The ongoing construction project that is the New Orleans Saints defense is now in the hands of Dennis Allen.
Allen got a trial run last season, taking over from Rob Ryan over the final six games of the season and holding opponents to almost five fewer points per game, although a lot of the Saints’ yards-per-play numbers were comparable to the horrendous first half of the season that led to Ryan’s ouster.
That defense carried only a partial imprint from Allen. No defensive coordinator can make sweeping changes in the middle of the season. Now, after the Saints spent the offseason overhauling the talent at linebacker and defensive tackle, a group that finished at the bottom of the league in each of the past two seasons has been handed to Allen to mold into a cohesive unit over the summer.