Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Sean Payton has earned his reputation as one of the NFL's most brilliant offensive minds during 10-plus years as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

But during that same decade, Payton also has burned through four defensive coordinators. He is now on No. 5, Dennis Allen.

Most of them have been fired because the defense just plain stunk -- it set the NFL record for yards allowed in a season under Steve Spagnuolo in 2012 and set NFL records for TD passes allowed and opponents' passer rating last season before Rob Ryan was fired in November.

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Other times there have been some personality clashes -- such as with Gregg Williams, who helped lead the Saints to a Super Bowl in 2009. And Ryan burned some bridges on his way out, complaining that Payton and Saints management tried to force a defensive scheme on him that he didn't agree with.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly how much blame falls on the shoulders of Payton himself, how much falls on the front office and how much falls on each individual defensive coordinator.

But if chemistry has anything to do with the equation, then Allen should have the best chance of success yet.


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Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

It better be.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Payton stacked the deck for Allen, now we get to sit back and see what he does with it.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

I don't think you can really include spags. There was just too much going on that didn't truly allow for success for him, and I just don't think he should be included. Firing Gibbs was the right thing to do and it got us a SB. Firing RR was the right thing, actually this is the one I put on SP and the front office. He should have never been hired in the first place. GW was solid for us. You go back and look at the stats and he was solid for us. I think they clashed and I think Greg wanted out anyway. DA reminds me a lot of GW. I like him, and I think he will have success.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

What's amazing to me still is the first season, the Saints went all the way to the NFC conference championship game against the Bears...

We had a thin roster, no depth; we had Gary Gibbs as defensive coordinator; it was a new team learning new schemes...

It really comes down to the coaches, their schemes, ability to command men and execute the plan...

We weren't that talented (and got exposed in the NFC Championship Game against the Bears) and yet there was a great deal of success...

Dennis Allen was the Asst Defensive Line Coach to Marion Hobby (who's the Clemson co-defensive coordinator and defensive end coach)...

John Morton, who's since returned as well, was our Passing Game coach and assistant to Curtis Johnson the receivers coach, is now Wide Receivers coach...

So Payton is getting back to what worked in all sorts of ways...

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Technically, wasn't number two the charm...... for a season?

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

I think he should. A good coach can adjust somewhat to what he has to work with. A team can't suck as badly as we did under him without actually working at it.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

As a former Head Coach, Spags should've done a better job. I never saw any fire from either him or the players. But as JP said, I dont even count that season without putting an asterisk next to it. Goodell still sucks.

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Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

IDK man he had prob and corey white

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Good point. Still a man oughta be held somewhat accountable.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

The Saints offensive scheme is never going to be helpful to the defense.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Why not? What do you mean?

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

was wondering the same.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

It's great to have a new DC and a new program but what we haven't replaced is a Field General player
like Vilma and Mr. Date Rape. Haven't seen a current day Saint step into that role.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

True. Alienment with adjustment plays a huge role. It has amazed me how many times our D have given up 1st down on the same plays that have been run on them time after time after time.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Like his mentor Greg Williams he is a coach first and scheme guy second. Adjustments on the fly in a game is an under rated skill set. Rob praise is a great example of what is wrong in the media.
DA is in your face type of coach no matter his title. Any player that hates that is a player you do want on your team.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

I'd like this twice if I could. :cheers:

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Cruize is likely referring to the issue that my brother complains about all the time: The lack of a consistent, tough, productive run game.

The argument is threefold:

1. Tough running beats the opposing defense up and keeps your defense off the field.

2. Tough running draws in the safeties for run support opening up downfield for big play action pass plays.

3. Tough running milks the clock and shortens the game.

My brother would be proud of me because I actually do listen to his arguments. He constantly refers to Deuce's masterpiece in the 4th quarter of the 2006 playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles as the prime example. 8+ minute drive and nothing the defense could do to stop it. My counter to the argument is simple: with 10 years of evidence with Payton, Brees, and Carmichael the Saints offense is never going to run on a consistent basis. The best that you can hope for is that the team gets up 14+ points in the second half and then runs productively because lately that's the only time you've really seen a solid commitment to rushing the ball.

on to other matters....

I did it for you Rugby....

SFIAH

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Yeah say what you want about this guy he did get the job done and hasn't done a bad job since coming back either!!! If he was still here we wouldn't be having the problems we had...

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

Got it. However putting a boatload of points up has to help them out a little.

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

because our offense doesn't run the ball well enough to chew up the clock and give our D a breather

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

It has to be!

Re: Is fifth defensive coordinator the charm for Saints' Sean Payton?
 

What that team had was a bunch of pissed off castoffs from other teams that played with the heart of a lion. A fearless new coach and he put Bush in the right places to keep defenses off-balance. And Drew's first year of top-notch team leadership. Just what NOLA needed at the time.