After the Eagles fired Sean McDermott, the feeling was that the Eagles were looking for someone more experienced to run the defense. Apparently, that's not the case. Jay Glazer is reporting that the Eagles have asked for and received permission to interview Saints secondary coach Dennis Allen for their vacant defensive coordinator job. Allen, is in his mid 30s, while Sean McDermott was just 36.
The comparisons to the ex Eagles defensive coordinator don't end there. McDermott spent 9 years as an assistant to Jim Johnson, Allen has nine years of NFL coaching experience. McDermott coached the linebackers before coming secondary coach. Allen coached the defensive line before becoming secondary coach. McDermott was a protege of the great Jim Johnson. Allen has been a protege to Gregg Williams, a pretty good defensive coordinator in his own right.
Of course, just because their resumes are similar doesn't mean a whole lot. Allen is thought of as a rising star on the Saints staff and has been tipped as Gregg Williams' heir apparent. He has spent time with both the Falcons and Saints and had success in both places. As a defensive line coach with Atlanta his unit led the NFL in sacks in 2004. As a d-line coach in New Orleans for two seasons his unit had 48.5 sacks and a pro bowler in Will Smith. In 2009, while he was secondary coach, how often did the Saints secondary make big plays to win games? They did against the Eagles and they did in the Superbowl as well. Also, the Saints gave up just 15 TD passes that year which was the 3rd least in the NFL. This season, the Saints gave up a league low 13 TD passes. For the Eagles, who gave a up a franchise record 31 TD passes, that has to be attractive.