Mickey Loomis once humorously compared Dennis Allen to one of the most successful coaches of the Super Bowl era, Bill Belichick. At the time, Loomis was trying to illustrate that Hall of Fame careers aren’t always apparent from the start, pointing out the similar records between Allen and other legendary coaches.
As a fellow Saints fan who was deeply frustrated with how many things were being handled, I initially laughed off the comparison. How could Loomis even suggest such a ridiculous notion? But it wasn’t until I casually listened to Bill Belichick on the Pat McAfee Show, discussing his success relative to Andy Reid's, that I began to see things in a different light.
I started to realize just how much luck plays a role in an organization's success. The Patriots were fortunate to land Brady. We were lucky to get Brees. The Chiefs might have stolen our luck by grabbing Mahomes, but these situations were also driven by having great coaches ready to capitalize on them. These circumstances were further bolstered by GMs who excelled in their field.
When one of these key components is missing, stagnation is inevitable. Just look at Mike Tomlin. Look at Sean Payton post-Brees.
So if I judge Allen based on what he's done without Drew, it’s actually quite similar to what Tomlin, Belichick, and even Andy Reid have managed without their elite quarterbacks. They missed the playoffs. They struggled. Yet, despite these struggles, I have to respect the fact that Allen continues to field elite defenses, and has done so for nearly a decade, regardless of what the offense contributes.
Too many quality coaches are let go simply because they can’t secure an elite QB, and far too much blame is placed on them for that. The reality is that a great coach doesn’t always have the luxury of coaching a top-five QB, and that shouldn’t undermine their value or accomplishments.
So why would you fire a master defensive architect just because you don’t have a top-five QB? How is that his fault? Additionally, I must credit Allen for actively trying to secure a competent QB for us. There’s honor in the attempt, even if it doesn’t pan out. Carr wouldn’t be here without Allen’s efforts. He is trying! I absolutely love what he’s done by bringing in Kubiak, who was involved in drafting Spencer. So from Loomis down the line, the organization has led us to a promising QB. It's also worth noting that this is truly the first year entirely under the Allen regime.
When we do locate our QB , I think we have the right foundation to return to the forefront of the league.
Until then , we need to accept the reality that we don’t have a Drew Brees—at least not until the next one comes along. Fortunately for us, I believe we’ve found our next torchbearer.
Regardless, Allen and Loomis deserve a bit more credit and patience from us.
Let the boos begin !