Another assistant is set to leave New Orleans Saints to take a promotion elsewhere in the league.Along with a few other applicants, linebackers coach Michael Hodges has interviewed for the position of defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Although Dennis Allen has called plays defensively in the past, head coach Jerod Mayo has plenty of room to add personnel to his staff.
Hodges also plays a significant role in the hunt. Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, an internal candidate for the position, is anticipated to interview shortly; nevertheless, he has prior experience working with Hodges. Reiss stated the following regarding the connection:
According to people with knowledge of the matter, Covington, who was present at Mayo’s Wednesday coach introduction, is in a good position to advance to the post of defensive coordinator. Perhaps it is headed that way based on the interview with Hodges, who co-ordinated defense with Covington at Eastern Illinois in 2016.
That implies that even if Hodges is not hired, there may still be place for him in New England, where he might collaborate with Covington once more as co-defensive coordinator. Though it has worked for other teams, that tactic didn’t work for the Saints in 2022 when Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard shared the championship; perhaps Mayo could handle that circumstance better than Allen did. The notion is supported by the success Hodges and Covington have had together in the past.
Hodges has an obligation to investigate this if he thinks it will provide him a better route to success and writing his own plays than his current position in New Orleans. After leaving the Saints and stepping out of Allen’s shadow, former teammates like Nielsen and Aaron Glenn have achieved success. We’ll watch to see whether this interest develops.
