Dennis Allen Press Conference - Week 14
Dennis Allen talks Saints preparations for a crucial must-win game against the Panthers.
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00:00 >> Look, good work this week.
00:04 We're excited about the opportunity to play the Carolina Panthers,
00:08 again, an opponent.
00:09 This is a game that we need to go out and play well, and our team needs a win.
00:16 So we're excited to get back out there in front of the home crowd.
00:20 >> The A, anything you can update us on with Derrick's dad?
00:23 >> No, really, look, I mean, he's gotta go through the full process.
00:27 I think he's made progress, but he's gotta go through the full progress.
00:31 Obviously, the injury report will come out later.
00:36 >> Did he treat himself for a setback with his ankle injury?
00:39 >> No, he's going through the recovery process,
00:45 was making significant strides in his rehab.
00:50 I think he's kind of stalled just a little bit, but there's been no setback.
00:56 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:06 >> Yeah, I think it's awesome, well deserved.
01:11 Jabari's a guy that played really, really well for us.
01:17 A guy, really, honestly, we were trying to sign Ron Bartel at the time.
01:24 And that kind of took a little bit longer than we were wanting.
01:31 And we moved on to the next option, which was Jabari.
01:34 And just a great person, great player, made a lot of plays for us.
01:41 But just an unbelievable human being, he was great for
01:45 our locker room and great for our team, it's awesome for him.
01:49 >> What's your see at the preparation?
01:52 You got a couple receivers down, Chris not able to practice.
01:54 How does that kind of affect that?
01:56 >> Yeah, look, I mean, some other guys have to step up and practice and execute.
02:01 And then they'll have to be ready to go if Chris isn't able to go.
02:05 I would anticipate, hopefully, that he'll be able to go.
02:09 But if he's not, then some other guys are gonna have to step up.
02:13 So, but I thought our guys handled it well this week.
02:20 >> We kind of asked Joe about this yesterday, but
02:22 with Zach Vaughn, he's had a little bit more of an uptick in pass rush here
02:27 recently, how much have you seen from him in that area that you liked?
02:31 >> Yeah, look, I think that's something that he did in college.
02:35 And we've kind of looked at maybe getting a little bit more
02:41 athleticism on the field as a rusher, which I think he provides.
02:46 So he had a hell of a rush last week.
02:49 And so we'll see how this game plays out and see if he gets any more opportunities.
02:54 >> And he's the guy that you mostly envision as a stand-up rusher, I imagine,
02:58 off the edge or a stand-up shooter?
03:00 >> Yeah, well, I mean, it kind of depends on, the offense will kind of dictate
03:04 a little bit of that as to how he plays.
03:07 But yeah, I mean, that's traditionally been what he's done.
03:11 >> And just not too long ago, I'd ask about Lin Boaten being a guy that maybe
03:17 you could see in a Taysom Hill-like role at some point.
03:22 Is that something that maybe y'all are looking at maybe having to do?
03:26 >> Look, I mean, Lin will have a role in the game, exactly what that role will be.
03:32 We'll let the game unfold and see what that role is.
03:36 But he's certainly a guy that's earned these opportunities, so
03:40 he'll have a role in the game.
03:43 >> What did you guys like about Monty Rice and PJ Moosdipper?
03:47 >> Yeah, so Monty's a guy that played,
03:51 he's played at Georgia, was a really good player at Georgia.
03:56 I think there's some athleticism there.
03:58 I think there's some strikeability.
04:06 He's tough, he's physical, he's smart.
04:08 So we like the player, we like the prospect.
04:12 Thought it was good to get him in our building.
04:14 So we were able to do that.
04:16 And then Moosdipper's a big body inside.
04:20 And so obviously with Roach going down, we need to look at some other
04:25 options that could potentially help us in that role.
04:28 >> Chris obviously had a little bit of adversity there a lot.
04:32 How did you see him just kind of work through it?
04:34 It seemed like he's kind of emerged a little bit.
04:36 >> Yeah, look, I think he's played really well.
04:39 And there was a lot of talk about him kind of earlier in the season.
04:44 And he went through a rough patch.
04:45 But he fought through the adversity.
04:49 He knew that stick to the process, keep coming out here every day, going to work.
04:53 And that's really what he did.
04:55 And as the season goes on, he's gotten more and more opportunities.
04:59 And I think he's taken advantage of those opportunities.
05:01 So really proud of what he's been able to do and
05:05 fight through that, cuz it's not easy.
05:08 But I think he's done a nice job of that.
05:11 >> With a lot of being sick enough to miss practice,
05:13 is it a situation where he's had to stay at home?
05:16 And kind of how do y'all handle that in terms of preparation for the game and
05:20 meetings and stuff like that?
05:21 >> Yeah, look, I mean, he's involved.
05:24 He's been at home because we don't want
05:28 that kind of going through the rest of the roster.
05:33 He's got the flu, all right?
05:34 So he's on medication.
05:38 He'll be back in here this afternoon with the doctors.
05:41 When you get a situation like that, you try to keep those guys away from
05:44 the rest of the team as much as you can so you don't have that running through
05:47 the team.
05:47 But he's been involved with the game plan.
05:52 And if he's healthy enough to play and feels well enough to play,
05:57 he'll be out there on Sunday.
05:59 >> Yeah, I can imagine you're doing some quicker beat up.
06:01 >> We've already had one group in the roster.
06:03 We don't want that same thing happening again.
06:05 >> Dennis, obviously- >> Literally go through the roster.
06:08 >> [LAUGH] >> Obviously the doctors have to make
06:12 the determination on Derek Carbone.
06:13 How do you decide, early on it felt like the two concussions may need to be a long
06:19 shot to play, but he's obviously getting a lot of snaps in practice and
06:22 you don't know how many to get him.
06:24 >> Yeah, so when you go through the concussion protocol,
06:29 there's some steps that have to happen.
06:32 And there's some early conversation with the doctors in terms of,
06:37 like we had Chris Alave last year that had the concussion.
06:42 And we kinda knew pretty early in the week that it was gonna be hard for
06:46 him to clear the, because of the severity of the concussion,
06:50 it was gonna be hard for him to clear.
06:51 We didn't get that sense from Derek, from doctors with Derek.
06:59 And so we kind of had to manage the week a little bit, not 100% knowing.
07:06 And so both of those guys have gotten opportunities and gotten reps.
07:11 And both of those guys will be prepared to play if their number's called.
07:16 So that's kind of the way we handled it.
07:18 >> Did you guys find out anything more about Tayson how he's handling it or
07:22 any comments or knowing on that?
07:24 >> Yeah, I don't wanna go into the details in terms of
07:29 what it is, I don't think that's really the limiting factor.
07:33 The limiting factor with him has been more of the foot.
07:36 >> And so,
07:39 he needs to put mine kinda up to him and yells at our rushing numbers lately.
07:45 >> Well, look, I mean, to be able to run the football effectively,
07:50 you gotta create movement on the line scrimmage, you gotta block them.
07:54 And I think we've done a better job of doing that.
07:57 Over the last few weeks, I think Alvin's run the ball extremely well.
08:02 I think he's run the ball physically.
08:04 He's been explosive as a runner.
08:07 And then certainly, Tayson's been a big factor in our ability to run the ball
08:10 better.
08:11 So I think, look, it's about execution.
08:16 I think we've done a better job of that.
08:18 >> And at his practice squad, Shaq Davis coming back,
08:22 a young player like that has missed a significant stretch of the season.
08:28 Are you able to still get any evaluation on him when he's not out there on
08:32 the practice field?
08:33 Are you learning anything?
08:33 >> Yeah, look, I mean, he's been involved in everything that we've been doing.
08:37 He just hasn't been able to go out to practice.
08:39 So he's been involved in the meetings.
08:42 He's been, when we've gone through the installs, he's in there, he's learning.
08:48 He's obviously not getting the reps,
08:50 which is a big part of the growth of a young player.
08:54 And so I think it's important for him to be able to get back out here,
08:58 start taking some reps, and really actually be able to physically go through
09:03 the things that we're gonna be asking him to do.
09:05 Now, obviously, a majority of that's happening on the look squad.
09:09 But we're excited about having him back out here.
09:12 I think he's a good prospect.
09:15 >> With Foskey, did he re-aggravate the quad injury in the game?
09:18 >> Yeah.
09:20 >> And Dennis, the booing the other day, I know we talked about it, but
09:24 I'm kinda curious, do you feel the need at all to talk with Derrick at all?
09:28 Is that something that comes with the territory, you just ignore it and
09:33 move on?
09:33 >> Yeah, look, I mean, you control the things that you control.
09:36 And really, I guess, to a certain extent,
09:40 we control that by the way that we play.
09:44 Obviously, I think it was unfortunate, cuz I think Derrick's probably played
09:49 better than maybe what some on the outside might think.
09:52 So it's part of this business.
09:55 He plays a high profile position.
09:59 Obviously, there's a lot that's expected out of that player.
10:03 And that's kinda part of what goes along with it.
10:06 I had a nice conversation with Derrick after the game.
10:11 And he's a tough guy.
10:15 So he'll battle through whatever adversity that anybody wants to throw at him.
10:19 >> Anything else?
10:24 >> All right, guys, thanks.