Allen turning corner for Steelers
PITTSBURGH – Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen lined up opposite fellow corner Will Gay, who was working as the wide receiver but with big pads on his hands.
Defensive backs coach Carnell Lake called for them break and Gay took off from the line of scrimmage, taking a jam from Allen and running down the sideline in the after-practice drill. Lake would then loft a high, arching pass down the sideline and Allen would turn and try to make the interception while taking a shot from Gay’s padded hands.
Then they would switch positions and go through the routine again.
“It was something Coach Lake wanted to get us working to play deep balls better, to get us in better position, learning how to get our heads around better,” said Allen. “It’s fine tuning. It’s been working good for us.”
That it has.
Allen looked as if he was mimicking the drill in last Sunday’s 17-9 victory at Jacksonville when he mirrored Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson down the sideline on a deep pass and made a leaping interception, his second in the last two games. Allen also got his hands on two other passes, giving him nine pass defenses on the season, tying him with the New York Giants’ Prince Amukamara for second in the league behind San Francisco’s Perrich Cox, who has 10.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been especially pleased with the play of his cornerbacks since longtime starter Ike Taylor suffered a broken arm three weeks ago in a win at Carolina.
Not only did Allen have an interception Sunday, Brice McCain, inserted as the nickel cornerback when Gay moved outside to replace Taylor, also had one that he returned for a touchdown.
“They’ve been really solid, particularly Cortez,” Tomlin said. “His arrow has been pointing up the last couple of weeks. He is touching a lot of balls. He is catching some of them. Will plays savvy veteran above-the-neck game like he usually plays. I don’t want to underscore his contributions. He is playing outside a heck of a lot more since Ike Taylor has gone down. Obviously, he is a solid interior player but he has proven again that he is a quality solid guy outside as well.”
While Gay’s play has been a continuation of what he did last season, Allen has justified a five-year, $26-million contract extension the Steelers gave him before their regular season opener against Cleveland Sept. 7.
The Steelers (3-2) have a rematch Sunday with the Browns (2-2) in Cleveland.
In the first game, a 30-27 Pittsburgh victory, Allen had a quiet day, mostly because the Browns didn’t test him, throwing just one pass to the receiver Allen was covering. He broke up that attempt.
With Taylor out, Allen figures to see more action this time around.
“I’ve gotta be consistent,” Allen said. “I’ve got to do my job regardless of whether Ike is here or not. We miss him a whole lot. But we all have jobs to do, the same jobs that was required from us when he was here. We have to take that approach every day.”
While Allen has had issues with penalties, drawing six, his play has been consistent. Opponents have completed just 23 of 40 passes against him for 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, which would be a passer rating of 72.3.
By contrast, Cleveland’s Joe Haden, a Pro Bowl cornerback, is allowing a passer rating of 138.4. Former Steelers cornerback Keenan Lewis, whom Allen replaced in the starting lineup when he left as a free agent, has allowed a passer rating of 102.8.
“I’m just trying to help our team win,” Allen said. “Working with Coach Lake after practice, emphasizing getting our hands on the ball both in games and in practice. That only helps. He wants us to pay very, very close attention to detail to get us to be better than we were a year before.”
Rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier practiced on a limited basis Thursday. It was his first practice since suffering a sprained knee ligament three weeks ago against Carolina. Safety Shamarko Thomas (hamstring) missed practice for the second consecutive day. … Haden (hip) and linebacker Paul Kruger (back) were among those who did not practice for the Browns.