PUTTIN’ ON THE BLITZ
Super Bowl hopefuls collide in divisional round:
RENTON, Wash. — Rob Ryan is back in the playoffs, with just one regret.
Rex Ryan’s twin brother spent most of 2013 doing the unthinkable: turning around the Saints defense. But one game still nags at him. Ask Ryan about Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff opponent, the Seahawks, and he thinks back to Dec. 2, when the Saints were crushed in Seattle, 34-7.
It was the only time New Orleans gave up more than 30 points. And it is the one game Ryan wishes he could do over.
“We did not play our style of game at all,” Ryan said. “I think that’s really the only game that I just don’t think we were ourselves at all. Whatever it was, we just made mental mistakes. We made fundamental mistakes, some technique things, and we pride ourselves on playing the game the right way. I don’t think we really did that.” On Saturday, Ryan gets his do-over — and more. He is in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, when he was a lowly linebackers coach with the New England Patriots, and he is not going to waste this opportunity — especially since he can stick it to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who fired him after last season, with another masterfully called performance.
“We plan to be a lot better than the last time (they) saw us,” Ryan said. “We’re going to get that fixed.” There’s plenty to correct. In that Dec. 2 game, Seattle jumped out to a 27-7 halftime lead, despite the fact that Marshawn Lynch (45 rushing yards) barely got into the act. Russell Wilson took advantage of Ryan’s blitz-happy nature, completing three passes longer than 30 yards, and Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin hinted that Seattle will look for those same holes Saturday.
“We feel like man-to-man, one-on-one, we feel like we can beat (their defense),” Harvin said. But Ryan believes he will be better, because he did make this Saints “D” better than anyone thought possible. The Ryan brother with the flowing gray locks has gotten little credit over the years — and been far less celebrated than Rex — but, one season after being fired by Jones, he has worked magic in New Orleans.
Ryan has just one Pro Bowler, defensive end Cameron Jordan, but the Saints leaped from worst in total yards allowed last season to fourth in that category in 2013, allowing fewer yards than the far more touted San Francisco 49er defense. New Orleans was at its best last Saturday in Philadelphia, allowing 256 total yards to the vaunted Eagle attack.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for since my days in New England,” Ryan said. “Everybody seems to forget that I did win six playoff games there. That wasn’t my virgin (playoff) win last week. It’s great. “I have a smile on my face every day.” He hopes to be smiling on Saturday, too.