Denicos Allen, OLB, Michigan (Height: 5’11”, Weight: 218 lbs)
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1988161-denicos-allen-nfl-draft-2014-highlights-scouting-report-more
Positives
Diagnoses plays and reacts to what he sees well.
Quick first step to click and close.
Can chase from sideline to sideline and make tackles all over the field.
Anticipates routes to accelerate at route breaks and close down space quickly.
Has adequate speed to trail and limit separation in man coverage.
Will get physical with receivers to disrupt their release.
Has natural leverage when taking on blocks and is a small, elusive target for blockers.
Comes downhill like a missile as a run defender and is very aggressive.
Accelerates to burst through holes and cause disruption in the backfield as a run-blitzer.
Made plays in the backfield at a very high rate for a traditional linebacker.
Closes down space when taking on lead blocks; has no hesitation.
Hard-nosed player who is not afraid to scrap with bigger opponents.
Plays with an admiral level of effort and a high motor.
Durable as a college linebacker despite lack of ideal size or build.
Negatives
Severely undersized in terms of height, length, and weight.
May be as big as he will ever get.
Not as exceptional an athlete as he must be at his size.
Too short to adequately challenge the catch point against most NFL pass-catchers.
Ineffective blitzer if not left unblocked; doesn’t have length to challenge pass-blockers with his hands.
Does a poor job of maintaining balance in run fits; ends up on the ground without taking on blocks at times.
Can be physically overwhelmed taking on blocks and can’t hold his ground.
Doesn’t do enough to elude blocks in the short area to make up for lack of strength.
Tends to drop his head on contact and lose sight of the football.
Gets easily lost in the congestion against heavier offensive packages.
Often leaves his feet in tackle attempts or dives at the knees; will miss tackles.
Little power as a tackler to limit yards after contact; gets dragged for extra yards by most backs.
Play may have been lifted by the talent and schematic advantages of Michigan State’s defense.
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Carolina Panthers sign Denicos Allen, an eager overachiever ready to make big impact
http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/05/denicos_allen_ready_to_come_up.html
EAST LANSING — Denicos Allen will begin his NFL career in Charlotte, N.C., after being signed by the Carolina Panthers moments after the completion of the draft on Saturday night.
Allen, viewed by some as undersized at 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds, played big throughout his career at Michigan State, leading the Spartans with 98 tackles during the team’s 13-1 Rose Bowl campaign and coming up with a pivotal, fourth-down open-field stop on Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller in the Spartans’ 34-24 Big Ten title game victory.
Allen was never State’s most celebrated linebacker, as he was often overshadowed by captain and third-generation Spartan Max Bullough, who most often spoke on behalf of the team.
But Allen has been motivated to show his worth since being snubbed and not getting an invite to the NFL combine. A sore hamstring slowed him at the Michigan State pro day workout and likely had an adverse effect on his draft stock.
The Panthers, along with the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams, had spoken to Allen before the draft and expressed interest, according to Allen.
“I had talked to their head coach and linebackers coach last week, so I had a good rapport with them, and they were considering drafting me,” Allen said in a Saturday night interview with MLive. “It’s a good fit for me, similar to the Michigan State defense, and there’s a lot of opportunity to play linebacker there. It was them, the Cowboys and the Rams, but now I’m a Panther, and I’m happy to have the opportunity.”
Linebackers coach Mike Tressel has been quick to vouch for Allen’s talents and ability to perform at the NFL level.
“I have no doubt if he gets in the right spot, he’ll help a team,” Tressel told MLive. “There have been plenty of other great linebackers that weren’t the tallest: Mike Singletary (6-0), Zach Thomas (5-11) and Sam Mills (5-9), to name a few. Denicos can easily get over 230 pounds and play in the box.
“I’ll say this, not to take anything away from Max Bullough or Shilique Calhoun, who are both tremendous players, but when I’ve run into coaches from other teams at the coaches convention or on the road, they all tell me the same thing: ‘Number 28 (Allen) was the guy that made your front seven.’ ”
Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, the architect of a defense that has not ranked outside of the nation’s top six the past three years, has had those same conversations with NFL coaches.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches call me on him, and they tell me Denicos is tough and he looks unbelievable,” Narduzzi told MLive. “He’ll have his shot whether he gets drafted or goes free agent. Some people are concerned because of his size. Whoever gets him will be happy. I’ve personally had some calls saying, `we love that guy.’ ”
ESPN.com noted in its profile on Carolina’s draft needs that the Panthers could use depth at all three linebacker spots, and they were projected to use a mid-round pick on a linebacker but didn’t.
Allen is the only free-agent linebacker signee as of Sunday morning, according to NFL.com.
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