spoke with Nic Jennings from SB Nation’s Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles.
Q – The Saints have won two straight since firing Dennis Allen. What have you noticed from New Orleans in those back-to-back wins and how has the team rallied around interim coach Darren Rizzi?
A – Rizzi taking charge has undoubtedly provided the team with a desperately needed spark in the midst of a catastrophic collapse. During his opening press conference upon being named interim HC, Rizzi made one promise to the Who Dat Nation moving forward: This team is not going to be boring to watch.
In his head coaching debut, Rizzi led a severely shorthanded Saints team in snapping their seven-game losing streak with a gritty win over their red-hot rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, who had won six of their last eight games, followed by a dominant 35-point performance against the 9th-ranked total defense at the time in the Cleveland Browns. He’s now just the second head coach in franchise history to begin his tenure 2-0, joining the one and only Sean Payton, who did the same in 2006. So, I’d say his promise is being fulfilled.
When it comes to his relationship with the players and how the team has rallied around him, there is a massive difference compared to what we saw during Dennis Allen’s disastrous 18-25 stint as head coach in New Orleans.
Given that Rizzi’s been the special teams coordinator for the Saints since 2019, he’s developed a relationship with every single player on the roster. This has been essential in getting them to buy into what he’s selling as a coach, and based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s evident that the players are fully bought in and ready to fight for their coach throughout the remaining six weeks. His passion for the game and emotion that he “wears on his sleeve” has been well received and contagious throughout the entire facility.
A word that has been consistently used to describe Rizzi within the building has been “authentic.” Former Kansas City Chiefs Willie Gay and Marquez Valdes-Scantling even compared his practices and coaching style to the likes of future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Andy Reid, which is some pretty high praise for a first-time head coach. Derek Carr mentioned that Rizzi is great at understanding and connecting with different generations of players while stressing that the team wants to keep winning to give Rizzi the best chance at securing the permanent job in the offseason.
It’s safe to say that Darren Rizzi is knocking this audition out of the park since taking over for Dennis Allen. Whether it’s his sideline celebrations with players, intense exchanges with officials, in-depth post-game speeches, or electric ‘Club Dub’ victory dances, he’s made himself an intriguing candidate for the team’s full-time gig.
The common narrative around the fan base was that the Saints should look outside of the building for their next head coach. However, Rizzi has rejuvenated this football club by doing things his own way, and it’s clearly worked to this point given the small sample size. His emphasis on accountability and preparation, along with his unique candidness while speaking to the media, are the little things that we haven’t seen in quite some time in New Orleans, which is highly appreciated. Overall, this fresh perspective has been refreshing for the fans and the players, as it feels like Rizzi has full control of the locker room and is involved in every decision being made, rather than just running the defense and leaving the rest to the staff, which seems more and more likely to have been the case under Dennis Allen.
Q – Quarterback Derek Carr started the season off hot and then cooled off like the rest of the team during its seven-game losing streak. What are your honest thoughts on Carr and what are the odds of him returning to the Bayou in 2025?
A – It’s a tricky situation with Derek Carr, because it seems like he can’t decide whether he wants to play like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL or one of the worst. Carr’s performance tends to dip when the team faces adversity and morale is low. Though when the vibes are up and momentum is in favor of New Orleans, Carr figures out how to build on it and delivers stellar performances.
In Carr’s defense, he’s taken snaps from four different centers this season, as the injuries to the Saints’ offensive line and skill positions would hinder the performance of any starting quarterback.
It all started when the heart and soul of the offense went down with significant injuries. Star C Erik McCoy, one of the league’s best at his position, suffered a groin injury three snaps into Week 3’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. The injury required sports hernia surgery and resulted in a lengthy IR visit. Additionally, versatile TE/FB Taysom Hill, who has been one of the focal points of new OC Klint Kubiak’s scheme, had dealt with a bruised lung and fractured ribs. Weeks later, Carr himself would be sidelined for three games with an oblique issue. And to top it all off, the Saints lost speedy WR Rashid Shaheed for the season with a torn meniscus in the game before Carr’s return and star WR Chris Olave indefinitely with a concussion in the game of Carr’s return.
He’s worked with what he’s got, and to be quite honest with you, I’ve been impressed with his ability to stretch the field. His deep ball has been lethal this season, and he’s been much better at taking what the defense gives him compared to what we saw last year. His past two strong performances with a severely limited supporting cast have proven why he’s in his 11th season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He’s currently the fourth highest-graded QB in the league this season with an 86.2 overall grade (min. 10 dropbacks), per Pro Football Focus.
I’d almost guarantee a Derek Carr return to New Orleans next season just based on his current contract situation and what the Saints would have to be willing to pay to let him go. Ultimately, it just isn’t worth it.
As someone who has been very critical of Carr during his tenure in the black and gold, keeping the veteran on the roster for one more season while trying to establish a new culture with a new coach might be the wisest option for the Saints, especially given that this upcoming draft class, in my opinion, is a bit underwhelming at the quarterback position.
That’s not to say you don’t give 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler a shot at the starting job next season or take a shot at another guy late in the draft. I just don’t think next season is when you see New Orleans make a drastic splash at the QB position, whether it be a first-round pick or star free agent.
Q – Before the bye, Taysom Hill won NFC Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for 188 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdown runs. Former HC Sean Payton utilized the Swiss Army knife in various ways during his tenure and has seemingly carried over to this coaching staff. What makes Hill such a one-of-a-kind player for the Saints?
A – Once Taysom officially embraced his do-it-all role and put his dreams of becoming a starting quarterback behind him, he has become one of the most dangerous players in all of football due to his unmatched versatility and toughness.
To put into perspective how important Taysom is to this football team, here is his stat line against the Browns in Week 11:
– 8 receptions on 10 targets for 52 receiving yards (long of 14 yards and 34 YAC).
– 7 carries for 138 rushing yards (long of 75 yards, 123 yards after contact, 19.7 YPC).
– An 18-yard completed pass.
– A 42-yard kick return.
– 7 first-down conversions.
– 3 rushing touchdowns and a 90.1 rushing grade, per PFF.
At 34 years old, Taysom has emerged as one of the most effective ball carriers in all of football. His 90.8 rushing grade is the fourth-highest in the league, and his 7.9 yards per carry are the second-most in the NFL (min. 30 attempts). He’s a first-down machine in the screen game and has evolved as a blocker in his new fullback role under Klint Kubiak, who has drawn inspiration from how All-Pro FB Kyle Juszczyk is utilized with the San Francisco 49ers.
Q – What is the Saints’ main weakness defensively and how can Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ offense exploit it on Sunday?
A – Even though it’s improved since Darren Rizzi assigned play-calling duties to DC Joe Woods, the Saints’ run defense remains their biggest weakness. New Orleans currently allows an average of 5 yards per carry, the second most in the NFL behind the New York Giants’ league-worst 5.2 YPC, and is tied for third in 20+ yard runs conceded with 12.
Q – This season hasn’t gone as Saints fans would’ve preferred, so what must the front office do this offseason to get the franchise back to its winning ways?
A – The Saints face several difficult decisions this offseason if they hope to turn things around.
One specific change I believe would benefit the organization most is promoting GM Mickey Loomis (2002–present) to a higher role, allowing either Assistant GM/Vice President of Football Operations Khai Harley or Assistant GM/College Scouting Director Jeff Ireland to take over as the full-time general manager. Since Sean Payton’s departure, it’s clear that things haven’t operated as smoothly as they once did. That said, introducing a modern perspective could be the first step toward a much-needed culture change in New Orleans.
