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Redskins: 5 defensive-minded coaches to target if they part with Jay Gruden

By Jacob Camenker

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Gregg Williams of the Cleveland Browns calls a play during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Gregg Williams of the Cleveland Browns calls a play during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Dennis Allen of the Oakland Raiders during the NFL match between the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium on September 28, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Dennis Allen of the Oakland Raiders during the NFL match between the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium on September 28, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Saints. Dennis Allen. 4. player. 15. . Defensive Coordinator

Some may scoff at this notion, as the Saints defense wasn’t good at the beginning of the season. However, in recent weeks they have rebounded quite nicely, and Dennis Allen has played no small part in that.

Early in his career as the defensive coordinator for the Saints, Allen wasn’t able to do much. The team’s units lacked talent, and as a result, the defenses in 2015 and 2016 were bottom-five units in the league. And it’s notable that he was the interim defensive coordinator in 2015, as he replaced Rob Ryan late in the season. So, that defense wasn’t entirely his.

When Allen was on thin ice, he surprisingly turned the team’s defense around in 2017. That year, the Saints had a top-10 scoring defense and while they were only 17th in yardage allowed, they were able to win games with their defense. They rounded out into a complete unit, and Allen seamlessly integrated new, young talent into the defense. He did well to get the most out of young studs like Marshon Lattimore and Alex Anzalone. And that carried over into 2018.

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Though the Saints secondary struggled early in the season — the first three games were particularly brutal — Allen’s unit has started playing much better in recent weeks. In fact, after being ranked as one of the worst defenses early in the season, they have climbed up to a middle-of-the-pack rating in both yardage and scoring defense. And considering how damaging their 48-point Week 1 outing was, that’s pretty impressive.

Allen’s fit with the Redskins would be to maximize the young talent on the defensive side of the ball. The ‘Skins have a lot of young talent in the secondary and on the defensive line, and in the ideal world, Allen would come into work with the secondary while retaining Jim Tomsula to work with the defensive line. That could spark an improvement from the young talent and reinvigorate a disinterested looking defense.

Of course, Allen does come with some issues. He had a poor tenure as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, compiling an 8-28 record over the course of two-plus seasons from 2012-2014. That said, Allen now has four more years of experience under his belt, and he may be better served to operate in a larger role now.

Allen might not be the top defensive option, but he still should get consideration if the team wants a young, defensive-minded coach. Expect him to be on the short-list for defensive candidates if he continues to lead the New Orleans defense to solid results.

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