Jared Allen: 5 Reasons Why the DE is Still Among the Best in the Game

While this season hasn't necessarily been kind to the 0-4 Minnesota Vikings, Jared Allen continues to prove that he belongs in the same class as some of the NFL's most elite players.

A former fourth-round pick, Allen was brought to the Vikings from Kansas City in a lofty exchange that gave the Chiefs a first-round pick, two third-round picks and a sixth-round pick. This exchange gave the Chiefs players like starting LT Branden Albert and WR/RB Dexter McCluster, who both are vital players on the Chiefs roster. Meanwhile, the Vikings received perhaps the most explosive and definitely one of the most feared defensive linemen in the NFL.

It's getting harder with each passing week for Minnesotans to remain optimistic about the situation surrounding their hometown team. As the Vikings continue to find out new problems with their team, a select few remain consistent to give them hope.

Players like Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Jared Allen, whom this franchise is built around, remain the cornerstones this entire team fringes upon.

Despite a slow start to his 2010 season, Jared Allen has bounced back in this weak 2011 campaign with a strong showing that truly establishes him as one of the league's best—especially after eight seasons.

Let's look at the attributes that earn this explosive pass-rusher such a designation.

League Dominance

In Allen's debut season with the Vikings, he recorded 14.5 sacks and forced three fumbles, all the while battling both knee and shoulder injuries that eventually ended his season.

Since then, Allen has remained the top player on this traditionally strong Minnesota defense where he's "hog tied" many a quarterback.

This season, Allen has done anything but slow down. After four games, Allen has already recorded a near-NFL-leading 6.5 sacks (second behind Jason Babin who has 7).

Though most defensive linemen tend to lose a bit of steam by the time they reach 30, Jared Allen looks better at 29 years old than most players look in their first few years out of college.

Though Jared Allen lost his mullet in a compromise for his marriage, it is still very clear that the fury did not leave with the flow. Allen is still very capable of making offensive line coaches lose sleep the nights before games.

Leadership

No one can shake up a game plan and excite a stadium like No. 69 can.

The way Jared Allen blows past offensive linemen and lights up QBs has not only become an iconic display of dominance unlike anyone else can show, but his play has inspired his fellow teammates to play at the tops of their games. Players like Chad Greenway, Brian Robison and Erin Henderson play with the fire that they do because of a guy like Jared Allen who can emotionally get 15,000 people into a game.

The leadership that Allen shows not only on the field, but on the sidelines and in the locker room, could be envied by any other team in the National Football League.

Allen plays with an unmatched fire that helps him to bring the best out of his teammates. This ability puts him in that same category as Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher—with the league's best leaders.

Intimidation

Jared Allen, like other members of the Vikings' defensive line, demands a double team on any given play.

Because he is so fast and explosive off the edge, Allen constantly requires two, if not more, blockers to protect the QB against the blind fury that he is very capable of releasing at any time.

Allen is probably one of the most intimidating pass-rushers in the NFL—not just to QBs, but to the left tackles who line up across from him every week.

An example of Allen's psychological effect on opposing players came in the game against Detroit two weeks ago. In one defensive series, Allen recorded one sack, caused veteran LT Jeff Backus to false start on two consecutive plays, and then nearly forced Jahvid Best down in the end zone for a safety. This all came before almost single-handedly forcing a three-and-out late in the game to give his team a chance at the best field position possible.

Not only was Allen intimidating to Detroit as an entire team, but the psychological effect he had on a veteran LT caused him to make two pivotal mistakes on consecutive plays. This allowed Allen to record three sacks on a QB who had not been sacked once up to that point during the season.

This is the kind of intimidation reserved for only the best defensive players—not just those who currently play in the NFL, but of all time.

The Charisma and Attitude That Comes with Being a Star

When one thinks of what Ray Lewis brings to not just the Baltimore Ravens, but football as an entity, the first thing that comes to mind is his attitude and charisma. Lewis isn't just a superstar like several other NFL players, he is what Cam Newton would call an "entertainer and an icon."

The "swagger" that Lewis brings to football can be particularly exemplified through the soap commercials that he does with Old Spice—for a soap called "swagger."

Jared Allen, on the other hand, doesn't have his own soap endorsement, but has built an entire culture around a haircut—well, it's not exactly a haircut, it's more of a lifestyle choice.

Allen can make people laugh, and he has an uncanny ability to entertain others even when he is frustrated with how things go on the field.

Whether you love him or you hate him, you cannot deny the charisma, star power and marketability that this dynamic player brings to a franchise.

Not many other defensive ends in the NFL can boast this attribute; Allen is very unique in this way.

On Pace for Greatness

Coming into the 2011 preseason, Jared Allen made it very well known that he had a personal goal of reaching a lofty 17 sacks for the season.

Through four games, Allen has recorded 6.5 sacks that, like I said, is near the best in the NFL.

This accomplishment makes Allen's goal of a total of 17 sacks a realistic possibility. If Allen can reach this goal, he will have closed in on 100 career sacks over eight seasons.

Not only would this be an incredible accomplishment for a young player, but if his career saw legitimate longevity, he would certainly be on pace with some of the best pass-rushers in NFL history. This would earn him a bronze head statue in Canton, OH with the likes of other former Vikings DL greats like John Randle, Jim Marshall and Allan Page.

If Allen can keep this pace going, he will not only be seen as one of the best defensive ends in the game today, but he'll be recognized as one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history.

Any way you slice it, Jared Allen is one of the most explosive players in the NFL and he means more to the Minnesota Vikings than most people can understand. He gives them a defensive identity and essentially the fire to compete on every down. In essence, Allen is the reason why Minnesota's defense can be as good as it has shown.

Thanks for reading.