Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was dismissed by Saints head coach Sean Payton following the defensive disaster the Saints experienced in Sunday’s 47-14 meltdown against the Redskins. Payton went on WWL radio to explain the moves. (Payton promoted Dennis Allen, from Ryan’s staff, to coordinator.)
[Sean Payton IQ Quiz — Saints Coach Simple Facts]
Payton called Ryan a “fantastic staff guy” before saying he wasn’t a very good coach. Or perhaps there’s another way to parse this, which is how Payton described the Saints defense under Ryan: “We really struggled with substitutions, getting lined up and getting our guys the defensive call and being able to function.” That’s one thing head coaches everywhere hate, a defense that struggles “being able to function.” The Saints are 4-6. Payton is under contract with the team through 2017.
