New Orleans Saints: Get To Know Your Coaches

What would Sean Payton's number be if he had one? I would have to guess 9a, or maybe 9.1.

The cerebral link that connects Payton to his signal caller, Drew Brees, is so unique that it makes you wonder if the two finish each other's sentences.

When Brees has a nightmare, does Payton wake up in cold sweats? If Payton eats bad seafood gumbo, will Brees be paying for it the next day? It sure is fun to think so.

Even it it were true, pulling teeth would be easier than getting the enigmatically efficient pair to admit to such a strange connection.

Fortunately, there is enough concrete information on Payton to suggest that maybe he's just that good at what he does.

Let's take a look at Payton and the rest of the Saints coaching staff:

Head Coach/Offensive Playcaller: Sean Payton

Sean Payton enters his fourth year as head coach of the New Orleans Saints and in his brief time with the club already ranks among the most successful head coaches in franchise history.

He is the only coach to lead the Saints to an NFC Championship, was a unanimous choice for 2006 NFL Coach of the Year, has been the architect of an offense that has rewritten the club’s record books, and since his arrival has instilled a winning culture within the organization.

In his opening season, the club jumped out to a 3-0 record–a first in team history–and clinched the NFC South title before the regular season ended.

That season the Saints also ranked first in the league in offense for the first time in club history.

The offense averaged 391.5 yards per contest, posted 330 first downs and 6,264 net yards and tied a team mark by scoring 49 touchdowns. New Orleans rushed for 1,761 yards and 19 TDs and was the only team with four players with over 650 receiving yards.

When his opening season as head coach came to a close, Payton was voted the Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America, The Sporting News and the Maxwell Club.

The Saints’ offense has thrived with Payton handling the play-calling. In 2007, the Saints set a team record with an NFC-high 346 first downs and ranked fourth in the league with 5,780 total yards.

The Saints scored 47 touchdowns–the third-most in team history–gave up a league-low 16 sacks and also led the NFL in scoring percentage (72.0) in the red zone.

In 2008 the Saints offense found success yet again under Payton's playcalling by ranking first in points per game, total points, yards per game, yards per play, passing yards, touchdowns, first downs, plays of 20+ yards, and plays of 40+ yards.

Payton has had particular success tutoring quarterbacks since arriving in the NFL. Since 2000, every passer under Payton’s guidance has thrown for over 3,000 yards.

The three starting quarterbacks he worked with in Dallas – Drew Bledsoe in 2005, Vinny Testaverde in 2004 and Quincy Carter in 2003 – all surpassed the milestone.

Payton came to Dallas after four years with the New York Giants, the last three as offensive coordinator. Behind Kerry Collins' club record 4,073 passing yards, the Giants finished 2002 as the NFL’s sixth ranked offense, the team’s highest ranking since 1985.

Payton solidified his reputation as one of the game’s top offensive minds in 2000. In his first season as coordinator, the Giants captured the NFC title and went to Super Bowl XXXV.

New York scored 328 points–the club’s highest total since 1990–finished 13th in the NFL in offense and jumped from 24th to 11th in rushing.

Payton was first assigned play-calling duties prior to a game against the Jets on Dec. 5, 1999. The Giants responded by scoring 41 points and gaining 490 yards–both season-highs–and he retained that assignment over the final five games.

Appointed the offensive coordinator the following season, over the next three years the Giants passing attack continually improved, ranking 13th in the NFL in 2000, tied for eighth in 2001 and sixth in 2002. In the decade prior to Payton’s arrival, the Giants hadn’t ranked above 20th.

Payton joined the Giants as quarterbacks coach on Feb. 3, 1999. Prior to joining the Giants, he spent 1997 and 1998 as Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach.

Payton is unquestionably one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. In the short time he has been the Saints head coach, he has established an identity for a team that has been in desperate need of one for a long time.

He makes all the calls on offense but rarely dabbles in the defensive schemes. After leaving Gary Gibbs to his own devices, Payton had to watch his friend and former defensive coordinator hit the road after consecutive mediocre showings.

But Payton's hands-off defensive approach shouldn't scare too many Saints fans. With new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in town, the defense is in good hands.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Defensive Coordinator/Playcaller: Gregg Williams

Gregg Williams was named defensive coordinator for the Saints on Jan. 15, 2009. Williams is a veteran of 18 years in the NFL including three as a head coach.

In five of the last eight years, Williams' defenses have ranked in the top 10 in the league—including three top threes in the past five years—with three different teams.

Williams spent four seasons (2004-07) as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins. From 2004-07, the Redskins ranked sixth in the NFL in defense (306.6), second in the NFC, and seventh in rushing defense (103.8).

The Redskins allowed only 19.4 points per game during that span, the ninth-fewest in the NFL.

In 2005, the Redskins defense propelled the club to its first postseason appearance since 1999. The defense allowed only 11.7 points per game in the last six games. The defense finished ranked ninth in the NFL and sixth in the NFC.

In his first season with the Redskins, Williams' unit ranked third in the NFL and first in the NFC. They also finished third against the rush and seventh against the pass overall.

Before joining the Redskins, Williams spent three seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. During his tenure in Buffalo, his defenses improved each of the three seasons.

In 2003, the defense finished second in the NFL, improving from 15th in 2002 and 21st in 2001. Overall, the Bills’ 2003 defensive and special teams units finished among the NFL's top-five teams in nine categories.

In 2000, the Titans' defensive unit led the NFL in total defense for the first time since joining the NFL and the 191 points allowed were the third fewest in the NFL since the league adopted a 16 game schedule in 1978.

The team also established the franchise's single season records for sacks (55), fewest passing yards allowed (2,424) and fewest touchdowns allowed (17). The Titans ranked first in the NFL from 1999-2000 with 109 sacks.

Williams spent 11 seasons with the Tennessee organization (1990-2000), including four seasons as the defensive coordinator from 1997-2000. He was hired in 1990 as a defensive quality control coach and was promoted to special teams coach in 1993.

Before taking over as defensive coordinator, Williams spent three seasons (1994-96) as linebackers coach.

Of all the moves the Saints made this offseason, the acquisition of Gregg Williams was perhaps the most important .

Lauded for his aggressive style of play-calling, Williams will light a fire under the collective behinds of what has been an underachieving defensive unit.

Williams is known for maximizing the talent he coaches, so look for Charles Grant and Will Smith to return to form under his tutelage.

Stats and information courtesy of: jaguars.com & nfl.com

Offensive Coordinator: Pete Carmichael, Jr.

Pete Carmichael Jr. was promoted to offensive coordinator after the 2008 season, following the departure of former offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, Doug Marrone.

Pete Carmichael, Jr. recently concluded his third season with the Saints as quarterbacks coach, a stretch where New Orleans has had the most prolific passing attack in club history and featured one of the top-ranked offenses in the NFL.

Carmichael’s duties include tutoring the quarterbacks and on a weekly basis assisting in the planning and preparation of the team’s passing game.

Carmichael works closely with QB Drew Brees, who since 2006 has shattered the majority of the franchise’s single-season records.

Carmichael and Brees had spent the previous four seasons in game-planning sessions when both were with the San Diego Chargers, with Carmichael serving as assistant wide receivers coach.

While tutoring quarterbacks, Carmichael brings the added perspective of working with nearly every position group on offense during his career.

With the Chargers, he assisted wide receivers coach James Lofton for an offense that ranked 10th in the NFL in 2004 and 2005. Carmichael joined the Chargers in 2002 and served as offensive assistant until being promoted.

In 2001, Carmichael was quality control coach for the Washington Redskins, and in 2000, he was the tight ends and offensive assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns.

Though Carmichael was promoted to offensive coordinator this offseason, don't expect to see him holding a big laminated playcalling sheet on the sidelines this year.

He'll play a pivotal role in forming schemes and game preparations, but in the end, Sean Payton calls the shots and the plays.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach: Joe Vitt

Completing his third decade of coaching in the NFL, assistant head coach/linebackers Joe Vitt has earned a reputation for building linebacker units that are fundamentally sound and aggressive.

Highly respected around the league, Vitt is known as a communicator, motivator and top teacher of defensive schemes, and his linebackers have yearly ranked among their defense’s top contributors.

In 2007, the Saints’ trio of starting linebackers–Scott Fujita, Mark Simoneau and Scott Shanle–all ranked among the club’s top three in total tackles, with Fujita leading the team with 119 stops.

Vitt came to the Saints after serving as interim head coach for the final 11 games in St. Louis in 2005. He held the Rams together during a difficult period after previously holding the title of assistant head coach/linebackers.

He joined St. Louis after working as linebackers coach in Kansas City from 2000-03.

It was with the Chiefs where he first worked with Fujita, a fifth-round pick who developed into one of Kansas City’s top defenders and led the club in tackles for two seasons.

Vitt is a coach that every team wishes it could have. He's a good motivator, he's loud, and he likes to get excited.

Vitt will be the first to point out when his crew is slacking, but he's even more vocal when players do what they're supposed to. He tends to throw around F-bombs quite a bit but, hey, who doesn't?

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Special Teams Coordinator: Greg McMahon

Greg McMahon enters his fourth season with the Saints and second as special teams coordinator.

By stressing consistency and opportunistic play, the experienced coach has played a key role in the club’s improvement on special teams over the last three years.

McMahon served as assistant special teams coach for his first two seasons, a stint where the Saints blocked a punt, a pair of field goals and scored three touchdowns on special teams–including a game-winning punt return.

McMahon joined the Saints after a one year stop as tight ends/special teams coach at East Carolina University. In 2005, the Pirates finished in the top 20 in the nation in field goal accuracy and had a pair of solid return men.

As tight ends coach, McMahon was part of an staff that directed East Carolina to the fourth highest passing total in school history.

Probably more Reggie Bush than McMahon, the Saints scored three touchdowns via special teams in 2008.

Nevertheless, the Saints special teams unit should improve next year. Special teams ace Troy Evans returns, as does surprisingly effective return man, Courtney Roby.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Secondary Coach: Dennis Allen

Dennis Allen returned to the foundation of his football experience in 2008, taking over as coach of the club’s secondary after spending the previous two years with New Orleans as the assistant defensive line coach.

Allen, a standout college safety, has had three stints working with defensive backs in the past.

In his two years coaching the Saints defensive line, Allen has helped tutor a defensive line that has been one of the strengths of the Saints’ defense.

The unit combined for 48.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries over the last two seasons and DE Will Smith was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2006.

Allen joined the Saints after a four year stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent his final two years as defensive assistant/quality control, with an emphasis on working with the defensive line.

Over the previous two seasons, he was in charge of defensive quality control while helping tutor the secondary.

In his last two years in Atlanta, the Falcons’ defense was paced by the play of the front four. In 2004, Atlanta led the NFL for the first time in club history with 48 sacks and the unit sent DE Patrick Kerney to the Pro Bowl.

In 2005 DT Rod Coleman represented the club in the Pro Bowl and the Falcons notched 37 sacks.

In 2002, Allen’s first year with the Falcons, he assisted in coaching the defensive backfield. Atlanta improved to 16th vs. the pass after ranking 30th the year before, and tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions.

Allen seemed to be better suited coaching the defensive line, given the poor performances that the secondary has turned in over the past two seasons.

Give him the benefit of the doubt though. Football games are won in the trenches, not in open space.

With a new scheme and an upgrade in personnel, the Saints secondary could surprise many as the strength of the defense this season.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Wide Receivers Coach: Curtis Johnson

With a demanding, high energy teaching style and an uncompromising approach to the game, Curtis Johnson has helped produce top quality wide receivers throughout his coaching career.

His reputation has only grown since he arrived in New Orleans in 2006, as the wide receiver corps has made extensive contributions to the Saints, ranking among the NFL’s top offenses over the last three years.

A New Orleans native, Johnson joined the Saints after serving as the wide receivers coach at the University of Miami from 1996-2005, where he tutored an impressive group of players that included five No. 1 draft picks.

Since coming to the Saints’ staff, Johnson has worked with both young and veteran wide receivers, and all have benefited from his guidance.

Over the last two years, WR Marques Colston has gone from the fourth-to-last player selected in the 2006 NFL Draft to posting 168 catches–the most in league history for a player in his first two seasons.

Johnson’s stable of wide receivers combined for eight 100-yard days, 22 touchdowns and 2,831 yards in 2007, as the Saints featured the league’s third-ranked passing attack.

Entering his fourth year of his initial NFL assignment, Johnson’s coaching style is hands-on and detail oriented. As a result, few coaches at any level can match the wide receivers that Johnson has helped develop.

The group of standouts under his direction while at Miami and his prior stop at San Diego State includes some of the top wide receivers over the last decade, including NFL first-round picks Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, and Reggie Wayne.

At Miami, Johnson was part of a staff that went to nine bowl games and won the 2001 National Championship.

He polished the skills of at least one All-Big East performer each season from 1996-2005, including Johnson–the third overall pick by Houston in 2003–and Moss, who became the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in receiving yardage before making the Pro Bowl for Washington.

Johnson is one of the best pure coaches that the Saints have. One of the best wide receivers coaches in the NFL, Johnson has helped turn the likes of Lance Moore and Marques Colston into household names.

If Robert Meachem can't put it all together this year, it's all on him, not Johnson.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Offensive Line/ Running Backs Coach: Aaron Kromer

Aaron Kromer was named as the New Orleans Saints’ offensive line coach/running game coordinator on Jan. 12, 2009.

It is a position he coached for the Saints' final two games of 2008 after Doug Marrone was hired as the head coach at Syracuse University.

An 18-year coaching veteran with a wealth of postseason experience as well as a background in working with several productive offenses, the Saints made an important addition in the offseason in hiring Aaron Kromer as running backs coach.

He arrived in New Orleans after a three-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including the last two as senior assistant/offensive line coach.

Kromer has developed the skills of several Pro Bowl players. In the past he made a seamless transition from a college to NFL coach, bringing with him the skills as a communicator and teacher of the game.

Kromer’s input has been a key part of strong rushing attacks throughout his coaching career. At Tampa Bay in 2007, his unit up front paved the way for the Buccaneers to rush for 1,872 yards (117.0 avg. per game) and 15 touchdowns.

In 2006, despite his unit losing a total of 23 starts from injuries, Kromer prepared a pair of rookie starters weekly and Tampa Bay cracked the 1,500-yard rushing milestone.

With his input as senior assistant on the offensive staff in 2005, the Buccaneers surpassed the 100-yard rushing plateau in 10 games, and the offensive line helped RB Carnell Williams earn NFL Rookie of the Year honors.

Kromer arrived in Tampa Bay after spending four seasons with the Oakland Raiders as the offensive line coach from 2002-04 and assistant offensive line coach in 2001.

During his years in Oakland, the Raiders’ offensive line was the foundation of a unit that led the NFL in total offense in 2002–the same season QB Rich Gannon was named the NFL Most Valuable Player and the club advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII.

While in Oakland, Kromer tutored Pro Bowl selections T Lincoln Kennedy (2001-02) and C Barrett Robbins (2002) and also coached 2004 All-Rookie selection T Robert Gallery.

Prior to joining the Raiders–his first NFL assignment–Kromer served as the offensive line coach at Northwestern from 1999-2000, with the Wildcats leading the Big Ten in total offense in his final season.

Kromer should have no problem picking up where Doug Marrone left off. Drew Brees has been the least sacked quarterback in the NFL since he arrived in New Orleans in 2006.

Granted, the offensive line could use a few extra lessons in run blocking. But with a younger Pierre Thomas taking over for a banged up Deuce McAllister, the running game should be improved.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Quarterbacks Coach: Joe Lombardi

Joe Lombardi was promoted to the position of quarterbacks coach on Jan. 12, 2009.

Lombardi has spent the previous two seasons (2007-2008) on the Saints’ coaching staff as offensive assistant. His primary responsibility was assisting with the quarterbacks and passing game.

Lombardi arrived in New Orleans with an extensive coaching background on both sides of the ball, most recently serving as defensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006.

While serving in that role, he worked with a defensive line that combined for 25.5 sacks.

Like many members of the staff that Coach Sean Payton has put together, Lombardi has prior experience as a coordinator and brings teaching skills of a former college coach.

Lombardi joined the Falcons following a stint at Mercyhurst College (Erie, PA), where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2002-05.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Tight Ends Coach: Terry Malone

Tight ends coach Terry Malone enters his fourth season in New Orleans, and over the last three years has built a productive, hard-working group that has distinguished itself with its timely receptions and blocking.

Malone is an experienced member of the coaching staff who brings excellent teaching skills and the additional perspective of having been an offensive coordinator.

In 2007, the Saints’ tight ends combined for 76 catches for 710 yards and four touchdowns, the bulk coming from the combination of Eric Johnson and Billy Miller.

Under Malone’s tutelage over the last two seasons, the tight ends corps have contributed to the success of the New Orleans offense with their blocking in the running game and drive-sustaining catches.

Malone worked at Michigan from 1997-2005, including his final four seasons as the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator/tight ends. During his tenure as coordinator the school had 14 All-Big Ten selections and four All-Americans.

The Wolverines had back-to-back conference Player of the Year winners (Chris Perry, 2003 and Braylon Edwards, 2004). During Malone’s nine seasons at the school, Michigan won five Big 10 championships and appeared in eight New Year’s Day bowl games.

Despite Jeremy Shockey, Saints tight ends had quite a productive season in 2008. Biller Miller filled in admirably for Shockey, making some question whether or not Shockey was needed at all.

If Shockey can stay healthy this season, it will only add more depth to what was already a decent crew of tight ends. And that's a testament to Malone.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com

Defensive Line Coach: Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson was named the new defensive line coach for the Saints on Jan. 10, 2009. Johnson comes to the Saints following the past two seasons as the defensive line coach for the Denver Broncos.

Johnson joined the Broncos after working as the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive line coach for six seasons (2001-06).

During his first year on the Broncos’ staff in 2007, Johnson instructed a defensive line that led the AFC (T-2nd in NFL) with nine takeaways as his group totaled seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

Second-year defensive end Elvis Dumervil tied for sixth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks, which were the most by a Bronco in eight seasons, and tied for the league lead in takeaways (4) among defensive linemen.

Instructing the Falcons’ defensive line from 2001-06, Johnson helped the club post the seventh-highest sack total in the NFL (third in NFC) with 242 quarterback takedowns during that period.

Atlanta twice ranked in the league’s top 10 in both fewest rushing yards per game and fewest rushing yards per carry allowed, doing so during the 2004 and 2006 campaigns.

Johnson also instructed two Pro Bowl selections during his time with Atlanta in defensive end Patrick Kerney (2004) and defensive tackle Rod Coleman (2005).

Coleman’s 28 sacks under Johnson’s tutelage from 2004-06 marked the highest total by an NFL defensive tackle and were 7.5 more than the next closest player.

Coleman, after missing all of last season, will be reunited with his former coach as the pair became two of the newest memebers of the Saints this offseason.

Johnson replaces Ed Orgeron, who appeared less than enthused to finish out his only year as a Saints coach in 2008.

The re-pairing of Johnson and Coleman can only bode well for the defensive tackle, as well as the rest of the defensive line.

Stats and information courtesy of: neworleanssaints.com & nfl.com