Jaguars Have High Expectations for an Already Impressive Josh Allen
In the history of Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round picks, not many have made the instant impact that Josh Allen has. He has looked exactly how a player who is drafted seventh overall should look, and so far has met every expectation.
But even in the midst of his recent production spike and the fact that he seemingly improves with each passing week, the Jaguars know their 22-year old rookie isn’t anywhere close to his ceiling. If the early returns mean anything, then this is a terrifying reality for the rest of the NFL.
“I think you’re only seeing the surface. I really do,” Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said. “I think that he has the ability to be one of those players that are going to be able to play at a high level for a long period of time.”
Allen agrees with his head coach’s opinion about where he currently is and where he still has to go. Only seven games into what he hopes will be a long NFL career, he is cognizant that he still has a lot of growing to do despite his early success.
“The ceiling is super high, man. I am nowhere close to it,” Allen said in the locker room Wednesday. “I am going to continue to grow every day. There is a lot of learning that I have to do.”
Marrone and Allen each noted that a special part of that growth is Allen’s relationship with the veterans in the locker room, specifically defensive captain Calais Campbell. Nobody in Jacksonville’s locker room has been in the NFL longer than Campbell, making him a wealth of knowledge for Allen and other young defensive linemen on the defense.
“When I don’t want to listen to him, it is like I have to listen to him. So I give a hard time over that, but everything he tells me, I take it in,” Allen said with a smile. “Not a lot of players can say in their first year they played with a future hall of famer.”
“And that goes for Yannick (Ngakoue) as well and Marcell (Dareus) and Abry (Jones). Every time they tell me something, I keep it in my notebook for later. And when that situation does come up, I just think about that.”
In a relationship where Campbell describes himself as a big brother to the rookie from the University of Kentucky, the Jaguars appear to have struck gold. Allen is a physical specimen who right now can win purely due to his athleticism, size, and strength. But thanks to his work ethic and his relationship with Campbell, he can only add to his toolbox.
And the mentor role is one that Campbell embraces, noting that as a young player with the Arizona Cardinals he had similar help from veterans.
“I take pride in just sharing knowledge to younger guys. Josh is a guy who is very curious and is always trying to learn,” Campbell said Wednesday.
“Yeah, it is important to have knowledge. And sometimes you can get it through people sharing it or you can get it through experiences. But usually when you get it through experiences, you are going to make mistakes along the way. You are still going to make some mistakes when people are sharing it, but hopefully it will be a few less mistakes.”
But maybe more importantly, Allen has embraced his role as a student in the locker room. He knows there are former Pro Bowl players and multi-year starters across the Jaguars’ defensive line, and he knows he has to take advantage of that.
“I knew any organization that I went to, I am definitely the student first. I am not going to come in there as a guy that knows everything, because I don’t,” Allen said. “So I am starting from scratch and I am just listening to the guys who have done it before and have done it at a high-performance (level). So I am going to continue to listen to those guys and continue to be great.”
As the season continues, the high expectations for Allen are going to remain. He has already shown he belongs and that he has the potential to change a game. For Campbell, his main focus is continuing to show the talented rookie the importance of the small details of football, hoping it can help him grow even more.
“Sometimes it gets annoying. I know he gets annoyed with me because I am always harping on him about little things, but I know how important those things are, and he is learning that,” Campbell said. “Little things from hand placements, stance to the first step, all these little things that really over the course of time factor into wins and losses.”
Through seven games, Allen’s five sacks are already more than Dante Fowler had in his entire first season as a Jaguar (four) and more than Ngakoue’s sacks through seven career games (four). He has already shown he can be a threat in the NFL, despite not being close to his ceiling.
Perhaps the most ringing endorsement of Allen’s play thus far is the fact that opposing offenses have started to divert extra help to offensive tackles that both he and Ngakoue are matched up with. From double teams to chips from backs and tight ends, teams know Allen is already a threat.
“I mean, it sucks,” Allen laughed when asked about the double teams.
“It is a testament to the pass rush we have. We have a lot of great guys on the outside and the inside. So I am honored, but it still sucks. But either way it goes, you still have to win. And we have been working a lot more of those chips and tight end chips and all that.”
Allen isn’t where he can be yet. He still has a long way until he becomes to football player that his potential says he can be. But if there is anyone worth betting on to reach that ceiling, it just may be the phenom from Kentucky.
“The thing that I appreciate, the one that hasn’t changed is his desire or his effort. He just has great effort, goes full-go, does everything you want,” Marrone said. “So, that’s what I’m saying – when the technique, and the experience, and all this stuff is starting to come in, and you’re healthy, someone like him can really be a heck of a football player.”
