Rob Ryan Is the Problem in New Orleans, Not the Solution

The New Orleans Saints have started 0-2 this season, and the blame falls squarely at the feet of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. 

The Saints defense couldn't get key stops against the Atlanta Falcons or the Cleveland Browns late in the game, and New Orleans lost both contests during the final drives. 

As the Browns' game-winning drive commenced, cracks in the pristine exterior between Saints head coach Sean Payton and Ryan started to show. The two were seen bickering on the sideline long before the Browns were in scoring position. 

After the game, Payton blew off a question regarding the sideline spat. 

Whether or not Payton acknowledges the issue publicly, the Saints' primary concerns are on the defensive side of the football. 

The Browns were trailing 24-23 when they received the ball at the 3-yard line with 2:46 remaining. Quarterback Brian Hoyer subsequently led the team 85 yards for the game-winning field goal from kicker Billy Cundiff. 

There were two major defensive breakdowns during the drive. 

On 4th-and-6, Hoyer was able to avoid pressure, climb in the pocket and find backup tight end Gary Barnidge open over the middle for a first-down conversion. 

Three plays later, the Browns quarterback found wide receiver Andrew Hawkins wide open for a 28-yard gain to give the Browns prime field position to kick the field goal. The catch was exacerbated by the fact no one in the Saints secondary was within 10 yards of the receiver. Hawkins simply ran free through the coverage.

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78 of Hoyer's 204 yards against the Saints came on the final drive of the game.

— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) September 14, 2014"

It's a devastating loss for the Saints a week after the defense surrendered a league-high 568 yards and the Falcons won the overtime contest. But what makes this week's loss worse is the Browns' lack of talent at the skill positions. 

Ryan's unit wasn't facing Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Devin Hester for the second straight week. The Browns didn't have Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron in the lineup due to a shoulder injury. Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon was still suspended. Starting running back Ben Tate was injured. The Browns gained 324 yards of offense with two rookie running backs behind Hoyer, and slot receiver Andrew Hawkins was the Browns' top target. 

David Richard/Associated Press

Despite the Browns' lack of talent on offense, the Saints still couldn't get a stop when it was desperately needed. 

There are no excuses for the Saints when it comes to level of talent under Ryan's supervision. Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette played the entire game, yet the defense only managed a single sack. All-Pro safety Jairus Byrd made four tackles, and cornerback Patrick Robinson was repeatedly beaten by the Browns' lackluster group of receivers. 

A coach puts his players in the best position to succeed. Talented players on the Saints defense haven't made plays when needed, and it's been apparent through two games. 

The Saints offense certainly can't be blamed. Quarterback Drew Brees started slowly against the Browns, but he still finished the game with 237 passing yards and a pair of touchdown tosses. The Saints running game even took over in the second half as New Orleans' stable of backs amassed 174 yards with an average of 6.4 yards per gain. 

Plus, tight end Jimmy Graham dominated once the Saints offense was able to get into rhythm. The 6'7" target caught 10 passes for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

There is simply no excuses for the Saints to play as poorly as they have on defense. 

It shouldn't be surprising, though. Historically, Ryan's defenses haven't lived up to his reputation.  

Year	Team	Total Defense	Rushing Defense	Passing Defense
2004	Raiders	30th	22nd	30th
2005	Raiders	27th	25th	18th
2006	Raiders	3rd	25th	1st
2007	Raiders	22nd	31st	8th
2008	Raiders	27th	31st	10th
2009	Browns	31st	28th	29th
2010	Browns	22nd	27th	18th
2011	Cowboys	14th	7th	23rd
2012	Cowboys	19th	22nd	19th
2013	Saints	4th	19th	2nd

Last year, Ryan performed a miracle when the Saints finished fourth overall in total defense after the unit smashed NFL records with its poor play the prior season.  

However, the 2013 campaign appears to be an anomaly while the start of the 2014 season has been a truer reflection of Ryan's prowess as a defensive coordinator. It shouldn't come as a surprise that teams can run the football against the Saints or that New Orleans' defense isn't one of the best of the NFL. The team's current performance is exactly what Ryan has produced over and over again during his career. 

Bottom line:  The Saints simply aren't that good on defense. Any suggestion to the contrary prior to the season was misinformed. And it's clear the Saints head coach isn't happy with how that side of the ball is performing. Ryan needs to turn this around quickly, or his current stint with New Orleans will be the third straight job where he's fired after his second season with the team.