The San Francisco 49ers appear to have their sites set on former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their No. 1 option in their search for a new defensive coordinator.
However, with Saleh interviewing for head coaching jobs, the 49ers can’t bank on landing him. San Francisco did interview Detroit Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend, but it seems unlikely they’d want to hire a person with no previous defensive coordinator experience.
Former 49ers linebacker and New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich is another name that has been floated after San Francisco tried to poach him from New York last offseason.
The two former Jets coaches have gotten plenty of run in the 49ers DC rumor mill, but ESPN’s Nick Wagoner highlighted another name that fits the veteran DC mold San Francisco desires.
Via ESPN:
While Saleh and Ulbrich are considered top candidates, another name worth keeping a close eye on is former New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen. Allen has extensive experience, working eight years as a defensive coordinator in Denver and New Orleans, almost six seasons as a head coach with the Saints and Raiders and another year as the Saints senior defensive assistant.
Allen’s name may not carry the same heft as Ulbrich, Saleh, particularly in the Bay Area where he flamed out as the Oakland Raiders head coach. He went just 8-28 in 36 games guiding the Raiders from 2012-14. His coaching record was better, but still not spectacular as the head coach in New Orleans. The Saints went 18-25 with Allen at the helm.
What is important is his tenure as the Saints DC the seven years before being hired as their head coach.
Those New Orleans defenses were dreadful in Allen’s first two years as their coordinator, but they improved in both points and yards allowed virtually every year he was running that unit. By Allen’s penultimate season as their DC, the Saints finished No. 4 in yards allowed and No. 5 in points allowed. The following year they were No. 7 in yards and No. 4 in points.
This isn’t to say Allen should necessarily be the 49ers’ choice ahead of Saleh or Ulbrich. It is worth having as many experienced DCs on the short list as possible, and Allen’s years running a defense combined with his 4-3 base defensive scheme make him a logical fit in San Francisco even if he isn’t atop their list of preferred candidates.