Can Darren Rizzi usher in the Saints' new era?

The Darren Rizzi era begins for New Orleans, and it's familiar territory for the Saints' new interim coach. He has already experienced the change of season several times during his time with the Miami Dolphins.

After the team's decision to release Dennis Allen, Rizzi was the logical choice. He's a Bill Parcells guy and it's obvious he'll bring that style with him. Needless to say, the team is now entering a very important three-month period.

Rizzi said Monday afternoon: “All of us, myself included, contributed to where we are right now. And we're all going to help get ourselves out of this hole we're in.” “

With the score at 2-7, Rizzi said that the team had to “circle the wagons now” and that everyone had to be on board. Everything is evaluated and reassessed under the leadership of Rizzi, but he does not say that he will take the helm of the ship, but rather tries to move it forward. He also acknowledged what many had said, that the team's product was unacceptable.

“From the schedule to the way we deal with the active players to the daily schedule, we will look at everything. How we train…all these different things. So we really haven't made any final decisions yet.” But a wise man and Hall of Fame coach (Bill Parcells) once told me, “If something's going to change, then something has to change,” so we will some Make changes.”

Rizzi says he grew up as a “fighter.” He said he had never been handed anything. He was a walk-on in college, a free agent in the NFL and started coaching in D-II football. He brings passion and energy and is clearly a blue-collar guy, and he said New Orleans needs work to get out of this situation.

“Leaders really show their true colors in difficult situations, and I think the rest of the team feels the same way. We will now find out who will fight.”

Rizzi is a responsible and authentic guy, and he brings what he does on special teams to the table. “This 1/11 philosophy will be something we represent because in no other sport can one person make a mistake and that affects the others.”

There were positive conversations throughout the day and no one lost hope, but improvements are needed from New Orleans. The majority of it revolves around implementation in all three phases with responsibility. He is someone who gets along with everyone on the team and that is not an exaggeration. He said that's one reason why special teams coaches tend to make better interim head coaches.

Joe Woods will lead the defense and take care of the game management, while Klint Kubiak will continue to be the offensive player. Rizzi will continue to serve on special teams, but Phil Galiano will have more duties and the Saints will bring in another quality control man to assist. And for anyone who thought something would change, Derek Carr will be the team's quarterback.

The football and execution need to get better, but Rizzi said the Saints won't lack passion and fight and won't be boring to watch. His message to fans was pretty loud and clear.

“Listen, they should be mad. I'm pissed off. The fans should be mad. The people of New Orleans, the people of Louisiana, no one should be happy. I think this city deserves a winner. You know what.’ It looks like winning football and it’s our job to bring that back. I can't promise much, but I can tell you that the team will be eliminated every Sunday there and that will be clear, that we will have a team full of passion and full of fighters, I can promise you that.

Regardless of who is in the building for the Saints right now and after Tuesday's trade deadline, this three-month period will be significant for both players and coaches. They get a day off and are then expected to arrive on Wednesday with renewed focus and get to work to try to turn things around. Of course, making the playoffs is an almost impossible task, but right now it's all about focusing on the Atlanta Falcons.

At least Saints fans can watch Sunday knowing it won't be the same stale product, but they need to show everyone how different it will be as the team still has a lot to figure out before calling it a day.