The is a good old-fashioned resurrection taking place right now in New Orleans — what better place? — and the Saints are marching again.
The grand marshals of their parade, which makes a stop in New England on Sunday for a fascinating game against the Patriots, are Sean Payton and Rob Ryan — not in any particular order of importance.
A year ago, the Saints were a derailed, discombobulated bunch without their head coach, who was serving his year-long suspension for his part in “Bounty Gate,’’ and with an historically-inept defense that could not stop a nosebleed.
Cue the return Payton and his hiring of Ryan as his defensive coordinator.
The two, with essentially the same roster that finished 7-9 and out of the playoffs in 2012, have the Saints atop the league with a 5-0 record entering Sunday’s game against the 4-1 Patriots.
The most tangible difference from last year’s Saints to this year’s is Ryan, the brother of Rex with longer hair and more flair. Ryan and New Orleans, because of their respective larger-than-life personalities, are perfect together.
Ryan, who is becoming an icon in New Orleans, is even commemorated by a Facebook page that goes by the name, “Rob Ryan’s Hair.’’ The page playfully displays the looks of different Ryan hair days — the “Farrah Fawcett,’’ the “Charlton Heston’’ (from “The Ten Commandments”) and the “Obi Wan Kenobi.’’
More important than his popular and polarizing persona though, is the transformation Ryan has overseen with a New Orleans defense that gave up 7,042 yards last season, breaking a 31-year-old league record.
Ryan’s defensive calling card is what it always has been — constant in-your-face pressure with creative multiple alignments.
The Saints have improved from being ranked 31st in points allowed per game (28.3) to fourth (14.6). They’ve gone from last in the league in yards allowed (440.1) to 11th (330.4). They’ve produced 15 sacks and seven interceptions by seven different players.
The Saints, whose identity in recent years has been prolific quarterback Drew Brees and his skill position weapons, have started 5-0 for the second time in five seasons, but they have not held their first five opponents to fewer than 20 points like they have this season since 1992.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is the only player on the New England roster who was there when Ryan served as Bill Belichick’s linebackers coach from 2000-03, knows exactly what to expect from him Sunday.
“He has his guys always prepared and ready to play,’’ Brady said this week. “He gets his matchups and he lets those guys attack the quarterback. They play with a lot of anticipation and a lot of confidence. We’ve got to go out there and try to do the same.”
Belichick, who appreciates good defensive coaching, said his team must be “ready for something new [and] different’’ from what Ryan’s defense has shown on film in previous games.
“One of the characteristics of their defense is that they play a lot of multiple defensive packages that vary from week to week,” Belichick said.
What has made this Saints resurrection more interesting is the fact that their strength remains what it has been since Brees got to New Orleans — offense. The Saints have the No. 4 ranked offense in the league, including No. 2 in passing.
Something will have to give in New England. The Saints are going for their first 6-0 start since 2009, when they went on to win the Super Bowl, and Brees is 3-0 in his career at New England. But the Patriots have won eight of their past nine games at home, including 3-0 this season while outscoring opponents 64-13.
Whatever does unfold in what has to be the marquee game of Week 6, defense will have a big say in it. And Ryan, with his demonstrative sideline body language and flowing gray hair, is sure to be in the middle of it.
“He’s got a passion for the game,” Payton said.
That passion of Ryan’s has been a catalyst to Payton’s resurrection from the scorn of his 2012 suspension. And Payton’s hiring of Ryan has provided a resurrection to Ryan’s coaching career and reputation, which had taken a hit after his defenses underperformed in Dallas.
In New Orleans, and anywhere else, that’s called a win-win.