The main change for Dennis Allen, as he attends his first NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis as head coach of the New Orleans Saints instead of as defensive coordinator, is that the micro view has become a macro view.
"I'm watching all the offensive guys," he said with a smile on Friday. "I think that's probably been the biggest difference. It's been a good experience, it's been just getting used to seeing these guys and this is really our first experience with these guys as coaches. It's kind of the beginning of the process for us."
But other than Allen, who rejoined the Saints as senior defensive assistant before assuming the position of defensive coordinator later that season through the end of 2021, much of what the Saints' coaching staff has done has been familiar because much of the staff remains familiar.
The significant changes were at offensive line and receivers coach, where Doug Marrone and Kodi Burns were added. Marrone also previously was on the Saints' staff under Coach Sean Payton; he was Payton's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2006-08. But the majority of coaches on staff for the upcoming season also were on staff last season.
"I think it's been good," Allen said. "I think the good thing for us is that we're able to keep a lot of continuity, there hasn't been a lot of changeover and so I think that's been a good experience for us."
New Orleans's staff has spent the week in Indianapolis in the introductory phase with draft-eligible prospects, a process that NFL teams were not able to partake of last year when the Combine was canceled due to Covid-19 concerns.
"The big thing is just to get a baseline view of each of these prospects," Allen said. "This is a long process that we go through and really for us as a coaching staff it's kind of the first building block in the process."
Photos from the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4th ahead of this year's NFL Draft.
Southern Utah offensive lineman Braxton Jones (23) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
San Diego State offensive lineman Bill Dunkle (11) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
LSU offensive lineman Austin Deculus (09) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
UTSA offensive lineman Spencer Burford (04) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Minnesota offensive lineman Blaise Andries (01) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Southern A&M offensive lineman Ja'Tyre Carter (05) warms up during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Ickey Ekwonu (12) has his measurements taken during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Central Michigan offensive lineman Luke Goedeke during the bench press event at the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AJ Mast/AP Images for NFL)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green during the bench press event at the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AJ Mast/AP Images for NFL)
Offensive line prospects look on as measurements are taken during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
NFL Films cinematographer Hannah Epstein lends her camera to Alabama defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis (16) during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
An offensive line prospect runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Kentucky offensive lineman Luke Fortner (16) smiles as he stands with North Carolina offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu (14) and Nebraska offensive lineman Cam Jurgens (24) before starting drills during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Central Michigan offensive lineman Luke Goedeke (17) poses showing off his three rings before the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Texas Tech offensive lineman Dawson Deaton (08) looks up as he prepares to start drills during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Arkansas offensive lineman Myron Cunningham (07) looks up before starting drills during the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Southern A&M offensive lineman Ja'Tyre Carter (05) gets ready to start drills at the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
North Carolina offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu (14) gets ready to start drills at the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Illinois offensive lineman Vederian Lowe (29) gets ready to start drills at the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Kentucky offensive lineman Darian Kinnard (25) gets ready to start drills at the 2022 Scouting Combine on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Nebraska offensive lineman Cam Jurgens (24) during the bench press event at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (Steve Luciano/AP Images for NFL)
Fordham offensive lineman Nick Zakelj (59) works out at the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 4, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
San Diego State offensive lineman Zach Thomas (52) warms up before the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 4, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson (22) works out at the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 4, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
TCU offensive lineman Obinna Eze (13) warms up backstage at the bench press during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 4, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Ickey Ekwonu poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Ickey Ekwonu poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Combine Partner Experience at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Combine Partner Experience at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Rutgers running back Isiah Pacheco poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Caesars Lounge Fan Experience at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Caesars Lounge Fan Experience at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Caesars Lounge Fan Experience at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
during the bench press event at the 2022 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AJ Mast/AP Images for NFL)
Cincinnati defensive back Sauce Gardner poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Cincinnati defensive back Sauce Gardner poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (07) speaks on set with NFL Network's Bucky Brooks during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Brooke Sutton/NFL)
Liberty quarterback Malik Willis poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Nevada quarterback Carson Staterong (QB14) poses on the NFL Network set during the 2022 NFL Combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
