New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen talks adjustments, improvement ahead of the offense.
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00:03 >> Yes, go ahead.
00:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:08 >> Anything substantial you can share about what you were able to do over this
00:13 time to get that point?
00:14 >> Yeah, not really.
00:15 I mean, we had a lot of good conversations with a lot of different people.
00:19 Things that we need to do better, obviously,
00:21 the specifics of what we have to do kind of remain in-house.
00:24 But we know we have to play better.
00:29 And so we will.
00:32 >> When you take a step back, Curt, a couple days and just maybe get off the
00:35 immediate leg into the next opponent, does it help you to die that time?
00:38 Some of those things.
00:39 >> Yeah, look, I mean, when you have a few extra days,
00:43 it kind of gives you a little bit more opportunity to really kind of dive
00:48 into some of the things.
00:49 I will say, from an offensive perspective,
00:54 situational football I think is one thing that has to be better.
00:59 Because, I mean, like I said, the last couple of weeks,
01:05 I feel like there's been, I think we've moved the ball at times.
01:09 And yet we still are out in the red zone or we're unable to convert third down.
01:13 So that's something that we've kind of taken a look at and
01:18 figuring out some things that we can do better in those areas.
01:22 >> Is it fair to say that you all needed these United?
01:24 >> Yeah, I think so.
01:25 I think obviously it came at a good time for us and
01:31 gave the players an opportunity to kind of reset a little bit.
01:36 And us as a coaching staff as well.
01:40 And so I think we all utilize this time to kind of reflect on what we've done over
01:45 the first seven games and where are some areas that we need to improve.
01:49 And so we're hard at work now on getting those areas improved.
01:54 >> Which things have you noticed in the previous two games where your defense
01:57 hasn't played a full four quarters that you guys were able to correct in a short
02:00 time?
02:01 >> I'm not sure I totally understand the question.
02:05 >> But had a bad first half against Houston and
02:07 then same kind of similarity against Jacksonville.
02:11 How do you turn that around?
02:12 >> Yeah, we look, we just we gotta start faster.
02:14 And so I think that kind of
02:20 boils down to our ability defensively to execute a little bit better.
02:29 I don't think there's any one thing that I was able to identify like this is the cause
02:36 or the issue other than they've been able to create a few explosive plays early on
02:41 the game, so we gotta be better there.
02:43 >> Did you determine any substantial changes in coaching staff,
02:49 personnel or anything that will be noticed right away?
02:52 >> No, no.
02:52 >> Or will it be the same people doing it?
02:54 >> No, well, if we decide to make some changes, we'll let you know.
02:58 But.
02:58 >> Do you find that it's easier to make the adjustments with the same group
03:07 instead of adding new variables and things like that?
03:10 Like is that an easier thing to try to address?
03:13 >> Well, yeah, I mean, look, I mean, you get in the middle of the season and
03:18 there's generally not a lot of people from outside your building that are coming in.
03:22 They're gonna make significant changes.
03:25 So we've got our guys and it'll be hard to work to try and fix some issues.
03:30 >> What can you share, like how close do you think you are with getting Derek Carr
03:36 specifically on page with this new offense and get the best out of it?
03:40 >> Yeah, look, again, I mean, I think we've been closer in the last couple weeks.
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03:51 And I think we've been better up front and yet,
03:54 I think we have to be better up front.
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03:59 So look, I think we're closer but
04:02 we need to start seeing some better results.
04:07 >> When you see some of the frustrations falling over on the field and stuff like
04:11 that, what do you guys have to do to make sure that doesn't become a thing and
04:14 kind of- >> Make sure we're on the same page.
04:15 If we're on the same page and everybody's operating the same exact way,
04:22 then you don't usually have those things.
04:24 So yeah, we gotta be on the same page.
04:29 >> Was that something that had to be addressed in particular?
04:31 I mean, some of it seemed to- >> I think there's a lot of that.
04:34 Yeah, I think there's a lot of that that we've talked about.
04:37 And then ultimately, it's really moving forward to those things get corrected.
04:44 >> There's some, yes, obviously some issue last year in Philly.
04:50 Same play caller there.
04:52 They do some kind of similar things and they did that game against-
04:57 >> Yeah, there's probably some similarities
04:58 there in terms of what they're doing from a schematic standpoint.
05:04 I think the last few days have been spent more on us than they have been on Indy.
05:12 So probably a little early for me to give you a real good evaluation on
05:17 where I think they are.
05:20 Cuz I think it's over the last few days, it's been more about us.
05:27 >> You mentioned that over the past couple of weeks,
05:30 it feels like things are a little bit closer.
05:31 Can you highlight a couple of the things that demonstrate that?
05:34 >> Well, I just think when you look at it and the ball's getting down the field,
05:39 we've been able to amass some yards, but we haven't gotten the finishing results.
05:48 And that's where I've talked about early on situational football and
05:52 being better on third down and being better in the red zone.
05:56 And if we get better in those areas, then we'll be able to convert more and
06:01 we'll be able to finish off more of these drives.
06:03 >> And do you feel comfortable that some of the adjust or
06:09 that the kicking game as well will kind of improve fishing forward as well?
06:13 >> Look, I mean, I think that has to be better.
06:16 And I know they're not in age necessarily,
06:24 but by experience, they're young players.
06:27 But we gotta make our field goals.
06:32 And we gotta, in a critical moment,
06:36 we gotta be able to get a putt off to change the field.
06:39 So I think that's all part of what we're looking at.
06:44 >> Is Jamal Johnson's injury kind of like a time that you all were expecting with that?
06:50 >> Yeah, I think I'm expecting him to hopefully be back this week.
06:57 Maybe a little bit limited early on in the week, but I think he's at a point now
07:02 where I feel pretty confident that there's a good chance that we'll have him available.
07:09 >> If you could add him back to line,
07:10 like what sort of element does he bring that you felt you kind of had to miss
07:14 the last couple weeks?
07:15 >> Yeah, I think he kind of has a little bit of receiver to him
07:20 in terms of how he runs his routes.
07:25 And so I think there's an element to the passing game that I think he can bring to
07:29 us, although I feel like Tayson's made some real strides in
07:34 the passing game over the last couple of weeks.
07:36 So hopefully we'll be able to get him back in the mix.
07:40 I think it just adds another weapon that we can utilize.
07:44 >> Yeah, when you say get everyone on the same page,
07:46 are the receivers spending more time with their active practice to get more-
07:49 >> Yeah, I think there's a lot that's
07:52 included in that, I think some of the things we've talked about is
07:57 in terms of how we meet, how we prepare,
08:02 spend a little bit of time after practice, some of those things that I think
08:08 we've looked at a lot of different things.
08:13 And so we're gonna incorporate a few of those things as we go through
08:19 the next few weeks, and hopefully that'll help us to make sure that we're on
08:22 the same page.
08:23 >> You mentioned that I think it was a couple weeks ago that you expected
08:26 growing pains, that it kind of wasn't a surprise necessarily what was going on
08:30 over on the offensive side.
08:31 Are you still kind of in that time frame or is it now?
08:34 >> I think it's time for those to be done with.
08:36 >> Got it.
08:37 And what would you say sort of just the demeanor of the team is?
08:44 >> I think our guys came in with a good demeanor today.
08:50 And I don't think demeanor's ever really been the issue.
08:55 I think we've had really good practices.
08:58 I just don't think we performed on game day as well as we need to.
09:02 So I think we're gonna have to take some of those things that we're working on in
09:07 practice and we're gonna have to get those executed in the game.
09:11 And I think there's a lot that goes into that.
09:15 >> If those things aren't done with then what would be the next steps for them?
09:19 >> Yeah, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
09:20 >> Offensive line had a couple of injuries, of course, but
09:24 the way that the three guys stepped up during the last game,
09:27 have they played their way into maybe getting some spots for another two comeback?
09:30 >> Well, I thought, look, I thought Cam Irving did a nice job coming in.
09:37 After only being here for a couple weeks,
09:41 Andrus probably blocked their best player for a majority of the game.
09:47 Playing tackle for the first time in a while.
09:49 So I think we got to get all our guys healthy and
09:52 then we'll make a determination on who's gonna be out there.
09:54 >> Would there be any possibility that Hurst could come back next week or two?
10:00 Or is that like a more possible one?
10:03 >> Well, I mean, possibility, yes.
10:05 I don't know where we're at right now with him.
10:08 But yeah, I mean, is it possible?
10:14 Yeah, it's possible.
10:15 See how we go this week.
10:16 >> Why, what is it like to have him get 30 plus touches even when you had all three
10:21 running backs up in this game?
10:23 I mean, does that go with the hot hand or is the game planning wise,
10:27 those guys weren't quite, I mean, was that the expected ratio, I guess,
10:31 going into the last two games?
10:32 >> Well, I think going into this past game,
10:37 Kendrick had a little irritation of shoulder pregame and
10:43 so that kind of limited exactly what he was kind of able to do.
10:50 And so there was already a thought of kind of a pitch count for
10:56 Jamal coming back off the hamstring.
10:59 Hopefully we'll be able to get those reps even down a little bit more.
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11:07 All right guys, thanks.
11:07 >> Thank you.
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