About three weeks after we heard that Saints head coach Dennis Allen could be on the hot seat, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com offer a contrasting view. The duo report that Allen is likely to get a third season as New Orleans’ HC in 2024.
Of course, the same caveat that these types of reports typically contain is also applicable to this situation: if there is a “late-season debacle,” the organization could elect to move on from Allen. However, barring such a catastrophe, Rapoport and Pelissero are hearing that Allen is safe for at least one more year.
At present, the Saints are 7-8 and in third place in the NFC South. However, they have the same record as the second-place Falcons and are just one game behind the first-place Buccaneers and will take on both clubs over the final two games of the season. They therefore have a real chance to win the admittedly weak division and secure a home playoff game, a scenario that would obviously boost Allen’s job security in a big way.
Regardless of whether New Orleans qualifies for the postseason, owner Gayle Benson and GM Mickey Loomis recognize the difficulties that Allen has faced — the early-season suspension of Alvin Kamara and the injuries to quarterback Derek Carr, the O-line, and the defensive front seven, for instance — and have nonetheless been unwavering in their support of him. During Allen’s run as the Saints’ DC from 2015-21, he helped transform a defense that had generally struggled prior to his arrival into a formidable unit, and it appears he still has a great deal of goodwill with the franchise’s top decision-makers.
Even if Allen is retained, some coaching changes may be on the horizon. In the earlier report indicating that Allen’s job could be in jeopardy, it was suggested that Benson and Loomis would seek a replacement with an offensive background, and Rapoport and Pelissero concede that the offensive operation will get a “thorough examination” after the season. Although they do not say so explictily, OC Pete Carmichael could be on the outs irrespective of New Orleans’ decision on Allen.
Back in October, we learned that Carmichael is on the hot seat, although the offense’s performance has improved since then. The team currently ranks in the top half of the league in terms of both total offense and points per game.
Insert the Homer Simpson retreats back into the bushes gif
The Saints might have had the league’s easiest schedule and the guy couldn’t get them to play .500 ball. Guess the Saints have decided they need to pinch some pennies – as they probably gave Allen a 4 year deal. Here’s hoping they go 5-12 in 2024 so the decision becomes a little easier to make.
If they’re going to keep Allen, they may as well retain Carmichael. I understand wanting to shake things up, but I’m not sure if you could get sell someone on “come take an OC job, even though it may be for a year because we’d have to install a new offense and we may all be fired if it fails”. Let them fail on merit, hopefully hit it in the draft, reboot since the division still stinks and you just have to be mediocre and hope that you don’t have to go full-tilt paper bag boogie.
It’ll be a Matt Rhule situation where they have to go out and make a Ben McAdoo type hire because every smart OC candidate with options knows the HC and therefore the coaching staff will soon be fired.
In Allen’s defense, they did look prepared today against Tampa Bay. I agree, that with their schedule, it should have been a moot point, the division should have been wrapped up by now. But, congratulations to the players and staff for rising to the challenge today.
If they keep him, they may lose the fan base…
No, it’ll never happen. I’ve been with the Saints since their inception and it’s akin to a bad relationship. Even when good things happen, you always expect the worst. New Orleans has always been and will always be a Saints town, even if it means a return to the paper bags.
I agree. It’s not like fans will run off to support the Pelicans and what options do the NHL or MLB provide?
Doesn’t really matter what a coach does since the league dictates to the Refs who they want to win a game. The Lions got robbed by the Refs and Goodell last night and cheated Dan Campbell out of a win just like they’ve done to Dennis Allen numerous times. “F” the NFL and their horrific officials
I don’t know why the ref wouldn’t just take his time to understand the play and who is eligible.
Between that and the dumb ref that tripped Lamar in that 9ers game. They just have a bunch of goofs.
Any time you play the new coach gamble you run the risk of firing Jim Caldwell (because you expected more) and hire Matt Patrica.. then it all goes to sh*t and you face an even tougher rebuild .. That being said I’d compare a coach to a QB in the sense you either got one or don’t .. Dennis Allen= Gardener Minshew .. he’s not the guy but you could do worse ..Dennis is a bridge coach .. He’s only there till Loomis can balance the books .. that whole Sean Peyton/Drew Brees era they kicked the can down the road and now these last two years the bill came due ..