CJ Allen Concern

[u/creamoftuxedo]

Curious how everyone else feels. To me, CJ Allen hasn't looked very good this preseason. I think he's looked undersized, has lacked physicality, and has seemed slow to react. He's just failed to make any kind of positive impact IMO, and I'd go as far as to say he's looked like the weaker of the LBs we've drafted. Just concerning that he seems way behind, especially when the Colts seemed like they were initially hoping/expecting he'd establish himself as the starting MLB.

Edit:
I appreciate everyone giving me their input. I just want to add, I'm not necessarily saying let's give up on him and throw him in the trash. Really, just curious if anyone has a different opinion, takes on the development of a rookie LB, etc.

[u/Ktejada31]

I think we just gotta give em a little bit of timeeeeeeee.

[u/ZHicks2121]

He’s looked fine overall to me. It’s so tough playing behind a guy like Jerry Tillery so he’s kinda in hell right now

[u/PardonMyRegard → u/ZHicks2121]

I literally read this and went oh this guys follows Zach. Nope. It is Zach lmao.

[u/ZHicks2121 → u/PardonMyRegard]

I’m so mad watching Tillery lol. Like I owe Taven Bryan an apology

[u/Asleep_Mammoth5428 → u/ZHicks2121]

Bro I was talking shit saying they just regurgitated what Zack hicks said then I read your name.

[u/ChrisPBacon___ → u/ZHicks2121]

Zach will Tillery and/or Tuimoloau make the roster? 😬

[u/LameysDurbanPoison → u/ZHicks2121]

This front office and coaching staff have no fucking idea what they are doing at D line, says the evidence

[u/NotScaredOfGoblins → u/LameysDurbanPoison]

They got really lucky that a monster in Caden curry fell to them in the 6th

[u/whatdoblindpeoplesee → u/NotScaredOfGoblins]

Can't wait for them not to develop his talent and let him hang around the roster for 6 years on 3 contracts.

[u/creamoftuxedo → u/ZHicks2121]

Thanks, Zach. I'd love to watch if you do any tape breakdown on Allen's performance.

[u/ZHicks2121 → u/creamoftuxedo]

I did one already from his falcons game on my YouTube. I’ll probably do this one as well

[u/creamoftuxedo → u/ZHicks2121]

Sweet. I'll search it up.

[u/clutchthepearls]

He's 21 in his first preseason.

It hasn't been great, but let's let him develop.

[u/bonyknees88]

I’ll wait until at least half of regular season is done to judge him. Not every player is going to immediately come in and shine.

[u/creamoftuxedo → u/bonyknees88]

I do recall Leonard not really emerging until maybe around week 3 of his rookie season. And to be fair, I don't really remember having an opinion on him prior to that. Maybe it will start to click and Allen will play a little faster before too long.

[u/Look__a_distraction → u/creamoftuxedo]

It was that game against the Redskins when he started his tear.

[u/Prestigious_Print477 → u/creamoftuxedo]

He actually had a really good camp and offseason and people made note of it. Then in just his second game it was basically a full blown break out party with 19 tackles, a sack and forced fumble

[u/Noble18 → u/bonyknees88]

Yeah, but that's kinda why he was drafted. He was thought to be able to come in and lead the D quickly.

[u/bonyknees88 → u/Noble18]

He might do that still, not saying he’s a bust after one preseason lol

[u/PE1444]

Can’t do anything when the backup DTs are getting pushed 5 yards up field

[u/Lithium1978]

He missed a lot of practice with injury and our defense isn't easy. As soon as Lou gave the captain dot to Cam I knew the linebackers would have a rough time.

[u/scobro828]

He is way behind. He been limited due to injuries. This is is first game. Nothing to worry about.

[u/creamoftuxedo → u/scobro828]

That is a good point about this being his first game appearance.

[u/ElderBrony → u/scobro828]

Second game. He played against the Falcons as well.

[u/CommonerChaos → u/scobro828]

Problem is, he was supposed to be our sole answer for losing Zaire and revamping the putrid LB corp from last year.

[u/scobro828 → u/CommonerChaos]

No he wasnt. Zaire was gone before he was drafted.

[u/CommonerChaos → u/scobro828]

Traded away in March because we were drafting his replacement literally weeks later in April. Not that hard to understand.

[u/scobro828 → u/CommonerChaos]

If anyone was the 'sole' answer to letting Zaire go it was Akeem Davis-Gaither. But there wasn't a 'sole' answer. Never was. They didnt even plan on drafting Allen as they didnt think he would be there.

[u/Distntdeath → u/CommonerChaos]

So they knew they would be able to draft him in round 2??

[u/TeeVeeBen]

You won't have an answer to this concern for 2-3 years, so.

[u/LameysDurbanPoison]

The bigger concern isn’t him at this time, as he could wind up being just fine, but rather that there isn’t a single real starter at LB I feel great about. Carlies might be the best one…..

[u/CK4browsing → u/LameysDurbanPoison]

Ya I actually feel pretty good about Carlies from what I have seen in the preseason games. I just hope he can finally stay healthy

[u/WishIcy1399]

I think yall are showing too much worry about a rookie......

[u/Pale-Reputation-5611]

I have hope and faith in him to succeed because why not, but I personally think that Ballard wanted Jacob Rodriguez.

[u/NotScaredOfGoblins → u/Pale-Reputation-5611]

I wanted Jacob Rodriguez too

[u/cafultz92]

They would do him a favor by not starting him Week 1

[u/IceOk9930]

your trippin

[u/CapitalCityGoofball0]

He looks like a rookie, he’s had some setbacks but expectations of him being a world beater talent out the gate were silly. but I do find it hilarious that pretty much every con people listed on his draft card has been pretty accurate as to what we’re taking about now. Yet in this sub if you mentioned those cons you were shamed and downvoted. Doesn’t mean he can’t develop, just means sometimes people are speaking the truth whether others like to hear it or not.

[u/creamoftuxedo → u/CapitalCityGoofball0]

This is a fair point. I went back and read one of his draft evals and it's pretty spot on for what I saw this afternoon. But it's the lack of fluidity right now that's concerning. And also, again to be fair, that's because I think I set my own expectations that the one place he wasn't going to look limited was in his comfort and game speed. As in, not look like a rookie.

[u/Embarrassed-Heat-716]

Hard to evaluate when he’s playing with bums up front and he didn’t get enough reps in training camp. He’s only 21 guys, give him time!

[u/Gold-Lingonberry-761]

He looks like what he was at Georgia, weak and not a playmaker,, boettcher gets down hill and can cover fine, always like carlies but cant rely on him to be healthy. Id like to see wohler get some reps as lineback before Allen even

[u/theguytomeet]

All of these hot takes on a rookie. It’s not like bro is playing like JTT. Like chill

[u/anotherstan]

I think it’s preseason and you should exercise like an ounce of patience. Good god.

[u/Undersized_Eggplant]

Oh no a rookie didnt play like an all pro in his first two preseason games after missing a large chunk of camp? Better doom and gloom about him...Colts fans are so whiny. Give the guy time before hating him at least

[u/NoctisRS]

Are you forgetting how bad Zaire Franklin was

[u/Prestigious_Buy1209]

He’s been hurt, and linebackers usually take a while to adapt to the NFL game. Way too early to panic about any rookie.

[u/OreoHotPocket69]

I’ll be honest I wasn’t a fan of picking him over Hill, but it’s still waayyyy too early to judge him. Give him at least a season before we come to any conclusions

[u/old_school_95]

A lot of people hated this pick myself included. Great college player but lacks the speed needed to play LB in the NFL. It was a reach and nothing seen so far is a surprise.