#Saints defensive assistants Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard are in line for promotions, per sources — possibly as co-defensive coordinators, though nothing is set. HC Dennis Allen still working on finalizing staff. External DC candidates no longer in running are being notified.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 22, 2022
Well that’s interesting. The New Orleans Saints are considering a move to run with co-defensive coordinators under first-year head coach Dennis Allen, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who reports that the team has narrowed its search to in-house candidates Kris Richard and Ryan Nielsen. And there’s a possibility that Richard and Nielsen end up being named co-defensive coordinators.
That’s an eventuality first suggested by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, and the Saints may agree with his logic. If Allen is going to continue to call plays defensively after being promoted to head coach, elevating his top two assistants to these positions empowers them to make a greater influence on game planning and shaping the unit overall.
It doesn’t feel like either of them will be long for New Orleans. Richard, the Saints’ secondary coach, interviewed for three different open defensive coordinator jobs this offseason, meeting with the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Nielsen, their defensive line coach, was considered for the Green Bay Packers coordinator opening last year, when the Saints gave him a raise and the title of assistant head coach to block the LSU Tigers from poaching him.
Both assistant coaches are on the rise, and a good performance as co-defensive coordinator could help their chances of landing a head coach job. It’s really tough to go from being a position coach to a head coach. Doing well with greater responsibilities as a coordinator (or, in this case, a co-coordinator) might be the resume-padding needed to go the distance.
And if Allen is looking to take more of a hands-off approach to his defense on game days, promoting Richard and Nielsen like this could give both coaches the opportunity to call plays. Whether they’re on the mic for entire games or just drives or sequences, it’s an opportunity for everyone to share their input and earn more experience while doing their best to help the team. It’s worth noting that Nielsen hasn’t worked as a coordinator before, but Richard has experience as a passing game coordinator in his past NFL stops.
It’s important to remember that we’re in a fluid situation as Allen works to finish reorganizing his coaching staff before they fly out to Indianapolis next week for the NFL Scouting Combine, where everyone will have their hands full interviewing draft prospects and observing workouts. He could ultimately choose Richard or Nielsen as his coordinator, or as we just explored, go with both of them. Other tweaks are on the way — it’s been reported that special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who interviewed for the head coaching job himself, could be promoted too but it’s unclear what that may entail (naming him assistant head coach feels appropriate).
