The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted defensive end Josh Allen to be a pass rusher, and even though he showed flashes in coverage during college, they don't expect to drop him into coverage much in the NFL.
During Allen's final season with the Kentucky Wildcats, he finished with 21.5 tackles for a loss and 17 sacks and those impressive stats were what made the Jaguars so excited when he fell to them, and they could select him with the seventh overall pick.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Walsh watched all the tape by Allen at Kentucky, and he has made it clear he is going to be very disappointed if Allen needs to be dropped into coverage.
“Josh Allen was drafted to be a defensive end. … He did a real nice job of dropping in college,” Wash said, via the team’s website. “I can’t honestly say being a [former] D-Line [coach] that I get too excited about a 15-sack guy dropping into coverage. Hopefully, you won’t see too damned much of that.”
Even though Allen was solid dropping into coverage in college, doing that in the NFL is more difficult because everyone has elite speed.
Also, every time that Allen drops back, that is an opportunity that is missed for him to rush the quarterback and that is his true calling. As a surprise to the defense, sometimes it will be okay if he drops and covers someone out of the backfield, but don't expect Allen's first job with the Jaguars to be to play in coverage.
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