Dennis Allen has his final press conference with the media prior to the Saints Week 1 matchup with the Titans.
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00:00 >> Look, it's good we can practice.
00:02 We're excited about getting out of the dome and
00:06 getting a chance to play a regular season game.
00:09 We got a talented opponent coming in here that we're excited about.
00:13 And hopefully our crowd's gonna be excited about it too.
00:16 And we'll be able to rock this environment in the dome on Sunday.
00:21 >> Speaking of that, how important is it for you all to get that dome?
00:26 >> I think it's important, I think it's really important.
00:31 And I think, I've been around here a long time and
00:36 played a lot of big games in the dome.
00:39 And I know what it sounds like when we're playing good football.
00:44 And so I think that's our responsibility to make sure that the dome's rocking.
00:49 And it'll be rocking.
00:53 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:03 >> When you're playing a home game,
01:06 really, it really boils down to primarily,
01:11 I think our ability on defense to play really good defense.
01:17 I think the crowd noise, it can be challenging defensively, but
01:21 I think it's really a challenge for the offense when it's really loud in the dome.
01:25 It makes it much more difficult to go out and get it.
01:29 And it's a big one for us when we get the crowd going.
01:34 >> Can you go into the conversation you and
01:38 Mike Rabel had about honoring Steve Gleason and Tim Shobbs?
01:41 >> Yeah, look, I think not too long after the schedule came out,
01:48 Mike reached out to me and kind of proposed the idea to me.
01:56 I thought it would be a good idea.
01:59 I was all on board as soon as he said it.
02:04 I went down and visited with Victor for a little bit.
02:07 He was on board with it.
02:08 So we kind of went from there.
02:09 I think it's a great tribute to two guys that meant a lot to and
02:15 mean a lot to both programs.
02:18 And it's just a way for us to try to help with that and
02:23 obviously it's a terrible disease and I've known several people that have had it.
02:30 I think their courage, both of these guys and
02:34 what they've done to split that cause and raise awareness and
02:39 raise money to try to help that cause has been awesome.
02:44 So I think it's just a small way for us, both teams,
02:49 to make tribute to a couple of guys that mean a lot to both programs.
02:55 >> Dennis, what do you like about what Jamal Williams brings to the team and
02:59 what kind of makes him unique as a runner?
03:01 >> Yeah, I think, number one, I think what he brings to the team is just
03:06 a great demeanor, a great attitude about playing the game.
03:09 He loves being out here working, works extremely hard.
03:14 And he brings a physical demeanor to the running game, and
03:19 I think that's big for us.
03:21 >> Why is he maybe somebody that's hard to bring down?
03:24 >> Well, he's got good size, he's got good feet, he runs with good paddling.
03:31 And I think, you see sometimes you see bigger backs that don't love big,
03:36 but this is a big back that loves big.
03:38 >> Jamal has asked, in the past couple of weeks,
03:45 what does it do for the big guys,
03:50 what is the response, what does it matter?
03:56 In that tight end, can you talk about his selflessness,
04:00 his leadership, even among the Jimmy Graham people?
04:04 >> Well, I think we talked about our team, and
04:07 I think we talked about the individual, it's all about the team.
04:10 Certainly, I think there's gonna be a lot of guys that are gonna have really good
04:14 seasons for us, but ultimately, what matters is winning.
04:17 And that's what our team's life is about.
04:22 >> Can you elaborate a little bit about what happened with Jimmy Graham?
04:26 Can you talk about that a little bit?
04:30 >> Yeah, I don't think I'll elaborate anything specifically, but
04:34 I think it was something that we found out, I'll say probably a week to ten days ago,
04:39 because of his responsibility.
04:41 So it's kind of been ongoing.
04:44 Obviously, it's an unfortunate situation and a tough learning experience.
04:50 So we got the plan for him while he's away,
04:55 and then hopefully we'll get him back here,
05:00 get him back in the building, and
05:04 start having an opportunity to kind of get him growing back in the system.
05:11 >> Generally, when the NFL is announced,
05:14 that means that the induced process is already exhausted?
05:18 >> Yeah, yeah.
05:19 I don't know that there's a whole lot of them in the field on situations.
05:20 >> Right, some people were asking that, but I always thought once the NFL said it,
05:23 that means they've already pulled it.
05:25 >> But once it's announced by the NFL, it's not the end of it.
05:29 >> How does that switch over to your list?
05:30 How does that switch over?
05:33 >> Well, we got three quarterbacks still on the team.
05:35 >> Is he part of that additional rotation to be able to switch to that nature?
05:41 >> Yeah, certainly.
05:42 I mean, folks, there's a new rule where you can have an emergency third quarterback.
05:48 It kind of allows you to bring 49 players to the game day roster.
05:52 And so with us kind of being a little bit unique,
05:57 we have four guys that play the quarterback position.
06:01 It's just something that we'll evaluate on a weekly basis to see how we put out
06:07 on the field and how we designate who gives us the best position.
06:11 >> Does that mean you would consider labeling Jameis as the third quarterback?
06:16 >> I think there's a lot of options that come with that.
06:20 But yeah, that could potentially be something that we do.
06:25 We'll see what we do on a weekly basis.
06:28 >> What's your understanding of how that rule works?
06:30 In order for Jameis to play, would Taysom have had to come in the game and
06:37 play quarterback for X amount of snaps if Derrick got hurt in the game?
06:40 >> Well, yes, I mean, both your first and
06:46 second quarterback would have to be out due to a medical condition or
06:54 a medical issue before the emergency quarterback can go in the game and play.
06:58 And then if one of those guys is deemed clear to play,
07:03 then the third quarterback can no longer play.
07:07 >> The third can no longer.
07:08 So if you were to use that, it would have to be,
07:11 you'd be comfortable having Taysom actually be the legitimate backup quarterback.
07:16 >> If that were the direction we went, it would be the backup quarterback.
07:20 >> [INAUDIBLE]
07:30 >> I don't think it's a crowd issue in terms of how you decide that.
07:39 I mean, you kinda go into each game and
07:44 you evaluate where you're at offensively,
07:50 where you're at defensively,
07:54 to the plan, how you're gonna be able to start the game.
08:02 You wanna control the end of half and start of the second half.
08:07 I mean, there's a lot of factors that go into making those decisions.
08:10 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:20 >> I think we're further along this year at this point in time than we were last year
08:28 at this point in time.
08:29 I think I said this earlier, Tyler missed the early part of training camp last year.
08:31 Marcus May coming off an injury, both of them new to the system.
08:35 So with both of them coming in healthy, ready to go to start training camp and
08:41 having a year under their belt in the system, I think we're just a lot further along.
08:47 >> Would you say that that sentiment of feeling a lot further along now at this
08:51 point than we were last year was beyond just the same position that you had in
08:54 concert around the rest of the roster as well?
08:57 >> Yeah, I think so.
08:58 I mean, I've said this multiple times.
09:01 I like our team.
09:02 I like where we're at as a football team.
09:05 Now we gotta go out and do it on Sunday.
09:06 But I like the progress that we've made and
09:10 I like the way this team's coming together.
09:13 >> And this is just kind of a general strategy question,
09:15 not specific to this game that I've always wondered about.
09:19 Seems basic, but when you have a corner who shadows a receiver,
09:22 why is it difficult to have that corner follow the receiver into the slot?
09:27 Like a lot of times teams won't have the corner follow there.
09:31 >> Yeah, so I would say I probably understand where your question is.
09:37 Is talking more or less about Lattimore, the fact that we've had in lineup.
09:42 >> Right. >> And shadow different receivers.
09:44 There's different combinations and different things that you see
09:49 inside of the slot than what you see on the outside lanes.
09:54 And so it's just unique in going into the slot and
09:58 having to cover a lot of different route variety in there,
10:03 different than what you see kind of outside.
10:06 >> And this is probably a better question for Pete, but from your perspective,
10:11 as a defensive coach, why don't more teams combat that by putting
10:16 elite receivers in the slot to avoid that matchup?
10:21 >> Yeah, well, you're always trying to put your players in a position
10:27 to do what they do best.
10:29 And so some guys don't operate as well inside of the slot,
10:34 no different than some outside corners don't operate as well inside of the slot.
10:40 So I think that's just part of the chess pack that we play.
10:44 >> [INAUDIBLE]
10:55 >> Yeah, I think getting a little more
10:58 comfortable every single day with him.
11:00 And he's gonna get better and better and better as the season goes along.
11:07 So this season is not a sprint, it's a marathon.
11:15 It's a long season.
11:17 And so we're just looking for him to continue to develop on a day to day basis.
11:23 And I feel really good about where he's at right now.
11:26 I love his mindset, but he's attacking that challenge.
11:30 And on the side, that helps him play.
11:34 >> You're saying though,
11:35 as you mentioned, you don't have a good corner between good receivers.
11:39 So how good of a position is he to have for
11:40 people who want him to be in there in this kind of offensive environment?
11:44 >> Yeah, I don't think he can ever have that particular one with an all-A.
11:49 I think it's probably the toughest physical position to have to play in
11:54 our league because you're playing against world-class athletes in a lot of space.
11:59 And particularly the style of defense that we play,
12:03 we don't like to give up a lot of easy completion.
12:07 So there's a lot of tight coverage.
12:09 And it's a good feeling as a play caller to have,
12:14 knowing that you got guys that you feel like can go out there and
12:20 execute defense the way that we want them to execute.