Vikings rookie Asher Allen reminds Antoine Winfield of himself
... and sees Asher Allen, the Vikings' playmaking rookie cornerback By Sean Jensen
[email protected] Updated: 08/08/2009 11:42:58 PM CDT
MANKATO, Minn. — Six days into training camp, Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield outlined his first impressions of rookie cornerback Asher Allen.
"He's a quick learner. Definitely studies. He wants to get better each day," Winfield said Thursday of Allen, the team's third-round pick. "He's aggressive; he's got playmaking ability.
"And he's real physical."
Sound like anyone else you know?
Winfield paused.
"He does remind me, a lot, of myself," Winfield said. "But we'll see when the lights come on."
Allen hasn't had that chance yet, but the rookie has already drawn the praise of his head coach, his position coach, a veteran receiver and his de facto mentor.
Vikings coach Brad Childress noticed Allen's playmaking skills, which included an interception of a Sage Rosenfels at the Aug. 1 night practice at Blakeslee Stadium.
"He's done some things, in the first four or five practices, that got your attention," Childress said days into training camp.
Defensive backs coach Joe Woods noticed Allen's knack for picking up adjustments and understanding defensive schemes.
"His football IQ is unbelievable," Woods said. "He knows a lot about football. He does a great job of studying tape. So, from that standpoint, he's ahead of most guys coming in."
Receiver Bobby Wade noticed Allen's swagger.
"He plays with a lot of confidence," Wade said. "That's what you need as a rookie corner."
Those rave reviews may be somewhat surprising since Allen left the University of Georgia a year early and is the team's second-youngest player, turning 21 in January.
But Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez wasn't at all moved by the kudos heaped upon his former player.
"All of that stuff you said to me is no surprise," said Martinez, the secondary coach at Georgia since 2001 and the defensive coordinator/ secondary coach since 2005. "Asher is a great young man, very prideful.
"He knows what he wants," Martinez said. "The coaching staff may have high expectations for him, but he has bigger expectations for himself. He's always striving to be the best."
A running back at Tucker High School in suburban Atlanta, Allen was offered scholarships to more than 50 schools and was signed as an "athlete" at Georgia. Allen said the running backs and receivers coach both wanted him but that Martinez "stole me away."
Since he graduated early from Tucker, with a 3.85 grade-point average, Allen immediately enrolled at Georgia and participated in spring practices.
And though he played some safety in high school, Allen initially struggled to learn the nuances of cornerback.
"I got a chance to get burned a couple of times," Allen said. "That's how I got to know all my teammates' names, by the back of their jerseys, especially the receivers.
"So going through that, over and over again, I said, 'No mas.' I can't do that anymore," Allen said. "I just got tired of it."
More seasoned defensive backs such as DeMario Minter, Tim Jennings, Tra Battles and Paul Oliver helped him make a speedier adjustment. Minter, in fact, taught Allen how to watch film.
Martinez was impressed with Allen's intelligence, toughness and work ethic.
Allen contributed as a freshman and started the final 11 games of his sophomore season, intercepting three passes.
On many Sunday nights, Allen remained at the team's facility, watching film of the previous game.
"He was very businesslike," Martinez said. "He was a pro, even though he wasn't a pro."
As a junior, Allen started all 13 games, and Martinez said he had an excellent season.
But he didn't have any interceptions.
Allen had a reason, one that wasn't revealed until just before the team's bowl game against Michigan State. He had played four games with a broken hand.
"He's a competitor," Martinez said.
Then, Allen made another bold decision: He decided to forgo his final year of eligibility.
"I felt like I was ready," Allen said, "and I felt I was ready to contribute to an NFL team."
Though there have been no shortage of athletes in his family, most notably his cousin Michael Irvin, the hall of fame receiver, Allen's father is equally - if not more proud - of all the kin who are college graduates.
Greg Allen rattled off numerous relatives who have degrees, including his eight siblings, and their honor-roll children.
"We're a very blessed family," Greg said. "When he was going to leave school early, I have to admit I had a lot of concern. We always said education is the No. 1 gate."
So Greg called Irvin and a couple of other friends to gauge his son's NFL prospects.
With a solid senior season, especially after his injury, Asher could have been a potential lottery pick (Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick, received $23.5 million in guarantees). But Greg said the consensus was that Asher would go no later than the second round.
Instead, Asher was the 22nd pick in the third round, by the Vikings.
But neither Greg nor Asher was disappointed. Devout Jehovah's Witnesses, the Allens placed their faith in God. Besides, both of them were excited about the Vikings.
Greg because he thought Asher could "focus on football, without a lot of distractions" in the Twin Cities and because the Vikings were a playoff-caliber team, with a marquee superstar in Adrian Peterson.
Allen was excited because he would get to "be on the same practice field as Antoine Winfield."
"It's an honor," Allen said of playing alongside Winfield. "He's been in the league for a very long time, especially at a tough position like cornerback. He obviously knows he's doing something right, so, as a young guy coming in, I want to know why and how is he able to do this."
The Vikings had a similar vision, which was solidified at the NFL combine, when they interviewed Allen.
The physical drills and the interview portion confirmed to the Vikings staff that they were getting a player in Winfield's mold.
Thus far, Allen hasn't disappointed. He has earned repetitions with the first- and second-string defense and has been working on special teams.
Based on what he has seen, Wade said Allen is ready to contribute as a rookie.
"I think there's no doubt about that," Wade said. "I think he'll be able to find his niche within this defense. He's a ball hawk.
"I think he'll be one of those kids who will have some picks early this year and contribute."
Allen appears to have the inside edge to serve as the team's nickel cornerback, but he isn't worrying about his standing on the depth chart.
"I don't care if the coaches have me with the first-, second- or third-string," Allen said. "I just do me.
"Everybody here wants to start, and everybody here wants to play. But you got to earn your stripes, and I'm willing to do that."
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