The New Orleans Saints are mired in a slump, with losses in four of the past five games, but don't expect any staffing changes when they return from an extended layoff.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said the majority of the extra days following a Thursday Night Football loss to the Jags were spent on self evaluation, but he left no doubt when asked whether that process would result in any significant changes to how the team has been operating.
“No," he said bluntly on Monday. If we decide to make some changes, we’ll let you know.”
It's an approach that shouldn't come as a shock to anyone who has been paying attention, with this team consistently repeating that it believes it has the answers in the building and sees the offense taking strides in the right direction, despite some difficult results over the past month. The Saints did execute a 15-point comeback against the Jags, but were unable to punch in a game-tying touchdown in the final minute with four failed shots from the 6 yard line.
A lot of the fire has been directed at Pete Carmichael, with a louder and louder cry from fans to see play-calling handed over the QBs coach and passing game coordinator Ronald Curry. To this point that has not been something the team has indicated they have put much consideration to, and Allen made it clear he doesn't see outside hires as a viable option during the season.
“You get in the middle of the season and there’s generally not a lot of people from outside your building that are coming in that are going to make significant changes," he said. "We’ve got our guys and we’re going to be hard at work trying to fix some issues.”
In the end the Saints simply have to play better, and if they can find a way to do that they remain right in the thick of a muddled NFC South race with no front-runner. The Falcons currently sit atop the division with a 4-3 record after a win over the Bucs in Week 7. Tampa is 3-3 and in second play, which the Saints are in third at 3-4, but with a pair of games remaining against Atlanta and another against the Bucs to make up ground.
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One thing Allen made clear is that the time for any type of growing pains is over. And what happens if they continue?
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," he said, simply.
The next chance for the Saints to get back on track will come on the road against the Colts, who have turned to backup Gardner Minshew with rookie Anthony Richardson undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The Saints have had success against Minshew in the past, with a 13-6 victory when he was the Jags' QB back in 2019, and a 20-10 victory last year when he was filling in for an injured Jalen Hurts as a member of the Eagles.