Dennis

Allen

The Saints started the season with a 2-0 record while outscoring opponents 91-29. Since then, the team has lost seven straight games while looking increasingly uncompetitive, but the final straw was Week 9’s 23-22 loss to the Panthers. Allen did his best to rebuild his reputation as the former Raiders’ coach who went 8-28 from 2012-2014, and at times, appeared to have the Saints moving in the right direction. Last year he delivered a 9-8 season after winning four of his team’s final five games, but this is clearly a roster that’s trending toward a complete overhaul. The team is expected to name special teams coach Darren Rizzi, who interviewed for the Saints’ head coaching job in 2022, as its interim head coach. Allen’s tenure with the Saints went just over two seasons, and his final record with the team is a disappointing 18-25. It seems unlikely he would be a candidate for any head coaching jobs in the future after two failed stints.

Allen added that he does not foresee the need to evacuate at this time but that the storm could alter the team’s late-week practice plans on Thursday and Friday. That said, weather forecasters currently will not rule out the possibility that the tropical storm develops into hurricane strength in the coming days, something that could change current plans.

The son of longtime offensive coordinator and head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint could get his shot at the Saints OC gig after Shane Waldron turned down New Orleans in favor of the Bears. Kubiak has worked closely with Brock Purdy this season. Purdy led the NFL in EPA per drop back in the QB-friendly Shanahan offense. The Saints are also interviewing Niners QB coach Brian Griese, who has been with San Francisco for two seasons. The Saints OC job isn’t the most attractive with head coach Dennis Allen’s future uncertain beyond the 2024 season.

Allen is 16-18 in his first two seasons with the Saints. A 9-8 record in 2023 was an improvement on last year’s seven-win season, but Allen and the Saints will have their work cut out for them in 2024. While quarterback Derek Carr showed improved play down the stretch, it’s hard to imagine this team taking a significant leap as long as Carr is under center. In addition to their underwhelming quarterback situation, the Saints are also dealing with the worst cap situation in the league — which has been par for the course in recent years. Their poor cap situation is amplified by the fact they also have one of the oldest rosters in the league, which could suggest a down 2024 is in store. Allen should be back with the Saints next season, but he’ll have his work cut out for him in year three.

Allen failed to provide an expected snap count for the starters but was adamant on them receiving game reps to begin the preseason. “It’s a new season, it’s a new group, and I want to see our guys play,” Allen told reporters Monday. It sounds like Saints starters will play near the league standard of three offensive drives when they take the field on Sunday.

It was expected, but never officially announced. In the words of some of our favorite Source Boys: Officially Official. Allen’s first season in New Orleans was a let down, though perhaps an understandable one given the amount of injuries to top-tier players (Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore) and New Orleans’ inability to address the quarterback position. Allen probably can’t afford another year like this given his track record, but he’ll at least get a crack at rectifying what went wrong here in 2022.

According to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Allen has already spoken with GM Mickey Loomis about the upcoming weeks and Allen’s job appears to be safe. Allen led the Saints to a 7-10 record in his first year at the helm, as his team dealt with a myriad of injuries and underwhelming quarterback play from the likes of Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston. As a team, the Saints ranked 22nd in the league in points per game (19.4) but were ninth in points allowed (20.3). As of now, the Saints sit roughly $45 million over the cap. They’ll almost certainly make some moves to allow some flexibility, but this is a roster that could struggle to improve with limited spending resources in 2023.

Allen, 49, was always the favorite to replace Sean Payton in New Orleans, and now all nine head-coaching vacancies have been filled. The Saints flirted with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, but Bieniemy has again been passed over. This will be Allen’s second head-coaching stint after lasting just over two seasons in Oakland as the Raiders’ head coach from 2012-2014, going 4-12 and 4-12 in his first two seasons before getting fired after starting 2014 at 0-4. Allen has been in New Orleans for the last seven seasons. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him largely keep Payton’s coaching staff together.

Rapsheet is just reiterating a report he first issued on Tuesday. Perhaps he is doing Allen’s agent a favor, though it certainly makes sense. Allen has earned outside head-coaching interest, and was Payton’s right-hand man for closing in on a decade. He is a widely-respected defensive mind. That’s all good and well, but the Saints’ biggest immediate problems are on offense. Allen could be looking at bridge coach/rebuilding duties if he gets his second shot to lead an NFL team.

The team is also expected to interview Lions DC Aaron Glenn, a former Saints position coach, for the job. Allen drew some early interest for the Bears job this offseason, and interviewed with the Eagles in 2021. Sean Payton spoke up for Allen at his going-away presser, so it sure seems like he’s the candidate to beat at this point.