Teicher: Jared Allen quickly exceeding KC's expectations

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http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/10041488.htm

Sack-tacular SURPRISE

Pass rusher Allen quickly exceeding KC's expectations

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star


Chiefs rookie Jared Allen wore a black eye this week courtesy of a stray fist he took in last week's victory over Atlanta. Allen couldn't have been prouder.

“It makes me feel,” he said, beaming, “like a football player.”

Allen has other reasons for feeling as if he belongs. A fourth-round draft pick, Allen has emerged as the Chiefs' pass-rush specialist. Despite playing limited snaps, Allen leads the Chiefs and all NFL rookies in sacks with four.

He took down Michael Vick twice last week, including once when he shoved 290-pound Atlanta tackle Kevin Shaffer aside on the way to his target. Allen's play gives the Chiefs hope they can get to Peyton Manning when they play the Colts on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Manning has been sacked just four times this season. The Chiefs got to Manning only once in last year's playoff game, and that was accomplished by the since-departed R-Kal Truluck.

“Peyton Manning is obviously a different beast than Michael Vick,” Allen said. “You look at the schedule, and you kind of get excited about this game. But we've still got to get to him.”

If they do, chances are it will be Allen. He plays the right end on passing downs and is pushing for more playing time. Chances are, after the way he played against the Falcons, he will get it.

“I'd like to see him play more,” said Lynn Stiles, the Chiefs' vice president for football operations. “I'm a spectator on Sunday just like everybody else. He's a player other teams have to account for. I'm not comparing him to Derrick Thomas, but Derrick was one of those kinds of guys. Neil Smith was one of those kinds of guys.

“I've said all along that if he gets enough snaps, he'll get a sack a game. But he's got to be playing to do it.”

Allen is far ahead of the curve. A fourth-round pick is supposed to be playing on special teams at this point of his rookie season, particularly for a veteran-filled team like the Chiefs.

But Allen is the unusual Chiefs draft pick who is exceeding expectations. The Chiefs hoped Allen would eventually become a starter. He had 38½ career sacks at Division I-AA Idaho State, including 17½ as a senior.

Combine his small-college background and the fact that at about 270 pounds he's a little undersized, and even the Chiefs weren't certain.

Now the Chiefs are lining up to take credit for his selection. Asked who pushed for his selection, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said: “Me. No one makes all the decisions or gets everything right. But I had a real strong feeling on this guy and I got support from everybody else and we drafted him.

“I loved what I saw on college tapes. I've said this many times: I saw Grant Wistrom in this kid, that kind of passion to play the game and a long body that can lean and turn and twist and run. I'm not the only one who saw it, but I know at that time in the draft I was pushing for everybody else to get involved in the evaluation process and consider this guy seriously.”

Stiles, who oversees the Chiefs' draft preparations, was startled to hear Vermeil's comment.

“He said that? Well, whatever Dick said,” Stiles said. “I don't care who gets the credit. Coach Vermeil, Carl Peterson, Lamar Hunt, the janitor can get the credit for all I care.

“If he had played Division I-A, you would have said he was the next Grant Wistrom because he was a playmaker. There are many similarities. They both have great motors. They're both instinctive players.”

Allen usually comes out of the game in regular down-and-distance situations. The Chiefs would like to see him get stronger before they will use him regularly in that role.

“We've said all along that he's a good football player and will continue to get better and has to play more,” Vermeil said. “I think he's a guy who has some very, natural instinctive pass-rush ability. He has a great passion to play the game, and his motor's always running, and if anyone makes a mistake he can get there because he doesn't turn his motor off. That's just the kind of kid he is.”

Allen also might be the kind of kid who ends the season as the Chiefs' sack leader. No rookie has done so since Thomas in 1989.

“It wouldn't surprise me,” Vermeil said. “I believe Jared Allen has the ability to one-on-one pass rush against a good offensive tackle, and he'll get his share of sacks.”

Allen is taking a good amount of grief from linemates like Eric Hicks and Lional Dalton about his sack lead. He's certain to hear more as the season wears on.

“They'll probably make me take them out to dinner,” Allen said. “But that's OK. That would definitely be worth it.”


JIM BARCUS/The Kansas City Star
In his first pro season, Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen (above) already is putting the squeeze on opposing quarterbacks. Allen leads NFL rookies with four sacks.