Anthony Allen RB, Ravens- NFL and Fantasy Football News
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

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Maybe the “question mark” about draft prospects coming from Georgia Tech’s unconventional option offense applies mainly to the WR position. After all, it was the biggest concern about Denver WR Demaryius Thomas (who is sick), and currently the primary concern that many have about 2012 WR Prospect, Stephen Hill (who will be sick).

Apparently, some teams (or at least the Ravens) do not have this same worry regarding the running back position. Or maybe they do. After all, they didn’t draft Georgia Tech RB Anthony Allen until the 7th round of the 2010 draft; and actions speak louder than words. But here are the words, because we are in the words business. “At Georgia Tech, they’re running the triple option, so he’s either getting the ball or getting hit. He’s tough,” said Joe Hortiz, scout for the Ravens. “(At the combine) he really showed the ability to catch the ball away from his frame. Not all of those quarterbacks are throwing it on the money, and he tracked it on the downfield routes.”

He also said he liked his pass blocking ability. I’m not sure how much it will matter for the role he’s going to fall into, though. The fact is that starting RB Ray Rice is one of maybe 4-5 backs in this league who can stay in and play literally every down. He does get gassed, though. He is also the single most important cog in that offense, and he’s starting to get some tread on the tires. John Harbaugh knows it. Ozzie Newsome knows it. I had the opportunity to address Ozzie Newsome about the running back situation at the same media session in which Byron Got CLOWNED by Newsome bad enough to have a PFT article written about it. I asked who was going to fill the compliment role previously occupied by Ricky Williams.

“We have Anthony Allen, a young kid that we drafted out of Georgia Tech and we’re going to give him every opportunity to be that guy.” Newsome answered, “Now, that you’ve had a guy on campus for a full year. It’s almost like having those two young tight ends last year and having a good feeling that those guys can play for us. We’ve got Anthony and we’ll give him every opportunity. Damien Berry, he’ll get some opportunities. We’ll go into August like we did last year and try to get that out.”

The way he delivered the message seemed supremely confident in Allen’s abilities. He missed most of last year with some kind of lingering thigh injury. When you look at Anthony Allen, you get a lot more “Willis McGahee” in a Ray Rice compliment than you do in a 34-year-old Ricky or a Le’Ron McLain. He is powerful and plays tough, but he does not really play like a huge battering ram. At 6’1″, 222 – he is a large back, but he ran a 4.56 forty and obviously moves well. If Ozzie Newsome truly is pleased with Antony Allen as Ray Rice’s back-up coming in 2012, A “McGahee-Like” performance out of a guy you will be able to snake from your friends at the tail end of Fantasy Drafts will be huge.