New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is hell bent on revamping his defense. In particular, new defensive coordinator Daniel Bullocks wants to turn it into a more aggressive and effective unit. Allen is known for his defensive game plans, and he’ll look to stop the run first with an aggressive mentality to rush the passer. His experience as a personal representative and an ombudsman has deeply influenced this approach. Crucially, his tenures with the Saints and the Indianapolis Colts were hugely influential. The changes that he’s looking to make are the right moves if the team wants to be a contender in the coming seasons.
Since 2016, Allen’s defenses have sent out the second-most four-man fronts in the NFL. This approach has helped the Saints create a lot of confusion on defense and a ton of pressure in the backfield. Allen’s method focuses on fluidity and flexibility of execution. His egregious rate of man coverage faced on 55 percent of dropbacks, the fifth-highest in the league.
Furthermore, Allen’s defenses employed two-high safeties on 45% of snaps, the third highest rate since 2016. The Saints have been very specific with their picks, and it has worked. From 2016 to 2021, they ranked lowest in the league in yards per rush allowed at 4.0, cementing their expertise in preventing big plays on the ground.
Emphasis on Aggression and Versatility
Allen’s vision for the Saints defense focuses on aggression and adaptability. He feels like the more attacking style is important in order to stay on top of games. As he stated, “I think we want to be an attacking, aggressive style of defense.” On the field, this philosophy helps create a commitment to constantly attacking and pressuring the other team’s offense.
A critical component of this strategy is to simulate pressurization at a rapid pace. Last year, Allen’s crew did well enough on the front line to muster the seventh-highest pressure rate in the league, formulating at 36%. This not only forces quarterbacks to make quick decisions, but it leads to impactful plays from defensive players.
Even the Saints’ blitzing tendencies are a portrait of this commitment to aggression. In Allen’s first six years with the team, the Chargers blitzed at an eye-popping 32% of opponent dropbacks. This rate was one of the worst in the league. From 2022 to 2024 that proportion fell to just 20%. This change in approach illustrates a broader trend towards hiding coverages and keeping constant pressure without over-pursuing.
Adapting to Changes and Building Confidence
One of Allen’s more notable objectives is to design a defense that builds confidence in its cornerbacks, mainly through man coverage. He knows that giving defenders the latitude to play the game tough and aggressive promotes development and performance escalation in the long haul. Players are now pushed to be more creative each week as they face an ever-growing Allen defensive scheme that changes week-by-week.
Montez Sweat
echoed this sentiment by stating, “We understand that we’ve got to stop the run [in order] to rush the passer.” This clarity regarding objectives is vital for ensuring that players are aligned with the overall strategy.Building a Strong Front Four
A key aspect of Allen’s plan is strengthening the defensive front. By bringing in key additions such as Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, he aims to enhance the team’s effectiveness against both the run and pass. Byard highlighted this focus when he stated, “Just the additions that we made, especially on that front four… that’s where it starts.”
By making these moves before he gets to court, Allen is positioning his defense deep in enemy territory. The Saints are not used to this kind of living, at least not recently. Since 2022, they’ve been responsible for an average of 4.6 yards per rush, which has landed them in the bottom six teams in the NFL. By addressing these issues head-on and emphasizing run defense, Allen aims to create a foundation for a formidable defensive unit.
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