Two former teammates of Kellen Moore have recently discussed his head coaching candidacy with the New Orleans Saints, and whether or not he would make a good head coach. These former teammates are Dan Orlovsky and member of the Saints Hall of Fame Lance Moore. Both of these players previously played on the Detroit Lions with Kellen Moore, and had the chance to get to know him prior to his coaching days.
Dan Orlovsky outlined the challenges Moore would face in New Orleans and why he believes the young coach can overcome them: “I think whoever gets that job probably goes through a little bit of a bumpy phase for the first year or two when it comes to just roster construction and how much money you have. But I’ll tell you this, I was with Kellen for a couple years, Kellen and I competed to be a backup in Detroit for a couple years. He actually texted me last week or two weeks ago when I was really critical of him on TV with some of his game plan, and he said ‘Hey thanks for the shoutout, it’s been a fun media week lol.'”
While Moore isn’t known as a big rah-rah leader like a Dan Campbell or Pete Carroll, leadership isn’t always loud. As long as he is expressing himself, Orlovsky expects Moore’s personality will win over his critics.
He continued: “So his personality I think has grown a lot, like when I was with him, he was a little bit reserved. Super intelligent, didn’t necessarily, like, command a room like some guys do in a head coaching role. But I do think it’s grown, now I look at the text and I say ok he’s a little more comfortable in his skin for him to text me that, and a little bit like a ‘F U’ to me in many ways. So I think he’s kind of grown in that role, he’s super smart, he’s very much so smart enough. I do like the fact that he was in Dallas, I like the fact that he was in L.A., I like the fact that he was in Philly, kind of experiencing a lot of different places, I think gives these coaches really good vantage points of what it looks like, what it doesn’t look like.”
“So I’ll be rooting for him, I think the world of him,” Orlovsky added.
Lance Moore worked closely with Moore on the Lions during their 2015 training camp and preseason, but that brief time together made a swift impression: “Smart guy, very very very smart guy. That, even though he wasn’t playing, he was like another coach in the locker room, on the field, and somebody that is very very bright when it comes to offensive acumen. So if he is the guy, I think he can do some really great things.”
Lance Moore also mentioned to WDSU that, nothing against Dennis Allen or any defensive coach the Saints may be considering, but as a guy who played with Drew Brees and is in the Saints Hall of Fame because of his heroics as a wide receiver, he hopes the Black and Gold go with an offensive coach.
It seems very clear that both have exceptionally high opinions of Kellen Moore, and believe he would make a good head coach option for the Saints. Both of them distinctly and quickly mentioning he is very smart is something that is consistent with other reports of his coaching style, as his scheme and offensive play calling are one of the best.
