After missing out on the initial round of top candidates, the Eagles are taking their time with their search to replace Doug Pederson. Since they’re one of only two openings left, along with the Texans, there isn’t too much of a rush as they sift through the secondary candidates.
Philly has a new name on their list now, as the team will interview Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for their vacancy tomorrow, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets. Allen has gotten some faint hints of buzz the past couple years, but hasn’t been a real known candidate in any recent cycle. Of course, Allen was the Raiders’ head coach for three seasons from 2012-14.
Like many Raiders coaches of the era, his tenure didn’t go too well, and he was fired after an 0-4 start in 2014. Overall, his record was 8-28 as a head coach. Obviously that record doesn’t inspire much confidence, but he’s done a great job rehabilitating his reputation in New Orleans since landing on Sean Payton’s staff in 2015.
The Saints often had one of the worst defenses in the league before Allen’s arrival, and he stabilized the unit and turned them into an elite group the past few years. New Orleans ranked fourth in total defense in 2020.
The Eagles have already been linked to a slew of coaches, and we heard just yesterday that Patriots OC Josh McDaniels is a “prime candidate for the job.” Clearly, Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman is being quite thorough.
Ouch. Between this and McDaniels, I’m not sure who I’d rather see as an Eagles fan.
I may be in the minority, but I’ve always felt that the Saints’ defense was held back by Allen’s playcalling. They are extremely, extremely talented, with at least one top end player at each position group, but Allen has never been a particularly creative playcaller. The talent of those players I think is a bigger factor in Allen’s return to the good graces of the league. Aside from that, though, his run as HC in Oakland was filled to the tee with dysfunction. Maybe he’s learned, but I personally would prefer not to have him run my team. Of course, between him and McDaniels, I’m not sure that there’s a great choice.
As a Raider fan and someone who saw a lot of Dennis Allen, you want anyone but Dennis Allen. Lol. If that’s their list though… Oof. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t look at Daboli? Maybe he could help Wentz?
I agree entirely.
As for Daboll, I believe he said that he was not interested in the Philadelphia or the Houston jobs.
I would be looking at reasonably successful former head coaches, i.e, Marvin Lewis, Jack Del Rio, etc.