Sean Payton says risk taking is tied to having a play in mind
By Mike Dyce
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is leading his team against the Carolina Panthers and “Riverboat Ron.” The nickname refers to head coach Ron Rivera who has been going for it a lot on fourth down and earned the name as being a bit of a risk taker.
Payton is known as a risk taker as well and when they were playing the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, he called a onside kick to start the second half. Payton was asked about risk taking as a play-caller and Payton gave an interesting answer.
“We will look closely at situations, timing in the game,” Payton said according to a transcript from the club, via Pro Football Talk. “A lot of times the decision to go for it on fourth down or hypothetically a two-point play is based on whether you still have a play you like.
“Sometimes, say in short-yardage situations, you’ve run a play you really like, converted, maybe you would run another one. A lot of times it depends on if you have that play still that you haven’t shown. That factors in more than you think.
“I think it also is based on the game in itself and how it is unfolding, what you are doing defensively and what you are doing offensively and paying attention to that and trusting your instincts when the time comes. Each game is different.”