Finally saints head coach has issues with the coordinators because of………
As the New Orleans Saints search for a new offensive coordinator continues, one big problem, among several, faces the new hire before they even accept the job. No, it’s not at quarterback. Granted, Derek Carr certainly didn’t play consistently well in his first year with the team. However, Carr played noticeably better down the stretch and showed a much better grasp of the system.
A much bigger issue the new Saints coordinator will face is fixing the offensive line, one of the worst in the league last year. Moreover, the new coach must make a decision on whether to retain offensive line coach Doug Marrone.
The Saints have moved on from longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, as well as WR coach Kodi Burns and senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell. Running Back coach Joel Thomas also left the team to accept the same position with the New York Giants. Two notable names that have been retained, at least so far, are Marrone and QB coach Ronald Curry.
Marrone, 59, just finished his second season in his second stint with the Saints. He was the offensive coordinator for Sean Payton’s first staff in New Orleans back in 2006, serving three years in that role. Over those three seasons, the Saints twice ranked first in both total offensive yardage and passing production while finishing with a top-5 scoring offense twice.
In 2009, Marrone left to become head coach at Syracuse University. After four years there, he’d become head coach of the Buffalo Bills, a position he held for two seasons. The Jacksonville Jaguars brought him in as their offensive line coach in 2014, but he’d be promoted to interim head coach to close out 2015 and took over as the full-time head coach the following year.
Marrone remained coach of the Jaguars for six seasons, taking Jacksonville to the 2018 AFC Championship Game. Upon his dismissal after the 2020 campaign, he was hired as offensive line coach for the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide finished 13-2 in 2021, losing only to Georgia in the SEC Championship and National Championship game.
In 2022, Marrone was brought back to New Orleans by Dennis Allen, who took over the head coaching reigns following the resignation of Sean Payton. The entire offense has struggled mightily since the retirement of QB Drew Brees after the 2020 season.