I never follow college ball, but the thing that intrigued me about Allen as the draft process was unfolding was reports of how much improved from the end of the college season to the Senior Bowl after getting some QB coaching in prep for that game. So it made sense that Beane would go after a guy who was raw but showed a pretty good response to competent coaching. Throw in there what they found about his personality, leadership, competitive fire, and willingness to do the work, and I think you start to see what they saw in him that made him the guy in their eyes. Of course we don't know those things until well after the draft, so the reactions make sense to a certain extent.