How do you know that Allen would have succeeded in this system?
Because he's a stud. Not a retread. Studs usually find a way to stick in any system they're asked to stick in. Moss certainly did it. I'm sure the Pats could have found room for him. Further, we now know that Dobson hasn't, to date, succeeded in this system. Nor has he succeeded in this league. And, given the events of the last couple of weeks with regard to Dobson's availability on game day, it looks like the "injury" excuses have dried up. Finally, I pose the same question to you in reverse: How do you know that Allen wouldn't have succeeded in this system? Given the discussion and what we know now, I would take the guy that has actually done something of significance in the NFL and not the guy that can't see the field and got beaten out by a guy that had been with the team for a week.
What proof do you have that he could have handled the coaching of the Patriots staff?
Is there any evidence that Allen is trouble? Or a headcase? Or has a me-first attitude? Why wouldn't he be able to handle the coaching? Cite examples.
What proof do you have that he could have handled the play-book? Football smart? What proof do you have of that? What proof do you have that he just doesn't run the routes that are called and that Rivers finds him?
I watched his route running in the combine and I paid attention to it in games when I can actually see him run anything but a 9-route. They're sharp. He takes great angles and rarely if ever rounds off his routes like Dobson has been known to do. I know what snadlot football looks like. I've watched the Steelers play it for years. What Rivers and Allen do in San Diego and what McCoy coaches is not sandlot football. Nice try.
The answer is none. It is pure speculation.
Which is precisely what you're doing as well. Discussions of this nature are pretty much always pure speculation. So, if we're speculating, who would you rather take a shot at:
1. The guy that hasn't shown much in the league as a whole and still hasn't earned Brady's trust in the system.
-OR-
2. The guy that has been successful in the NFL and has proven himself to be a #1 wideout.
Thought so.
People seem to forget that Patriot receivers are expected to make the same reads at the line as Brady and expected to make the same decisions as Brady. Yet no one can offer proof that Allen could do this.. Why people feel the need to think their speculation somehow equals proof is beyond me..
I'm well aware of how complicated the Ehrhardt-Perkins can be. I've also seen free agent veterans excel in it. It doesn't seem unreasonable to think that Allen could have possibly been better in this offense than Dobson. Dobson has been a failure, to date, and lost snaps to Martin almost immediately in spite of the fact that he spent two more years in the system than Martin did. Why you're trying to defend a guy that, to date, has been nothing other than a disappointment is beyond me.
