Why Dennis Allen Is One of NFL's Most Underrated Head Coaches

Now through 11 games with a mediocre 4-7 record, and plenty of teams ahead of them in the standings, the Oakland Raiders are likely out of the AFC playoff race.

This has been a season filled with impressive wins and extremely disappointing losses, flashing both the somewhat surprising potential this team has heading into the future, as well as highlighting the work still to be done.

In the NFL, you are only as good as your record says you are, and for the most part, that is especially the case for the league's 32 head coaches.

In Dennis Allen, however, no matter what record the Raiders finish this 2013 season with, that may not be the case.

When hired by Reggie McKenzie not two years ago, Allen had his work cut out for him.

The Raiders were in such a financial mess that a complete teardown of the roster was required before they could even think about commencing the rebuild.

Essentially, from day one, Allen was taking over a team that had little chance of success, for their many needs had very few ways in which they could be addressed.

With no cap space to speak of, and a number of draft picks missing from trades made under the previous regime, time was required to get this team where it needed to be.

Unfortunately, NFL coaches aren't always afforded that kind of time, as a lack of immediate results are all too often met with criticism and calls for change.

This time around, winning record or not, the Raiders have a head coach who should be commended for the job he has done in not even two seasons at the helm.

The talent level of this team has the potential to improve incredibly in a short period of time, and that will play a huge part in them getting back to playoff contention, but not nearly as much as the foundation for which that has been laid by Allen and his staff.

From a schematic standpoint on the field, remarkable improvements have been made in short order, and especially so on the defensive side of the ball where Allen made a name for himself.

No longer is the Raiders defense a unit that gets gashed by each and every opposing rushing attack, but rather one that has remained consistently among the best in defending the run throughout this season.

Despite some questions surrounding the defensive line, the scheme created by Allen and defensive coordinator Jason Tarver has manufactured pressure extremely effectively by means of some creative blitz packages. 

In addition, being able to disguise their coverages on the back end adds to the complexity of the unit, again making for quite the improvement over the man-exclusive defenses of years past.

Of course, the schematics are a key part of being a head coach in the NFL, but they hardly tell the whole story. What's equally as important, and occasionally overlooked in coaching evaluations, is the ability to create a winning culture.

For Allen and his staff, the culture change in Oakland started with discipline.

Not too long ago, and for as long as many could remember, for as much talent as the Raiders could have on the teams they would put together, they were consistently undisciplined. 

Being a disciplined team is often measured by penalties committed. While that plays a huge part, and is something the Raiders had struggled with for quite a long time, a disciplined culture extends to all facets of the game.

Whether it's players being aware of and able to play situational football, staying within themselves in key moments or knowing their assignments in a complicated offensive or defensive scheme, the most disciplined teams are more often than not among the league's most successful.

What is clear about this year's Raiders team, talent arguments aside, is the effort the coaching staff is getting out of the players on a weekly basis.

Allen has created an environment focused on competition, and the players have responded accordingly.

Now, a given player's draft status, contract situation or even what the team gave up in a trade to acquire him has been rendered irrelevant. Essentially, scholarship players are no more.

Winning is the focus, and the players who can give the team the best opportunity to do so will be awarded with increased roles. The Raiders' decision to go with Terrelle Pryor at quarterback over Matt Flynn to start the season, and now continue with Matt McGloin over Pryor, highlights this very dynamic.

The fact that Allen has helped to create such a culture in Oakland bodes extremely well for the organization as they continue to add talent in the very near future, likely solidifying some key spots on the roster.

Whether the Raiders go 5-0, 0-5 or somewhere in between in their remaining five games, Allen has earned the opportunity to move forward as the head coach of this team.

If his foundation of not only schematics, but the disciplined culture and competitive environment can remain, the Raiders will be a team that can make noise in the next few seasons.

Right now, although he may not be for very long, Dennis Allen is one of the NFL's most underrated head coaches.