Joe Vitt is back as the interim coach for the Saints, although the message out of New Orleans is that nothing has changed.
Both Vitt and Aaron Kromer, Vitt’s replacement as interim coach during Vitt’s six-game suspension, insisted that the message from up top remains the same regardless of who has the title of head coach. Perhaps that’s why Vitt said that he isn’t expecting a radical change for the Saints now that he’s back on the sideline.
“I am going to do everything I can, like every coach on our staff and everybody in our building to help get our football team better every day,” Vitt said, via Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “I am certainly not a miracle worker. I am humbled to be back here.”
The problems that have plagued the Saints during their 2-4 start remain in place as well, most notably a defense that has given up more yards through six games than any other team in NFL history. Vitt may not be pulling off any miracles, but that’s an area where his return might actually be a help to the Saints.
Vitt’s a defensive coach and the hope is that his presence can help defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo address the issues that have contributed to that performance. The problem with that hope is that messaging and problems aren’t the only unchanged parts of the team. The talent on hand remains the same as well and that might be too big of an obstacle for the Saints defensive coaches to overcome.