Saints coach Dennis Allen expects to be back, but says changes are coming.
But after his second season taking over for Sean Payton ended up being New Orleans’ third consecutive season without making the playoffs, he is not looking for kudos.
“I was pleased with the manner our soldiers persisted in their combat. Allen stated on Monday, “I was proud of how we ended the season, but it’s not good enough when you look at where we’ve been the last three years, 9-8, 7-10, and 9-8.
Allen went on, “Everyone in the building is part of the culpability of that.” “So, we have to look at what do we need to change.”
The Saints served as an exemplar of incoherence.
They faltered after going 2-0 in the beginning, dropping seven of ten games; quarterback Derek Carr, the team’s prize acquisition in the off-season, was heckled and beaten during this stretch. However, the Saints bounced back, winning four of their next five games, including Sunday’s 48-17 triumph against rival Atlanta.
The Saints’ final record was identical to that of Green Bay and Tampa Bay, two postseason clubs. The Packers secured the final NFC wild-card spot, while the Buccaneers were victorious in the NFC South due to tiebreakers.
Six of the Saints’ losses this season have been by eight points or less, and only one has been by more than nine.
“It comes down to about one play” in many of the losses, veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “We have to find a way to overcome that one play.”
Jordan said such losses come down more to players’ execution in critical situations than coaching, adding that the players “have to be the reason we’re winning.”
Tight end Foster Moreau said the Saints were “plenty talented, plenty disciplined” and “well-coached,” but were lacking a “winning culture” that they’ll need to start cultivating through this offseason.
“We should win a lot more games,” Moreau said. “But a play here, a play there, a lack of judgment or a missed opportunity, those things prevail and you´re 9-8, which is smack-dab average.”
During New Orleans’ final five games, Carr completed 74% of his passes and threw for 14 TDs with just two interceptions as his chemistry improved with young receivers Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and A.T. Perry.
That’s the type of productivity the Saints had in mind when they signed the former Raiders QB to a four-year, $150 million contract.
Allen, who pushed hard to acquire Carr, said he did not believe the midseason criticism of his quarterback from fans and analysts was particularly fair.
“He´s one element of 11 guys who are out there on the field,” Allen said. “Derek Carr played well this year and I thought in particular over the stretch run, when we had to have it to give ourselves a chance, I thought he played some of his best football. So, I’m excited about Derek being our quarterback for sure.”
INJURY ISSUES
New Orleans’ strong closing stretch came while several key players were either sidelined or limited by injuries.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ankle) and starting receiver Michael Thomas (knee) both missed the final seven games.
Running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) missed the second half of New Orleans’ 23-13 victory at Tampa Bay and all of the season-ending win over Atlanta.
Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) missed the last four games. Jordan remained in the lineup, but was limited by ankle and neck injuries during the final seven games and finished with two sacks, his fewest since his rookie season in 2011.
The Saints’ 23.6 points per game ranked ninth in the NFL. Their 19.2 points per game allowed ranked eighth.
New Orleans was plus-75 in point differential. That ranked seventh in the NFL – better than seven playoff teams and by far better than the next best non-playoff team, which was Jacksonville at plus-6.
Ranking so high in that area, yet losing eight games and missing the playoffs, “would tell me that there´s ability there, but it would say it wasn’t as consistent as it needed to be,” Allen said.
Next Moves.
The two will probably need to make decisions regarding the staff in addition to the roster if general manager Mickey Loomis decides to keep Allen, as anticipated.
It wasn’t until the squad struggled to start quickly or convert in the red zone during the first twelve games of the season that offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., a former Payton understudy, finally got the offense going.
It was Carmichael’s first season with Carr, but it was his second season in that capacity.
In addition, Allen voiced worries about the Saints’ run defense and running game, as well as his unit’s sporadic susceptibility to big plays.
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