Dennis Allen discusses New Orleans Saints loss to Los Angeles Rams and looks ahead to Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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00:00 >> Good chance to see you all, but hope everybody had a Merry Christmas.
00:03 >> Merry Christmas.
00:03 >> Because we're excited about another opportunity to go play.
00:08 And we got a tough divisional opponent.
00:11 We're gonna do everything we can to get ourselves ready to go play and win a game.
00:15 >> Did you get any injured players back today or
00:18 do you anticipate any coming back this week?
00:20 >> Yeah, I think we're probably right in the same category that we were
00:28 in the week last week.
00:31 We could potentially have some guys back, well, have some guys back at practice and
00:35 we'll see how they go throughout the week.
00:36 >> Including IR guys could be back at practice this week?
00:38 >> Yeah, I don't know that I expect to see those guys.
00:41 >> But Ramchick is kind of a maybe.
00:43 >> Yeah, we'll see where Ram's at.
00:45 >> So you have any idea if Thomas or
00:50 Vladimir are done for the season, if they don't come back this week?
00:53 Would they come back or just?
00:55 >> Yeah, I think just play each week out as they go.
00:59 >> What's the message to the team now that you don't control your own destiny
01:04 anymore?
01:05 >> Well, look, I mean, the message really isn't changing anything in terms of
01:09 what we have to do.
01:10 We control what we control and that's, we got two games left against division
01:14 opponents and the message is that we need to go out and control those variables.
01:19 And we need to go get a win this week against Tampa Bay.
01:21 I mean, that's the message.
01:23 >> And I know you prefer to look at things one week at a time, but I mean,
01:27 what do these last two weeks mean for you, for the coaching staff to prove this team?
01:31 >> I think for everybody, I mean, when you're in this league, I mean,
01:36 every time you get an opportunity to take the field,
01:38 you need to make sure you're taking advantage of it.
01:39 So we need to go play good football and
01:42 we need to get a win and it starts this week against Tampa.
01:45 >> When you, I don't know how far you've gotten into prep for
01:49 Tampa going into this week, but just sort of a hot streak a little bit that
01:53 Baker Mayfield is on at the moment, what have you seen from him?
01:55 >> Yeah, look, I think them as a team, I think they're playing really well.
01:58 I think they had four takeaways in the game the other day against Jacksonville.
02:04 I think offensively, I think over the last month they've run the ball better.
02:09 So I think they're running the ball effectively.
02:11 Certainly have a lot of explosive weapons in the passing game.
02:14 I think the quarterback's playing really well.
02:18 I think he's able to throw the ball on time with rhythm and accuracy.
02:23 And when he's not, he's able to create with his feet.
02:25 So I think their team is playing well and they've done that over the last month.
02:32 >> And so Chris LaVette had that kind of rough patch in the middle of the season.
02:35 Have you seen him kind of bounce back from that?
02:38 >> I think he's done a nice job of bouncing back.
02:40 I don't know how many hundred yard games it's been that he's had since he's
02:45 kind of had that little rough patch, but I think he just came in every day and
02:50 went to work trying to get better.
02:52 And I think he's done that.
02:55 >> You mentioned that you felt that you came out of the game relatively clean
03:01 last week.
03:01 Is that still the case now that you've had a couple more days?
03:04 >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
03:04 >> Cooch, you're 13th in points scored in the league and
03:11 9th in points per game, yet you are where you are.
03:15 Do you have an explanation for that, do you think?
03:20 >> Yeah, no.
03:20 We just haven't been able to put all three phases together consistently enough.
03:26 And yeah, that's been a source of frustration for our football team.
03:32 Because there's been moments where it's looked the way it's supposed to look and
03:37 then there's been moments where it hasn't.
03:39 So I think there's a lot of those statistics that we can kind of go through
03:45 that would say that we've done good things,
03:51 but we haven't finished and we haven't won enough.
03:55 So, and I think all of us understand that this is a profession,
03:59 this is a production-based business.
04:01 I don't think anybody's trying to strip that, so
04:05 we've got to do a better job of producing and producing wins.
04:07 >> But the numbers say that you should be a lot further along based on just those
04:14 two numbers, right?
04:14 >> Well, yeah, I mean, when you're on the top half of the league scoring points and
04:22 on the top ten allowing points, you would expect to win more games.
04:28 And I think we've got to be able to ultimately finish games out and
04:33 be able to win games, and that's what it's all about.
04:37 It's really, that's what it's really about.
04:40 And so all the stats, none of them really matter except for one.
04:45 And that hasn't been good enough.
04:48 >> Is there situational things that you can point to,
04:52 I know you studied this stuff, and is there anything that you can point to?
04:56 >> Yeah, well, look, I mean, I think, obviously,
05:01 we haven't started games as well as we need to.
05:04 And we played a little bit too much catch up.
05:08 I think early in games offensively, we've been able to move the ball effectively,
05:12 and then we've stalled out for a number of reasons, not always the same reason.
05:18 So I just think it's really been more about the consistency of our football team
05:24 over the course of a 60 minute game, being able to execute at a high level.
05:32 >> If you look at the scripted plays, the first 15, I mean, is that-
05:37 >> Yeah, look, and when you look at the first 15 plays, I mean,
05:41 there's been some games where it's been good, both offensively and defensively.
05:47 Some where it hasn't been nearly as good.
05:50 Certainly when you look at first half scoring,
05:55 we've given up too many points in the first half of games, and
05:57 we haven't scored enough.
05:59 And then we've kind of been able to flip that script a little bit in the second
06:02 half, but we certainly need to start out better.
06:06 >> You've matched up with Tampa many times over the years.
06:12 Is there anything, you mentioned a defense coming up with four turnovers, and
06:16 they've been playing well lately.
06:18 Is there anything that you notice from them differently, personnel, or
06:22 is it pretty much the same with them?
06:24 >> Well, I mean, look, it's different from where they were a year ago.
06:29 There's personnel changes, there's schematic changes from where they were
06:35 a year ago, so I'd say it's a different team than what we've played in the past.
06:40 Still very similar to the team that we played earlier in the year,
06:45 I think defensively.
06:46 They, at times, have done a really good job of stopping the run.
06:52 They're aggressive in terms of what they do.
06:53 They play hard, they tackle well.
06:55 They've got a unique pressure package that creates a lot of stress on the offense.
07:01 And then I would say, look, offensively, I think they play tough, physical.
07:08 They play hard.
07:11 I think the quarterback brings a confidence level to their team.
07:16 And I think they're playing at a high level and they're playing confidently.
07:22 >> And part of their run game being improved in this,
07:24 what have you seen that was different there?
07:27 Why was it struggling early and why is it different now?
07:30 >> Well, yeah, look, I think the back's playing well.
07:33 I think they're doing a good job of blocking in the run game.
07:39 Certainly, some of the looks that they're seeing,
07:42 trying to take some of the passing game stuff away.
07:47 They're seeing some light boxes and they're taking advantage of it and
07:51 running the ball well.
07:52 Probably gotten a little bit more of kind of some gap and
07:55 counter schemes that I think have been effective for them.
07:58 >> It's like, I know Evans is always a- >> Problem.
08:05 >> A problem.
08:06 Is the fact that they're running the ball so well, does that make it more-
08:10 >> Makes it more challenging, yeah.
08:13 Cuz if you have to play all game in a loaded box,
08:18 it opens up some things on the outside lanes.
08:21 They got really good skill players, talented skill players,
08:24 they take advantage of it.
08:25 And yet they're running the ball effectively when they get good looks.
08:30 So I think they're playing really well offensively.
08:35 >> What do you think of quarterbacks as such, I don't know,
08:40 Tiffany, I mean, he's playing like.
08:43 >> Be hard for me to be able to answer that question.
08:48 I don't really know.
08:49 Certainly, he feels comfortable in that offense.
08:55 He's got a lot of weapons around him.
08:57 He's doing a good job of distributing the ball with those weapons.
09:00 And like I said, I think their ability to run the football effectively has really
09:04 helped them over the last month.
09:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:08 >> I can't remember if you asked about this, so I apologize if it's a repeat.
09:11 But after Zed Blanc came on so strong and you guys talked so
09:14 much about how effective he's been, why did he only play nine snaps in this?
09:18 >> We didn't get him into a lot of passing situations.
09:20 So that was probably more of a product of how the game was being played.
09:25 >> All right, do you have an indication of how close Kendrick Miller was to going
09:31 this past week?
09:32 >> Well, he was able to get some work in last week.
09:36 I expect him to get more work in this week.
09:37 We'll see exactly where he's at.
09:40 Obviously last week without having any real practices was
09:46 kind of hard to evaluate exactly where he's at.
09:48 We'll have a better feel for where he's at this week as we get into practices tomorrow.
09:53 >> And do you feel like Peyton Turner is kind of in that limbo between IR and
09:58 potentially returning?
09:58 >> Yeah, look, he'll get a good opportunity to get some practice reps in this week.
10:04 This week, much like Kendrick, we'll evaluate where he's at.
10:07 But yeah, I think he's getting closer.
10:10 >> When you review the defensive performance as a whole,
10:14 did it feel like any part of it was a one off or
10:18 was part of it that was just a way more explosive offensive you've faced in a long
10:21 time? >> Well, look, I mean,
10:23 we obviously didn't play as well as we're capable of playing.
10:25 I think they executed at a high level.
10:27 They made some plays.
10:28 And we didn't execute as well as we needed to.
10:34 So we need to be better this week.
10:37 >> When you guys gotta take someone like Alante out,
10:39 just kind of what is the coaching process just in the days after that coming back
10:43 into this week?
10:44 >> Yeah, there's communication that goes on with him.
10:47 But there was a level of expectation and
10:52 we felt like at that moment in the game it was the right move to make.
10:56 And yet I still have all the confidence in the world in Alante.
11:00 I think he'll respond the right way.
11:02 And look, we'll go through the week of practice and see how everything goes.
11:05 But I think he'll respond the right way.
11:07 >> Is it safe to say that the playoffs for you this week are
11:14 >> I think it's safe to say that we
11:17 need to go out and win this week.
11:18 I mean, that's the only thing we really control.
11:21 So any of those other variables, it's in somebody else's hand.
11:25 But we control how we play this week.
11:28 So we need to go out and play really well against Tampa.
11:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:33 All right, thanks guys.
11:34 >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it.