Football can be a game of inches at times. Nowhere is this more evident than in the NFL kicking game, where field position is key, and outcomes of games can sometimes hinge on pinning your opponent as deep as possible after a punt.
The importance was vividly on display during the New Orleans Saints match-up against the New York Giants, where interim head coach Darren Rizzi’s fiery sideline interaction with rookie punter Matthew Hayball made headlines.
Rizzi, who stepped into the interim head coach role just a few weeks ago after Dennis Allen’s dismissal, has a reputation for his passion, particularly given his background as a special teams coordinator.
His outburst came in the second quarter when Giants’ Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned Hayball’s punt for what appeared to be a touchdown.
Suffice it to say Rizzi was not pleased with the kick.
Darren Rizzi was laying into Matthew Hayball after that punt return pic.twitter.com/ubpNd1eidC
— Sharief Ishaq (@ShariefWDSU) December 8, 2024
Rizzi Unleashes On Saints Punter Hayball
Ya gotta love the passion of the new head coach. Although, it may have been a little over the top, considering the Giants touchdown was negated by a holding penalty.
Rizzi was seen slamming his hat to the ground and vociferously confronting Hayball. This action then required the intervention of veteran running back Alvin Kamara to cool tensions.
The Saints coach clearly has set some high standards for his team. Particularly in special teams where precision can alter the game’s outcome.
When a play doesn’t go as planned, his response is not just about that single moment. Instead, it’s about reinforcing the importance of execution at every level.
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The Two Are ‘Fine’
Following the game, reporters asked Rizzi about the passionate exchange between him and Hayball.
“That’s what you’re calling it, a passionate exchange?” Rizzi laughed. “I’m passionate about everything. Everybody has a job to do. And he wasn’t executing the game plan. I’m going to say this. His last punt, his last two.”
Still, he managed to find a silver lining with the Saints punter’s performance during the game.
“His last punt was outstanding and it really helped us,” Rizzi said. “Actually, I think his last two punts, the second to last punt in particular, was really, really good.”
“Pinned them back, didn’t get any return yards, that’s what we were trying to do all day. Our first three punts weren’t good enough, so in that passionate exchange, I let him know that’s exactly how I felt,” he conintued.
The coach later indicated he and his punter are “fine.”
Hayball is an undrafted rookie out of Vanderbilt. He is currently tied for second in the league in the number of punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
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