Quote:I love the kid, but I think it's reasonable to expect any first round pick to start. I also expect the free agent we broke the bank to sign (Campbell) to start and get significant playing time. So where does that leave Allen?

 

Calais Campbell will be 31 years old when the season begins and will likely play about 65-80% of the snaps in each game. That percentage will likely decrease as he ages until he's no longer productive. 

 

  It's good to remember that frequent rotation of pass rushers was a big part of Coughlin's success in NY.  There were frequently 6 (or more)  linemen rotating and receiving significant numbers of snaps on the front line of that defense.  It's nearly impossible to have too many quality disruptive pass rushers. 

 

Allen is versatile enough to play almost anywhere on the line depending on the situation.

It wouldn't be very hard to carve out snaps for Allen as a rookie if he proves worthy of the playing time.   He could play weak-side DE during some base package run defense. He could play in a rotation at strong-side end in the nickel package and he could even rush from either interior spot in the nickel package as well when they just need fresh legs there late in the game. 

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