New Orleans Saints Face Big Decision With Offensive Line Coach Doug Marrone.
Not only must the offensive line coach be chosen, but also the offensive coordinator the Saints choose will have to make a significant decision regarding how to improve the unit.
The New Orleans Saints are still looking for an offensive coordinator, but before the candidate even accepts the position, they must deal with a number of significant issues. It’s not at quarterback, sorry. To be sure, Derek Carr’s first season with the team wasn’t exactly stellar in terms of play. But Carr showed a lot better understanding of the scheme and played a notably stronger final stretch.
A much bigger issue the new Saints coordinator will face is fixing the offensive line, one of the worst in the league last year. Moreover, the new coach must make a decision on whether to retain offensive line coach Doug Marrone. 
The Saints have moved on from longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, as well as WR coach Kodi Burns and senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell. Running Back coach Joel Thomas also left the team to accept the same position with the New York Giants. Two notable names that have been retained, at least so far, are Marrone and QB coach Ronald Curry.
Marrone, 59, just finished his second season in his second stint with the Saints. He was the offensive coordinator for Sean Payton’s first staff in New Orleans back in 2006, serving three years in that role. Over those three seasons, the Saints twice ranked first in both total offensive yardage and passing production while finishing with a top-5 scoring offense twice.
In 2009, Marrone left to become head coach at Syracuse University. After four years there, he’d become head coach of the Buffalo Bills, a position he held for two seasons. The Jacksonville Jaguars brought him in as their offensive line coach in 2014, but he’d be promoted to interim head coach to close out 2015 and took over as the full-time head coach the following year.
Marrone remained coach of the Jaguars for six seasons, taking Jacksonville to the 2018 AFC Championship Game. Upon his dismissal after the 2020 campaign, he was hired as offensive line coach for the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide finished 13-2 in 2021, losing only to Georgia in the SEC Championship and National Championship game.
In 2022, Marrone was brought back to New Orleans by Dennis Allen, who took over the head coaching reigns following the resignation of Sean Payton. The entire offense has struggled mightily since the retirement of QB Drew Brees after the 2020 season.
The Saints have rated in the lower half of the NFL in terms of rushing average and have managed to produce less than 110 rushing yards per game since Marrone’s return. In 2023, their 3.6 yards per carry placed them 31st in the league. Inadequate pass protection, which occasionally verges on the pitiful, has also set the attack in motion.
Under Marrone, the quarterbacks for New Orleans were sacked 73 times in 34 games and were frequently under constant pressure. This was caused by the quarterback holding onto the ball for an extended period of time and injuries. But when facing inside twists, stunts, and blitzes from opposing opponents, the Saints were frequently rendered absolutely defenseless.
Perhaps the biggest indictment against Marrone was the lack of development from their young linemen. Rookie fourth-round pick Nick Saldiveri played only 18 offensive snaps despite injuries and blocking issues up front. Starting RG Cesar Ruiz, a 2020 first-round pick, regressed badly in 2023 after finally showing some promise the prior season.
The most egregious disappointment has been from OT Trevor Penning, a 2022 first-round choice. Penning missed most of his rookie year with a foot injury, but was inserted as a starter coming into this year. Showing zero progress, Penning was benched after just five games. He’d play only 13 snaps over the final 11 contests, getting surpassed on the depth chart by journeymen and career backups.
Most predict that the Saints will have to make at least one more early round draft selection this spring to address the offensive line as a result of those front-end setbacks. Whether or not Marrone stays on as the group’s coach will also be decided by the new coordinator.
The choice needs to be made right away so that the group has time to locate a qualified replacement and assist in rebuilding the line. It’s the biggest issue the Saints, their new coordinator, and maybe the entire club are going to have to deal with this offseason.
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