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Chiefs' Allen Bailey quietly having a Pro Bowl season
by Jordan Wallace
If you’re not a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, chances are you’ve probably never heard of defensive lineman Allen Bailey. Bailey, a five-year NFL veteran, flew under the radar for most of his first three seasons before coming on strong last year. Bailey’s 2014 effort earned him 41 combined tackles, five sacks, and a brand new four year contract worth $25 million, with $15 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus. Now in the first season under his new contract, Bailey is quickly showing that he was worth every penny and may even be on the way to his first Pro Bowl.
While the Chiefs’defense garners a good deal of attention from the media, and rightfully so with players such as Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, and Dontari Poe to name a few, very rarely is Allen Bailey ever mentioned.
However, that doesn’t keep Bailey from devastating opposing offenses by disrupting the run game and pressuring quarterbacks. At 6’3’’, 288 lbs, Bailey, dubbed “The Hulk” by Chiefs’ defensive quality control coach Britt Reid, has already amassed 31 combined tackles and 4.5 sacks on the season.
In addition to the sacks, according to Pro Football Focus, Bailey also has two quarterback hits and seven quarterback hurries.
In fact, Bailey has been a big factor into why running backs such as Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings and Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears have struggled against the Chiefs’ defense. Bailey helped hold Peterson to a mere 60 rushing yards and Forte to 71 yards, due in part to his 10 solo tackles and five assisted tackles over the two game stretch.
It’s not just sacks and tackles either. Bailey’s incredible strength has aided him in causing two forced fumbles this season, in addition to recovering one.
So will Bailey make his first Pro Bowl this year?
Well if he keeps up the pace, there is no question Bailey should earn a trip to his first Pro Bowl.
Bailey is on pace for 10+ sacks this season and somewhere in the vicinity of 65-70 combined tackles. Considering the Chiefs play a 3-4 defensive scheme, those numbers are definitely Pro Bowl caliber.
Not to mention, the Chiefs will face a relatively easier second half of the season, with only three of their last eight games against opponents with a winning record. This should provide Bailey and the rest of the Chiefs’ defense plenty of opportunities to pad the numbers a bit.
Overall, Allen Bailey has proven that he belongs as a starter in the NFL, and in my opinion, is off to a great start at earning those big contract numbers. With Bailey under contract until 2018 and Dontari Poe locked down until after the 2016 season, the Chiefs’ defensive line looks to be in good hands moving forward. Now if the Chiefs can work out a deal with Jaye Howard, who is set to enter free agency after this season, they would have a trio of excellent young players anchoring the Chiefs’ defense for the foreseeable future.
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