Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Good morning B&G :bng:,

Thought I'd start a thread to discuss our lack of closing in big games ... specifically on defense. We've looked good in the regular season however as the playoff starts, we can't seem to close.

I understand Brees didn't have a good performance, we were lacking difference makers (Shimmy & Davenport) etc but what gives on defense ? We are good defending 1st and 2nd downs however 3rd down is where there are breakdowns. Repeatedly. I focus on Niners game (4th down to Kittle) & Vikes bomb (Marcus was late) to Adam K in OT which put us out of the playoffs x(. We're giving up too many big plays & having deep ball breakdowns again and again.

IMO Def Coordinator Dennis Allen's name doesn't come up enough on the lack of putting players in position to make plays. There is too much talent on defense not to get it done in the playoffs.

Thoughts?

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Not sure who is at fault, but it does appear there is too much emphasis on creating a turnover instead of stopping the offense and creating a punting situation.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

1. Marcus Williams is a choking machine.
2. Defense was worn out from the lack of ball control.
3. Defensive line was worn out from the lack of rotation due to injuries.

The lack of pass rush was very noticeable for the last 4 games... losing Davenport was huge, and we lack any DT pass rushers.

I don’t blame Allen unless I start to see the ‘prevent a win Defense’, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Fair points ...

However Dennis Allen's football background is all secondary. Last 3 years in the playoffs, I'm watching repeatedly breakdowns late in games in the secondary. With his expertise on the back end, this shouldn't be happening.

In that Vikes game, why are we playing ZONE and leave undersized PJ on Rudolph? Or how about LATE in the Niners game we had the lead but somehow Jimmy Garappolo trotting down the field with less than 53 ticks left on the clock? Not to forget the Rams went down the field with no TO's in OT & kicked us out of a SB.

It just seems to me that late in games, DA defense is not dependable when it matters most. This guy was a defensive back & this isn't an area (secondary collapses) where we should be consistently losing. Defending the "long field" is a problem. I find it very discouraging that we seem to give up a lot of clutch plays from mediocre QB's (Keenum, Jimmy, Goff, Kurt) over the years.

Dennis needs a defensive "consultant". He's been serviceable at best.

Just my opinion but Allen isn't going to take us to the SB because his defenses can't be counted on to make plays when it matters most. Minny miracle, last year vs Lambs and now the VIKES ... again. Kurt Cousins ? In our house? SMDH.

Payton has got to see the pattern.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Dont forget all the times where it happened, but the offense had enough time to re-take the lead. Specifically ones that come to mind are;

2019 - Week 1 vs Texans, Lattimore allows huge reception, Stills catches deep TD pass the next play.

2018 - Browns game in Superdome, we let Tyrod Taylor beat us deep with 50 seconds to go.

There are many more, those just come to mind straight away.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Agree with playing PJ on Rudolph, it was a 0 coverage blitz call and the ball was out fast. There aren't many going to stop that play, we have no one to match up with Rudolph. Problem was how they got there... Marcus Williams cheated to the wrong side of the field. He should have known that Lattimore was not in the game and given more support to Robinson instead of Jones, who had been solid all game.

Late in the 49ers game... That was all Williams, comes down late for the tackle then provides the game ending penalty. Our D played poorly for the entire game, so put that all on Allen for having no answers... but the game winning drive was basically 1 play that Williams blew.

The Rams game can't be put on the defense at all. They were a prolific offense that we held to 23 points in regulation. Our offense had the ball in OT and at the end of the 4th but couldn't execute.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

The problem is that when there are injuries to key players and your talent has a steep drop from your starters to the 2nd/3rds it doesn't matter your genius if the players refuse to play the ball once it is in the air and instead try to dry hump the receivers face.

I look at Dennis Allen this way. We were in the top half of the league in points allowed, yards per game, and 4th down%.. Top 6 in 3rd%.

Then I think about the Spagnuolo and Ryan years...

Im good with Allen. Very good with not screwing with that. :bng:

With the exception of maybe Lattimore and Jackrabbit... No one is watching our defensive secondary play and thinking.. Man I wish we had that guy.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

Yet Steve Spagnuolo is one WIN away from the Super Bowl as 1st year Chiefs Defensive Coordinator. Some would even argue that the Saints have a more talented roster defensively from top to bottom than KC.

But we are here on the outside looking in ... again.

Re: Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
 

ALL of the rules HEAVILY favors the offense. But, I think the Saints do play too soft and too much zone at times. The best defenses man up and attack. The Saints have enough talent for that.