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Dwayne Allen: Healthier, Lighter and Looking For a Big Year

By Dave McKee

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Dwayne Allen has shed weight to play faster in 2015

Dwayne Allen is determined to play lighter and faster this season. After a back injury in 2013 sidelined him for all but one game, He came back in 2014 at his standard playing weight of 268 lbs. Allen claimed last season he never felt better than 70%. Allen said he felt his body begin to break down towards the end of the season.

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Allen missed a portion of the Indianapolis Colts OTA’s earlier this year not due to injury but to prevent them in the future. Kevin Bowen of Colts.com provided the best explanation for Allen training in Arizona. “Dwayne Allen is in Arizona this time of year because he wants to be in San Francisco come February.”

Dwayne Allen, who is an integral face of the franchise around the community spoke with JMV on 1070 The Fan about his previous injuries and his motivation to be more reliable for the organization:

"“The high ankle sprain (from 2014) lingered a little longer then I wanted it to. I talked to (Coach Pagano) about it and there was an understanding. I’ve been out here for two months, just grinding, getting my body in good shape so that I can go out and the team can depend on me. Getting late in the year (2014), I had a banged up knee and a banged up ankle. They didn’t feel, I didn’t feel, that they could depend on me and that was frustrating because I feel as if, in every situation throughout the season, they can count me.”"

Allen told Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star he will be playing 13 pounds lighter than last season. He has dropped from 268 lbs. to 255 lbs.

Now Dwayne Allen feels 100% after the specialized training regimens he went through in Arizona. Obviously less weight will help his back and ankles but more importantly to Allen he will play a little faster.

He explained to Kevin Bowen his thoughts expectation on the upcoming season following his training.

"“With my game, I need to focus on run after the catch and definitely improve in that area while sustaining, if not making grounds, in the pass blocking, and run blocking areas,” Allen said of his offseason priorities.“I felt like I took a step back (in 2014) and wasn’t able to be as big of an impact as I was the previous year. I’m looking for a big year.”"

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In a contract year this slight change in weight can bring huge dividends if he can increase his yards after catch and improve on his eight touchdowns from last season. If he felt he took a step back and still put up career numbers last season imagine the potential impact of a lighter, faster and healthier Dwayne Allen in 2015.

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