With the 76th pick of the draft the Rams select: Jack Allen, C. Michigan State
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1868385/jack-allen
JACK ALLEN, C
SCHOOL:
MICHIGAN STATE |
CONFERENCE: BIG10
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: SENIOR |
HOMETOWN: HINSDALE, IL
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1 / 294 LBS.
PROJECTED RANKING 108
OVERALL POSITION 3
PROJ. RND. 3-4
PLAYER OVERVIEW
While Jack Conklin was the star of the band along Michigan State's offensive line the past few seasons, Allen was the all-important glue that kept the group together and in tune.
A four-year starter who earned All-American honors with 47 career starts (42 at center), Spartans coaches charged him with just three sacks allowed.
The four-time Academic All-Big Ten choice is the first two-time All-Big Ten and repeat All-American lineman for Michigan State since Tony Mandarich in 1988.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Stout, compact build with low center of gravity. Understands that low man wins, bending at the knees and wining with leverage. Creates a strong base, digging his cleats in the ground with a balanced reset.
Blocks with excellent body control, running his feet and snapping his hips. Extends off the snap with quick hands and rapid punch. Always alert with anticipation and calm eyes to adjust to moving targets. Key man making all the line calls and top-notch communicator.
If the whistle hasn't blown, he's looking for someone to hit. Determined competitor and loves to finish. Three-time all-state and all-conference wrestler in high school, setting several prep records.
Experience at guard and also filled in at left tackle when Jack Conklin was sidelined with an injury. Two-year team captain and carries himself with an alpha male mentality.
WEAKNESSES: Short arms and struggles to keep defenders from his body. Undersized frame and can be uprooted with strength that appears maxed out. Short-area puller, but doesn't have ideal athletic range to consistently be effective away from the line of scrimmage.
Wild punch on the move and finds himself off balance in space. Grabby and will be caught with a fistful of cloth. Inconsistent contact balance when rushers attack his edge. Missed at least two games due to injury each of the past three seasons, including multiple injuries to his left ankle (Oct. 2014, Oct. 2015).
IN OUR VIEW: Allen doesn't look like much physically and has his athletic and length limitations, but he is a smart, stubborn blocker with the requisite toughness and tenacity to get the job done, never playing complacent. Although he struggles to consistently sustain, Allen understands how to win early and reset on the move as his wrestling background often shows on the football field.
He doesn't have a high NFL ceiling, but can start at the next level, possibly as early as his rookie year.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/jack-allen?id=2555183
JACK ALLEN C
MICHIGAN ST. BIG TEN
OVERVIEW
When an NFL offensive line coach sees that a young lineman was a high school wrestler, a smile comes across his face. Grappling in the trenches is what a lineman does -- and is something at which Allen excels. The former Illinois state title holder at 285 pounds is not the largest center in the country, but no other "man in the middle" matches this four-year starter's toughness, anchor, and aggressive nature. The two-time USA Today All-American missed a couple of games with an ankle injury in 2015, but came back to help his team to a Big Ten title.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Has a compact build with above average core strength. Was a standout wrestler in high school and uses that background to generate quick torques and turns on defenders. Understands his strengths and physical limitations. Possesses great strength in his hands and can snatch and ride defenders until the whistle sounds. Rarely has his hands outside defender's framework. Combines arm extension and running feet to redirect gap shooters away from his quarterback. Card-carrying tough guy willing to put some extra spice on it when he finishes a block. On the move, can adjust tempo and angle to land a squared block. Climbs up to middle linebackers with choppy steps and balanced base. Despite a lack of athleticism, still has plus body control. Hits where he aims. Flat-footed puncher in pass pro.
WEAKNESSES
Average athleticism and very moderate flexibility. Is a little bit stiff in space. Inconsistent in his attempts to climb up to second level off of combo blocks. Will struggle to get cutoff blocks against instinctive, inside linebackers who will beat him to the spot. Able to get away with holding more often in college than he will be able to in the pros. At times, will rely on brute force over physical ability. When he has to anchor up against bull rushers, his balance diminishes. Doesn't have the mass or length that some teams would like in a starting center.
NFL COMPARISON: Olin Kreutz
BOTTOM LINE
Despite having a cat named "Bubbles," Allen is a coach's dream with the leadership, competitiveness and the tenacious mindset to grind out the will of defenders by the end of the fourth quarter. While there are clearly some athletic limitations, Allen is especially adept at minimizing those while accentuating his strengths. There are too many check marks in his favor to expect him to fall short of an NFL career as an eventual starter.
