What ever happened to Nate Allen?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
What ever happened to Nate Allen?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
In a peculiar move, Andy Reid announced today that Kurt Coleman and Colt Anderson would start at safety on Sunday ahead of Nate Allen.
Allen will work into the rotation, Reid added, but the switch was a clear demotion for the Eagles' 2010 second-round draft pick.
"I was alright with it," Allen said on Wednesday. "You got to be a professional about it and just go out there and continue to work and contribute and help the team out however you can."
Anderson, who was filling in for the injured Coleman, played particularly well against the run in the last two games. Reid had hinted last week that he was likely to keep Anderson in as a starter. But having Coleman, a 2010 seventh round pick, ahead of Allen is a bit of a surprise considering the Eagles have more invested in Allen.
A demotion this late in the season suggests that perhaps the Eagles have given up on Allen. Reid was asked what the 25-year-old safety had to do to remain a starter in the NFL.
"The first thing was to stay healthy. He's been up and down with that," Reid said. "The other thing is just continue to get better. That's the primary thing -- just keep taking steps forward."
Allen has started in 38 games over the last three seasons. He only missed one game because of a hamstring injury this season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Dec. of his rookie season. At the time, Allen appeared to be a young safety on the up. Last season, he showed flashes, but was inconsistent as he recovered from the knee injury.
There was little improvement in 2012. In fact, Allen appeared to have taken a step back. The Eagles have credited him with a career-high 60 solo tackles, but he has no interceptions, forced fumbles or sacks. Allen was asked if his play had dipped since the injury.
"It's hard to say, man," Allen said. "I'm not going to say it had anything to do with my knee. It is what it is."
Reid claimed that he was going with Anderson and Coleman because they were better against the run and would matchup better against the Redskins. Reid said that Coleman, who has also struggled for most of this season, was a "little more stout" against the run than Allen.
"Colt came in and we asked him to fill in at the line of scrimmage and be a physical player and he did a nice job with that," Reid said. "We needed that at that time, and so we're going to need it this week. [The Redskins] run the football and do a good job at that."
Allen has had games in which he has looked strong against the run. Last season in Buffalo, he was all over the field. But the third-year player has missed his share of tackles in the box and seemed to lack the chippiness you need out of the safety position.
"That's something you can always improve on, along with other aspects," Allen said.
The Eagles, like many teams across the league, have had trouble evaluating the safety position. They expended two second round picks on the position -- Allen in 2010 and Jaiquawn Jarrett in 2011 -- in back-to-back drafts. Jarrett was released in September.
It didn't help the youngsters that the Eagles switched to a scheme during the 2011 off-season that placed more responsibility agaisnt the run on the shoulders of both safeties.
Still, it would seem to make sense to see how Allen would finish out the season now that the Eagles went back to a more traditional scheme for safeties. It could be they don't expect to bring either Allen or Coleman back and just want to see if Anderson can handle the role since he could be back as a special teams ace.
Anderson will be a free agent in the off-season. Allen and Coleman have a year left on their contracts.
Just more poor player evaluation by the front office and Andy. Cutting Dawkins over money , cutting Trot, Ike, and other gutsy players has been Andy's downfall......Good luck Andy, TIMES YOURS.— Cactusclarke- Safety for the Eagles is like goalie for the Flyers...they can't seem to get that position secured, no matter what they try.— EmanuelP
- coleman and allen are HORRIBLE. better not be eagles next year.— psualum
- what happened to Allen? He sucks, that's what happened. Another genius pick by Mrs. Roseman's little boy, Howie.— coloradoeagle
- this is what happens when you hire an accountant to evaluate NFL talent
— hannibal barca - Uhhh....Howie didn't pik Nate. Andy did. And he will be better evaluated under a more sound scheme....would have helped if he didn't wreck his knee too. He looked like he would be pretty old before his injury. Don't underestimate the injury....remembr how good Kenny Phillips looked for NY before his knee problems? Can't really blame Howie or Andy for Nate or Graham getting hurt.... — cdedrick05
- Roseman too is awful.— Nezhy
- Nate Allen is the worst Free Safety in the NFL. He is slow, a poor tackler, and takes the wrong route to the WR every time he trys to break up a pass or make a hit. At least Coleman puts some effort into his game....Allen is HORRENDOUS.— Phront_Runner
- See I told you that Coleman was really Andy's love child!
(oh like there's a MORE rational explanation for this!)— banned - Allen has been demoted because Andy is looking ahead to next year when he finishes out his contract. Now that the farce called the wide nine is gone the defense will be much better. We have two very good RB's in McCoy and Brown so the offense will be much better, too. Foles will be the QB we always hoped to have here, the O-Line will be much better with everyone back, and the wideouts will consist of those who want to play every down (bye, bye, D Jack). Andy will win the East Division and all will be forgotten. Of course, none of this will happen if the Mayans were right!— vietnamvet
- Garbage in and Garbage out...... that's a fool question "What happen to Allen"....... he was always suspect.— Dexter
- I'd love to know for sure who drafted these busts. Have to think Reid has final say, and that along with the other 50 reasons, Reid must go— phillyceltic
- I'm thinking there might not be more than 20 players on the team next season that are on it today. Probably be a very good thing!— gdibig
- I'll tell you what happened. Name one significant play he has made this year (besides tackling guys on his own team). Of the 4 bad secondary "starters", he is the worst player in my opinion and has been starting way too long this year. He doesn't hit, has poor football instincts, shys away from tackles, does not appear to be playing hard, doesn't make plays, and is usually in the wrong place. I consider him worse than Coleman because at least Coleman appears to be playing at 100% effort. Coleman is too small and appears to have zero football smarts (always in the wrong place and falls for play action), but at least the effort shows. It's funny how an undersized Anderson looks so much better, just because he is at the right spot on the field.— mandcdad
- The Eagles are starting to look like a football team after getting rid of the deadwood! I still find it hard to believe that Vick thought this collection of green dung was the making of a dynasty! That guy is really out to lunch!— fafink
