A Love Of Homework
March 21st, 2018
New Bucs defensive tackle Beau Allen
A recent throwaway comment by new Bucs defensive end Vinny Curry had Joe researching last night.
Yes, Joe loves homework — football homework.
Curry, when he was introduced to local media Monday, said of his new Bucs teammate and former Eagles defensive line comrade Beau Allen, “Beau Allen is the smartest football player I’ve every played with.”
Joe liked that. It’s absolutely not what you would have heard about Chris “Swaggy” Baker, the Bucs’ defensive tackle bust in free agency last year.
The comment got Joe digging more into Allen’s background. Joe found a conversation between Allen and former NFL player and current SiriusXM NFL Radio host Ross Tucker in late February.
Allen was talking about how excited he was about free agency because of all the preparation he was doing studying defenses that might fit him.
“I like to do my homework, man,” said Allen, who went on to say his knowledge of defenses and coordinators gave him a rough idea of teams he could help. Allen added he was fired up to keep studying and to “be ready to make a quick decision in the time frames” of free agency.
Tucker, a Princeton grad, talked about how rare it is in the NFL for guys to be preparing so hard for free agency. So he had great appreciation for Allen’s offseason work ethic.
Tucker shared a story about how he kept spreadsheets of teams and players when he was a player, ranking potential franchises where he could thrive. In August 2006, he orchestrated his own trade to the Browns from the Belicheats as soon as he heard a Browns offensive lineman tore up his knee.
The point is Allen is committed, and at 26 years old with limited snaps on his big body, Allen is poised to inject a new attitude into the Bucs’ worst unit.
The 2014 seventh-round pick out of Wisconsin also shared his affection for beer — and for taking care of himself. He said he gets down to about 315 pounds in the offseason to go easier on his joints, and then ramps up to a midseason playing weight of 330.
Some of Joe’s other digging into Allen leads Joe to believe the Bucs might be interested in letting him rush the passer more often. Allen didn’t do a lot of that in Philly in recent, and he has just two career sacks.
March 21st, 2018 at 11:38 am
Impressive !….
March 21st, 2018 at 11:39 am
Hey, we need all the help we can get! Bring the pain Beau!
March 21st, 2018 at 11:44 am
2 sacks! Great!
March 21st, 2018 at 11:46 am
Swaggy baker was the hungriest player ever
March 21st, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Great piece Joe.
“Allen is committed” – There’s the ultimate take away. An intelligent, experienced, lunch pail carrying, run stuffing DT with a perpetual 7th rd chip on his shoulder sounds like a handy guy to have around.
March 21st, 2018 at 12:09 pm
He studied Mike Smith and his defense and chose to come here? Hope I’m wrong but, maybe he’s not so smart after all… oh yea, the money!
Hope he beasts!
March 21st, 2018 at 12:23 pm
He took the Bucs for 3 years $15 million
He’s not only smart…He’s brilliant!
March 21st, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Lakeland, that was…brilliant!
March 21st, 2018 at 12:38 pm
There is a video on youtube of this guy hitting the gym, impressive. There is also a youtube video of Swaggy hitting an all you can eat buffett and the shocked looks on the patrons, employees and owner is priceless.
Not as priceless as a photo of GMC and Tmaxcon hanging out but almost.
March 21st, 2018 at 12:42 pm
The bucs should be allowing everybody to rush the passer!!!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….NOPASSESIN2018!!!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
March 21st, 2018 at 12:44 pm
I’m thinking smart guys that read their keys and don’t get turned, deked or trapped in the run game will allow more sophisticated blitzing. When you can’t count on the Swaggies on your line to maintain assignment integrity, you can’t turn your linebackers loose. You have to play vanilla.
March 21st, 2018 at 12:52 pm
This all works for me…. now add Curry and Chubb on the outsides! Everyone just nodded in agreement! Yeahhhhh
March 21st, 2018 at 1:05 pm
There’s something in the air in Wisconsin. The Badgers just seem to always have big mean OL’s and backs that can run behind them.
March 21st, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Being smart doesn’t mean much if you don’t have the talent, and we know Allen doesn’t. We need good players, stop signing all this rejects.
March 21st, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Hey let’s sign suh for one year and put him next to GMC!! One bucnation
March 21st, 2018 at 2:11 pm
http://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/the700level/beau-allens-dating-app-profile-hilarious
This guy is pretty funny!
March 21st, 2018 at 3:06 pm
[Getting closer to being banned. Given experience, it’s really just a matter of time. And don’t try to act dumb wondering why this comment was edited. — Joe]
March 21st, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Curry, Allen, GMC, Davenport is GIGANTIC. Chubb has continued to fall down for my #7 pick, though I will still jump and cheer spilling my beer if we did get him. We could trade back and get Davenport who is the Sasquatch actor for Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and we could get more picks.
March 21st, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Allen did his homework alright, let’s see, I’m a 7th round career backup type talent, which team would I be a clear cut starter based on the talent that team currently has, plus has a tendency to over pay average talent, that’s a pretty easy equation to figure out…..Da Bucs….luckily it’s pretty much a 1 year contract…
March 21st, 2018 at 6:48 pm
He’s a Buc now, so i’m cheering for him. He just needs to do his job, not single handedly beat the other team. He did it in Philly, and now he’s got a ring. It’s going to be so weird to see the defense just lean on people for a change and not get pushed around.
March 22nd, 2018 at 12:33 am
Wow..!!
We’re praising a spreadsheet junkie???
And our defense will improve how..??
Shouldn’t we look for a player with an “IT” factor rather than a guy with an I.T. factor..??
No, I’m not hyped..!!
March 22nd, 2018 at 6:54 am
There’s no info like Joe info!
Thanks for always doing your homework to keep us, the fans, informed on our favorite team Joe. Just when we think we might have gotten every angle, every take of analysis on the Bucs you guys come with stuff like this. 👏🏽👏🏽
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Uhhh you’re gonna have to expand on “his affection for beer”. My affection for beer is probably not the same as ASJ’s affection for beer. And his subsequent highlight reel comedy, I mean DUI