Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi jokes that he’s started to look like the cartoon character “Bob the Builder” during team meetings.
This is because, in the two weeks since becoming interim coach, he’s been using construction tools—like shovels, hard hats, and lunch pails—as props to emphasize the hardworking attitude he wants the Saints to adopt. He’s trying to inspire the team to fill the “metaphorical hole” they created during a seven-game losing streak that led to coach Dennis Allen’s firing.
Last week, Rizzi brought in a level to talk about how important it is for the team to play their best at the end of games.
“You use a level at the end to make sure you finish off the work and the job is done right,” Rizzi said.
The Saints lost several games during their streak because they blew late leads. But since Rizzi took over, the team won in Week 10 by holding onto a 20-17 lead against Atlanta through the fourth quarter. They won again on Sunday, taking a 14-all tie with Cleveland and finishing strong in the final quarter for a 35-14 victory.
“As you watched that game, I think you saw a team that just continued to get more and more confident,” said Saints versatile tight end Taysom Hill, who rushed for a career-high 138 yards and three touchdowns against the Browns.
“Finishing games was something we struggled with, but (Rizzi) has a really good sense of what we need as a team to be ready for a game,” Hill added. “The guys have responded to that.”
