How to fix the Saints

Chris Nalls • October 2, 2023

Listen, it is time we face the truth. The Saints are good on paper but don't show it on the field. The offense could be better, and quarterback Derek Carr has only thrown for a total of two touchdowns in four games. Now, not all the blame is on Carr, however. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael needs to improve in play calling. What is it precisely that the New Orleans Saints need to do? Glad you asked. Let's take a look at a few options.

Let's start with the quarterback position. There is little the Saints can do now with Carr. They will have to ride it out all season, but it is time to start looking at drafting a franchise quarterback. The Saints have ignored the quarterback position in the early draft rounds, and that has to change this year. When the Saints traded up to select Marcus Davenport and bypassed Lamar Jackson, it set this franchise back. Imagine having Lamar behind center instead of Carr. This year's quarterback draft class is loaded with many great options.

There are so many quarterbacks the Saints need to explore. You have Caleb Williams, Jordan Travis, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Quinn Ewers. The Saints have to look at one of these many franchise-changing quarterbacks. The Saints won't get Caleb Williams, but you have to list him in case the Saints get crazy and try to make a trade for him, which is highly unlikely. Once they draft their guy, let him sit and learn behind Carr since he is signed to a massive contract for the next two years. It all starts with having a franchise quarterback. The roster is rarely young at the skills positions. You have wide receiver Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, running back Kendre Miller, and tight end Juwan Johnson. Insert a quarterback and boom, the Saints are back on top of this division.

Another issue the Saints have that needs to be addressed is firing head coach Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Dennis Allen has never been that great of a head coach, and the Saints wanted someone familiar from the Sean Payton era to keep the magic alive. Unfortunately, Allen is a much better defensive coordinator than he is head coach. Now, Pete Carmichael needs to be fired immediately. The Saints have only scored 20 points this season once. You will not survive in the NFL, scoring at most 20 points.

There are a few coordinators the Saints should go after as head coach. Below are a few

Eric Bieniemy - Commanders Offensive Coordinator

Ben Johnson- Lions Offensive Coordinator

Ken Dorsey-Bills Offensive Coordinator

These three stand out to me and could be viable options for the Saints next season. What Bieniemy is doing with Sam Howell at the quarterback position and putting the Commander's offense in place to win games is something the Saints desperately need. Johnson and Dorsey, well, look at those offenses. The Lions are 3-1 on the season, and Jared Goff looks like he did when he played for the Rams. The Bills are doing what the Bills do: win and score many points.

Regarding the offensive coordinator position, I would promote Doug Marrone for the rest of this season. Marrone is a former head coach who would fill in great for now. After the season, Saint would need to evaluate if they hire a new head coach. The time for change is this offseason period. Stop avoiding the inevitable and embrace it. The Saints need to get rid of the Sean Payton era. The only way to achieve this will be by drafting a franchise quarterback and hiring a new head coach. This will lay the foundation of a new era.

Be sure to follow on Twitter @TheChrisNalls

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Linebacker Room Outlook: Different Yet Familiar?

By Kaden Arkeder • July 28, 2026

Well the changing of the guard has begun on defense. With Demario Davis leaving in free agency a big leadership void was left in the locker room where someone else will have to take the torch. Whom remains to be seen but all eyes are on what Kaden Ellis brings in his return to the Saints. The Saints signed Ellis to bring back someone with familiarity with the organization and the talents he was better able to showcase after leaving the team. Kaden Ellis in his time with the Atlanta Falcons was able to show he can do whatever you need of him from the linebacker position. He can play off ball in space showing good awareness in coverage but can also play well on the ball when asked to rush the passer from a variety of situations. With Ellis in the fold I expect the defense to be more effective in keeping the offense guessing on what the linebackers will be doing on a down to down basis. Next up is Pete Werner who has had a up and down career thus far with the Saints but overall has been a solid starter since he was drafted. Werner’s coming off a down year in terms of on field production in 2025 where he was routinely taken off the field in favor of getting the young linebackers on the roster snaps on defense to give them some opportunity and experience. If Werner wants to keep his starting role on defense he is going to have to show more impact on defense this season beginning in training camp. With Demario gone and Pete Werner the only returning starting at linebacker on defense the door of opportunity has fully opened for the young linebackers on the roster. who have been patiently waiting for their chance to make a name for themselves. Isiah Stalbird, Jaylan Ford, Danny Stutsman fit into this category as young guys earning their stripes through special teams and limited snaps on defense thus far. This will be one of the more fascinating, fun training camp battles to see if any can overtake Werner on the depth chart and carve out a more meaningful role on defense. After them is the roster hopefuls in Anfernee Jennings and Jackson Sirmon. These two will look to show they belong in the league and will do whatever it takes to prove it. Whether they make the 53 man roster with the Saints or not the goal is to help bring more competition to the room and see who can do enough to latch on somewhere in the NFL. Opportunity is the key word I would use for this group. From Kaden Ellis getting a chance to really star on defense to Pete Werner getting an opportunity to keep young guys from taking his snaps again to the young guys like Danny Stutsman overtaking Werner on the depth chart. The linebacker unit has plenty of opportunities ahead of them, let’s see what they can make with them.