Dennis Allen talks practice, roster moves after practice squad additions | New Orleans Saints

all right um that was good to get back out in practice I feel like it's been forever since we've had a practice um you know with player day off on Monday uh Tuesday was a lift and run and then um we pushed everything back you know this morning so it just feels like it's been for forever since we've practiced so it's good to get back out there um you know part of the deal with this week is to try to get our guys back get their legs back up under them a little bit and yet still get some work so uh we'll get a little bit more work tomorrow uh and then the players will have Friday Saturday and Sunday off how much of this week is about Carolina or is it still kind of more like internal uh well there's still a few things that we're working on just in terms of ourselves um and yet we've we've begun that process in terms of getting ready for Carolina and part of the game planning process Mar on full participation uh he would have been uh I don't know if we have to say anything but I think he would have been limited uh today but he was back out at practice um and and things look positive for him Dennis without giving up too much of his specific role I mean I know the concept of a number two receiver is is sort of a false concept but it is the vision for rashed she like more snaps more Vi more responsibility I think that's dependent on him you know what's the volume that he can handle um and and if he can go out and execute a large volume of plays and continue to be a playmaker for us um then yeah I think we'll see we'll see more and what what is it that he most needs to show that he can do a variety R well look I well I think this I mean we we have a new offensive staff um and he missed a ton of time in training camp so I think that's still you know to be seen so I think we've got to get into some of these practices we saw a few things today um look the encouraging thing is he he he certainly looked fast you know um I I thought I thought our guys you know I thought there was a lot of speed on the field today so um you know that was good to see and so I think with him it's him in a new system with new coaches um and our coach is seeing what he can what he can handle um and the things that he do does really really well and I think that's going to be a work in progress you know if I'm the play caller then I I'm I'm needing to see a few things to to really know hey this is what this guy does really well this is how I can put him in these positions to have success you like rash who's obviously the offro returner but he's also going to be more involved in the regular offense is that something you the Bal get to kind of limit that yeah I I mean I think we got to see how everything plays out you know first and foremost um and then we'll we'll make decisions you know what we think is is best for us uh and in our team and gives us the best chance to win and so um yeah I think we'll just have to see you know what that volume is in in in both regards what kind of your approach or message to the team like locking out outside kind well I'll be honest with you I don't know that I've spent a whole lot of time talking about it um I think we got enough things going on here to focus on and um you know handle our handle our business with with inside the building I think that's just one thing that you have to you know learn to do as you know whether you're professional athlete you're a coach you're in the front office whatever the case may be you know um you know we we we we have a have a profession where you know everything that we do is lived out in the in the public eye and and um and everybody has opinions on you know what we're doing well or what we're not doing well and that's just that just comes with the job you know and so um but but we don't we don't really spend a ton of time you know talking about it what's uh what do you like about John V what's kind of well look I I think he's big physical you know um and and and I think you know he's young guy that uh you know we we kind of liked in the draft process um and so I think you know if you're able to add a guy like that you know it's a it's a you know defensive tackles don't don't grow on trees there's not a lot of you know 64 65 320 lb human beings walking the Earth and and so when you find one that you think's got you know some athleticism and and uh and some power you know bringing somebody like that into the fold is is I think I don't know that you can ever have enough of those type players how much did uh Colin s's injury kind of have maybe the need to look another one um well look I mean I'm sure that that's probably some of it and yet you know we were going to need to add another defensive tackle anyway um whether it be on the practice squad or to the active Rost or whatever the case may be so um I I wouldn't say that that was the driving force to that decision you guys didn't add any offensive linemen from outside the building and do you you feel better about having the right candidates in that group overall well yeah I mean yeah I do um and and look each each situation is is different um you know if we felt like there was a guy that was available that could upgrade our football team um then I feel like we would have done that and again you know the guys people aren't just giving those guys away for free either you know so um I think we we continue to look at all options available to us um and see if they make sense for us if they do then we try to we try to formulate a plan to execute it and you know if they don't then you know we got to move on question Derek last year when we talked about the criticism you made it pretty clear that you thought ISM he received was unfair I'm wondering like how maybe do you think he was maybe graded against Drew in a curk here like guys Drew I I mean I think everybody's great against Drew here you know I mean I just think that's that's the nature of you know our business and and um you know I think it's always it's always difficult to you know follow a Hall of Famer you know and so um yeah that that's challenging and I think that's but that that's the standard that we're we're used to here you know and and so um you know we've got to get back to being able to form at that type of standard and you've seen him Embrace that all sorts of things yeah look he's he's um yeah he's embraced the competition he's embraced um you know proving himself um he's embraced being the quarterback here um I think he's in a really good spot right now and you talking about that standard and get his team back to where it was how is this season for you personally um yeah I think every season's important you know I mean I don't know that there's ever been a coach that's gone into a season saying ah this one's not really that important you know they all are um you know so I I don't I don't I don't I don't try to think about or worry about oh what what can happen if you know every time every day I've come into work since I've been a a a coach I've come in to try to do the best I can uh to help the team win whether that's as an assistant whether that was as a coordinator whether that's been as the head coach um and so I don't think you go about your job any differently um you know and and so that's that's what I'm doing the returner you got is that a spot that you guys wanted to add something to it or is that just opport well look I think a few things there I think um you know um he's a he's a he's he's a big back all right he's got return skills and he's got four core capabilities um and so I think that was something that we that we were we were looking for not necessarily as a running back but who who who has who has some return skills and who has some four core you know capabilities and so um he's the guy that we were extremely high on in those regards and excited about getting him is there any I doesn't have a ton of cares you see the Mi of running back at all um well I think that's going to take a little bit of time the the the cool thing for me and I think for us is um you know that well he was in the system early on with with Clint um and then I don't think what they're doing is Minnesota now is too dissimilar to you know what we're doing here now and so I think there's going to be some carry over in terms of the scheme so um I think it remains to be seen we'll see you know what he can do um but we're we're we're excited about working with him question can you elaborate on what yeah so that would be kickoff kickoff return punt punt return those would be your four core special teams deals all good all right thanks guys