New Orleans began 2-0 in 2024, an encouraging signal for the crew’s postseason outlook. Since then, nonetheless, little (if something) has gone in accordance with plan, with the offense struggling a number of accidents and the protection struggling to beat quite a lot of points. On Sunday, the Saints misplaced to the Panthers in undesirable vogue. New Orleans outgained Carolina by a margin of over 150 yards whereas topping that determine on the bottom and profitable the turnover battle; over the previous 20 years, no crew had misplaced below these circumstances till yesterday (h/t ESPN’s Bill Barnwell).
Nobody contest is on the coronary heart of any crew’s determination to fireside a coach, however within the wake of Week 9’s defeat, Monday’s information comes as little shock.
The Saints have named Darren Rizzi as interim coach. The 54-year-old has head teaching expertise on the faculty degree, compiling a document of 18-23 with stints at New Haven and Rhode Island. He has been within the NFL since 2010, serving because the Dolphins’ particular groups coordinator for 9 years whereas additionally holding the title of affiliate head coach for a pair of seasons. Rizzi has been with the Saints since 2019, and since 2022, he has additionally served as an assistant head coach. New Orleans at present sits fifth in particular groups DVOA, a uncommon occasion of success in an in any other case disappointing marketing campaign.
Allen’s first head teaching gig noticed him take cost of the Raiders for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Solely 4 video games into his third season on the helm, he was dismissed. That was adopted by a prolonged stint on Sean Payton‘s Saints workers because the crew’s defensive coordinator. As soon as Payton departed, Allen was promoted and given a second alternative to guide a workers. It has now led to very related vogue to his Raiders tenure, with a midseason dismissal coming down in 12 months 3. This marks the primary in-season teaching change for New Orleans since 1980, predating the Tom/Gayle
Benson possession interval.
In 2022, the Saints posted a 7-10 document, with a robust defensive displaying being weighed down by mediocre offensive manufacturing. The following offseason was highlighted by Derek Carr‘s free agent signing, a transfer aimed toward offering the crew with a steady resolution below heart within the post-Drew Brees period. The previous Raiders Professional Bowler confirmed enchancment down the stretch, and the Saints improved to 9-8. That mark was inadequate for a postseason berth, nonetheless, and extra vital adjustments had been made on offense in response.
Longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was changed by Klint Kubiak through the 2024 offseason. The latter’s work within the run recreation particularly gave the impression to be on full show over the primary two weeks of the yr, however success on the bottom or by the air has been onerous to search out since. Total, New Orleans ranks sixteenth in complete offense and fifteenth in scoring. The crew’s protection — for a few years a energy with Allen in place courting again to his time as DC — has regressed significantly, sitting twenty eighth in yards allowed and twenty sixth in scoring.
Within the wake of these collective struggles, the Saints will transfer on within the hopes of sparking a turnaround within the second half of the season. Carr missed time however is now wholesome, though New Orleans’ offensive line and receiving corps are each coping with quite a lot of notable absences. The crew’s protection (including cornerback
Marshon Lattimore) might change into the topic of elevated calls earlier than Tuesday afternoon’s commerce deadline. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirms, nonetheless, {that a} firesale must be thought of unlikely even within the wake of this transfer.
Carr is owed a $30M base wage subsequent season, the third of his four-year contract. That determine is about to change into assured shortly after the beginning of the brand new league yr in March, and with the Saints as soon as once more on monitor to face a myriad of cap points, his monetary standing will probably be value watching intently. Along with the crew’s quarterback scenario, a head teaching search will probably be a central storyline in 2025.
