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Dolphins' Allen happily moving forward
Defensive back has put frustrating rookie season aside.
By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted June 4 2007
DAVIE · Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen ended a recent practice by reaching over tight end David Martin to break up a pass in the end zone before intercepting it.
That was the kind of playmaking ability expected by former Dolphins coach Nick Saban and Dolphins fans when the Tennessee standout was taken with the 16th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
Instead, they saw a confused rookie who barely got on the field in a forgettable first season that followed a protracted holdout. Allen struggled with Saban's complex secondary schemes while being asked to play two positions (safety and cornerback) at the same time.
After an offseason of soul-searching and prayer, Allen's deer-in-the-headlights look is gone, replaced by a determined, confident gaze.
"If you can't see it in my eyes, you must be blind," Allen said. "I'm definitely on a mission to prove to my teammates and coaching staff that I'm reliable. But I have a lot more growing to do."
Allen's growth seemed stunted from the start. He missed the first 15 practices of training camp during his contract holdout.
"I was pretty much playing catch-up the whole year, learning this and changing to this," said Allen, who had 13 tackles, two passes defensed and one interception in 16 games. "It was kind of complicated but, at the same time, I had to be patient and not get frustrated. I think last year I got frustrated at times ... [and] that's uncharacteristic of myself."
Allen seems far more relaxed now that coach Cam Cameron has taken the playcalling away from him by making him strictly a cornerback.
"He doesn't have to give out the calls to everybody and get them lined up," said cornerback Travis Daniels. "He'll have someone tell him what coverages to play, and that takes a huge load off him and [will] just allow him to go out there and be the athlete that he is."
Said Allen: "That's 90 percent of it, going out knowing you're relaxed and confident, and you know what to do."
Always having an intense Saban, a former defensive back at Kent State, in the defensive backs' meetings didn't ease the transition.
Allen seemed to be looking over his shoulder for his coach's approval instead of for the ball, as he was repeatedly torched during his first preseason.
"Not to knock Coach Saban or anything, but definitely it's calmer," said safety Yeremiah Bell. "Sometimes, when you've got somebody on your back all the time, you kind of get out there [and] you want to do things right so much that you actually end up doing them wrong.
"We can now correct our mistakes on our own without anybody being on our back, and I just think its better for all of us."
Allen refused to blame Saban, but he is quick to praise recently hired assistant defensive backs coach Brett Maxie, a former NFL safety, and Mel Phillips, his position coach.
"When Coach Maxie was with the Falcons he came to Tennessee to work me out," Allen said. "Having played, he knows what we're going through. We've bonded.
"[Phillips] told me I have a natural ability to play this game, but it's like playing chess. Anybody can learn the rules, but you better know how to use the rules and know when to do certain things on the football field."
With veteran Will Allen and a combination of Daniels and Andre' Goodman ahead of Jason Allen on the depth chart, he knows that he must heed his parents' advice.
"They prayed with me about it and told me, `Jason, be patient. It's going to come. God didn't bring you this far to drop you off.'
"Now, I just try and stay positive and take it one day at a time," Allen said.
Saban often said last year that Allen could be a late-bloomer, like Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, also a 16th pick who played mostly on special team as a rookie.
"He has all the physical tools, as we all know," receiver Chris Chambers said. "It's all about experience, learning his footwork. ... how to be better at the line.
"He's going to improve as he goes along, because with our defensive line putting a lot of pressure up front a guy like him could react and make some plays out there."
Allen said last year's rocky season was valuable.
"It's never too late. You could always learn and get better," Allen said. "Make sure you become a student of the game, not just on the field practicing, but go home at night and really take notes and pay attention to your homework."
Harvey Fialkov can be reached at hfialkov@sun-sentinel.com.
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