3 strengths and 2 weaknesses of Dennis Allen heading into 2023
• He can draw up a defensive game plan as well as anyone
• There are still concerns on offense
By Randy Gurzi
Strength: His defense shuts down the pass
We've heard it said before that the NFL is a pass-happy league — and that's true. While teams that can run the ball can find success, they don't truly make a run at the title until they're able to throw the ball.
Proof of this was seen with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. With Jalen Hurts under center, they were a decent team the prior season but they didn't truly scare anyone.
They then made some big moves, including trading for A.J. Brown and suddenly, they were the team to beat in the NFC. They even went to the Super Bowl, nearly knocking off the Kansas City Chiefs — who were led by one of the best quarterbacks we've ever seen in Patrick Mahomes.
So while it sounds cliché, it's true. To win in the NFL, you have to be able to pass. You also have to be able to stop the opposing team from passing all over the yard.
That's where Allen really shines for the Saints.
When he first took over as the defensive coordinator in 2015, New Orleans was awful in the secondary. His unit finished 31st and 32nd against the pass. Eventually, he started to build that up as he led them into the top five in 2020.
Then as the head coach in 2022, Allen's defense was second overall in yards and for the second season in a row, they were third in touchdowns allowed.
That led to them boasting a top-10 overall defense which could be even better in 2023 considering the aerial attacks they will face in the NFC South.