Purple Insider - a Minnesota Vikings and NFL podcast - A chat with Justin Allen, trainer for three key young Vikings players

Episode Date: July 1, 2020

How have offseason training sessions been impacted by COVID? What does Justin make of Justin Jefferson's athleticism? Does Cam Dantzler have to gain weight? How is Holton Hill approaching a season with big opportunity?  Check out Matthew Coller's written work at PurpleInsider.substack.com  And Justin's website All-ENsportsperformance.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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when you work out outside, how hot is it in Texas right now? Oh, man, it has its days where it's scorching. Last few days, it's been good to us. We had a little bit of a breeze, so it's a nice feeling outside. So we'll talk about your impressions of some of the young players that you've been working with that I think Vikings fans would love to know more about, Justin Jefferson and Cam Dantzler. They're already familiar with Holton Hill, who made a good impression here with the Vikings two years ago and then has a chance this year to step up potentially into a starting role.

But I wanted to ask you about your background and becoming someone who trains NFL players. There is a boon, I think, in your industry of a lot of young players looking for trainers, looking for people to work with on the side. How does one become a person who trains NFL players? Oh man, it takes hard work, dedication. You've got to study your craft and put the work in. That's basically what I did. Started off working with the youth, built it up to the middle school, high school, and then I had some college

inquiries and those college guys that became pros. I'm also thankful to have a brother that plays in the National Football League as well, being the younger brother of Dwayne Allen. A lot of guys knew who I was from there, and I just earned my keep as I put in the work to prove that I can help improve,

help players improve in different areas of the game. So was this something that you had set out to do? I mean, like in college or before that, that you had this in mind, this would be a career for you, or did you just kind of land on it and make it work most definitely it was um it was it was a plan a a plan a minus the goal was the goal the goal was to play professionally with my brother um since we were kids and uh unfortunately i had uh multiple injuries in college which led me to start to study the body and study being a personal trainer so that I can help other players prevent some of the things that I went through. Just not being educated and thinking, you know, when you're young,

you feel good, you think you can do anything. And not only that, playing a game of football and then going through the injuries I had, it put me in depression. And so I wanted to do something that kept me around the game so I could have that peace and have that feeling of still being around the game and still doing what I love. But it was definitely a vision that I had since I was a kid. It's amazing the number of people that you run into, whether they did play in the pros or college, who have that similar drive that you used to be a very good football player before

and then you apply it to something else and have a lot of success. So that doesn't surprise me at all, Justin. I want to ask you before we get into some of the training and how it works in the off season to keep these guys in shape, but also not wear them out about COVID and how you've been dealing with it in your industry. My wife works out with a trainer once a week, and they've been doing it through Skype now. So it's just, it has to have been really, really, really difficult and challenging with COVID changing everything around. It's all about being smart and making the proper adjustments. Just listen to what they're telling us to do.

Trying to sanitize everything every time we touch it. Keeping our mask on and trying to keep our distance as much as possible. But also making sure that we're getting the proper work so that we're prepared for when we are able to get back to what we do. And those athletes that get back to work playing against one another. And how different is it for these athletes who normally would have had OTAs and they would have had mini camps and team-organized workouts, or has it not changed that much, your approach? They're professional athletes, man, so they make the adjustments on the go. It's definitely different for them.

They're used to being with their team and preparing for a season. So it's all about making that adjustment on the fly. I mean, that's why they're professional athletes. They're able to do that during the game when they make audibles. So I look at it as something similar to an audible, just making an adjustment and just doing the right thing and making sure you prepare for when it it's time to uh put the pads back on now how do you balance uh getting these guys ready to play without wearing them down because i know veteran players always talk about not peaking in training

camp because then by the middle of the season you're going to be completely worn down and i have seen some of the videos that you've put out in some of your training methods some of them even just to help wide receivers with the hand-eye coordination it was uh Justin Jefferson was doing something I definitely couldn't do where you flung something at him and he had to grab a certain color well it was coming over his head so I guess he's more skilled than I am at that but uh you know I, I guess how do you balance that, wanting them to be in shape, enhancing their football-related skills, not just building guys who are strong and fast, and then not overworking them?

Understanding the work that we put in. If we have a high-intense Monday, then we'll modify things that we do on Tuesday, usually give rest on Wednesday, pick things back up Thursday and finish off Friday. Saturday and Sunday, more of a really Friday, Saturday and Sunday, really for speed, cardio, stretch, cool down, because we usually come into the top of the week hard. And we recommend a lot of recovery. We work with a lot of different massage therapists and PTs that are around the gym area.

And we get the guys in there so they can get their massages and get their cold tubs and get the dry needling and all the stuff that they need so they can stay healthy and recovered. And then also we do the Pilates and the yoga with different facilities around the area as well. And how different is it by position? Because fun drills like that, I'm sure, help Justin Jefferson with his hand-eye coordination and so forth. But you have cornerbacks as well and other players who obviously play a myriad of different positions. So how do you kind of design these different things to help them with what they're going to need to do on Sundays?

Each player is different. Outside of body control, stability, and things of that such, each player has their own unique differences and skill sets. So you just have to study who you're working with and understand their strengths and weaknesses. And the program is set from there. And it's set to help them improve their weaknesses while also still keeping their strengths as their strengths. So that's really how it's based off.

Now, it looks a little bit funny for him to be grabbing something like that. But I see all sorts of crazy nutty workouts on the internet all the time and a lot of the former players that i follow will laugh at them so you know i'm sure you want to be creative but you also don't want to do things that are just ludicrous to show off how these guys are freak athletes right i mean how do you approach that uh i mean as a former athlete i don't do, I don't do anything that's outside of the basics. Hand-eye coordination, drills, I mean, they come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and different drills.

I don't do anything that doesn't translate to a game. The hex sticks that you've seen us using when I was throwing them over his head, I just call out a color. And so he has to locate the sticks with his eyes and then find the color, as I call it, and complete the catch. It's similar to a game. You've got to locate the stripes when the football's in the air. And that thing's spinning, and you've got to locate it.

Locate the tip of the football and see the stripes and pull football's in the air um and that and that thing's spinning and you you got to locate it locate the tip of the football and and see the stripes and pull the ball in so it's it it translates to the game um when you think about what's actually going on um i don't do any of those crazy drills that you see all over the internet everything i do is basic i have a i i just said i have a brother that's a former uh or that i have a brother that's a current intercoach player, and he harps on that all the time. So that's something that I definitely don't do. I'm going to remember that it's called a hexostick because I had no idea how to describe this thing.

Like it was spinning around, it's got different colors, and he grabbed it. But, yeah, I could see where some of those videos where somebody is, you know, running with weights and jumping up on something and trying to show off what they can do doesn't exactly help them play football on Sundays. Now let me ask you about the individual players here for the Vikings you've been working with because Justin Jefferson is first-round pick and a guy who exploded last year with, you know, over 100 catches, national championship, and the expectations are really high from him.

So what's been your impression of working with him this offseason, just from personality, work ethic, those type of things? Man, Justin Jeffries, he's special. He's a spawn. He wants to perfect everything that he sees wrong in his game. Has great forward, great hands. He's a spawner. He wants to perfect everything that he sees wrong in his game. He has great footwork, great hands. He's a natural leader. I think he's a perfect fit for someone to fill the void of a talent like Diggs that Diggs left. I believe that he's ready to do it right away as a rookie.

I'm excited to see him. What do you make of him as just a pure athlete? Because he goes to the Combine, and I think everybody wanted to know, all right, how is he going to perform there? Because all the production is through the roof. And then he comes out as one of the best athletes, at least from a Combine perspective. And I think if you're a Vikings fan, you're looking at that and saying, when a guy is that level of an athlete who has that level of production,

they can step in right away. No, most definitely. He's a natural athlete that perfects his skill. And so when you have a guy like that, it's scary. You know what I'm saying? That's when you talk about the Odells and the Larrys and the Julios. You know what I mean? Those guys were tremendous athletes, but they also honed in on their skill,

individual skill, and that's how they became the elite of the elite. He has the potential to be in that category as long as he stays focused and continues to do what he's doing and stay healthy. Everything else will fall in place. Yeah, that's interesting you bring that up because I had a former NFLfl wide receiver donald jones on to watch some film of him in college and he said the same thing he he asked if uh justin had played uh basketball in high school or college or probably high school i don't know the answer to that but he has like a like a very natural feel for the game when you watch him play especially when he has the ball in his hands that people can be trying to tackle him from different angles

that he's going to see and anticipate, and that looks special to me. Most definitely. He just plays off natural instincts. He just has that love for the game, and you can tell that he's loved the game for a long time and played it for a long time. And you have some guys that they just pick it up

and they have it naturally. When you play multiple sports like Odell's, and i'm sure um he was one of those athletes as well as and justin jefferson um who played multiple sports and he in in shows by the way he moves and and gets in and out of tight spaces now i'm gonna with another player that you've been working with i'm gonna offer you my personal help here if you need to help cam Dantzler gain weight, I am your guy. I am good at gaining weight. I know all the best pizza places, chicken wings, ice cream. That is a specialty of mine.

Now, Dantzler, we've been talking about him a lot on the show this offseason as a guy who did not run a great 40, but when you watch him play, he certainly is not a 4'6", 40 guy. If he can run with Jamar Chase down the sideline, you know, foot for foot. But what have you been working on with a guy that is on the skinnier side? Like, how do you deal with that? Because if you try to put on too much weight too fast, then that's going to have other ramifications, right? Most definitely.

I'm not too worried about his size. I think he plays bigger than what it says on the scale. It's all about how physically you play on the field, and that's what I look into. I'm also not too worried about his 40. 40 times has more to do with technique than really how fast you are, so I don't focus on that as well. He's not a 4'6 guy.

As you said, when you watch the turn on the tape, you can see that he's a gamer. And that's a natural thing, too, for athletes. Some guys just know how to turn it on when those lights are on, and he's one of those guys. We've been working on tight spaces, working on his range, and winning at the line of scrimmage. Using that length to his advantage, using those long legs to his advantage, and winning at the line so we're not turning everything into a foot race.

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If you haven't seen it yet, you definitely have to check it out. And also, we're going to hook you up with free shipping for your order. Just use the promo code PURPLEINSIDER for free shipping. That's SodaStick, S-O-T-A-S-T-I-C-K.com. Original Minnesota sports-inspired goods. Code Purple Insider for free shipping. Right, yeah, no, his length is a perfect fit for Mike Zimmer corners. When I just looked at his tape a little bit, I said, this is exactly what Mike Zimmer would be looking for on tape

with his lankiness and his height. I wonder what you think about the 40. I mean, I almost feel like it's entertainment purposes for why the NFL keeps it because so many people in the game talk about how that's really not the way that you would do it. And even someone like

Delvin Cook did not have a great NFL combine and has become a great NFL player. So I wonder how much you think that something like that matters. I'm hoping it changes pretty soon. These kids don't play three or four years of college football to be judged on one day running a 40 when the tape shows what they can do in live action. So hopefully they get this fixed pretty soon. And I don't think they should just completely take the 40 out,

but I don't think they should put so much on where the player is drafted or how high he is on the list by how fast he runs. Because if you notice, a lot of those guys that are drafted high, that run that fast, don't really pan out in the National Football League. Right, yeah. I mean, the guy who ran what was it the fastest ever john ross has not really become what they expected him to be so that's a good point and plenty of guys have had disappointing combines who have then been under drafted if you will and i think the vikings see that in cam dantzler the other guy you've been, Holton Hill, he's one that I get questions about

every day, Justin. Is Holton Hill going to win this job? How does Mike Zimmer view Holton Hill? All those different things. And the door is wide open, and I don't think the Vikings would have let all of their corners go if they didn't believe that they had other guys who could step in. But he is

someone who's gone through some things in his past that have been concerning for the team. He got suspended last year. What have your impressions of him been working out with him? Most definitely, man. Houghton Hill, he's a tremendous talent. I believe if things go

the correct way, he has the potential to be a day one, day two draft pick. So I think this year is important for him to show his worth and show his growth from year one to year three. And I'm excited for him. I think he's grown into the professional that he needs to be. Being around Harrison Smith, being around great players in the organization,

I think he's ready to take that next step. He's been putting the work in, definitely, working hard and taking the extra steps and pushing himself. And that's good when you start to see a player pushing himself even harder than what you demand for him that day. So I think he's more than ready for for the season to start so he can show um his work now he's come across to me as being kind of a guarded or kind of a quiet guy um definitely what what do we what do you make of his personality i mean it's there are a lot of

players who are in college and go through things like he did how about tyron matthew who's become one of the top five maybe defensive players in the league, but he had a similar issue as Holton. But I wonder what you know or what you could say about his personality, because even from being a reporter, I'm there every day. I've covered the team since 2016, but I still don't feel like I have a good sense for his personality. Yeah, he's one of those quiet guys, man. He's not with the one that follows the crowd or have to be where everyone else is at that moment. He just kind of does his own thing.

Great kid, man. He is actually a great character, good guy, and he's actually fun to be around. I think a lot of things that he went through young is just, you know, we all do some crazy things, dumb things. We all make dumb decisions when we're young. As we mature, we realize

why did I make that decision? Sometimes we're judged off of things that we do as kids, but then when we become adults and we get that experience, we understand that we made a mistake. I think that's one of the things that he had to go through, and it was something that he needed.

And it prepared him for the man that he's becoming and definitely prepared him for the opportunity that he has in front of him to take the starting job and be one of those comeback stories like Tyron Matthew and be a leader in the National Football League and give it back to the community. Before we get back to the conversation, I want to remind you that there is no shortage of action going on right now at our exclusive partners at betonline.ag. Sports are slowly making their way back, and BetOnline is leading the way with the best odds and lines for all UFC, NASCAR, boxing, and soccer matches. And if you need more, they have simulated NFL, NBA, and UFC simulations

all day, every day, live on their website. Looking for something else other than sports? BetOnline has hundreds of casino games, poker tournaments, and prop bets to check out. Visit BetOnline.ag, use the promo code BLUEWIRE for a free welcome bonus. That's one word, BLUEWIRE. BetOnline, your online wagering experts. Yeah, and the fact that the opportunity is there, the door is open, he has to know that and be driven by that. Justin, I was going to ask you before we wrap up here, and I definitely appreciate the time, just what about your goals for your company?

It seems like you're on the rise. You're building up your profile and so forth. Where do you see it going, this training industry that you've started to build here? Honestly, I just wanted to be I wanted to continue the positive movement. I don't like to limit myself with saying I want to do this and do this and do that, because you speak life and death through tongues.

So I just want to continue to help people, help as many people that I'm blessed to be able to work with and continue to, like I said, provide that positive energy and play that big brother role to a lot of athletes and just continue to help them grow as athletes and individuals. And that's one of the most important things to me is that they don't forget who they are through the sport that they play and that they understand that they're bigger than the sport that they play. And for me, that will be more than enough for me just to continue to help people improve. I just love helping people. It's not about working with a big athlete.

I feel like that's a bonus. But I love to help everybody from general fitness to the youth to the middle school, the high school, the pros. So I just want to continue the positive movement and hopefully it makes an impact on the world. And I know that you didn't bring this up when we talked about COVID, but I also saw a story on you and some of your help and community efforts for people who are struggling because of the COVID pandemic.

So I commend you on those efforts, sir. And I very much appreciate your time. People should go to your website, all-ensportsentertainment.com or on Twitter at all underscore n underscore sports. And you know what? You really love some underscores. It's even in your personal Twitter, Justin. I am anti-underscore in the Twitter, man.

It's just confusing. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It's hard to say on a podcast. Underscore. All right. Well, anyway, your personal Twitter is at JustinAllen underscore 13. And I really appreciate the conversation and you taking the time.

And I hope we can connect again soon down the road, man. Well, I appreciate it. You have a good one. And you stay safe. You and your family. Yep, you too. Thank you. Thank you.