Jeff Allen continues to sit while Chiefs give Zach Fulton a shot at RG

It seems that many Kansas City Chiefs fans have a higher opinion of Jeff Allen than the Chiefs themselves do. I say that because, as the Chiefs made a position switch at right guard on Sunday, Jeff Allen continued to sit on the bench.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif started the first three games of the season at RG as Allen was coming back from a preseason knee injury. LDT struggled in those games so in Cincinnati this week, with Allen no longer on the injury report, the Chiefs made a switch at RG and started Zach Fulton. Allen remained on the bench.

We haven't seen Allen consistently since the 2013 season when he was a regular starter for the Chiefs. He began the 2014 season (before his season-ending injury) as the RT and not the RG but I chalked that up to Donald Stephenson's four-game suspension. The Chiefs tried him at both guard and tackle again this offseason but he hasn't stuck at either position.

It's just hard for me to believe that Jeff Allen isn't one of the Chiefs five best linemen. At the least, he merits an opportunity. He is probably not going to be playing tackle this season unless there's an injury. The Chiefs like Stephenson at LT and Eric Fisher has turned in two straight solid appearances at RT. That leaves guard, particularly right guard, as the spot he could be playing. That's also the position the Chiefs don't seem to have figured out yet with them trying a number of combinations there this offseason and now continuing their tinkering into the season.

I'm not trying to say Jeff Allen is the savior here; not at all. Nor am I saying that Zach Fulton is the problem. I just can't figure out why Allen hasn't been given a shot now that he's healthy. Andy Reid talked about LDT being young and inexperienced as part of his issue. Then why won't the Chiefs give a look to one of the most experienced players on their line?