Tweet
Cortez Allen Could be Steelers Next Great Corner
by SteelBlitz
Aug 6, 2012
Cortez Allen didn’t start playing football until his Senior year of High School, but that didn’t stop him from getting a scholarship to continue playing. Allen was so impressive in his first year of football that he earned a scholarship to The Citadel. During his time there he became a top corner and played well. He showed great athleticism and a knack for the game of football. Heading into the 2011 Draft he was considered one of the top developmental prospects in the entire draft. The Steelers took a chance on Allen in the fourth round. It was expected that Allen would be the type of player that would need a year or two of coaching before being ready to step in on defense, but he showed he has a quick learning curve by playing in nickle packages during the 2011 season. Allen beat out Curtis Brown, the teams third round pick, who was expected to be a more polished corner coming out of college.
Heading into their second season Allen and Brown are in a competition with Keenan Lewis for the second cornerback spot opposite Ike Taylor. As of now it sounds like Allen and Lewis are leading the charge. According to media at training camp both Lewis and Allen have looked very good so far. As has Curtis Brown while playing the nickle spot. In fact, Lewis, who suffered a minor injury a few days back, refused to sit out a day of practice. Most believe this refusal was due to him not wanting to fall behind one of the other young corners.
Early in July Ike Taylor made comments about Cortez Allen. According to SteelersDepot.com Taylor was singing Allen’s praises in early July:
“He’s a very mature second year guy. The reason why he is so mature is he went to a military academy school,” said Taylor. “He kind of had to grow up early from his childhood. He’s kind of old to be a second year guy (In his attitude and demeanor, Allen is only 23).”
“He knows what it takes and he wants it. He wants to get better. The good thing I like about Cortez is he doesn’t say much, he comes to work and he does what he needs to do.” Taylor went on to say, “This dude could be way better than me – if he can stay healthy”
When I first read these quotes almost a month ago I thought it was just a veteran trying to give a second year player some confidence before his first training camp (remember, due to the lockout all 2011 rookies hadn’t experienced training camp until now). Which is another huge praise for Allen. After being considered a project player Allen played on the Steelers defense as a rookie, not an easy task, and he did so with no offseason activities and no training camp. However, after looking at Allen’s play in 2011 and hearing the media so far during the 2012 training camp I think Allen may be the next great Steelers corner.
Ike Taylor is 32 and will need to pass off the torch sooner or later. As of now it looks like Allen may be the best of the group behind Taylor. Not to knock Lewis or Brown either; Brown is a very exciting player and will see time on defense in 2012 and Lewis has really turned a corner over the past year and still has the inside track to be the number two cornerback. However, if Allen continues to progress the way he has he will be the star of the Steelers defensive backfield in a few years. Remember Taylor, Ryan Clark, and Troy Polamalu aren’t getting any younger; it wouldn’t surprise me if all three had left or retired in 3-4 years.
[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cortez_allen_could_be_steelers_next_great_corner/11387596[/URL]
by SteelBlitz
Aug 6, 2012
Cortez Allen didn’t start playing football until his Senior year of High School, but that didn’t stop him from getting a scholarship to continue playing. Allen was so impressive in his first year of football that he earned a scholarship to The Citadel. During his time there he became a top corner and played well. He showed great athleticism and a knack for the game of football. Heading into the 2011 Draft he was considered one of the top developmental prospects in the entire draft. The Steelers took a chance on Allen in the fourth round. It was expected that Allen would be the type of player that would need a year or two of coaching before being ready to step in on defense, but he showed he has a quick learning curve by playing in nickle packages during the 2011 season. Allen beat out Curtis Brown, the teams third round pick, who was expected to be a more polished corner coming out of college.
Heading into their second season Allen and Brown are in a competition with Keenan Lewis for the second cornerback spot opposite Ike Taylor. As of now it sounds like Allen and Lewis are leading the charge. According to media at training camp both Lewis and Allen have looked very good so far. As has Curtis Brown while playing the nickle spot. In fact, Lewis, who suffered a minor injury a few days back, refused to sit out a day of practice. Most believe this refusal was due to him not wanting to fall behind one of the other young corners.
Early in July Ike Taylor made comments about Cortez Allen. According to SteelersDepot.com Taylor was singing Allen’s praises in early July:
“He’s a very mature second year guy. The reason why he is so mature is he went to a military academy school,” said Taylor. “He kind of had to grow up early from his childhood. He’s kind of old to be a second year guy (In his attitude and demeanor, Allen is only 23).”
“He knows what it takes and he wants it. He wants to get better. The good thing I like about Cortez is he doesn’t say much, he comes to work and he does what he needs to do.” Taylor went on to say, “This dude could be way better than me – if he can stay healthy”
When I first read these quotes almost a month ago I thought it was just a veteran trying to give a second year player some confidence before his first training camp (remember, due to the lockout all 2011 rookies hadn’t experienced training camp until now). Which is another huge praise for Allen. After being considered a project player Allen played on the Steelers defense as a rookie, not an easy task, and he did so with no offseason activities and no training camp. However, after looking at Allen’s play in 2011 and hearing the media so far during the 2012 training camp I think Allen may be the next great Steelers corner.
Ike Taylor is 32 and will need to pass off the torch sooner or later. As of now it looks like Allen may be the best of the group behind Taylor. Not to knock Lewis or Brown either; Brown is a very exciting player and will see time on defense in 2012 and Lewis has really turned a corner over the past year and still has the inside track to be the number two cornerback. However, if Allen continues to progress the way he has he will be the star of the Steelers defensive backfield in a few years. Remember Taylor, Ryan Clark, and Troy Polamalu aren’t getting any younger; it wouldn’t surprise me if all three had left or retired in 3-4 years.
[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cortez_allen_could_be_steelers_next_great_corner/11387596[/URL]
Comment