Eagles take Nate Allen with "The Donovan Pick"
by JasonB on Apr 23, 2010 6:34 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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PrintThere has been a lot of anticipation building about who the player taken with the pick the Eagles got in return for Donovan McNabb would be. Well, it's University of South Florida safety Nate Allen.
You wanted your safety, you got your safety. This seems like a no brainer pick to me. Free safety is an obvious need and the Eagles take arguably the top player left at the position right around where he was projected to go. Everyone that was a little freaked that the Eagles didn't go safety in the first can rest easy, Nate Allen is considered a safe pick and projects as a solid starter at the NFL level.
Nate Allen
6'0, 207 pounds | Safety | South Florida
Agility: Only average agility, which is somewhat surprising. Doesn't change direction with ease. Allen's lateral agility is suspect and he's more of a downhill safety.
Ball Skills: Shows solid hands, totaling nine interceptions in his career. Really shows his hands on under-thrown passes. Likes to get after the pass to make a play on it.
Instincts: Very good recognition skills. A very intelligent player. Made the secondary calls for South Florida. Known as a player who does a lot of film study, which translates to his play on the field. Three-year starter.
Pass Coverage: Much better in zone coverage than man. In man coverage, Allen is unrefined in his technique and comes out too high in backpedal. Doesn't have the loosest hips to turn and run and loses a step. Can stick with tight ends and backs pretty well, but has some problems when he's on a wide receiver. Plays a solid center field in zone and breaks on the ball quickly. Gets a little inconsistent in his pursuit and will take poor angles on occasion.
Run Support: Allen wasn't used a lot near the line of scrimmage in South Florida's version of the cover-2 defense. Used more as the final line of defense. Has some trouble breaking down in the open field and tackling shifty running backs.
Size: Has a good frame and is tall. Built strongly. Probably won't ever get much bigger.
Speed: Doesn't have the best straight-line speed and can get beaten by fast wide receivers. Relies on his instincts to make up for a lack of speed.
Tackling: Allen is a good form tackler and he routinely wraps up the ball carrier. Was in on a lot of help tackles. Can lay out receivers when they come across the middle. Sometimes Allen falls in love with his hitting ability and misses an easy tackle.
Final word: Allen's career is marred by inconsistency. He had a very good sophomore year but struggled as a junior. He came on more during his senior year, though.
When he's on, Allen is a good all-around safety. A three-year starter, he's known most for his instincts and technical proficiency. His upside might not be the best, but he projects as a solid starter at the next level.
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He's more of a coverage safety
Than a physical one. He is a fundamental player. Knows how to play the game. Not intimidating, but great in coverage.
Solid
Defense Defense Defense is what we need!! I like the picks so far. Not real familiar with him, but lets go D!
Like it...
Don’t love it, but we fill a high-need position with a cover-type safety. I think the kid has the skills to be a solid starter and a ball-hawker/interception-producer.
"This ------ game is over!"
- Chuck Bednarik
I'm excited
Its a safety not named Taylor Mays.
This is exactly who i wanted. Hes gonna be a great fs and what makes it even better is that the Cowboys wanted him. I wonder if they considered Burnett?
What kind of caliber player is this compared to say b dawk or eric berry which a lot of people wanted at s.
I guess I like the pick, if its best for the team great, apparently the eagles like allen more then taylor mays
by Qu1nTeR on Apr 23, 2010 6:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Brian Dawkins wasn’t “Brian Dawkins” in college. He was taken in the second round. If teams knew he’s be Weapon X, do you think he’d last until round 2?
I am the people's troll :3™
by yomjoseki on Apr 23, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Him or Burnett make me happy
Personally I’m more of a physical safety liker so I favored Burnett more than Allen. But I’m cool with Allen
feeling good about our d
if he can be a starting saftey i feel like were good with average cbs (hobbs hanson patteron jackson) and with asante on the otherside i feel ok now even tho i still want NA to play opposite of him.
HELL YES!!!
This is the guy I always wanted us to take at S. Smart…tough…a Ballhawk. Great Pick
Lets hope Allen will become a better player than mays.
I like taylor mays. I liked him before his 40 time so dont criticize me. Hopefully this isnt one of those drafts that 5 years down the road everyone looks back at and realizes they passed on a bunch of super stars. I like both picks but they have a lot to prove.
I feel ya ...........
Im happy with Nate Allen but at the last second i was kinda hopin i was gonna hear Mays name being called, idk about Mays tho, i think he might be converted into a LB, i just really Freakin hope the Giants dont take him.
by goldenbird09 on Apr 23, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
All because he's converted to LB
Doesnt mean he’ll be good. The people just hear about all the successes rather than the failures.
I love it
I like Dexter McCluster, but I’m glad he was taken because Nate Allen is much better for us.
Taylor Mays should convert to OLB. He’s the same size as Daryl Washington and he has no ball skills. Allen will be a much better safety.
by Shady is an Eagle! on Apr 23, 2010 6:44 PM EDT reply actions
i think.........
Macho really got a bad rap last year, people ripped the guy apart and he was tryin 2 learna new position, i think we should move him back 2 corner though.
by goldenbird09 on Apr 23, 2010 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Well hopefully they can put Macho back at CB and let him be a nickle back. Of course if they do that then they pretty much wasted last year.
But Allen should start.
Can't think of something catchy to say here...I suck.
macho
macho blows .. hes to slow to be a corner .. but this pick is fuckin great .. makes up for that bad pick in round one
by jack is better than asante on Apr 23, 2010 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
He is too slow to be a corner in the NFL
And GOD, I gotta stop agreeing with JIBTA
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome
any chance........
Kindle slips 2 us at 55, i cant beleive hes still on the board.
by goldenbird09 on Apr 23, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Even if he does
I don’t see us going after him. Especially with the selection of Graham. I could see the Jets going after him depending on how Rex still feels about Gholston.
Solid player
nowhere near the play-maker earl thomas is. He’s a solid guy, not an impact player. Good pick for you guys.
LOVE THIS PICK
This will also improve Mikell’s game!!!!! Pass Rush + Ball hawk + Cover Safety = Lots of turnovers
KOLB is a natural born leader - something the Eagles haven't had on offense in a long long time. Prediction, we win a SB in the next 3 years.
eghhhhh....
i wouldnt say so much hes a bad tackler, more like he gets 2 pumped up sumtimes and goes for the knockout blow, that can be fixed.
by goldenbird09 on Apr 23, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Nate Allen doesn't hit hard period
He is a fundamental player meaning he’ll form tackle and bring you down with his instincts rather than force. That’s kind of why I preferred Burnett because Burnett has fundamental tackling problems, but destroys when he hits.
I am happy to see a form tackler who won’t go for the big hit then whiff after Asante has pissed his pants trying to bring a guy down
"My grandmom's favorite grandson, ask my grandmom" --Rone
by layout ultimate on Apr 23, 2010 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions
He is touted as a smart guy.
You think that had something to do with this pick considering the complexity of the McDermott/JJ Defenive scheme?
"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." - Wilt Chamberlain
So far
So good! I’m loving our picks! Keep up the great coverage Jason, I (as im sure many of us are) really appreciate it!
"a fine doctor, and a pretty good dentist!"
Championship!
Isn’t it obvious?
Ahh the beauty of this whole thing is NO ONE knows if any of these guys will actually be real players in this league.
The road to victory!
Whats your point dumbass
This is the whole point of being fans…..so can cheer for our team and hope to win…
KOLB is a natural born leader - something the Eagles haven't had on offense in a long long time. Prediction, we win a SB in the next 3 years.
Dumbass?... really?
It’s fun to speculate about draft picks but that’s all it is?
Thanks for that. I’m sure your not a total douche or anything. Sorry my sarcasm is over your head. Really glad we are rooting for the same team.
So can cheer for the for the team!
The road to victory!
Good pick
He is a good pick! he just need to boost his tackling skills!
i love a good safety
i really like how our d is shaping up
by Get Jackson a better nickname on Apr 23, 2010 6:57 PM EDT reply actions
We already have Durant Brooks
who was Zoltan Mesko two years ago
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome
Not its on to Ben Tate
lets get a corner or Tate, who will be a stud
Training NFL Style
Hi
I tend to think that all these guys are going to excell at their given postitions with Pro training at the team camps.
Am I wrong in not judging their future potentcial based on their current training?
Gary From Vermont
Were in now
Yes I love this right here we got the dfence back now
by Jahsavi on Apr 23, 2010 7:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Like this pick
Have him compete with Macho for the FS spot, move marlon back to corner and he can compete with whoever we draft and ellis for the #2 corner spot. Now what do we do at 53? We could get a corner like Donovan Warren or the dude from Indian(PA), take the OG from Illinois or maybe a Cam Howard or Terrence Coady to rotate in to stop the run. Hey, I know it sounds crazy but those guys could help stuff the run againist dallas.
by MidwesternEaglesfan on Apr 23, 2010 7:12 PM EDT reply actions
Awesome pick!!
This pick makes me love the Graham pick even more.
by Midnight Green Bean on Apr 23, 2010 7:20 PM EDT reply actions
The Kansas City Chiefs are utter assholes. First, they are a miserable shit team, with lousy Cassel at Quarterback, and then they take ERIC fucking BERRY with the 5th pick in the draft??? And then with their second pick they take DEXTER McCLUSTER— an undersized scatback who has max 10-15 snaps a game in him before he breaks in half? Yes, I’m annoyed they scooped the Eagles on both those players before they could get to them, but those players would have been a boon to us and won’t make a difference on their shit, shit team and lousy head coach Todd Haley. Scott Pioli < Emperor’s New Clothes.
by ghostofandrewatters on Apr 23, 2010 7:37 PM EDT reply actions
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