You know how when you turn on the seat warmer in the car on a cold day, it takes a few minutes to notice the heat is coming through?
Allen might just be noticing that thing is on.
The Saints’ 24-15 loss to the Falcons last week has reinforced speculation that Allen isn’t the right man to lead New Orleans back into contention. The Saints, who came into the season with a veteran squad and great hopes, are 5-6 and have shown little ability to create traction against one of the NFL’s weaker schedules.
On the most recent episode of the Saints Insider podcast, NOLA.com contributor Jeff Duncan addressed the topic.
“It’s hard to have any confidence that something’s going to get fixed, and I think that’s why the fans are so upset, because they’ve seen the same problems recurring over and over again,” Duncan stated. “Where’s the confidence that these problems are not going to rear their head?”
However, the choice will not be taken lightly, and it is unlikely to be made before the end of the season. As we addressed in last week’s “Saints Fans Ask,” this team does not change coaches in the middle of the season. That is especially true for the head coach; this franchise has not sacked a head coach in the middle of the season since 1980, and every head coach has served at least three seasons since Hank Stram in 1978.
In the last 43 years, the Saints have sacked only one head coach: Jim Haslett in 2005.
In his weekly appearance with WWL on Wednesday, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis stated that Allen and his staff have his complete support.
“I think that’s frustrating Saints fans even more, because everybody’s kind of out for blood right now,” Duncan stated. But I understand a little. I mean, they’re not 2-9 or something. They are aged 5 to 6. And given the history of how the organization functions, particularly Mickey Loomis, it’s not shocking to me.”
NOLA.com blogger Rod Walker also expects the Saints to keep Allen, though a terrible finish in their last six games could change that.
“If this team really, really falls apart down the stretch and these guys just all of a sudden quit on him and they only win one more game and stink it up in the Dome a couple of times and fans just aren’t showing up anymore, that’s a scenario I think where you may have to make a change,” Walker stated.
The last six games include three consecutive home games, beginning Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
“This three-game homestand is going to be very telling, how the fans react,” Duncan stated. “We have already seen some of the booing. That will appeal to the powers that be on Airline Drive. As we have all seen over the years, things can become ugly in the Dome. If everything goes south, it might have implications for the future of not only the offensive coaching staff, but also Dennis Allen.”
The second target of fans’ ire has been offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael; if the Saints elect to keep Allen, it may be with the condition that he replace Carmichael.
“If things fall off the rails here, is Dennis Allen in danger, or do they just sack Pete Carmichael, try to blame it on him and then bring in someone new, try to patch it that way?” Matthew Paras, Saints beat reporter, questioned. “But the fact that this has happened two seasons in a row now, where a lot of the problems are the same, that’s why people are pointing the finger at Dennis Allen, and that’s why I think it should be realistic to talk about his job.”
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