Donald Stephenson, Jeff Allen Working With LeCharles Bentley
By Ben Nielsen
Sep 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Donald Stephenson (79) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Good news for those of you concerned about the future of the Chiefs offensive line. Two critical pieces for next season’s projected starting offensive line, Donald Stephenson and Jeff Allen, are working with former NFL player LeCharles Bentley this off season.
Sounds like @Don59Wayne is working with LeCharles Bentley, along with @JeffAllen71. Bentley helped Geoff Schwartz have a career year in 2013
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 25, 2014
Bentley started an offensive lineman program, O-line Performance, with the idea of improving the quality of offensive line play around the NFL. His programs focus on getting linemen into “offensive linemen” shape as opposed to having linemen training like they are running backs. He focuses on diets and workout programs as well as film study. Many NFL linemen, including Schwartz, Alex Boone, and Max Starks, have worked out with Bentley.
Here’s a blip from his website.
"[E]ach individually designed program is constructed around addressing the most efficient ways to improve your performance. LeCharles’ ability to identify imbalances based on in-person assessments as well as his time spent studying your film, he’s able to build the ideal program to rapidly improve your performance. There isn’t an individual more qualified to scout your weaknesses in film evaluation while simultaneously being able to prescribe the training, dietary and nutritional modalities to turn a perceived weakness into a strength."
Are Stephenson and Allen suddenly going to become All-Pro linemen because they worked out with Bentley? No. But Bentley’s history suggest both of them are going to be in a better position to be successful next year than they were this season. This certainly cannot hurt the Chiefs and their offensive line’s potential.
To give you an idea of what Bentley can help unlock, read this story on Detroit Lions rookie Larry Warford. Warford, a right guard selected in the third round, finished 2013 with a +22.8 PFF grade and started all 16 games.