Bengals' Jonathan Allen proving he's much more than the 'other' big-ticket addition

The Cincinnati Bengals’ overhaul of the interior defensive line did not begin with the trade for Dexter Lawrence. The former New York Giants tackle was the cherry on top of the cake, as the French would say. 

After signing Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook, the Bengals signed Jonathan Allen the very next day. An addition that has unfortunately (or fortunately for strategy’s sake) gone significantly under the radar after the trade for Lawrence. 

Now, not only has Cincinnati’s defense in general put the league on notice, but we’re learning that Allen is just as big a contributor to the new-look defensive line as any other newcomer to any team this offseason thanks to his ability to talk big, motivate, and back it up. 

Everyone is ready to run through the proverbial wall for Allen

Any NFL team that has a fiery, vocal leader who can back up his words with his play on the field is in good hands. Allen is that for the Bengals. 

Allen’s pre-game speech ahead of the matchup with the Texans isn’t, but should be, stuff of legend. He closed out his intense message with, “I love games like this because it’s on us! They tryin’ me! They tryin’ my gangsta! I got something for that! Dominate on three.”

Every note was hit. Allen's cadence was intentional, even without trying. And his emotion was real and felt. 

If you watch the video and pause it at 26 seconds, you’ll see how intently starting center Ted Karras was hanging on every syllable. And we confidently believe that everyone around Allen was enthralled in the same manner as Karras.

Most importantly, Allen’s words were not hollow, as he and the rest of the defense let their play speak for them, allowing only six points to a team that scored 31 the previous week.  

Don’t talk about it, be about it

One of the things that irked Allen leading up to his statement just before the showdown with the Texans was the coverage that Houston’s defense received during the week.

While everyone in the media concentrated on the Texans’ defensive line, Cincinnati’s did not say much. Still, they proved formidable in their own right, which is something that the star defensive tackle alluded to in his pre-game speech. 

But Allen didn’t simply talk a big game beforehand. He went out and backed up every word, leading by example, recording a sack, one QB hit, and three tackles, all for a loss. 

Over the first two weeks, the advanced stats also back up Allen’s impact thus far this season. Allen ranks third in defensive tackle pass-rush win rate at 38%, according to ESPN Analytics. 

Last year with the Minnesota Vikings, Allen registered 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 11 QB hits.

This season, in just two games, he has two sacks, four tackles for loss, and two QB hits, and looks every bit the part of the defensive tackle who wreaked havoc over so many years in Washington, rather than whatever happened last season in Minnesota. 

D-line has another gear in them

Over the past few years, there have not been many other defensive tackles who have faced more double teams than Allen, Lawrence, and BJ Hill. 

Over the previous five seasons, Lawrence led all players who faced double teams on pass-rush snaps. BJ Hill is third on that list. 

Similarly, Lawrence ranked fourth and Allen fifth over the previous five seasons in most pressure after double teams. 

All three now play for the Bengals. However, Hill is still convalescing from an injury. But when he gets back, the defensive front could hit another gear. 

That is a scary proposition for opposing offenses, their quarterbacks, and their offensive coordinators.

Perhaps even more hair-raising for Cincinnati’s future opponents is that they must try to fix their sights on Allen and Lawrence, leaving everyone else along the defensive line with room to thrive. 

If there were any questions about which version of Allen we would get here in Cincinnati, they have been answered after only two games. The only question left is whether this could be his best season yet. 

The way Allen is talking off the field and performing on it, the possibility is high. 

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