January 22, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — The defensive coordinator search the Colts have put together continues to suggest that Indianapolis is interested in pursuing a more aggressive defensive philosophy.

The Colts are planning to interview former Saints head coach Dennis Allen later this week, a source told IndyStar, making Allen the fourth candidate known to be part of the Indianapolis search.

Allen, like the other candidates on the list so far, has a history of building defenses that are more aggressive than the systems run by outgoing defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and his predecessor, Matt Eberflus, who ran different styles of defense but both preferred to rely on the defensive line to get pressure, rather than blitzing.

The Colts have already interviewed Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, and they plan to interview former Cincinnati Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and former NFL head coach Steve Wilks. All four candidates have reputations for being multiple, flexible and unafraid to bring the blitz; Colts general manager Chris Ballard said last week that Indianapolis was open to a more aggressive approach defensively.

“I definitely think there is value,” Ballard said. “You have to be able to affect the quarterback.”

Allen, 52, is arguably the most accomplished candidate so far.

A two-time head coach who led the Raiders from 2012 to 2014 and the Saints from Sean Payton’s departure in 2022 until his firing in November, Allen compiled a record of just 26-53 as a head coach.

His record as a defensive coordinator is much better.

Particularly in New Orleans. Frustrated by years spent trying to replace former coordinator Gregg Williams, former Saints coach Sean Payton turned to Allen — who’d served as secondary coach for Williams during the team’s Super Bowl run in 2009 — halfway through the 2015 season, handing Allen a broken defense that finished second-to-last in the NFL in yards and dead last in points allowed in 2015.

About The Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *