In another season, a 2-5 record might've triggered the New Orleans Saints to be sellers at the NFL trade deadline.
In the year 2022, there's a chance the Saints could end up in a tie for first place in the NFC South on Nov. 1. So how are the Saints planning to approach the next few weeks in that regard?
"Certainly we're always looking for ways that we can improve our team and so that's certainly one of the ways that you can do it," Dennis Allen said this week on the WWL coaches show, hosted by Mike Hoss and Bobby Hebert.
"I wouldn't say that there's anything ... imminent or anything like that," Allen continued, "but we're going to explore all avenues."
Listen to the full interview with Saints head coach Dennis Allen in the player below. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The bigger question is whether the Saints would be buyers or sellers, and a Week 8 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders could tilt the scales one way or the other. A win and the Saints are guaranteed to keep pace in a flagging pack of NFC teams, but a loss? That'd mean a 2-6 start to the season and yet another gutpunch for any turnaround hopes.
"All those things that we started the season wanting to accomplish, they're still right out there in front of us," Allen said. "That gives you the hope to continue to improve and so, yeah, I think I think getting our swag back I think is important. And how you do that as you go out and play well."
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THOUGHTS ON ANDY VS JAMEIS GOING FORWARD?
Jameis Winston got the first three starts of the season, but has missed the last four games due to back and ankle injuries. Allen has said repeatedly that the team is waiting for Winston to get back, but that they're comfortable starting Andy Dalton. It sounds like that'll continue this week.
"I think the approach is we've got to put the guy in there that we feel like gives us the best chance to win. And, you know, Jameis has been recovering from an injury. I think he's close to being ready to go and so we're having a lot of discussion about that with the offensive staff, and we'll put the guy out there that we feel like gives us the best opportunity to win this game. And then we'll just kind of go from there."
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THOUGHTS ON DEFENSIVE PLAY-CALLING
Bobby Hebert asked the Saints head coach if he's considered giving up the defensive play-calling.
"I wouldn't say that there's been a lot of conversation about that. I think that, you know, calling the games on Sundays is not where the challenge comes in. It's all the game planning and stuff that goes into the week that, you know, there's a lot that goes into that," Allen said. "And, you know, I certainly feel comfortable with the guys that I have on my defensive staff to help me in that regard and putting the plan together. I think, you know, obviously we haven't played as well, defensively as is I think we're capable of playing. And that's an area that we've gotta continue to work to, to improve in that area.
"So I wouldn't say that that's something that we've talked about or considered. But certainly we need to we need to improve in that area."