Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan acknowledged Friday that he and his players got too caught up in the preseason praise and expectations.

The Saints have gone from fourth in yards allowed in 2013 to 31st in 2014.

“Obviously we drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much, I think. And if they don’t think so, I think that’s wrong. I think that’s an honest opinion,” Ryan said, via ESPN.com. “I think we forgot how we had success [last year]. You know, the ‘Nola’ defense, where nobody likes our ass. That’s how we played better, when our backs were against the wall, when we had a lot to prove.

“I think we didn’t get soft in a year’s time, but certainly we could have played better and started faster. And it cost us early in some games, and then we’re treading uphill the rest of the year.”

Ryan said if he’s back with the Saints next season, the first thing he will improve is himself.


Read more: Rob Ryan: Saints 'drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much'

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

He's right. We didn't want to work for it. Winning is hard and we put forth a half ass effort, but still (even riding a losing record) couldn't wait to tell the world about how much talent we had. **** talking, for the first time under SP, started. That **** needs to be nipped in the bud. Before both Falcons games we talked ****, and we lost both games.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

That is so unprofessional. Really disappointing.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Really? I didn't think so. I think he called them out. I think he is trying to give them a chip for next year??

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

How can an entire football organisation get caught up in praise and hype and not understand that success takes hard work?

What this tells me is that they didn't do the work to bridge the gap between reality and where they perceived themselves to be (which was clearly much higher than reality).

That is an extremely poor attitude and a lot of this lies with the coaching staff. They are the ones that should have the insight to see this and act accordingly.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

No, I thought you were saying his comments were unprofessional. LOL!

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

I appreciate his honesty. Maybe this humbling season will put that chip back on everyone's shoulder.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Bad season both sides of the ball...
Reload for next year

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Umm, let's not forget about our great QB who just happens to be 4th in throwing INT'S this year. I mean some of those INT'S were just stupid on Drew's part. I'm not letting him off easy on any of those.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

A lot of them got caught up because they don't have the experience behind them to understand this is the fricking NFL.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

You are right. No one should get off easy this year!

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Don't read your own press clippings, and believe them.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

I think Kool-Aid gets a bad rap. It's inexpensive, easy to make, has a good variety of flavours, appeals to a wide customer base and frankly, is pretty gosh darn delicious ... I like the green, :).

Best of luck with your self-examination, RR ... be a leader of men & men will follow, be a friend to boys & they'll get out of hand on ya' every time ... bet.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

question is who allowed the kool aid to be poured in the first place ???? Rob???

this is a round about way of sharing the blame for not doing your job as a coach.

whats the next excuse?

just stand up already and say what we all know is true. you did not do your job. it is that simple

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Did somebody say Kool-Aid?

http://www.ukprogressive.co.uk/wp-co...wn-300x219.jpg

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Kool-Aid is fine...........but be sure to go sugar free! :razz:

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

We as fans all drank it as well. I didn't see anyone on here or anywhere saying we would return to the bottom of the league defensively. We all thought with the addition of Byrd that we would be as good or better than 2014 defensively. And I 100% agree it was Ryan's job to focus the players, identify the lack of attention, effort and overconfidence and right that ship long before it had completely sunk.

We have problems and deficiencies on both sides of the ball. And yes Drew is not the same guy he was a couple years ago. His abilities are declining and will continue to do so. But he is still a top 10 QB if not better, and if our offense can be modified to where him managing a game can achieve a win rather than require him to be flawless to get one then we can still be a competitive team in this league and we can still be a playoff caliber team.

I have no issue with Rob Ryan returning, be he and the players must commit to another 180 of this disaster.

Re: Rob Ryan: Saints ‘drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much’
 

Even more frightening is the fact that, even though Drew acknowledged that they were a problem, no adjustment was made over the course of the season to curb the INTs. That leads me to believe that either:

1) Drew could have changed his game, but chose not to because he thought he had to take chances to win.

or

2) He tried to change his game but the result was just more interceptions.

Sadly, neither of these conclusions spell good things for Drew and the future.

Also, it seems like our DCs always get the most out of our team in their first year on-board. Maybe we should just hire a new DC every year?