What is your level of 'coaching' patience? (1 Viewer)

[Bill]

There is no doubt that everyone has lost patience with this current staff who is now trying to coach the Saints out of what appears to be a bottomless pit of incompetence. Now that our team has lost all sense of competitive 'know-how', the cry for reform from the fanbase has never been louder.

I don't know if there has ever been an actual 'rule of thumb' in regard to how much time a new coach (and staff) should be given to get a troubled franchise turned in the right direction. But these days around the league seems to be much different as compared to past decades. Rarely do head coaches at this level get to decide how long they will remain with a team. Yes, fans demand success NOW! Sean's choice to leave the Saints is not usually how coaches go out. This is because fans these days will not tolerate losing for more than a season or two. And once you see the torch, club, and pitchfork toting fanbase marching toward the headquarters, there's very little that can stop the mob action that's about to ensue.

Dennis Allen is done. I'm not convinced that even an NFC South crown will calm the level of ire that folks now feel toward him and his regime. But prepare yourself! This front office will do what they personally feel is the best move for the franchise. And sadly that decision will involve more than just Wins & Losses. Despite the deafening cry that has now gone up, it's likely that we'll be seeing more of Allen & Company in the future. The only question now is: 'How much longer?'

But if you suppose that Allen's days are short and that we could actually be watching him coach his final few games as our head coach, then you also must now prepare yourself for what comes next... The Rebuild. With each & every move to a new coach the changes will always include watching the new man do his own brand of 'redecorating'. He wants HIS people around him. He wants new philosophies & training styles incorporated. He will also want players who can run the schemes that HE believes will turn the team back into a winner. Despite the eagerness to want positive results to happen immediately, successful changes will always require TIME.

So, let's assume that we'll be coronating a new head coach when this season has mercifully come to an end. What is YOUR patience level? How much time do you give the new guy to try and accomplish what DA never could? And what would be the standard you would need to see before pulling out your club & pitchfork from the closet once again?

 

[SWJJ]

I am too patient.

However my patience is wearing thin because of the seeming lack of urgency by Allen to make any meaningful changes.

If we do not win the division we should clean house.

 

[Saint Jack]

I think DA is different because his Raiders tenure looms larger with every loss.
But I’d give the next coach three seasons unless it’s drastically bad.

 

[RaginSaint93]

I lost my patience a long time ago

 

[msusaintsfan]

I never liked the Dennis Allen hire. My expectation for this team declined about 80% when Drew retired and the other 20% disappeared when Sean left.

Dennis was a proven loser as a HC, but we gave him the keys to the car and you get what you get.

 

[NatureBoy]

This franchise has problems that go beyond coaching. It doesn’t matter who the coach is for the next couple of years. If you replaced Allen today, the next coach inherits the same problems, only hampered by our ability to begin addressing them. This franchise has backed itself in to a corner of having to double down on a failing strategy that’s troubles are now compounding yearly. Is that what you want to hand a new coach? Not even Sean Payton wanted to deal with that kind of mess. Unless you are willing to be very patient with a new coach, I’m talking 3 years before you have moderate expectations, then OK, make a change. I don’t see the benefit in doing so. It’s the front office’s job to put its coaches in the best situation possible, they’re a long way from being able to offer that. Let DA go down with the ship and buy some time so we can start healing our financial/personnel issues.

 

[Bill]

I lost my patience a long time ago

So what is your hope from here?

 

[Bill]

I never liked the Dennis Allen hire. My expectation for this team declined about 80% when Drew retired and the other 20% disappeared when Sean left.

Dennis was a proven loser as a HC, but we gave him the keys to the car and you get what you get.

What would your expectations be with a newly named head coach?

 

[silverbullet]

I didn't even want DA retained as DC, so that should tell you. The myth of Allen and great defenses is so insane. Dude was an OK DC whose teams absolutely choke in the clutch.

 

[TenTwo]

I think it depends on the situation. If you hire Urban Meyer, you have zero patience. Cut 5 games into the first season if need be. A young first time head coach you strongly believe in? You give him some slack but you need to see improvements where improvements can be made. As long as the coach can keep selling his vision to the team, and there is measured improvement in the areas he is emphasizing, I think you have to stick with him.

I thought Jim Haslett was a good coach for most of his tenure. He came in, won coach of the year, won a playoff game and then went on to struggle. The team gave him 5 years because that first year earned him some slack. I think the Saints handled him correctly.

DA inherited a team with no QB, but was otherwise stacked. He got his QB and the team is regressing. I think, given his track record, his leash is short. If the Saints fail to win a playoff game this year, he should be shown the door.

 

[BreesusSaves]

For me it all depends on the situation.

For example, when Dan Campbell took over Detroit, I said don't put expectations on him until year three because of how much he had to rebuild. Instead he had their team rolling after just one and a half seasons. An incredible rebuild and coaching effort. Since the start of November 2022, the Lions are 16-5. Incredible run.

When Dennis Allen took over the Saints, I said I want results NOW. He took over a team that had just had five consecutive winning seasons including four division titles in that run. It took an NFL record setting number of injuries to keep the Saints from winning five straight division titles, and they STILL finished that year with a winning record.

When Dennis Allen's replacement takes over the Saints, I will expect to see the needle move positively in year three. They will get two years to address the cap, draft and rebuild the roster. Yes, even if they're going 3-14 as they work on the roster, I get it. They have A LOT of holes to fix. Going 3-14 a couple of times also means landing some premiere talent in the draft. A franchise QB perhaps. A real impact pass rusher like Aiden Hutchinson perhaps. A real impact OT like Penei Sewell perhaps. Year three is when I'll expect to see a competitive team with a chance at the playoffs.

 

[Rouxble]

I think 2-3 years is what any coach should get, assuming no serious non-football issues. The first two years more or less guaranteed, the third year based on progress seen in the second. I don't want Gayle to become Tepper any time soon.

 

[msusaintsfan]

What would your expectations be with a newly named head coach?

It all depends on who it is. I wouldn't expect much first year regarless, but signs of improvement.

 

[Rouxble]

I’m reminded of a story about Bill Walsh crying on the flight home from a loss against the Dolphins. His record was 5-22 at the time, and he finished 8-24 after his first two seasons.

Almost 100% certain he would be fired in today’s NFL, even though he went on to win three Super Bowls, including one the year after he lost his composure after a tough loss.

 

[robsmith32]

I think DA is different because his Raiders tenure looms larger with every loss.
But I’d give the next coach three seasons unless it’s drastically bad.heck people were as if drastically bad cause didn't beat a team by double digits ...