Steelers to sign former Bucs Safety Will Allen
ESPN is reporting that Steelers will sign one of Tomlin's old players:
"Free agent safety Will Allen will sign a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, according to a source close to the situation."
This means it's more likely than not that Ryan Clark will not be returning -- instead following former teammate Joey Porter's footsteps and getting a big deal from Miami.
Allen was All-American at Ohio State and a ST captain and ST Pro Bowl alternate with the Bucs. Also, he's the dude who broke Willis McGahee in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
UPDATE: After a few quiet days, the Steelers have really jumped into free agency. The Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers are reuniting a pair of FA players with their old coaches, hiring WR Arnaz Battle from SF and OT Jonathan Scott from Buffalo.
Battle is a veteran WR and former special teams captain for new Steelers ST coach Al Everest. He'll also be in the mix as a backup slot receiver, a position where the Steelers are thin.
Jon Scott is a 6-6, 318 offensive tackle who is following Oline coach Sean Kugler from Buffalo and could be in the mix at OT or RG.
almost 2 years ago
syrsteelerfan
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Friggin' Sweet!
Another guy for McGahee to fear when he’s coming out of the backfield!
I hope this guy is better in coverage than (insert safety other than Troy here).
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
He's from my local High School
Wayne High School in Ohio. Represent them Warriors in Pittsburgh Will!
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Anything
I mean he honestly can’t do any worse then any of our other backups last year so why not see what Allen can do . Hopefully he’ll fit right in
In Myron we Trust
by SteelTownKid08 on Mar 8, 2010 7:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The thing I remember about him is
he plays the pass and run equally well.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
I believe so
Or depth at S. Both a huge need.
I think this is setting us up for a trade up for McClain…
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
So long Tyrone????
GRRRRRREAT! Seems he can play both safety positions and is a special teams ace. Plus with Tomlin having worked with him before, I can see the logic. Good pickup I think. BIG upgrade over Tyrone.
by SteelerMessican on Mar 8, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Actually
In the back of my mind there is a concern that he might crash and burn like Mahan, but now I’m stoked to board the McClain Train.
We're not trading up for McClain
Wasn’t even that likely we’d take a DB in the first round anyway
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
Any reason? Or just opinion?
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
I think DB is definitely an option and a need, but I'm not sure about the value at 18.
If Earl Thomas is as good as folks think, he won’t last until 18. If he’s not, he’s just an undersized, unphysical safety. We could get Nate Allen in the 2nd or 3rd for that role, or any number of guys.
Mays is DND, Haden will be gone. I’d be open to Devin McCourty at 18, though he aint exactly a ballhawk.
I think it’s a tough spot in the first round to get a DB in this draft. Meanwhile there will be some OL, DL, and LB’s that will fall to us that will be good value. And safety and CB are so deep in this draft that you could pick a Chad Jones / Nate Allen in the 2nd or a TJ Ward in the 3rd or Major Wright in the 4th… etc.
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
I was more referring to McClain
Then the DB part.
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
Ah, sorry
My personal opinion, we have too many needs to use another premium pick on a LB. But beside that, i think trading up (unless he fell to like 15). but what do i kno.
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
The big reason I doubt it happens
Is that the Broncos might get a pick a few spots above us in return for Marshall. And rumor has it that they have a raging clue for McClain.
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
ROFL!
they have a raging clue
“The Urinal Deuce”!!
Classic!
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
I have a raging clue and its pointing in this direction
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Oh you shot clue goo all over me.
Brian: Face it Peter, you get competitive about everything.
Peter: I am so not competitive. In fact, I am the least non-competitive. So I win.
by SoCalSteelerFan on Mar 8, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
It doesn't matter
what other folks thinks, what matters is what doe the steelers evaluate him as, if its the later then even if he is there at 18 we won’t take him
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Mar 8, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
We have a history of drafting DB’s in the first two rounds under LeBeau. Earl Thomas is good, but because safety is a low value draft position he may be available.
The reason I think we take him if he’s there is because he fits BPA and a whole bunch of needs. I could also see us going after Devin McCourty, as his scouting report strengths are pretty much exactly what we need in our corners. No matter what I think we go DB in 1 or 2.
I freakin love Devin McCourty
If he played for a higher profile school than Rutgers and had better hands we’d have to trade up to get him. I was thinking 2nd round until the Combine.
Heard some bad remarks about his deep ball tracking, though. Scout has us taking Brandon Ghee in the 2nd which i’m not wild about but is interesting. I think a 2nd round DB is most likely.
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
All CB's that come here need to be able to catch the damn ball ...
You can’t have 2 Ike Taylors back there. Someone besides Polamula has to be able to make some plays back there. Period.
he doesn't have ike taylor hands
There aren’t only 2 types of CB’s in the world. Just saying they aren’t Darren Sharper hands either.
And I’d still take someone who can tackle over a ballhawk.
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
disagree with first part
agree with second,
Unless you are Colbert himself, there is no way you possibly know we are definitely not trading up. I don’t even believe Colbert knows, you keep your options open until about the 5th team selects, then you start planning what to do by way of how the draft is developing, that plan can change with each pick.
The only reason why I agree with the second pick is because I believe the 2nd round S are not that far behind earl thomas with respect to what we look for in S.
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Mar 8, 2010 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
fair enough
i’d be SHOCKED if we traded up, would be a better way to say it
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn't be
we traded up several times in the past, troy and holmes of course, its not what we usually do but I wouldn’t be shocked we’ll see what happens, who knows, there may be a run on some guys and mcclain falls….drafts are so unpredictable
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Mar 8, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
This draft too GOOD to trade up
Unless there was a guy you ABSOLUTELY had to have, like a QB, you DONT trade up in this draft. There are too many good players in rounds 2 thru 4 available this year to throw away. Any other year, maybe, just not THIS year. A GREAT player will be there for us to take at #18.
by SteelerMessican on Mar 8, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
I feel
if you want a guy and you are sold on him and that you can’t get similar talent where you are, you trade up for him. Of course you have to analyze if you are better serve with two guys than one (since you are using another draft pick)
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Mar 8, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
Allen's stats in 2009:
Played in 8 games, started 2, 16 solo tacklers, 4 assists, 1 pass defensed. Not much there but he is only 27. He is 6’1", 200lb. He seems like a younger Clark.
hhhheaaattttthhhhh!
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
In madden 08
i always signed him out of FA cause he was young and had like an 81 rating.
and that’s pretty much the extent of my knowledge about him.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Done.
That’s all I needed to know about the man, now I’m sold.
by barnerburner on Mar 8, 2010 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
the last madden downgraded everyone
81 would be above average, “like a 70” is square in mediocre
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
dont take those 09 stats @ face value....
…he only played 8 games, then got put on IR with a broken thumb.
power
i like it
from random websites i’ve read, seems like he was a low end #2 safety. according to rotoworld, they think we’ll either sign another guy like this or draft a high end safety. i’m guessin we do the later (although i obviously have nothing to base this on)
Steelers.com
Sent out the text that both Battle and Allen were signed, but it said “for ST depth”…
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
Post-gazeete \
post gazette reports that we signed jon scott a ot from the bills http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10067/1041133-100.stm
that's really interesting. i wonder if Kugler just loved the guy or doesn't like what he sees here
maybe he’s a RG prospect?
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Willie Colon is the RG prospect
This guy is to fill Willie’s RT spot….
Interesting...
What is your basis for this prediction? Sounds good to me if Colon performs better at RG than RT and this Jon Scott will perform at least as well as Colon at RT
To quote Wolfey:
From a BTSC interview:
Colon is not a guard, he just looks like he should be one. He doesn’t have the tools to play guard in this league.
The coaching staff agreed. Maybe Kugler will change that… but I doubt it. Let’s stop with the Colon to RG bit.
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Willie's agent
claims that Willie is the best RT in the league. How is Willie going to react to being asked to move inside? If indeed that is the case
Now we have two backup OTs from Texas
I’m not reading anything more than that into this signing. We needed T depth going into next season…who really knows what Hills can give us, anyway? Now we have someone with some experience if Colon goes down.
I do think this might be a sign that we’re not looking at OTs in the draft unless significant value is there. Still leaves the door open for Iupati, of course.
larry foote possibly coming back
The pittsburgh just reported that we are interested in bringing foote back. That almost assures were not pushing for mcclain
by ironmike55 on Mar 8, 2010 2:59 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Not really
We are interesting in Foote…vice versa is not necessarily true. Also, Foote is 29. Not really old, but not a young, longer term solution.
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah he seems more like a depth situational guy
and considering a rookie has almost no chance of starting in our defense I don’t really think signing Foote long term would mean one thing or another.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Sorry meant to type pittsburgh post gazette
by ironmike55 on Mar 8, 2010 3:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions
you can say that again
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Sorry meant to type pittsburgh post gazette
by ironmike55 on Mar 8, 2010 3:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions
not litterally
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Especially when I misspell literally
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
One way to read all these signings
Allen was ST captain in TB.
Battle is considered a ST ace at SF.
Looks like Tomlin is getting depth, character and some new toys for Coach Everest.
So that he can give up a couple late round picks
to trade up in the draft and not have to sacrifice depth.
The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games
by chewiesteeler on Mar 8, 2010 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Battle is a ST ace?
Last year his primary job in SF was returning punts. He returned 21 punts, for an average of 2.1 yards per return. And in those 21 punts, he fumbled the ball SIX times.
Counting the kick returns and catches, that means that in one out of every 4.8 times he touched the ball in 2009, he fumbled it.
Who the hell thinks he’s an ace at anything?
he had double digit tackles on special teams last year, so that is what they got him for, not the return game.
Negative
Not unless you’re counting in binary (in which case he’d have quadruple-digit tackles). He had 9 tackles last year.
Anthony Madison is a ST ace
and he doesn’t touch the ball unless it’s to recover a fumble.
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
Is he really?
Anthony Madison was considered an “ace” in 2008, when he had 19 ST tackles for the Steelers (10 more than Battle last year). And then he was released by three separate teams in 2009.
Also, Madison didn’t fumble the ball. Or recover any fumbles.
Tomlin, like Cowher before him
… cut his best gunner and ST ace, undervaluing teams. And we gave up how many TD’s?
Check out how many after Madison came back.
Yes, he’s ST only. And yes, other teams cut him. But on our team, he’s proven himself worthy of “ace.”
by syrsteelerfan on Mar 8, 2010 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
My point was
you don’t have to be the return man to be a ST ace
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
Except Battle can't tackle
He played 15 games last year as the gunner on punts, and ended up with 9 tackles. That’s less than one tackle a game.
You really keep a roster spot open for this “ace”?
I never said he was an ace
just saying your logic was flawed by saying only return men can be aces
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
Oh, okay
I don’t think that only return men can be aces – I agree that gunners are a really important position on ST. Anthony Madison might be an ace, it’s arguable, and Sean Morey certainly is. Battle is not (yet).
Since Battle’s main responsibility last year was to return punts, that’s what I originally focused on. If his responsibility this year is as a gunner, I just hope he exceeds his production from last year.
(also, I’m surprised no one made the point that stats are harder to quantify for good ST men. A gunner’s main responsibility is to contain the returner inside. The best gunners will get the tackle, but good gunners merely make sure the returner can never break outside, and are tackled quickly. In that case, the only way to differentiate between good and bad gunners is to actually watch the tape.
It’s kind of like Hampton – he’s generally agreed to be an excellent nose tackle, even though his sack and tackle numbers suck.
Since I haven’t seen tape of Battle yet, my opinion may be suspect)
Good
ST ACES.
We still need to get some help at DB, OL and depth on LB,DL
pretty good day IMO
Battle plays the game right & is a lot like Hines. Allen & Scott should both be in the mix at their positions, and obviously ST improves plenty on paper.
I agree with everyone that says this draft is too deep to trade up in Rd 1. I’d like to see the team trade excess lower round picks and try to get 3 picks in the top 45-50. Getting a guy like Witherspoon or Pouncey in late 1st or early 2nd would make my day, ON TOP of the stud they find at #18 ….
I disagree on this draft being too deep to trade up ...
If Rolando McClain is an impact player that you think can be a difference-maker and it doesn’t cost too much to move up to get him, then you go get him. Difference-makers like Troy P., Ed Reed and Ray Lewis don’t come around every day. 3 years from now, people aren’t going to be talking about the 9 or 11 draft picks the Steelers had. They are going to be talking about who were the impact players from that draft.
totally agree
It’s also rare the Steelers get a chance to draft in the top half of the first round. If we need to reach for a guy we do it.
by SteelerBuddha on Mar 8, 2010 9:03 PM EST up reply actions
Whether U like it or not, this is the way the Steelers do business ...
They don’t overpay for their own talent or for players who they think their best years are behind them. They either sign: A. players coming off of their first contract in the NFL who are experienced and about to hit their prime B. a veteran at a particular position that can add skill to an area of need right away.
That worked well before with Farrior, R. Clark, T. Kirschke, M. Moore. Not so well with the DB & WR from this past year (K. Ratliff & S. McDonald).
I guess Ryan Clark realizes now that when he gets the Steelers best offer, then that is what they mean. I wish him luck with the Dolphins, but I do believe his best years are behind him.
good point by datruth, but
If you know mcclain is gonna be an impact player, then I agree go up and get him. The only problem is that nobody knows if he is gonna transition into the next ray lewis. In my opinion if he dosent fall to us we shouldn’t go chasing him. Some of the best steeler linebackers weren’t even first rd picks. Example Greg lloyd, joey porter, jack lambert,jack ham, etc
by ironmike55 on Mar 8, 2010 6:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Agreed, ironmike
That’s why I like sitting there or maybe going up slightly to get Iupati. I think there’s less unknown with him. He’ll be a little limited in his movement but he’ll be a nasty mauler. What will McClain be? Maybe fantastic. Maybe unable to adapt his college game to the pros.
Also, I’d like to see what Kugler can do with a high pick. No more trying to turn 4th’s and 5th’s into dominant players. Let’s give Kugler some early talent and see if he can get him in the lineup.
Golf is a contact sport. Football is a collision sport.
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Mar 8, 2010 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
Randle El
Just got a text from Schefter saying the Steelers signed him to a 3 year deal. Sweeeeeeet!
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 7:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yeah I'd be shocked if that were true
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Nevermind apparently it's true
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
haha
Why would I lie to u all?
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Mar 8, 2010 7:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think you would lie
Schefter would
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Yes !
Signed Clark to a new 4 year deal and Randle el to a 3 year contract . I loved Randle el when he was here and yeah he might not be as fast as he once was, he could still have an interesting part in our offense this year . My day’s gotten a lot brighter now lol
In Myron we Trust
by SteelTownKid08 on Mar 8, 2010 7:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Holy caca!!
Its true! Johnny dont lie!
by SteelerMessican on Mar 8, 2010 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
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