I watched every snap of thursday's preaseason game and was very impressed with chase allen. He definitely outplayed Mike Hull and based om game footage I think he is the best healthy Mike on the team right now. He is big, fast, strong at the point of attack, sheds blocks well, reads plays well and is always around the football as well as being fast and athletic enough to cover tightens and backs out of the backfield. He was the leading tackler and I didnt see him make one negative play during the game. Hull on the other hand was overpowered at times and looks a good step slower than Allen.
Allen definately stood out, but I want to see more of him especially with 2nd team and then possibly 1st team before we pass judgement. He should get plenty of reps considering our situation so we have a better idea what he brings to the table consistantly.
TTT, honestly Chase Allen has been the best performing Mike on the team. There is no way I see him not making the roster, if so the FO must be crazy. I would even have him starting at mike. He has led the team in tackles all pre season, he has shown good coverage, hasn't been beat for any big plays. Hasn't made any major mistakes and shows good command of the defense. He is big, fast and has a good football IQ, always around the ball. Definitely has outplayed mike hull in my book and should get the starting job over him and maualuga who has done nothing yet and is not even in shape. Only reason I see them giving the starting mike job to hull or maualuga is because of seniority, not actuall performance.
He not only led the Dolphins in tackles this preseason, he also led the entire league; and nobody was even really close to him. He had 34 total tackles and 25 solo. That translates to 136 total and 100 solo tackles in a full season, and he wasn't on the field a good deal of the time this preseason. If he were an every down LB playing in the regular season, the numbers would be even higher. Those numbers are Kuechly-esque. Not only that, but he showed excellent leadership. He was leading that defense last night that only gave up 1 TD and a 1 FG. Pretty sure they are already regretting signing Maualuga.
Still just a shame about the Raek McMillions....Then there's Misi & Hewitt...Let's face it, we have a weakness. Rey Maualuga was a highly touted prospect for us ....back when we eventually signed Karlos Dansby. History with DC Burke... but this a sign of concern. I'm hearing that Deon Lacey is safe.....
He looks fast because he is. He ran a 4.58 40 at his pro-day. Only a couple LBs were as fast. Fins scouts have been on him last year. Chase Allen's pre-draft measurables: Height: 6'3" Weight: 241 lbs 40 Yrd Dash: 4.58 Bench Reps: 23 Vertical Jump: 33" Broad Jump: 09'08" (116) 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.19 3-Cone Drill: 6.88 Good height and weight. He's up around 250 now. Not a great bench or vertical jump, but same as Davis and McMillan. Bad Broad jump but not the worst in the draft class. Excellent shuttle and 3 cone though. He was upper percentage there. Only Bowser (6.75) and TJ Watt (6.79) did better. He actually compares extremely well to Zach Cunningham and TJ Watt. He's done much better in PS than Cunningham though, who is reported to be struggling. He was also a tackling machine in college with 324 career tackles.
They could cut him this weekend too. He isn't a lock, or at least he shouldn't be. It boggles the mind that they worked him out, so knew his conditioning level, yet signed him anyway, and then seem upset by his being out of shape.
If Allen's current trajectory holds, he will be the permanent starting MLB for the next 15 years. I do not understand how he was a UDFA.
He really flashed for me in the Philly game. He got washed out a couple of times by lineman, and there was some overpursuit here and there. I saw a re-direct on an outside run that I really liked where the RB couldn't get outside. Overall, for a UDFA, he's been very impressive. Can't wait to watch the Vikes game. I don't know what's up with Mauluga. In a photo on the team's site, dude looks so out of shape.
I don't dislike Mike Hull as he had made some nice plays in preseason. I think Hull may be slightly ahead on the depth chart, though. He may know the D a little better.
Not quite over with first half, but here's what I see with Allen: - Not afraid to stick his nose in there - Needs to play a little lower - Underneath coverage not very good - There were some pretty bad angles in lateral pursuit - More athletic than technically sound - One of those "always around the ball" guys
Thought and said Chase was a stud from the first game. Guys a rookie and still has much to learn before putting him in the ring of Honor, but I think he will get better and we are just scratching the surface. I see Zack Thomas similarities with his always around the ball, power and getting through blocks, but He also has good size. Loved that goal line pop he put on that RB last week who he stopped cold in his tracks from making a yd. and a TD. But don't think he's there yet and playing against #1's make a big difference, so Maualuga is important and a great example for Chase to learn from. May not have to long to wait though... Oh ya and Deon Lacey was tied for 4th in leading tackles ..... (22 tackles)
I thought his Philly game was bad. His Minnesota game was MUCH better. I think he makes the team, I think the guy can really be developed.
I only watched the Philly game once and he was one of the guys who flashed at me. Wasn't really looking for anyone in particular. I think he had that one goal line tackle and then I kind of saw him in a few other plays. That's when I sort of started paying attention to him. I think he definitely makes the team simply from an athletic standpoint and he seems to always be around the ball. He's not afraid to get in there. His technique needs refining, which is okay. I see potential in him for sure. I think his understanding of offenses in pass coverage will greatly help him because he has a lot of room to grow in that department.
IMO, because he played in the Missouri Valley Conference. Had he played in the Big Ten or SEC, he'd have been drafted.
I did see him get washed out of a run play against philly, but that was because he got double teamed by two offensive lineman, and even then he managed to keep the play in front of him and cut off the corner of the field. That's another thing I like about him is he always keeps the play in front of him and rarely lets the back get past him.
I don't remember if there were two Olineman or not. I do recall it happening. He needs work. I like that he's around the ball. Let's see if he can really flash against starters. I don't know that he starts over Hull right now (or whoever is starting alongside Kiko and Timmons). I do like the kid, though. Really like him. He needs some technique and assignment understanding. I wasn't exactly impressed in his pass defense. There is a definite hole there.
What didn't you like about his pass defense? I haven't exactly watched every snap of his but I have watched plenty and haven't seen him get beat in coverage for any significant gain. He has been generally pretty tight in coverage. Deon lacey on the other hand has been terrible in coverage I was not surprised to see him get cut today.
You said you watched "every preseason snap"......?? There were some underneath plays where I think he was misguided in coverage. It wasn't necessarily him covering a player, more of a responsibility thing 'in coverage'. I have only seen him in coverage against a back in the flat. Underneath responsibility stuff is what I'm mainly talking about. Short crossing routes, etc. My bad for the mislead.
My original post in this thread was made befoere the philly game. I watched every snap of the first two preseason games which is what I was referring to in the original post. I watched about 80% of the philly game and only about 70% of the minnesota game, but from what I have seen I dont see any major issue with chase in coverage. In fact I think he has done quite well in coverage overall.