CharityMike

This is what gets me and makes me wonder. Do the players really care where there unit is ranked? I mean seriously. How many time have we seen a D player looking pissed off? I am not saying I want a Hardy seen on the sideline but I would like to see some emotion.

SaintsBro

I want to be excited but somehow I can't help but wonder about Allen being just more of the same backwards sliding of the past few post-Bountygate years. It just feels like more of Sean Payton spinning himself into a cocoon, surrounding himself with more and more yes men, challenging himself less, going with what he knows, and more of the whole organization operating inside its own weird 2009 Super Bowl bubble or echo chamber.

Bringing Allen back in this weird way, it sorta reeks of "Yippee! It's 2009 all over again, folks!" type cheerleading and hype. It feels a little desperate to me. It's almost like there is a weird confluence going on between Payton's insular paranoia (always sticking with HIS guys) and the Benson family's perennial perpetual love of re-living the nostalgia for the Super Bowl year of '09 over and over. I dunno. I really want to be excited about it, but I'm just not. I hope they do a big and thorough search during the off season but I have my doubts.

Beastmode

I never assume anymore someone can't do a better job if given the opportunity. I had some Soldiers under me who most wrote off as not capable of anymore responsibility. They were wrong. They shocked a lot of people when they got the chance is all I can say. Did amazing things. I don't know if Allen is that type of person but I would not be surprised if it turned out that way.

Danno

I'm sold, its what I think our defense needs right now. Direction and accountability.

WillSaints81

Given our remaining schedule that effort would be enough to win out. The issue now becomes the offensive line.

blackangold

The one thing that stood out to me is that Allen was responsible for most of the 3rd down packages and schemes, well last I can recall we were actually ranked in the top 5 defense on 3rd down. Our issue was just getting teams to a 3rd down...

WillSaints81

It's not about just the playcalling though.

jeanpierre

Proof will be in the mash potatoes as we find out what yields over the remainder of the season...

But the biggest reason for any improvement won't necessarily be because of scheme, play calling, etc...

rather, that there is now a singular chain of command, single message and not some committee-led disaster we've had...

Rugby Saint II

I wonder what the room was like when DA met the defense for the first time after his promotion? I think he's going to preach accountability as his mantra. Gap assignment, tackling and fundamentals will be his focus to begin with. No more playing for the coach you like. It's time for players to play for their jobs!

Allen typically blitzes 44% of the time vs. Ryan who rarely blitzed. And when Ryan did blitz his timing never seemed in sync or effective. Also, Allen takes pride in disguising his blitzes right up to the snap of the ball. His schemes may appear complicated but he likes to run a variety of plays out of a single package. Much like Payton. So, the players should be less confused.......hopefully.

TwistedTiger

Payton and Lomis are pretty poor judges of talent. This is a Saints defense that has a couple young prospects and almost nothing else. Ryan may be horrible, but he never had a chance with talent he was dealt and Allen won't do much better. Ever since they drafted Colston Payton crowned himself a draft and free agent genius, but he has failed miserably at both. To be in a position where you have to be extremely creative just to stay under the cap and still have no talent is inexcusable. Brees is the only reason the Saints won't have the first pick in the draft.