- Joined
- Jan 27, 1999
- Messages
- 12,059
- Reaction score
- 12,838
Offline
Because of circumstances and partly by design, the Saints are conducting this year a legitimate and seemingly thorough process to select a new coach. Three years ago, Dennis Allen was clearly the successor in waiting. Continuity was the organization mantra. To satisfy league mandates and some curiosity over other candidates, the Saints interviewed several others for their head-coach opening. But it was always going to be Dennis Allen.
This year, the circumstances are different, leading to a different process. The two candidates perceived to be the top candidates--Mike Vrable and Ben Johnson--showed no interest in the Saints and signed elsewhere. It is possible that a third candidate sought by multiple teams, Aaron Glenn, will sign with the Jets shortly after his in-person interview today and never visit New Orleans for his in-person interview with the Saints. We will find out shortly.
If Glenn signs with the Jets, that leaves for the Saints Mike McCarthy and everyone else with Dallas, Jacksonville, and Las Vegas still searching for a head coach. Some on this forum--perhaps many--favor McCarthy. I do not. He has impressive career numbers, but so did Mike Ditka. Also, two different NFL teams, Green Bay and Dallas, parted ways with him. I will let those in Dallas comment on whether Cowboy fans are happy that Dallas did not bring back McCarthy. But I know that Green Bay fans are thrilled that McCarthy was let go and replaced by Matt LaFleur. Charles Handagriff in Baton Rouge recently wrote a commentary arguing that McCarthy be hired. His rationale was that because of his stature, McCarthy would be the one head-coach candidate who could force Loomis to make substantial changes in how the Saints are being built. I personally think that McCarthy is the candidate who most strongly affirms what Loomis has been doing and will largely continue to do. If McCarthy is the new coach, the emphasis will be on competing now, rather than a rebuild and constructing a team that in two or even three years can compete for a sustained period.
If for the sake of discussion Aaron and McCarthy are out, then who should the new coach be. My answer: I really don't know. I do not know how these guys interview, what their leadership qualities are, what their vision for the Saints is, whom they would like to hire as assistants, what their coaching colleagues and players say about them, and what league insiders think of them. But I do know that we are hiring a head coach, not an offensive coordinator; and that the attributes of a successful head coach are different from those of a coordinator. I do not favor Joe Brady. I am leery of Kliffsbury. But I want to know more about Anthony Weaver and Mike Kafka. In hiring a new coach, the immediate fan response should be totally irrelevant, though the new coach should be someone who over time can readily sell himself to those in the team building and those who buy tickets. If the process is true, then the Saints will be hiring the coach whom they believe is the best person for the job. It may be someone like Weaver or Kafka whom few are talking about. But selling tickets in the spring of 2025 should not be a criterion.
This year, the circumstances are different, leading to a different process. The two candidates perceived to be the top candidates--Mike Vrable and Ben Johnson--showed no interest in the Saints and signed elsewhere. It is possible that a third candidate sought by multiple teams, Aaron Glenn, will sign with the Jets shortly after his in-person interview today and never visit New Orleans for his in-person interview with the Saints. We will find out shortly.
If Glenn signs with the Jets, that leaves for the Saints Mike McCarthy and everyone else with Dallas, Jacksonville, and Las Vegas still searching for a head coach. Some on this forum--perhaps many--favor McCarthy. I do not. He has impressive career numbers, but so did Mike Ditka. Also, two different NFL teams, Green Bay and Dallas, parted ways with him. I will let those in Dallas comment on whether Cowboy fans are happy that Dallas did not bring back McCarthy. But I know that Green Bay fans are thrilled that McCarthy was let go and replaced by Matt LaFleur. Charles Handagriff in Baton Rouge recently wrote a commentary arguing that McCarthy be hired. His rationale was that because of his stature, McCarthy would be the one head-coach candidate who could force Loomis to make substantial changes in how the Saints are being built. I personally think that McCarthy is the candidate who most strongly affirms what Loomis has been doing and will largely continue to do. If McCarthy is the new coach, the emphasis will be on competing now, rather than a rebuild and constructing a team that in two or even three years can compete for a sustained period.
If for the sake of discussion Aaron and McCarthy are out, then who should the new coach be. My answer: I really don't know. I do not know how these guys interview, what their leadership qualities are, what their vision for the Saints is, whom they would like to hire as assistants, what their coaching colleagues and players say about them, and what league insiders think of them. But I do know that we are hiring a head coach, not an offensive coordinator; and that the attributes of a successful head coach are different from those of a coordinator. I do not favor Joe Brady. I am leery of Kliffsbury. But I want to know more about Anthony Weaver and Mike Kafka. In hiring a new coach, the immediate fan response should be totally irrelevant, though the new coach should be someone who over time can readily sell himself to those in the team building and those who buy tickets. If the process is true, then the Saints will be hiring the coach whom they believe is the best person for the job. It may be someone like Weaver or Kafka whom few are talking about. But selling tickets in the spring of 2025 should not be a criterion.
