MOBILE, Ala. -- The New Orleans Saints have not yet filled their vacancy for special teams coordinator, but there's reason to think someone already on staff is a top candidate.
Kevin O'Dea joined the Saints in November as an assistant special teams coach, effectively bringing him in as a consultant to help rookie kicker Wil Lutz after some crushing blocked kicks.
And when the Saints made significant changes to their coaching staff after the season, dismissing five coaches, O'Dea was the only member of the special teams group that remained employed as coordinator Greg McMahon and assistant Stan Kwan were fired.