Revisiting the Jared Allen Trade

[Mr. Flopnuts]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...ed-allen-trade

Bill Williamson

The image of a purple-clad Jared Allen celebrating over fallen quarterbacks can’t be fun for Kansas City Chiefs fans. (NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert took a look at the Allen deal from the Vikings' perspective.)

They were used to seeing the mulleted one celebrating sacks as a Chief. Since Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2008, the Chiefs have been listless on defense.

But two seasons into the blockbuster trade, it is not necessarily fair to say Kansas City was a loser in the trade.

Kansas City sent Allen and a sixth-round draft pick in 2008 for the No. 17 overall pick, two third-round picks and a sixth-round pick. Kansas City turned the picks into tackle Branden Albert, running back Jamaal Charles, safety DaJuan Morgan and sixth-round pick Kevin Robinson. The Vikings turned the Chiefs’ sixth-round pick into center John Sullivan.

“Kansas City really can’t worry about what Allen is doing in Minnesota and that Sullivan is a starter,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “The Chiefs knew Allen was going to be good in Minnesota. But they didn’t want to pay him so they got very good value. That’s why the trade was good. It was a good trade because the value was good. Let’s see what Kansas City is going to do with it. It still can be a very good trade for the Chiefs.”

The following is a look at the key aspects of the trade two seasons later:

Jamaal Charles: Charles is the key player in the deal from the Chiefs’ perspective. If he can build upon his fantastic finish in 2009, this trade will be great for Kansas City.

Charles was taken with the first of the two third-rounders the Chiefs got from Minnesota. The speedster ran for 1,120 yards after taking over as the starter in November, including 259 yards in the season finale against Denver. He averaged a whopping 5.9 yards per carry for the season and represents hope for Kansas City’s offense.

“I still think Kansas City needs to pick up a 230-pound back to run the ball 10 times to keep Charles fresh, but he looks like the real deal,” Williamson said. “He can be special. If Charles can get better and become a legit 1,500-yard back, then the Chiefs will really have something. It looks promising.”

Branden Albert: Albert was expected to be the centerpiece of this trade because he was the No. 15 overall pick (the Chiefs swapped the No. 17 pick to Detroit), but he has been slow to get his career going.

Albert, who has dealt with injuries, has been inconsistent at left tackle. Many league observers believe Albert will excel at either right tackle or left guard. The Chiefs might select a left tackle with the No. 5 pick in the 2010 draft and then move Albert to right tackle. Or, when Brian Waters (who turns 33 on Feb. 18) retires, Albert could move to left guard -- the position he played in college. Williamson thinks Albert could be a near-Pro Bowl-caliber guard.

Jared Allen posted a career-high 15.5 sacks in his final season in Kansas City.

If Kansas City does find a new left tackle and Albert plays right tackle in 2010, he should improve and be a solid contributor.

The Chiefs do miss Allen: There is no doubt Kansas City misses the talented Allen, but it was clear they would. He is a special pass-rusher.

Allen had 14.5 sacks in each of his seasons in Minnesota. He had 43 sacks in his four seasons in Kansas City, and the Chiefs have had little pass-rush presence since Allen was traded. In 2008, in fact, Kansas City set a record for the fewest sacks in a season with 10.

“The Chiefs don’t have a pass rush without Allen,” said Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. “They lost a lot by giving him up. Special, game-changing pass-rushers, which he is, are difficult to lose. They miss him, there’s no doubt.”

He wouldn’t fit Kansas City’s defense right now: Ironically, Allen wouldn’t be a great fit for the current Chiefs scheme. He was traded before the final season of the Carl Peterson-Herm Edwards era.

Last year, when Scott Pioli took over as general manager and hired Todd Haley as coach, Kansas City moved from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 scheme. Allen wouldn’t have had an obvious position in the 3-4, a problem the Chiefs also encountered with defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey and linebacker Derrick Johnson.

“He’d be a total waste in Kansas City’s new scheme,” Williamson said. “He is not a 3-4 guy. He’s a classic 4-3 guy. So, it’s funny; Allen wouldn’t be right for the Chiefs. Maybe they would have stuck to a 4-3 if he stayed.”

Conclusion: By no means does this trade seem like a disaster for Kansas City. Yes, Minnesota is tickled with the deal and it should be. Allen is a great player.

But if Charles and Albert become solid fixtures in the offense, the deal will be good for Kansas City. It’d be nice if Morgan (whom the previous Kansas City regime loved as a rookie) bounces back from a poor second season and becomes a solid contributor, the trade will even be better. Robinson was cut as a rookie.

“On paper, it was a good trade then for Kansas City and it still can be very good,” Horton said. “Allen was going to be a good player on a bad team. The Chiefs needed to get younger. They seem to be on the right track with this trade.”

[wild1]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Dude, they only won 4 games. How good could they have been really??

The last time the Chiefs had a good defense was in the previous century.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by wild1

Never said he wasn't. I just said he didn't do much the second half of this season.

Because he had only four sacks?

Did you even watch the Vikings?

[milkman]

What's done is done.

Move on.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

He'd fit at least as well as Hali.

Truth is there are not many 3-4 OLBs who are good in coverage.

Allen doesn't play his responsibilities well. Can be tolerated as a 4-3 DE when the DE is a very good pass rusher. It cannot be tolerated by a OLB in the 3-4. Oh, and Hali is a sideline to sideline defender who is more athletic and moves better laterally. Hali is better in coverage, and has a better vertical, which is handy in zone coverages.

So, in summary, no he wouldn't fit as well as Hali. Not even close.

[HotRoute]

truth is the guy wanted out, thats that. we got good picks for him (1st and two 3rd's) but forgot we had an idiot making those picks. so . . . .

[HotRoute]

Originally Posted by milkman

What's done is done.

Move on.

this, no reason to cry over spilled milk.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Oh, and Hali is a sideline to sideline defender who is more athletic and moves better laterally.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Allen doesn't play his responsibilities well. Can be tolerated as a 4-3 DE when the DE is a very good pass rusher. It cannot be tolerated by a OLB in the 3-4. Oh, and Hali is a sideline to sideline defender who is more athletic and moves better laterally. Hali is better in coverage, and has a better vertical, which is handy in zone coverages.

So, in summary, no he wouldn't fit as well as Hali. Not even close.

Whoa.

[Gadzooks]

IMO it was a positive article for the Chiefs. For every time they mentioned how great Allen is, they mentioned how it was all aboot the money and at least you got something.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Except Allen is a hell of a lot better than Kampman.

Do you seriously think Allen wouldn't have made Hali look like a chump playing the same role last year?

No. He wouldn't have. See the thing that you don't get is what makes Allen good as a DE is his strength and ability to shed blocks. In a straight line, he is nearly as fast as Hali. However, laterally, Hali puts him to shame.

As I said all last offseason, Hali fits the defense perfectly. Allen doesn't. Not even close. Allen would be pointless in this scheme.

Now, the Chiefs may have elected to stay with a 4-3. But, if they didn't, Allen would be without a position. He would have been traded last year..... and the Chiefs probably wouldn't have gotten the same value.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

See the thing that you don't get is what makes Allen good as a DE is his strength and ability to shed blocks. In a straight line, he is nearly as fast as Hali. However, laterally, Hali puts him to shame.

.

Have you ever seen Hali attempt to change directions?

This is just ludicrous. You don't get 45 sacks in three years by being a one-trick pony.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Last offseason, I was telling everyone that Hali was a perfect fit for this defense. I believe you were one of the ones that was laughing then. I can't help the fact that you don't know what you are looking at when it comes to football players.

Now, if it were Allen or Hali as a DE.... Allen all day everyday. As an OLB in the 3-4. Hali, and ANY one who had any clue as to what they were looking at.... would see that easily.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

.

Have you ever seen Hali attempt to change directions?

This is just ludicrous. You don't get 45 sacks in three years by being a one-trick pony.

You are a fool to argue. But, I will indulge your ignorance.

I never said Allen was a one trick pony. He has a good inside move, a good spin move, and is strong enough to bull rush. You line him up on a tackle, and he is better.

If you line Hali up on a tackle, he has shorter arms, he doesn't have the strength and he can't shed the blocks.

Two different players. Two different bodies. Two different talents.

I can't make you understand what you can't comprehend.

But, we will just agree to disagree.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Whoa.

I would rather have a 4-3 with Allen. But, I don't think Pioli was staying with the 4-3 regardless of who was here.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Last offseason, I was telling everyone that Hali was a perfect fit for this defense. I believe you were one of the ones that was laughing then. I can't help the fact that you don't know what you are looking at when it comes to football players.

Now, if it were Allen or Hali as a DE.... Allen all day everyday. As an OLB in the 3-4. Hali, and ANY one who had any clue as to what they were looking at.... would see that easily.

He got abused in the run game. He's hardly a perfect fit.

It's really hilarious you think Hali is more athletic than Allen, though. Funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Watch Hali run some time. He is PAINFUL to watch if he has to pursue anyone.