4 Commanders on the hot seat entering Week 9 at Patriots
By Dean Jones
Jonathan Allen - Commanders DT
With the Washington Commanders trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat, it means others must now step up and make bigger contributions. The coaching staff looks set for a committee approach on the edge, but the onus is on their star defensive tackle tandem to start living up to bumper paychecks over the remaining nine games.
Jonathan Allen didn't seem too concerned about losing Sweat and Young this week. He knows it's a business above all else, but the former first-round selection must also recognize the need to be more impactful after an indifferent campaign to date.
Allen has been solid if not spectacular through eight weeks. He's cut a forlorn, frustrated figure at times, resulting in locker-room tirades and not using his aggression in the right way on occasion.
As one of the most established figures on and off the field, Allen knows what's required. Putting in a dominant display against the New England Patriots and making things difficult for suspect quarterback Mac Jones is a good place to start.
The Commanders will be relying heavily on Allen, there's no getting away from that. If he can clog up the middle to prevent decent running back Rhamondre Stevenson from doing damage and also generate consistent pressure on passing downs, that should set the tone for others to raise their respective performance levels.