New Orleans Saints Latest News: Rob Ryan Fired Following Defensive Meltdown
When a team loses a game and a lot is at stake, it has become a trend in the NFL to pin the blame on someone, and that someone has to go. In the case of the New Orleans Saints, this is what happened to defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who was fired following an embarrassing loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
What's intriguing about all this fiasco is that before the announcement, head coach Sean Payton actually told reporters in the press conference that Ryan is "absolutely" the Saints' defensive coordinator; but all that has drastically changed with the latest news saying that Ryan has, in fact, been sacked.
Payton likewise mentioned that Dennis Allen will be named as interim defensive coordinator, while team officials discuss possibilities of hiring a new one.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The pressure of looking for someone to blame got more intense when the Saints surrendered almost 400 yards against the Redskins, and that's during the first half alone, not to mention the fact that the team actually ranks 31st in the NFL in defense.
Being the defensive coordinator for the league's worst defensive team won't help either. Ryan had bright moments in his career as a defensive coach, but the current scenario in New Orleans certainly warranted for some change, which unluckily for him is seeing himself get booted out.
Payton admitted to Jeff Duncan reporting for NOLA that Rob is a great individual, especially as a member of the staff, but it sure didn't work out for him this season.
The good thing is New Orleans will enjoy a bye next week, giving them enough time to regroup and look for ways to save their season. But at 4-6, the hope of reaching the playoffs is getting dimmer and dimmer. The Saints have the worst number in the league in terms of giving up yards, currently at 424.7, plus the fact that they're also allowing opponents to score at will, surrendering 31.5 points a game.
