Eagles to interview Dennis Allen for DC job
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles to interview Dennis Allen for DC job
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
A new name has emerged in the Eagles’ search for a defensive coordinator: Dennis Allen.
The team asked for and received permission to talk with the Saints secondary coach, a league source said Wednesday night.
The surfacing of Allen comes after the Eagles lost one candidate for the job when Jim Mora withdrew his name from consideration for positions in Philadelphia and Denver.
Mora ended up not being a serious candidate for the Eagles, team sources said.
Allen, however, comes out of nowhere, partly because of his age and inexperience. The 38-year-old has never been a coordinator at any level. When the Eagles fired the 36-year-old Sean McDermott last week, team sources indicated that his likely replacement would be someone with more experience.
Like McDermott, Allen is seen as something of a prodigy. He’s been with the Saints for five years, first as an assistant defensive line coach and then as the defensive backs coach for the past three years.
This past season, New Orleans’ pass defense was ranked fourth in the NFL and allowed only 13 touchdowns. The years before the Saints were 26th in the league and surrendered 15 scores through the air. But they also forced 26 interceptions on the way to a Super Bowl title.
Allen got his start in the NFL with the Falcons as a defensive quality control assistant. As a player, he was signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1996, but he never played a down in the NFL. He played his college football at Texas A&M.
Let's try to find a DC who either is new or has had a D in the top 15 lately, not the bottom 15 like the "known" candidates— NitnyLion- Great, the secondary coach from the team that got lit up by 7-9 Seattle. Suddenly Jim Mora seems good.
- Let me tell you the story of another loser...
- IF they were to hire this guy, how is he different from McDermott. And wasnt the reason he was fired was because they wanted someone with more experince? WEll, the DL coach Washburn that was just hired was an intelligent move but this seems like a dumb one. Hmm.. makes you wonder if the FO insisted on the DL and Andy wants this guy from NO. Although, I do like what the Saints secondary has accomplished. The Saints pass def is usually ranked high in terms of redzone,yards and points. The Saints are an intelligent organization and Payton has done a great job making the Saints a tough team to beat. I guess the Birds really dont like Jauron if they are looking at 37yr old secondary coach from ANOTHER team!
- What about Jeff Fisher? If Tennessee doesn't want him, he can come to Philly as DC and when Andy finally leaves, he can take over?— sj1926
- I have news for you. Jim Johnson didn't have much success until he came to the Eagles. The problem isn't the coaching, its the players. Reid should remove himself from all defensive draft decisions. He hasn't had very many good picks on D in 12 years. Dawkins and Trotter were Ray Rhodes guys. Should have taken Earl Thomas instead of another "high motor" undersized lineman. Personally, I would go to a 3-4 and try to get the guy from GB who has roots in area.— Four4Four
- As soon as I saw that the Eagles hired a Dline coach however good before they hired a D coord., I knew that it was going to be more of the same old, same old. They can't get a real DC here, because they won't listen to anyone who says, "sure, I'll coach here, but upgrade that rotten linebacking core first". No one will coach here with a name because no real DC can be successful with the Eagles' idea of personnel.— mjc1
- @Four4Four "The problem isn't the coaching, its the players." That's arguable when you consider Chris Clemons and Jason Babin's year with the Eagles and their current year.
- Two words...
Dave Wannstedt. Plan "B", Herman Edwards. If Jauron is not named the new DC that is. Maybe Herm could be persuaded to come in and coach the secondary.— Onsidekick - Please tell me the plan wasn't to fire a 36-yr-old coordinator for his inexperience, and then hire a 38-yr-old coordinator with no experience
