Marcus Allen tops UGII for backup ILB spot

[D Rock]

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/08/pittsburgh-steelers-marcus-allen-safety-linebacker/

Didn't see this talked about yet-

Marcus Allen is the top ILB behind Bush, with Spillane listed behind Williams. Allen moved past Ulysees Gilbert III for the spot.



Former S Mark Barron out, former safety Marcus Allen in.

Safeties and inside linebackers are damn near interchangeable these days. This is like the current version of shifting college DEs to 3-4 OLBS was in the 90s and early 20s.

[Northern_Blitz]

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/20...ty-linebacker/

Didn't see this talked about yet-

Marcus Allen is the top ILB behind Bush, with Spillane listed behind Williams. Allen moved past Ulysees Gilbert III for the spot.



Former S Mark Barron out, former safety Marcus Allen in.

Safeties and inside linebackers are damn near interchangeable these days. This is like the current version of shifting college DEs to 3-4 OLBS was in the 90s and early 20s.

It certainly feels odd. You wonder when the pendulum will swing back to hard running.

Seems like players that fit a power running game would be undervalued these days and it would be pretty cheap to run through all these light D's. This seems to be the way Baltimore is headed.

I guess you'd face the problem of being pretty one-dimensional if your D gave up a big lead?

[NorthCoast]

Nice write up at BTSC on this topic. Said that teams that faced BAL (PIT, SD, TEN) and did well in limiting or beating them used 3 safety sets. And in some cases 4 with no LBs. (some game clips show how it works)

And guess who makes this possible this season?..... that's right, Sean Davis.

The key to defending the run in this case is for the safety to crash down the line before the runner gets into space.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2020/9/11/21429856/an-in-depth-look-at-what-sean-davis-brings-back-to-the-steelers-defense-film-room-ravens-nfl-news

[Buzz]

Allen being moved above UGII at ILB? To me, that's a disappointing indicator of UGII's lack of progress. Allen has limited upside at the position, IMO. UG has better athletic potential, and seemed to be coming along well before his injury last season -- I wonder what happened?

Allen is OK as an extra in-the-box guy, but I have a hard time seeing him being great in the role Mark Barron had last year. Hope I'm wrong, and Allen proves to be outstanding.

[NJ-STEELER]

forgot where I read it but of of their writers wrote that it will be UG3 as the main back up to VW.
allen more in sub packages

[Captain Lemming]

Allen being moved above UGII at ILB? To me, that's a disappointing indicator of UGII's lack of progress. Allen has limited upside at the position, IMO. UG has better athletic potential, and seemed to be coming along well before his injury last season -- I wonder what happened?

Allen is OK as an extra in-the-box guy, but I have a hard time seeing him being great in the role Mark Barron had last year. Hope I'm wrong, and Allen proves to be outstanding.

My thoughts exactly. More a downer on UG 2 than excited about Allen.

[Oviedo]

Allen being moved above UGII at ILB? To me, that's a disappointing indicator of UGII's lack of progress. Allen has limited upside at the position, IMO. UG has better athletic potential, and seemed to be coming along well before his injury last season -- I wonder what happened?

Allen is OK as an extra in-the-box guy, but I have a hard time seeing him being great in the role Mark Barron had last year. Hope I'm wrong, and Allen proves to be outstanding.

Obviously the coaches who see them everyday disagree with you

[Iron City Inc.]

Without camp there is not much I can add here. I would say it's more that ILB Spillane is the odd man out. We'll know soon enough if MA n UG2 can handle some packages. I will say this both of those guys are solid on special teams.

[whisper]

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/20...ty-linebacker/

Didn't see this talked about yet-

Marcus Allen is the top ILB behind Bush, with Spillane listed behind Williams. Allen moved past Ulysees Gilbert III for the spot.



Former S Mark Barron out, former safety Marcus Allen in.

Safeties and inside linebackers are damn near interchangeable these days. This is like the current version of shifting college DEs to 3-4 OLBS was in the 90s and early 20s.

Here we go again with their obsession to find a S/LB hybrid. Isn't Allen only 215 LBs? I'm not sure him at ILB is gonna be great when we are playing Chubb, Zeke, Ingram, Dobbins and Henry.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Let's see how it plays out. I wouldn't be surprised if this is more situational than anything. Maybe UG3 more against a power running team and Allen more against a spread team. Take advantage of situational matchups.

[Captain Lemming]

Obviously the coaches who see them everyday disagree with you

Not necessarily. It could mean neither are impressive, UGIi so disappointing Allen was needed at the position.

[Captain Lemming]

Here we go again with their obsession to find a S/LB hybrid. Isn't Allen only 215 LBs? I'm not sure him at ILB is gonna be great when we are playing Chubb, Zeke, Ingram, Dobbins and Henry.

I'm going to guess Allen weighs more than he did when he was drafted

[flippy]

I like the move personally. The Steelers like their safeties to be interchangeable and I think playing S in Pittsburgh didn't fit his skill set.

He's more of a thumper like Vince. He was a hustler in college that likes to hit people.

He may have to bulk up a bit, but I can see this kid as a play maker if they can use him the right way. And I heard Jerry O is pretty excited to be working with him.

I gotta admit, the Steelers D frustrates me at times. We try to fit every player into our system vs trying to allow guys to excel at their strengths and modify the D to the player's strengths at times.

[whisper]

I'm going to guess Allen weighs more than he did when he was drafted

Especially if he/they knew he was gonna play ILB. But just looking at him, he still won't be anywhere as heavy as ILBs usually are. Imagine a dude that small trying to shake off an OG or C?!?!?!?!?

[Buzz]

Gilbert didn't even make the active list for the Giants game. Disappointing.

BTW, little Booger didn't make it, either.