Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, reportedly the subject of a second interview with general manager Reggie McKenzie in the search for a new head coach, came to Denver after three years coaching defensive backs with the New Orleans Saints.
Allen, 40, presided over a defense that ranked 20th in total defense, 24th in scoring defense, sixth in third-down conversions, 28th in interceptions and 10th in sacks. The Broncos were 18th in passing yardage allowed and 22nd in rushing yardage allowed.
He described his defensive philosophy this way before the Broncos started in the season in an interview on the club’s Web site:
“We’re going to be built off of speed and athleticism. We want to be a very fast, violent, aggressive type of defense. I firmly believe that defensive football is not nearly as much about X’s and O’s as it is about the way you play the game, the culture of your defense. I think if you look at where i’ve been in the past, speed and athleticism and aggressive football players is the type of thing we’re looking for.”
Allen started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M, where he played as a defensive back. He was the secondary coach at Tulsa in 2000-01, served as a defensive assistant with emphasis on the defensive line and quality control with the Atlanta Falcons from 2002-05 and was hired as the assistant defensive line coach by the New Orleans Saints in 2006 before being promoted to secondary coach. He was the secondary coach on the New Orleans team that won the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts.