Darren Rizzi Implements Key Changes as New Orleans Saints’ Interim Coach

Darren Rizzi, the newly appointed interim coach of the New Orleans Saints, has swiftly implemented several significant changes in his first week on the job. Following the team’s dismal 2-7 start and the subsequent firing of head coach Dennis Allen, Rizzi is aiming to reverse the team’s fortunes ahead of their upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

One of the key changes Rizzi has made is altering the team’s warm-up routine. Under Allen, the Saints experienced an unusually high number of in-practice injuries, including eight notable cases that have impacted key players such as Khalen Saunders, Pete Werner, Chris Olave, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Lucas Patrick, Cedrick Wilson, A.T. Perry, and John Ridgeway. Rizzi has immediately addressed this issue by introducing a new warm-up routine, a move that Allen had only considered but not implemented.

Rizzi has also made significant adjustments to the coaching staff. Defensive line coach Todd Grantham has been demoted to an advisory role and replaced by pass rush coach Brian Young, who will also assist linebackers coach Michael Hodges in improving the team’s struggling run defense. Additionally, defensive coordinator Joe Woods will now be responsible for calling defensive plays, a duty previously handled by Allen. These changes reflect Rizzi’s belief that sometimes change is necessary to break a cycle of poor performance.

In terms of game strategy, Rizzi has expressed a more aggressive approach. He criticized the decision to punt on 4th-and-1 during the Saints’ recent loss to the Carolina Panthers, suggesting that going for it would have been the better option based on analytics. This approach is part of Rizzi’s broader strategy to keep the defense off the field, given its recent struggles in allowing winning drives in critical games.