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: Great defensive game planner
One thing that really helps a coach become great is being able to orchestrate a game plan — especially against opponents they will see often. For Allen, he did this during his time as the defensive coordinator of the Saints against one of the best to ever play the game.
Tasked with slowing down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Allen did exactly that. As defensive coordinator, Allen devised a plan that led to Diante Lee of PFF referring to him as Brady's Kryptonite.
"After blanking Tampa Bay 9-0 on the road in Week 15, Allen, who also served as the stand-in head coach last Sunday night, now boasts a 4-1 record against Tampa Bay since 2020. It's a record that might even catapult his name into the mix of 2022 head coaching candidates."
Lee was correct that Allen ended up with a coaching gig in 2022, it just happened to be with the same team following Payton's departure.
Now heading into this season, Allen has a chance to turn things around and with the talent depleting at quarterback around them, his ability to take facets of the game away from the opposing team will be key in that endeavor.
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