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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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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 10: Ziggy Hood #90 and Stacy McGee #92 of the Washington Redskin celebrate against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at FedExField on September 10, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 10: Ziggy Hood #90 and Stacy McGee #92 of the Washington Redskin celebrate against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at FedExField on September 10, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Allen’s main competition

While the Redskins have added a lot of talent to the defensive line, none of their additions are going to displace Allen as a starter. Allen is the team’s most well-rounded defensive lineman, succeeding against both the run and the pass. For that reason, he will be on the field to start and will stay out there often.

That said, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula does love to rotate his defensive linemen in and out. For that reason, Allen will still have to prove that he can be a three-down player and stave off competition from players looking to earn roles somewhere on the offense.

The potential role players on the Redskins defensive line appear to be Stacy McGee, Anthony Lanier, and Ziggy Hood. All should see time, provided that they make the squad, but Allen would have an advantage over any of these players.

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McGee is a run stuffing specialist who seems likely to rotate in at nose tackle and along the defensive interior. Allen is a good enough run stopper that McGee would more likely rotate in for the other projected end starter, Ioannidis. It’s possible that McGee could start over Ioannidis, though the former Temple product would play more snaps given his superb pass rushing ability.

As for Lanier, he would be the biggest threat to Allen’s playing time. Lanier looked like a more than capable pass rusher last season, and the Redskins will probably try to get him involved again this season. Allen and Payne would be the candidates to rotate out in pass rushing situations, though their involvement would likely depend on how well they’re rushing the passer and their fatigue level. Even if Lanier takes a few snaps from Allen, it wouldn’t be a bad thing, as it would keep him fresh.

Meanwhile, Hood is more of a pass rushing backup as well, but he can do a little bit of everything. He’s a poor man’s Allen, so the Redskins likely wouldn’t try to put Hood on the field ahead of the Alabama product.

Tomsula likes to rotate players, so Allen isn’t going to play all the snaps (last year, he averaged about 50 percent of snaps per game). But of the defensive line group, he seems likely to play the highest percentage of snaps for the 2018 season, provided that he can stay healthy.

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