Rob Ryan blames New Orleans Saints scheme change for firing

Former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said head coach Sean Payton took some authority away from him and that led to his firing in the middle of last season.

Ryan told TheMMQB.com on Friday that he regrets not speaking up to Payton when the Saints changed their scheme after a successful 2013 season.

"I need to be in a multiple system," said Ryan, who is now assistant head coach/defense for twin brother Rex with the Buffalo Bills. "I was hired to be in a multiple system in New Orleans, and I did a damn good job and got fired for it.

"I should have gone into Sean and talked to him. Sean is a good person. I didn't, and I just let it happen, so I deserve what I got."

The Saints went from being ranked fourth in the NFL in defensive yardage in 2013 in Ryan's first year in New Orleans to 31st in both 2014 and 2015.

"There are two years that don't have my signature on them, and it's the last two years in New Orleans. And that's just the truth," Ryan said during the interview with The MMQB.

Payton told Pro Football Talk that the Saints' defense, which set an NFL record for the most touchdown passes allowed in a season last year, was Ryan's defense.

"The idea that it wasn't his defense, or he wasn't in charge of it, is silly," Payton told PFT Live. "When you're struggling as bad as we're struggling for two years, and some of the same problems keep coming up -- you know, 10 guys on the field -- those are things that just are hard to live with."