http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sport...cial-teams.html/comment-page-1#comment-306687 Hat tip to Mike B for paying attention to the ST unit, basically it has lost it's #1 Gunner, #1 Kick Returner and is looking for replacements. This from the unit that went from #30 to #10 in the NFL. Which is an interesting thought coming from Jason Allen, it sounds like Mike Nolan's philosophy has leaked into the ST unit, even though it is clearly rebuilding. All in all an excellent article and effort by Mike Berradino on a topic that is rarely covered. As for Jason Allen being a washout, eh, as long as he contributes at a high level I'm fine with him, not every #1 pick is a home run, but typically when they wash out, they really washout, you do not even retain ST value from them. I'd love to see him make the Pro Bowl as a STer, if Ricky Williams can come all the way back from retirement and suspension Jason Allen making the Pro Bowl is also a possibility.
I think we are going to be seeing a lot more of Jason this year, not just on ST. I think he has played pretty consistently when given opportunities.
Im curious about Allen @ FS but I seriously doubt it happens. He's on all our ST units, and theres no viable replacement should he become a starter. Clemons was awful on ST last year, he made one good play vs NE and had to helped to the sideline afterwards. Carrol will replace N Jones I'm guessing, but we're still down a ST CB b/c W Allen, our 3rd corner, isnt playing ST. If J Allen starts, that means Clemons has to play ST again, and we'd have to carry an extra DB just to play ST. No thanks.
Exactly, the unit that finished 10th in the NFL has basically been turned upside down: Departures via release/FA: Nate Jones (ST tackles leader) Reggie Torbor (5th in tackles) Gone via earning starting roles: Cam Wake (5th in tackles) Chris Clemons + Brian Hartline (combined 15 tackles) Injured/attempting Comeback: Pat Cobbs Returner Ted Ginn and his 1,500 yds and 2 Td's..gone Basically the only returning ST players are Jason Allen and Devone Bess and Lex Hilliard and Lexxy is being pushed by Sheets and RGM as "the returner" and Erik Walden who is also on the bubble. Bonamego has his hands full this year, but imho Allen can be an anchor on ST: I get a kick out of Jason Allen on ST's, he is like the kid that tried really hard to be a starter, but has found his role on ST and now wants to be a great player on that unit
I have been down on Jason Allen along time. Somehow I think a #16 pick should be a starter and he's never panned out as one. In his favor he is a strong ST guy and a solid backup in the secondary. As Padre pointed out alot of guys that don't make it in the 1st round wash out of the league quickly, so Jason has done well to carve a spot out on the roster. He deserves his success and I'll get off his back.
I think J. Allen is currently listed at 205 lbs., so I think he's committed to corner. He used to be heavier (217 lbs.?).
Spot on, he is sort like Ted Ginn, better on ST, the difference is when he does get on the field he manages to play like he is serious about playing. FWIW, I've never heard him speak positiviley about his role as a ST guy, I think he is finally comfortable and will play even better. Don't laugh, but when he first started on ST he literally had no idea what he was doing, as in he would go out of bounds, come back in bounds, and touch the ball...which is a penalty.. He seems to know that now..
JA is kind of the underdog I want to see succeed for us. As disappointing as his career has been so far, he never quit, nver stopped giving it his all, taken all the criticism and made the best from what he's got. I am rooting for him, and hope he gets on the field more and more. He certainly is not afraid to tackle and has talent, speed and the tools to be a VERY solid backup CB for us. Would love to have seen what he could do at FS, but mostly because Clemons scares me there, his inexperience more than anything.
Allen is a bum and hes only useful on ST dont know how much hes getting paied but when it comes time to resign he needs to take a pay cut
By that rationale, Larry Izzo is a bum too. So are Dan Carpenter, Brandon Fields and John Denney. We can't discount the importance of special teams. This regime certainly doesn't. Look back to the first half of 2008. Remember how every other kick/punt was coming back for big yardage? Then we signed Erik Walden midseason and it just stopped. Allen has proven himself to be useful in spot duty on defense. But he is a big special teamer. 15/16 special teams tackles each year is a lot. Padre is right. He didn't work out as a first round pick, but he's found himself a niche that will ensure he remains in the league for several years to come.
JA is who he is...a WASTE of a 1st rounder but a scrappy special team player. I refuse to waste anymore energy on him than that.
Jason Allen has been going about re-establishing his NFL career, fulfilling the hopes he once held for Miami. He is first & foremost a FreeSafety & will get a shot @ it this year, competing on a level playing ground, he's as good as, if not better than anything else we can field to date.
He isn't the first and won' be the last 1st round pick not to crack the starting lineup, but between a great ST player and good backup and a cut, I'm tickled pink to have him. Think Jamar Fletcher. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pat White, Paul Solai, Channing Crowder, Pat Turner, Jason Allen, Ricky Williams all have what in common? think about it.
said it before many times and will say it again JA is a better CB than a S sad to see him chasing kicks considering the pick but he is still on this team. will allen goes down might see him at nickel CB
no way in hell I want to see Jason Allen at nickel. JA has a ton of speed but his hips aren't the greatest which affect his agility and change of direction,these are the most important qualities in a nickel corner. So if Will Allen goes down I would rather see Vontae(man has a serious case of the quick's) moved inside and have SSmith and JA as the boundary corners.
he is a FreeSafety & will get his opportunity to compete @ this crucial & virtual defensive vacancy. the playing field is level & he has more experience & ability than most. wouldn't sell him short. I'm sure the new defensive coordinator will look @ things w/ different eyes
I can't say I can argue with that but apparently you agree with me that JA should remain a CB and not be moved back to S.
so much useless banter Nolan will decide who is the best man to play the position throughout his college & professional career Jason has played about as much Safety, as CB which means he has more experience playing the position than anyone else on the current roster he's not to be taken lightly under these circumstances FreeSafety remains our AchillesHeel the only sure thing is we won't go to the SuperBowl w/o a starting calibre NFL FreeSafety in the line up
I agree....after his first year, i was all about the switch, and have never looked back. I thought his body was too small in the joints, and to thin through the hips and shoulders to last at safety, especially the way he throws his body around, I thought his size and speed would allow him to man up, and chase well, without the punishment that he would get at freesafety..I still feel that way. To me he looks like a fine dime corner, and special teams ace...will see what happens in camp with mr. athletic man carroll.
not a sure thing at all. If the other 21 starters are playing lights out and we have mediocre FS play, that still makes us better than we've been in a long time and a strong contender. I'm much more concerned whether Henne, Hartline, Vontae and S Smith can take their game to the next level as well as Cobbs, Ronnie and W Allen coming back healthy than I am about our FS starter.
Friend OhioFan: until they throw the ball right down the middle over top our much improved defense into a mediocre match-up @ FreeSafety to a hot shot receiver that goes in for a touchdown: the position remains our potential road to ruin in any given game I have said since the beginning of the RebuildingProject: We will Contend in 2010 however, being a contender & actually making it to the SuperBowl may very well be decided on a FreeSafety in today's pass oriented NFL & this is our Achilles heel I believe Nolan will rule no one out, including Jason Allen, until he has had time to evaluate w/ his own barometer all possibilities @ the position. no reason to settle for mediocre, find the best man & coach him up big time. we have many talented players & all options remain open. this is potentially a season maker/breaker decision. it will not be taken lightly
