After high-priced defensive end Julius Peppers saw him play tail off considerably in 2013, the Bears elected to replace him with another big-ticket free agent in Allen, who inked a four-year, $32 million deal with the team last March. Coming off seven consecutive double-digit sack seasons in which he’d missed only two games, Allen looked to be a supremely safe bet to ignite the Bears’ pass rush. Instead, he delivered a career-low 5.5 sacks while missing one game due to a serious case of the flu that resulted in him losing a considerable amount of weight. It’d be easy to write off the dismal season as a fluke that Allen can bounce back from, but that’s no longer a given now that he’s 33 years old and entering the point in his career where pass rushers typically decline. Moreover, Allen -- a 4-3 defensive end who has played with his hand on the ground throughout his career -- will have to make the difficult transition to 3-4 outside linebacker in new coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme. Allen has publicly expressed optimism that he can thrive at the new spot, but it’s fair to be skeptical of a player his age who lacks the mobility to be much of an asset in coverage. Fangio may try to aid Allen’s transition by utilizing him strictly in pass-rush situations, though such a role would almost certainly result in him seeing decreased snaps, and as a byproduct, decreased tackle totals.
Allen turned 32 in April, and it's reasonable to suspect he's in the midst of his decline. Of course, when you're a player with 128.5 sacks in 10 years, even an in-decline version of yourself is probably well above the average level of skill. Indeed, Allen's consecutive 'down years' of 2012 and 2013 still both exceeded the double-digit sack mark, combining for 23.5. The Bears hope he has plenty left in the tank after giving him a four-year, $32 million deal with $15.5 million guaranteed to reel him away from Minnesota. It's probably best to presume Allen's days as a league leader in sacks are gone, particularly with Lamarr Houston and Willie Young both around to steal snaps in Chicago, but he ought to continue hovering at that 12-sack level in 2014. Allen hasn't missed a game since 2007, and the last time he failed to post at least 11 sacks was way back in 2006.
Although he was a slight disappointment in 2012 with just 46 tackles and 12 sacks, it's safe to bet on Allen improving his numbers in 2013. The addition of first-round pick defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and the continued development of fellow end Everson Griffen should allow Allen to see more collapsed pockets than in recent years, and the addition of first-round press corner Xavier Rhodes alone could result in an extra coverage sack or two in 2013. In addition to the improved supporting cast, Allen will have his odds aided by the fact that he'll be recovered from the torn shoulder labrum through which he played in 2012. Allen is a player who depends on his violent hands as much as his athleticism, so playing with a gimpy shoulder no doubt hurt his effectiveness last year.
It is fair to wonder at this point whether Jared Allen is a Hall of Famer. He finished 2011 with 66 tackles (48 solo) and 22 sacks, as well as one safety, one interception and four forced fumbles. It's difficult to grasp just how disruptive Allen is, but perhaps the fact that he has four safeties and four interceptions in the last four years effectively makes the illustration. He has 105 sacks the last eight years, including 62 in his four years as a Viking. Allen is an exceptional talent whose surrounding conditions rarely amount to anything significant – Allen dominates, and he does it no matter who is playing next to him. Like all NFC North defensive linemen, Allen benefits from the pass-happy nature of the Packers and Lions offenses – neither of which counters Allen's presence with an especially skilled group of offensive tackles. The bottom line with Allen, though, is that he is a blue chip IDP and a justifiable first selection among defensive linemen. He is matchup-proof and situation-proof (he recorded at least half a sack in all but three games last season), and he's perennially among the top candidates to lead the league in sacks.
Allen's overall numbers were once again of standout quality, but 2010 was a bit of an off year for him. His 60 tackles (45 solo) were his most since arriving in Minnesota, but the 11 sacks were his fewest since his 7.5-sack season in 2006. In addition, he had only one forced fumble, his lowest total since his 2004 rookie season. Allen also made things tough on fantasy owners by recording only sack through the first seven games. But for those of his owners who made the fantasy playoffs, Allen went on a well-timed tear of 10 sacks in the last nine games, salvaging a season that was close to going down as a career worst. But with four straight years of at least 11 sacks and 22 career forced fumbles, Allen should not be doubted. The explosive and powerful rusher remains one of the league's elite.
Allen has been the picture of consistency the
last three years, tallying 14.5 or more sacks
and 51 or more tackles each season, and missing
just two games in that span. He was also
consistent week-to-week last year, going as
many as two games without a sack just twice.
Last season, he even gave owners a nice little
bonus — the second interception of his career
and his first NFL touchdown. Still just 28, Allen
should continue to be one of the most productive
linemen in any fantasy format this season.
Allen’s off-field behavior will always be a
concern; with alcohol-related incidents in his
past, any transgression would likely draw a
significant smack-down from Commissioner
Goodell’s office.
But the bigger issue this season could be the
possibility of suspensions for Viking interior
linemen Pat and Kevin Williams for PED violations.
Losing those big DTs could allow opposing
linemen to double Allen more often, which
might hurt his overall numbers. However, at
press time it appears that a court injunction
will allow the Williams’ to play a full schedule
this season.
Allen is an elite pass rusher – but his acquisition was something of a risk for Minnesota; he was suspended for two games in 2007 after a DUI incident. Thus far, the move has panned out. Allen followed up his breakout 15.5-sack 2007 season with 15 in his first season in purple. But he’s no one-dimensional pass-rusher. Allen has posted healthy tackle numbers every season since his second in the league, including a career-high 77 in 2006. Playing alongside Minnesota’s outstanding DT tandem of Pat Williams and Kevin Williams means offensive lines can’t double Allen nearly as much as his talent demands – and that means quarterbacks will spend a lot of time flat on their backs when playing the Vikings. One concern is that another alcohol-related incident would result in a stiff suspension. Another concern is that both Pat and Kevin Williams could be suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s anti-doping policy.
Allen led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2007,
achieved in only 14 games because of a two-game
suspension for driving under the influence. Allen
made 64 tackles last year after a career-high 77
in 2006. He has at least nine sacks in three of his four NFL seasons and at least 57 tackles in each of the last three. Allen was traded from Kansas City to Minnesota in April and signed a six-year, $74 million deal (more than $31 million guaranteed) that is the richest in NFL history for a defensive player. The Vikings have perhaps the
league's best defensive line, which figures to free Allen for plenty of sack and tackle opportunities. The only knock on Allen is his history of off-the-field problems. He is one DUI away from a one-year suspension but claims he’s been alcohol-free for more than a year.
Entering his fourth NFL season, Allen has the on-the-field aspect of professional football under control. It’s once the cleats are off that Allen starts running into problems. Multiple DUI arrests, a contract dispute and a league suspension that will hold him out of the season’s first two games cloud Allen’s 2007 status. However, he maintains that he has been alcohol-free for several months now, and since he will be playing for a big-money deal next offseason, Allen will have plenty of motivation. His sack total dipped to 7.5 last season, but Allen’s 77 tackles (65 solo) are elite for a defensive end. You’ll need to find an alternative for the first two weeks of the year, but once Allen returns, his disruptiveness of the edge will make him an elite IDP once again.
Allen got to start midway through 2004 and hasn’t looked back. In the second half of that rookie campaign, he went on a tear of five sacks in six games that put the league on notice the Chiefs had found a winner in the fourth round. He sure delivered on the promise last year, turning in a season topped by just five other defensive linemen. Don’t expect him to take any plays off: this guy is relentless whether it’s the pass rush or run pursuit. For leagues that count passes defended and forced fumbles, Allen posted five passes defended and forced seven fumbles. He’s doing it all on a team whose next best sacker was Eric Hicks with four. Just imagine if he got some help.
Allen burst onto the NFL scene last season, leading the Chiefs with nine sacks in his rookie campaign. Entering this year as the team's starting right defensive end, Allen has the talent to improve his numbers in his second season. A great pass rusher, Allen should be the defensive line's biggest fantasy contributor.
A fourth round pick in the 2004 draft, Allen's greatest impact will probably be limited to special teams contributions and little else.
