Credit where it’s due: Mickey Loomis joined the Saints Coaches Show on WWL Radio this week for a tough round of questions about the state of the New Orleans Saints. But that’s about all we can say for it. When it came to answering those tough questions, the Saints general manager and top decision-maker doubled down in support of head coach Dennis Allen.
“Everything you said is accurate,” Loomis conceded after being asked about the team’s performance in a four-game losing streak. “Results matter. They do. But I think one of the things that good organizations do, is man, you look beyond the results. What’s the reasons for the result? How do you fix the reasons that keep you from winning?”
Respectfully, you play to win the game. Tossing out a horrible record to shift blame is laughable, but Loomis tried it anyway: “It’s not always about the head coach. Sometimes it is. It’s about a lot of different variables. A lot of things are involved in winning.”
Sure, anyone in his position should take the big-picture view. But at this point we know this story. Coming out of Week 6, Allen has guided the Saints to a 2-4 record twice with a 3-3 peak slotted in-between. His defense has collapsed, again, and he’s having to make another midseason effort to clean up missed tackles and blown coverage assignments. Again.
Look at the facts. Allen has driven the Saints to an 18-22 record since he was hired. They’re 2-9 against opponents with winning records. They’re the only NFL team to outscore their opponents and post a losing record in that span. Of the 13 teams with a positive point differential since Allen was hired, only the Saints haven’t made the playoffs. They’ve tried different quarterbacks, coordinators, position coaches, and play callers, but Allen has been the common factor. At some point Loomis must look at his performance with a critical eye. A more engaged owner would scrutinize Loomis, too.
Loomis acknowledged that’s something he may have to do someday, but not yet: “So we’ll look at that when the time comes. But the time is not right now. We have a lot of games left.”
