By Ross Jackson
While tanking for draft positioning has become a popular recommendation for the 4-8 New Orleans Saints this season, the team is intent on going 1-0 with each week they have remaining.
Though Sunday’s contest has been treated like any other game, is a little more special than the others for interim head coach Darren Rizzi.
Rizzi and the Saints will take on the Giants on the road at MetLife Stadium. The stadium is located just about 15 miles from Rizzi’s hometown of Hillsdale, N.J.
The New Jersey native has never been too shy to talk about his roots. From his childhood to his collegiate days at Rutgers University, Rizzi is a proud New Jersey native.
Sunday against the Giants, he gets to take the stage as an NFL head coach before a hometown audience just minutes away from his old stomping grounds. Rizzi has made it clear that this week is more about the team getting win No. 5 on the season than his personal connection to the moment.
However, the impact of emotion is sure to be felt. His ability to manage that throughout this game will be important. Behind the sentimentality of the moment is an opportunity to prove to the Saints organization that he can compartmentalize the internal sentiment from the on-field production.
He is auditioning for a full-time coaching role after all, so just about everything becomes a part of the evaluation process.
Rizzi’s players have already shown a tremendous amount of buy-in since he’s taken the reins. This game will be another chance for them to rally around the coach as they compete just 20 minutes south of his high school, Bergen Catholic.
