Yes from a positional point of view I agree, but specifically with Allen I think it’s a terrible choice…he is not particularly fast or elusive…he is a 240 pound back (who honestly doesn’t run as tough as that weight would imply)…he is not a great choice for a kick returner because he doesn’t possess the key traits for success in that role…speed, quickness, elusiveness, vision. He’s not an open field runner, and he doesn’t have the vision of say Breece Hall. He is a point him at the hole and try to get through it type of runner. I don’t know why they don’t try Arian Smith in the role…he has the speed for it. Or bring up Pritchett. But if you had asked me ahead of time what I thought about using Allen in the role, I would have said NO for basically two reasons…he’s not the best physical candidate for it, and if we wanted to pound the ball and use him a lot then why risk it? It was a stupid decision and it bit us in the ass. I don’t care if it was AG’s idea or the ST coach’s idea…it was bad, and AG could/should have nixed it.
Totally disagree. He may not be a star in your eyes, but he's one of the stars on the team. He's a 230 lb bruiser RB not a cut and slash runner. As such he will take a lot of hits. You don't need to expose him to more hits than he's going to take with his straight ahead style. I totally fault Glenn for this foolish move.
He has a career 3.7 yard per carry average and 410 rushing yards across two seasons as a backup running back. Calling him a star is delusional. Our hope is that he could become one, for sure. But we have to live in reality and not rely on hopeful potential to cloud our judgement.
Yeah I wouldn’t say he’s a star BUT…the PLAN was for him to be a big part of a heavy run game, so the coaches did expect a lot from him this year. That’s why it was such a stupid fucking idea to have him return kicks…I don’t even know if he’s done much of that in his college days honestly, but regardless, you don’t risk players who are supposed to be key parts of your gameplan on this…there are PLENTY of fast young guys who are better suited to return kicks I blame AG 100% on this one…I don’t care if the ST coach came and begged AG on bended knee…AG’s only decision should have been a quick and definite NO followed by I’m sure you can find someone else to do it. It’s on the HC
I don't see where Allen on special teams was a bad decision. Coach Glenn played for Coach Parcells so that's where he may have picked up the idea of using key players on special teams? I remember hearing or reading the Giants use to use Lawrence Taylor on special teams. Antonio Cromartie volunteered to return kicks or punts for the Jets at times I remember. Chad Morton used to return kicks for the Jets under Coach Edwards. Using Allen on special teams is not a big deal.
Cromartie was potentially the best kick returner in the league not named Devin Hester, he was an absolute weapon and still we used him sparingly when needed. Chad Morton was not a weapon on offense at all, he was a return specialist. Braelon Allen, as sad as this is really, was our 3rd beat offensive weapon. We’re another Breece Hall injury away from Isaiah Davis being our starting RB.
Here’s an entire list of guys that should have been tried at KR before Braelon: Ty Johnson Isaiah Davis Arian Smith Josh Reynolds Q Stiggers Azareyeh Thomas M Moore literally this entire list can at least run with a football and do virtually nothing else for the team currently. Hell, put old man Lazard back there.
