Saints hire new assistant straight from the radio booth

Zach Strief will be making his return to the Saints but not in the way some think. 

The New Orleans Saints will be turning over a new leaf in 2021 with the likely departure of Drew Brees. After making it to the Divisional Round last season, a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely ended an era in the bayou.

Out with the old, in with the new, is how the saying goes. However, what happens when the new is a member of the old plan?

Ask Zach Strief how weird that saying will be this season.

The Saints announced the former offensive lineman would be returning the field as the new assistant offensive line coach this season. Strief is already close to the team as for the past three seasons, he’s served as the play-by-play announcer for WWL on 105.3 FM.

Strief played 12 seasons for New Orleans after they made him a seventh-round pick back in 2006. He appeared in 158 games, starting in 94 after becoming a full-time guard in 2011.

Does this help the Saints’ offensive line?

New Orleans always finished strong in the run game during the Brees-Sean Payton era. In his final season, the Saints finished leading the league in rushing touchdowns (30) and averaged 141.6 yards-per-game rushing.

It wasn’t just Alvin Kamara making a name for himself. Quarterback Taysom Hill and running back Latavius Murray also played a role in the ground and pound attack.

The Saints will be looking for the heir-apparent to Brees, meaning an established run game could do wonders for whoever is the starter. New Orleans also needs protection up in front to keep their future quarterback upright.

During Strief’s time in the NFL, New Orleans was one of the strongest lines for over a decade.

The Saints could be a team that struggles in 2021. They also could be a surprise and remain a contender. Either way, having a proven guy such as Strief certainly helps in more ways than one.