Potential Atlanta Falcons Prospects: Tight End Dwayne Allen
by Dave Choate on Jan 24, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Falcons Talk
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PrintWe're starting our much-ballyhooed series on potential Falcons draft picks with a name you draftniks are already familiar with. That name?
Dwayne Allen.
Okay, so it's not a name that strikes fear into anyone. It is, however, the name of a hulking, athletic tight end with enormous upside. The name of a Clemson man with 50 catches for nearly 600 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011. The name.
I chose Allen because our sister draft site Mocking the Draft has picked him to head to the Falcons with the 23rd pick in the second round. His name has come up repeatedly in pierreo2's mock drafts FanPosts, as well, so I decided to do a little investigation.
The short version: Allen would be a nice fit. He's got some growing to do as a player, but he wouldn't be a full-time starter in 2012 because of Tony Gonzalez, anyways. At 6'4" and about 235, he's built like a big, bulky receiver, which he basically is. He's a fine blocker who needs to add a little weight to really excel in that role in the NFL. He's one of the better tight ends coming out in the draft in 2012, and the Falcons could potentially sole their future tight end woes now by getting him.
The longer version: While Allen's a nice fit, the Falcons have more pressing needs on both lines. I really would like to see the Falcons take on a high-upside tight end later in the draft who can sit and learn for a year or two while pulling down the occasional snaps when the Falcons want to give two tight end looks. Heck, I'd like Allen, but the team should be looking to upgrade at left tackle, right guard or end come April. Unless they can identify some true steals they feel really confident they'll get, Allen's a (well-rounded, talented) luxury.
Your thoughts on Allen?
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Talented player
…but I agree with you in the fact that it would be better to find a high-upside guy deeper in the draft. Kevin Koger from Michigan has had some good things said about him, and he’ll probably be around for awhile. Needs some work, but anyone they pick would have the best mentor in Tony G.
Tight Ends in general
Are hard to pinpoint. Aaron Hernandez, for instance, went in the fourth round. Antonio Gates wasn’t even drafted. Jimmy Graham went in the third round.
I think we can find a valuable project player later in the draft and reserve our 2nd and 3rd round picks for more pressing needs.
You are
absolutely right. I honestly didn’t know Antonio Gates was undrafted, that’s crazy. There will be several guys there in later rounds they can take, I’m not worried.
I don't think
He even played football in college and after being told he was too small to make the NBA he organized workouts with football teams. There will be guys we can take but for every Gates Graham or Hernandez there is probably 10 others who amount to nothing. If Allen is the best player available I’d be happy with him instead of reaching for an OL/DL.
We would be lucky to get him
By far the best TE in this draft. We could find a good prospect in the 3rd.
I think Orson Charles will be available in the third if Allen isn't
While not as tall he’s in the Hernandez mold of being a receiver called a TE and would pose a LOT of matchup problems for defenses if we decide to draft a TE.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
What's sad is
Orson was like the HD of Bobo’s offense. I swear bobo and MM are related or something. He’s a LOT better than his stats show because of just how underused he was. It was sad.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
by dr3dd1ne on Jan 24, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Could you clarify this comment?
Charles doesn’t look near as fast as Davis, and he is smaller. Considering Davis was a top ten pick, I struggle to believe Charles, who isn’t nearly as highly rated, looks anything like Vernon Davis.
"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham
by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 26, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
food for thought...
I don’t want a tight end unless he was a freakishly athletic and somewhat dominant PF in college basketball…. Antonio Gates, Gonzo, and as much as i hate it… Jimmy Graham.
by falcolicmsudawg33 on Jan 24, 2012 1:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Good point
College power forwards in basketball learn many of the necessary skills to become very good NFL tight ends. Blocking out, using your body to shield out defenders and developing soft hands transfer very nicely to the TE position.
Evan Rodriguez
Is a former basketball player and some say is a poor man’s Aaron Hernadez.
by pierre02 on Jan 24, 2012 3:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, he won't start...
but would immediately help in two and three TE sets which would be nice!!
"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders
"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster
I dunno...he's WAY more gifted than our current backup TE so he may start sooner than later...IF we draft him
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
We're on the same wavelength
This was who I was hoping they’d target in the 2nd round. I have a BIG fear though that he’ll be LONG gone by then.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
If we can't pick up good OL in the free agent pool though...I think we'll pick up one with our 2nd rounder.
but I like this dude a LOT
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
I'm thinking we're looking for an OL, DE, or TE with this pick
Unless our highest rated player on the board is a safety or something. We’ll have a clearer picture after free agency but it’s fun to knock this idea around.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
Agree on higher needs
But the wild-card is what the FO does before the draft. I really believe we’ll see TD make some serious moves to increase our number of picks in the draft, or at the least, increase the number in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Based on the statement Blank made, I believe we’re all in for some kind of shock during this offseason. I truly doubt we’ll be going into the draft with our existing positions.
Yeah I get the sense that some existing starters may be trade bait for just that purpose
All I can say is this may be the most interesting off-season for Falcons fans since TD and SMitty got here. I’m pretty excited myself.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
seeing as how Gates, Gonzalez, and Graham all had basketball backgrounds, maybe we should look for a TE with a basketball background. don’t know if theres any in the draft though
If Halladay, Lee, and Hamels all break their arms while playing tag in the clubhouse, We'll be set
by suicide bunting is a sin on Jan 24, 2012 2:28 PM EST reply actions
Does anyone know if Koetter and Nolan are already in town?
I assume they are and are already working on evaluating current personnel, free agent targets, and mock draft boards.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
Actually Nolan may have to work with Smitty some first on scheme
They’ll have to hammer out their scheme / approach before evaluating talent to meet their needs for that scheme on Defense. I think Koetter already knows what he wants to do and should be able to start player evaluations much sooner on offense.
Technically the glass is always full. 1/2 air. 1/2 water.
Saw Nolan at the Senior Bowl practices on TV
So, it looks like he’s already scouting. They didn’t mention Koetter, but I’d assume if he’s not there, he’s got someone there doing the scouting.
Koetter is supposedly there
Saw it on ajc.
by pierre02 on Jan 24, 2012 3:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah,They're here
And they’re seeing film in their sleep.Like Arthur said,it’s good to be getting new fresh analysis of our current roster,from the new coordinators.They may even be sleeping some nights at the Complex
My gues is TE could be a 3rd round pick
But in that case, it will come down to if either Allen or Fleener are still there, if not, pick something in the 7th. Those two are the only ones worthy of a top 100 pick as far as I’ve seen.
Who else is there in this TE class worthy of a Top 100 pick? Orson Charles? David Paulson? Ladarius Green? I really think the gap between Fleener/Allen and these guys is bigger than the gap between these guys and the mythical 6th or 7th round huge-upside-project…
I agree, third at the earliest
But then again, I’ve been surprised in the past. Third round pick for a special-teams ace/backup middle linebacker? I guess if you don’t have a fourth, you do what you gotta do. We might see the same kind of situation this year with no fourth rounder, with someone projected as more a fourth rounder being taken in the third.
by TheAreopagite on Jan 25, 2012 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
I Like Micheal Egnew out of Missouri alot
He’s a gifted pass catcher, which have lined up all over the field in college, as far I can read he had almost never started in 3-point stance and blocking but he has the ability to learn, and what better than learn under a future HOF TE, but he should be able to come in from day one in the passing game a create mismatches
Can we go ahead and dispel the whole "Basketball player = great TE" analogy
I understand Gates, Gonzo, and Graham were all college basketball players who became very good NFL tight ends. When you consider the typical size of a TE in college (6’5", 240), it makes sense that he probably played some basketball in his career. But being a former college basketball player doesn’t mean the guy will become a great TE in the NFL. I’m not saying we shouldn’t target guys who used to play basketball, I just think it is a bit ridiculous to say, “John Smith was a basketball player and now he is looking like a fifth round draft pick. We should get him.” I’m all in favor of getting a big, athletic TE, but some of the better TEs in the NFL did not play college basketball. It is similar to saying “Arian Foster and Fred Jackson are good NFL running backs who were undrafted. We should rely on finding the next great undrafted running back to be Michael Turner’s replacement.” A few examples are not reflective of the norm.
"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham
by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 24, 2012 6:07 PM EST reply actions
No
Show me a guy that hasn’t excelled in the NFL when they are pretty good in Basketball
And I’ll show myself the door.
by brotherbrown on Jan 24, 2012 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Fred Gibson from Georgia is the first that comes to mind
But for a more extensive list, Greg Paulus at QB/PG, Jerrod Johnson QB/F, Evan Moore TE/F, Terrell Pryor QB/WR/F. As everyone loves to point out, there are a few more in this draft class. We shall see how they do in the future.
"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham
by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 24, 2012 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
well for the most part I mean TE
But I guess I forgot to mention High IQ as well.
by brotherbrown on Jan 25, 2012 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
We will need a TE this draft
but I don’t see us using our #1 pick on him. Unless TD has access to secret tape of this guy that no other team does, if he lasts til us it’s pobably for a reason. We have way more pressing needs early than tight end too.
by Turner_The_Burner on Jan 24, 2012 8:20 PM EST reply actions
All for drafting a TE
In the second or third round. They can’t keep thinking a replacement for Gonzo is going to fall out of the sky. So they will need to invest one of the first 2 draft picks in a TE. I am all for drafting Micahel Egnew. He’s a matchup problem and had great production in college. But my sleeper TE prospect is Ladarius Green. He’s extremely athletic and a great pass catcher. He might still be around in the 3rd round and would be a great pick if we can get him there
The only problemm I have with green is his height he is only 6'3" which is small for a TE
by DanishFalcons on Jan 25, 2012 6:41 AM EST up reply actions
Keep an eye on Green during the Senior Bowl
He finished the season really well, and he is a monster Gronk-type TE that can catch the ball, so if he does well in Mobile and at the combine, he might be the third TE to crack the Top 100 Picks. I don’t see him coming close to Allen or Fleener, but if he does well, somone might reach for him. Maybe even the Falcons, if Allen and Fleener are gone by the 3rd and we really want that third rounder to go to a TE.
Allen and Fleener are projected
to both go in the 1st or 2nd round. Unless there are issues at the Combine they would be gone by the time ATL picks. Also, ATL should not use their first pick on a TE.
can he play basketball?
It seems like the best tight ends are the ones that can play basketball
See Tony Gonzalez in his earlier years and now Jimmy Graham of the Saints.
We should look for a tight end that has extensively played basketball.
Maybe Al Horford could try out and play for the falcons when his contract ends and heals up from shoulder surgery.
in a word...sold
Former teammate and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da’Quan Bowers said that Allen made it a point to go against Bowers in practice to improve his blocking, and that the two pushed each other to become better football players.
Coaching wins championships!
by Edgecrusher211 on Jan 25, 2012 11:56 AM EST reply actions
alot of draft gurus have Allen as a first round pick...
…., he compares to former Detroit Lion’s 1st round pick Brandon Pettigrew
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/9284/index.html
I feel Pettigrew as well as Kyle Rudolph (2nd round last yr) were better prospects
Allen is a little shorter than Pettigrew, Rudolph, Graham, Gronk, Gates, ect.
Don’t trade up for Allen, but take him in the second. If he is gone, consider Fleener, or Charles in the second (pending who else is available)
I had rather take a chance on Ladarius Green
in the 3rd or 4th round. Look over his draft analysis. He could be a Grahamesque TE.
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