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Redskins Training Camp Profile: DL Jonathan Allen

By Jacob Camenker

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: (L-R) Jonathan Allen of Alabama poses with Commissioner of the PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: (L-R) Jonathan Allen of Alabama poses with Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell after being picked #17 overall by the Washington Redskins during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: (L-R) Jonathan Allen of Alabama poses with Commissioner of the PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: (L-R) Jonathan Allen of Alabama poses with Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell after being picked #17 overall by the Washington Redskins during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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What Allen must show in training camp

There’s a keyword that applies to almost all second-year players when asking what a player must show in their sophomore campaign. Growth. Even though Allen was only on the field for five contests, there are expectations that the former first-round pick will be able to become a dynamic playmaker, or at least a solid starter. Allen can make the front office, coaching staff, and fans happy by growing into the starting role and improving as a pass rusher. If he can do that, then he will be in great shape.

While Allen is coming into the year with expectations, he is also somewhat of a forgotten man because of the improvements the Redskins have made to the defensive line as a whole.

Namely, Daron Payne was added to play nose tackle next to Allen, and that should work out very well. Allen and Payne were college teammates at Alabama and they headed one of the fiercest defenses in the SEC. Now reunited, the two should be ready to have a huge impact at the NFL level, along with the other edge rushers and Matt Ioannidis.

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Allen should look to develop chemistry with Payne early on in training camp. That may seem like an odd statement since we’re talking about the defensive line, but if Allen and Payne can work in tandem, they could be extremely difficult for opposing defenses to deal with. Considering that they have already been teammates, the two should start to mesh well quickly and could help to make the defensive line a major strength.

Beyond that, the other key for Allen is proving that there are no health concerns remaining with him. The shoulder and Lisfranc injuries put somewhat of a cloud over his rookie year, and he’ll desperately want to avoid becoming known as an injury-prone player. If he comes in at 100 percent and stays that way throughout training camp, that will do a lot to put those minor concerns to bed.

Allen is entering a good situation this offseason. He does have a little bit to prove, but he is also going to be the starter as there is little competition around him for the job.

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