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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Darrion Gray

Surpassing the ‘interim bump’ must be a focus for Darren Rizzi

When a team makes a change at head coach, that can sometimes lead to a jolt around the team. Renewed energy can make you feel like you’re watching a completely different team. That energy a lot of times, but not all the time, is temporary.

The New Orleans Saints moved on from Dennis Allen in the middle of the season and appointed Darren Rizzi the interim head coach. Since then, the Saints have won their last two contests.

The temporary nature of these jolts isn’t lost on Rizzi, and it’s his responsibility to ensure the momentum wasn’t temporary. He labels keeping energy steady a point of emphasis. Rizzi encouraged players to focus on “all the reasons we’ve done well the last two games.” Remain consistent on that and the hope is the results will the same as well.

As far as energy fading, Rizzi doesn’t see that as a concern this week. The energy and enthusiasm in the locker room remains high. Rizzi felt the team had one of their best practices on Tuesday. It just needs to translate and earn results on Sunday.

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