Saints coaching staff changes get their chance to shine as training camp kicks off

For many, the first day of training camp is considered a first day of school of sorts. One that provides a ton of excitement around all the newest additions, returning stars and hopefully answers to the organization’s most burning questions.

For the New Orleans Saints, the first day of school feeling hits a little differently with some key changes to their coaching staff in addition to those made with on-field personnel.

Of course, the biggest change this offseason was the transition from Sean Payton to Dennis Allen at head coach. But New Orleans also made some other key moves and additions, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The team made changes at offensive line coach and wide receivers coach while also adding a key offensive assistant and expanding one of their most important coaching staff member’s roles.

At offensive line coach, New Orleans brought former Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marone back to town. At wide receivers coach, they transitioned from long-time position coach Curtis “CJ” Johnson to young star Kodi Burns. Two big changes at positions that have some valuable new faces arriving on airline this week in rookie left tackle Trevor Penning and rookie wideout Chris Olave. Marone and Burns both have a reputation as developers.

Marone, a former head coach and Burns, who churned out several drafted receivers during his time at Auburn and Tennessee, are being trusted with highly-impactful units that need immediate contributions from the team’s 2022 first-round draft selections.

“He’s a fresh set of eyes,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said of Burns. “Just a new approach and been really pleased with him.”

Loomis also highlighted that there is a core group of assistant on the team’s staff that they are excited about. The group consists of “great football minds” as he put it. One fo those assistants on the offensive side of the ball is Bob Bicknell.

Not a name that is household, but his reputation is one of note. During his years with the Cincinnati Bengals he worked with the wide receiver room. During that stint, he helped players like Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase transition very successfully from the college ranks to the pros. A similar jump will be needed from former Ohio State Buckeye Olave.

Of Bicknell’s role, Loomis explained that there was no calculated decision based specifically on his experience with finding success in young receivers. But instead in Bicknell, the organization “saw an experienced, really good football mind that could work with Pete [Carmichael], help Pete, and create synergy with him.” That certainly makes it sound like the team sees the NFL coaching veteran having a sizable impact on their offensive attack.

Additional staff changes like the addition of director of sports science Matt Rhea and the expansion of Ronald Curry’s role to passing game coordinator are among the other big staff changes to note as camp kicks off.

Perhaps most importantly though will be the co-defensive coordinator tags added to secondary coach Kris Richard and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. Each brings their own impressive resume into the deepened responsibility. Tuesday, Allen was asked about play calling opportunities for the two.

“I could see that happening in the preseason,” Allen said. “I don’t envision that right now in the regular season. Obviously, as with anything, everything is fluid. I’ll never say never.”

So while there will be changes at play caller on the offensive side with Pete Carmichael stepping into that role, expect the Saints defense to remain firmly in the grips of Allen. Under his supervision over the last two seasons as defensive coordinator, Allen has produced top-five scoring defenses and the team certainly expects similar results in 2022.