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
- fafink- don't be so stupid! Stop getting your information and view points from Cataldi! it was a reference to the fact that there was a lot of young talent signed for a few years. that absolutely has the MAKINGS of a dynasty. They didn't pan out, but technically, they still could become a dynasty. Only time will tell on that one.— macd41144
- welcome to the chat howie roseman a/k/a macdad41144, you dope — hannibal barca
- It is sure easy to point fingers now. 3 years ago, when they drafted Nate Allen, everyone was saying how great of a pick it was.— penncrow19
- He is slow, can't cover and hits like a wimp. Other than that, he is as good as Kurt Coleman..— BirdinParadise
- STINKS!— CoettaGarner25
- OK... Dawkins and Ike Reese were NOT cut, and I don't think Trotter was either. Free Agency... heard of it? Besides, did you really think we needed to keep Trotter? In his second run with the team, they let him go at the right time.— operagost
- Just another example of the poor talent evaluators on the Eagles brain trust. Very few guys "grow into" pro football positions. Allen never was the second coming of Dawk!— billtfla
- Another brilliant 2nd round pick/bust. Year of drafts like this is why they suck out loud— rustypop58
- Allen's knee is to blame.— Tyrone Biggums
With all of these moves....It seems logical...that Andy is coming back next season...Why else would you do them?- Because you are a professional organization and you run through the finish line. Believe or not the Eagles are going to exist beyond this season so you don't give up in November. — guyguy4
- Why hasn't anyone mentioned Jarrett yet? Other teams didn't have a hard time evaluating Jarrett in the draft; they had him pegged as a much-lower-round pick.
And no one has had a hard time evaluating him this season. A few teams have had him in for a try-out, and he's still on the street. Not exactly Ronnie Lott out there.— HolidayinCambodia - just another wasted draft pick brought to you by reid/roseman and co..— sgamble077
- Allen and Watkins are big time BUSTS! Allen is not a starter for any NFL team that is serious about winning as he takes lousy angles to the ball and doesn't make tackles. Seems to follow along the plays and then will make a tackle after the catch. Not what you want back there but Coleman is no better. Both thoser guys need to be replaced next season.— connorjr
- The lockout happened. He never fully came back from that knee injury and the lack of offseason support in coming back from that injury derailed his career.— doctorhim
- Foles, McCoy, Brown, Polk, Peters, Mathis, Kelce (?), Scott, Kelly, Celek, Maclin, Henery, Herremens (?), Anderson, Dorenbos, Avant, Cooper, Kendricks, Ryans, Johnson, Rau, there are my 20.— oldBird
- Allen sure as heck didn't injure himself making a tackle.— Ron Datesman
- Another draft pick where Andy was attempting to show he was much smarter than the rest of the league.
The players that the Eagles have left to other teams due to front office and coaching incompetence would fill two Superbowl rosters.— fmMD - I like Anderson but he should be starting in place of Kurt"the doormat"Coleman. Coleman has done nothing since the start of the season. He and "Ballerina" Babin should have be gone weeks ago. I'll be glad when AR's gone, that is IF he's gone at seasons end.— realtruth
- When was Nate Allen any good? Nothing happened to him, he is what he is.— jbruder02
- As an owner Lurie is not committed to win championships his front office are clowns have no ideal in what it takes win championships....they all need to be fired....and of course Reid needs to be fired now....the season needs to end now so Reid can be gone.....and Foles is not the answer nor Vick......— CMDUNLTD
- As an owner Lurie is not committed to win championships his front office are clowns have no ideal in what it takes win championships....they all need to be fired....and of course Reid needs to be fired now....the season needs to end now so Reid can be gone.....and Foles is not the answer nor Vick......— CMDUNLTD
- I like Coleman more than Allen. At least Coleman fails while being aggressive. Allen is MIA.— p-diddy
- He didn't look good before the knee gave out. He looked slow and overmatched from the go.— UncleStosh
- Coleman...are you kidding me? Yeah...he is stout sometimes...but is never in the right place. When he is...in the right place, he whiffs or hits one of our guys. Cheez Louise..Alan better hope for a job if he is being replaced by Coleman.— 5thstrretpast
- Kurt Coleman is AWFUL! He has to be gone after this year. Nate Allen is proving to be another Andy Reid "bust" of a draft pick. That pick ranks right up there w/ Freddie Mitchell, Jerome McDougle and Danny Watkins. These more recent busts (and I'd include Brandon Graham too, even though he's been much better lately) have set this team WAAAY back.— Tar Heel 1
- Personally I thought Kurt Coleman would be gone first, as Allen was the lesser of the two evils at that posistion. Truth be told neither one of them are very good. Go Colt !— rfitz
- Is it coincidence that Allen's play has declined since Juan was made DC? Or when Bowles took over mid-season? Three DCs in three seasons. Coleman blows, Colt Anderson is a midget who doesn't belong as a starter.— beegal99
