When you think about the stories surrounding Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 season you think about Kareem Hunt, Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes… you think about losses of Eric Berry and Spencer Ware, the return to form of Justin Houston and the ascension of Chris Jones. People are also all abuzz about the team’s huge win over the Patriots on their banner night and the solid win in the Chiefs home opener vs a good Eagles team. However, hardly anyone is talking about the man on the Chiefs roster known as “The Hulk,” defensive lineman Allen Bailey.
Last October Bailey was placed on Injured Reserve by the Chiefs and missed the remainder of the season because of a torn pectoral muscle. Bailey is not only back and playing great but he appears to be surpassing his output from his best three seasons with the Chiefs.
Allen Bailey was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 draft. When he was taken by K.C. he looked more like a muscle-builder than a defensive lineman. However, his incredible overall athletic ability quickly became noticeable. As a 6-foot-3 inch, 285 lb lineman when he came out of Miami, he ran a 4.77 40 yard dash and had the highest vertical out of all lineman with a 36.5 inch jump. At that time he was considered a “tweener” because no one knew for sure if he’d hold up on the DL or if he was athletic enough to move to OLB? Since then, he’s proved to be an excellent defensive player for the Chiefs. No, he’s never gone to the Pro Bowl but he’s always been way above average.
In Allen Bailey’s three best seasons, year’s 2013-2015, he averaged 13.6 games, 36.3 total tackles and 3.5 sacks per season. Below you’ll find his best three seasons stats in games played, tackles and sacks… and a comparison of his first two games (against superior offenses) projected out to 13.6 games (his 3 year average), to emphasize how well he’s performing in 2017.
You have to beware of any kinds of projections at this point in the season. We can never tell how the rest of the year will go, especially since Bailey didn’t play 16 games in any of this three best years. However, his current optics — play on the field — and numbers, are encouraging. Really encouraging.
It was towards the end of the 2014 season, his best year (so far) that the Chiefs gave him a four-year extension on his contract worth $25M. That contract extends through the end of the 2018 season so if Bailey can play lights out football this year and next — the way he’s been playing so far this year — then the Chiefs will have gotten an excellent deal (and who knows, maybe they extend him a couple more years because he’s only 28 years old)!
Allen Bailey has a reputation within the Chiefs hallowed walls as being one of their best defensive linemen. After all, he’s the lone remaining Amigo, of the Three Amigos:
2nd Jones sack he takes a page out of the Allen Bailey playbook and uses Wentz's own OL to knock the ball loose. pic.twitter.com/B7pP3C7Adf
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) September 18, 2017
On that play writer Seth Keysor recognizes Bailey’s move of shoving the OL back into the QB and Chris Jones is a fast learner. On this next play, Bailey splits a late arriving double-team (who tries to reach out and grab him as Bailey’s going by). Bailey is able to flush Wentz from the pocket where’s tracked down by some other men in red hats.
Eagles bring in 6 OL set with Vaitai lined up at TE on right side. Allen Bailey gets around Lane easily. Think he was expecting outside help pic.twitter.com/hcfvsXYZn3
— ONE TAKE JAKE (@FinessedBuckets) September 19, 2017
It was a play like that one after which Chris Jones recently professed Bailey’s return to Hulkiness:
“Oh, beast! Did you see that? Split the double team, make the TFL. I went up to him and said, ‘Allen Bailey the Hulk is back. The Hulk is back in business, baby.”
Below, Allen Bailey is first in line to taste some Smallwood barbecue.
https://twitter.com/davidphotokc/status/909473776089284608
The Chiefs were 7th in the league last year in rushing points allowed. This year they are 20th in the same category through 2 games. Does that mean much? I don’t know because in 2016 the Chiefs finished 26th in he league in rushing yards allowed while this season they are 12th in the same category. When you compare those stats with a 12-4 record last year and a 2-0 record this year… it’s hard to make sense of it all. One thing we can be sure of is that… the Chiefs defensive line is much better off with Allen Bailey — “Thē Amigo” — shedding, shredding and beheading… for the Chiefs this year.
You may not be aware that Allen Bailey is now an Emmy Award winner too. Take a peek at his 6:00 minute video piece, for which he won the award, as he and chiefs.com’s B.J. Kissel take you back to his home where he grew up, a piece called: “Allen Bailey: Pride of Sapelo Island.”
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