In what was the worst division in football this year, every NFC South team is making major changes at either head coach, offensive coordinator and/or defensive coordinator save one: the New Orleans Saints. The team will again rely on consistency over change going into 2023 after choosing not to move on from offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Meanwhile, every other team around the division will be making changes in the hopes of improving their 2022 results.
The Carolina Panthers moved on from head coach Matt Rhule during the season and fired defensive coordinator Phil Snow as well. The Atlanta Falcons did not fire or part ways with any staffers, but defensive coordinator Dean Pees retired. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved on from a slew of coaches including offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. The Saints though, unless either or both co-defensive coordinators Kris Richard and Ryan Nielsen are hired away, will make no changes to their top coaching staff members with assistant head coach and special team coordinator Darren Rizzi never really being warrant of departure as well.
That seems to signal that the Saints are hoping that sticking to their usual cadence of cohesion and continuity will set them apart in 2023. Particularly on the offensive side of the ball, it seems warranted to question that approach. However, the line of thinking remains in lockstep with their usual approach. That means at the end of 2023, the Saints will either win as the most consistent unit, or lose thanks to a commitment to not undergo change. The results will be clear and obvious this time next year.
