Jared Allen has one predominant wish for Friday's preseason opener against Houston at Mall of America Field. "I'm hoping I'm not playing. I can have a day off," Allen said. In August, that's status quo for the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end. But once September rolls around, Allen continues to make it clear he has little desire to come off the field unless absolutely necessary. So while chatter continues to swirl about the Vikings' defensive line depth and the impressive rotation that might blossom because of it, Allen hopes all the in-and-out switching occurs elsewhere. "For six years I've been facing this question: Am I rotating?" Allen said. "And I think I've won the battle most of the time. So we'll see." In five seasons with the Vikings, Allen has averaged 15 sacks. Coming off a 2012 season in which he was slowed by injuries to his left shoulder and right knee, Allen feels refreshed and is eager to return to top form. So maybe Everson Griffen, whom the coaching staff believes has earned more playing time, will need to find his openings at left end behind Brian Robison or inside as a nickel rusher in pass situations. "That'll be up to the coaches to make that decision and guys to handle it how they handle it," Allen said. "I think we have an ability to fill in and do some things pass rush-wise that are pretty special." Allen said the first Vikings' defense he played on alongside Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Ray Edwards was special. But this unit, he believes, has the potential to be the best he's ever been a part of because of all the quality depth. At present, Griffen, Sharrif Floyd, Fred Evans and Lawrence Jackson are all back-ups. "This is how good teams stay good and develop," Allen said. "I always look at the Steelers. They seem to continue to create new guys in their system. And our defensive line in Minnesota has always been kind of a staple." The Vikings' depth up front should force opposing offenses into a "pick your poison" scenario, creating favorable one-on-one opportunities. "You can't focus on one person on this defensive line. I think everybody along that line is capable of making an impact on the game. That's where our advantage is. So as far as who's going to rush where, what, why, how, that to me isn't a big thing. The advantage is the mismatches we can create when offenses choose to take one person away. And now another guy has to win. And we have the ability to." Still, Allen hopes the rotation concept on the d-line doesn't become a rhythm disrupter. "When you rotate too many people, if I don't know where you're going to be, I can't rush the way I want to rush," Allen said. "Half the time you'll get a sack, because you're playing off of somebody. For example, I know within the first couple steps where Kevin is going to be. So I can adjust my rush accordingly. … That's the feel you get and that's the complications you get when you put too many people in. And that's where I think guys say I need this rhythm. I need to know where people are at."