Saints head coach Dennis Allen met with the media on Monday to talk about the Titans and other things as we enter Week 1.
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00:00 All right, guys. It's a good practice day. A lot of energy out there. It's exciting. Opening up the regular season. So we got a huge challenge this week against a really good football team. I mean, it's a team that started off the season last year, seven and three, and then their quarterback went out and, you know, lost the last seven games. But this is a really good football team that we're playing on both sides of the ball and in a kicking game.
00:29 So it'll be a huge test for us opening up the season in the Dome.
00:33 Yeah, I noticed Taysom said, is there a QB on the roster? Is there a reason why you guys changed up from the Fed?
00:40 Probably more of a clerical thing than anything else. But, you know, I mean, Taysom took, I think, about 50, almost 50% of his snaps last year at the quarterback position. So I don't know if there's anything really to that other than kind of plays a lot of different positions.
00:58 Does that have anything to do with the emergency?
01:00 Well, I think, you know,
01:05 I think when you look at it, you'd say he plays almost 50% of the snaps at the quarterback position we just listed in there.
01:12 He was limited today.
01:18 So we'll see where he's at on Wednesday.
01:23 Yes, from a defensive standpoint, what's the first thing for Tennessee that you got to stop?
01:27 Well, I mean, I don't think there's any question that, you know, this this team runs a lot of their offense through the running game, particularly Derrick Henry.
01:38 Obviously, with Tysee Spears being there now, they've got a couple of different runners that they can utilize.
01:46 But you have to be able to stop, you know, run, play action game and, you know, hopefully get them into some longer yardage situation. So that'll be a big part of what we do.
02:07 I would say you got to get 11 guys around the ball, you know, because I think they led the league in terms of, you know, yards after contact in the in the running game. And so he's a he's a really good back, strong physical, has great speed, he's able to break the long ones. And then they utilize him in the screen game too. I think that's important.
02:34 You know, they do a really good job on a lot of their play action screen game.
02:37 Well, I don't know that. I mean, it'd be our first experience seeing him up live and in person.
02:52 You know, so it's probably easier to defend him when he went on the field.
02:58 But But yeah, look, I mean, he's he's a he's a dynamic back. I mean, he's he's one of one of the better backs in our league. So it'll be a challenge for us.
03:08 Yeah, tough, smart, disciplined, you know,
03:17 they play a lot of close games. They don't beat themselves.
03:25 You know, they they they they take advantage of, you know, when when their opponents make mistakes. So I think I think, you know, they're they're they're generally one of the more physical teams that plays in our league.
03:45 Jason, when you had a certain amount of stats last year in the record, does that figure into how you might, you know, I guess, quarterback, but yeah, I think all those things play into account. You know, we'll have a game plan to utilize all of our, you know, skill players, try to put our guys all always in the best position to have success. And so, you know, we'll have a plan to be able to utilize him. How we utilize him may change from week to week, but
04:15 certainly he'll be a big part of what we're trying to do.
04:17 Um, no, there'll be an injury report come out on Wednesday. So
04:24 I wouldn't make any assumptions.
04:29 You feel like you'll have
04:32 more
04:34 weapons on offense
04:36 Um,
04:39 yeah, look, I mean, you know,
04:43 we got Mike Thomas back. Obviously, he adds an element to our offense. I think we got a couple of young receivers that, uh, you know, going into their second year. They have a chance to take a step forward. Um, you know, we've got varied weapons at the tight end position, some different things that we can utilize at the running back position. So,
05:01 so, yeah, I think we have. I think we have more weapons offensively and we'll try to put him in the best position to utilize him and hopefully have some success with that.
05:13 When you're going against the UOC, you get to almost be more prepared to adjust on the fly.
05:17 Yeah, look, I mean, um,
05:20 you know, I think anytime you go into the first game of the year, you know, teams don't usually show a lot in the preseason. So it's hard to really get an evaluation of exactly what they want to do. I think there's probably some core principles that will remain the same.
05:39 I don't expect to see, you know, a totally different offense, but yeah, we'll have to be able to adjust to whatever they're doing and, um, kind of get a feel for how he's gonna call the game.
05:48 Well, I think we'll find out, you know, I feel confident in where we're at offensively. I like what I've seen all throughout training camp and in the preseason. So, um, I think we're in a good spot.
06:06 Yes,
06:07 I know.
06:08 I'm sorry. Do you feel any different at this point this year than last year? Is there a level of comfort that you can maybe detect in yourself that you feel a little bit more comfortable in the role this year than last year?
06:21 Look, I mean, I get asked that question a lot. I would just say I'm confident in our football team. Um, I think we've had a really good camp. Um, I think we've executed a high level really in all three phases throughout
06:36 training camp, and so I feel confident what this team is able to do.
06:40 Yeah,
06:46 yeah, I think look,
06:53 um,
06:55 you know, a lot of a lot of times people talk about must win games and things of that nature. And so I would never say that this is a must win game. Um, you know,
07:06 I think getting off to a good start is is important. Um, but yet it's not the end all be all in terms of where you finish the season. But yeah, I think I think anytime you get it, you get a chance to start off fast and,
07:19 you know, hopefully stack some wins together early on in the season when you know you're gonna face some adversity, you know, you're gonna face some injury issues as the season wears on. Um, banking a few wins is always good.
07:33 You never quite know.
07:35 So that last night
07:37 is
07:39 as a coach. Is there
07:40 a little more
07:42 concern?
07:43 When you have preseason games, but when it starts
07:47 totally
07:49 well, I don't think that's unique to any other season. You know, um, you know, you gotta start the season at some point. And so,
08:02 um,
08:02 you know, we'll start this thing on Sunday and go out again against a really good team and we'll have a good game plan. We'll play well in this game and, uh, you know, we'll see how it goes.
08:13 Um, well,
08:21 he's a big, powerful guy inside. Um, they got a lot of good, good guys up front. They were number one in the league last year and stopping the run.
08:31 You know, so that presents a challenge. Um, and then, um, they probably do as good a job or, um, as most in terms of just being able to get pressure on the quarterback with a four man rush. It hadn't been a heavy pressure team. So I think I think the line of scrimmage in this game, really on both sides of the ball is gonna be a big factor.
08:59 Yeah. What did you see them trying? He's trying to accomplish.
09:02 What do you expect those changes? Yeah, I don't expect a lot different in terms of what they do. Um, in terms of the core philosophy of who they are offensively, obviously, um, you know, we expect probably to see four new starters. Um, and then the fifth, you know, was moving from center to guard. So, um, in essence, they got five new guys, you know, playing in different spots on their offensive line.
09:29 So, um, you know, but I don't expect a whole lot different in terms of the way they approach the game.
09:34 Concern with that. You've got some changeover on the defensive line, particularly on the interior. How do you feel that matches up?
09:40 Yeah, look, I feel good about the matchups. Um, you know, like I said before, I mean, I think, you know, the team that controls a lot of scrimmage is probably gonna have a pretty good chance of success in this game. And so I think that's gonna be a big factor.
09:54 All right, guys. Thanks.