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S Will Allen (Official Thread)

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Willing targets in the secondary

Bucs safeties Will Allen and Jermaine Phillips are expected to be tested. The response: No worries.



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By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published September 5, 2006
TAMPA — When the Bucs boast of returning 10 of 11 starters from the defense that finished 2005 ranked No.1 in the NFL, it invariably leads to ticking off names.

Who’s missing?

Then, who’s new?

The second is a trick question. The Bucs’ only “new” starter was in the starting lineup for eight games last season, half of the regular season. Maybe that’s why coaches don’t seem too worried about whether free safety Will Allen can fill the shoes of departed Dexter Jackson.

They’ve seen him do it.

Allen and strong safety Jermaine Phillips are the least-experienced members of the largely veteran defense. The players who put the 2 in the team’s trademark Cover 2 scheme, they are sure to be targeted by offenses.
When Ravens quarterback Steve McNair drops back to pass in Sunday’s season opener at Raymond James Stadium, whom is he more likely to stay away from: cornerbacks Brian Kelly and Ronde Barber, with a combined 193 career starts; or Phillips and Allen, with a whopping 38?

“The last thing I’m going to say, or even anticipate thinking, is I have young safeties,” first-year Bucs defensive backs coach Greg Burns said. “They are compared to our ninth- and 10th-year corners, but Will Allen and Jermaine Phillips are veterans in the system we have. They understand the system inside and out.
“They’re going to do a great job no matter what opponents try to do.”

Phillips, a third-round draft pick in 2002, took over the big-hitting strong safety position vacated by John Lynch. He has 30 starts but has missed several games because of injuries.

Allen, a fourth-round pick in 2004, showed in limited playing time last season a penchant for making big plays.

In September, Allen recorded his first multi-interception game, picking off Brett Favre twice in the fourth quarter at Green Bay. In October, Allen scored his first career touchdown, returning a Gus Frerotte fumble 33 yards against Miami.

But the play Allen’s teammates hoot about was the crushing hit he delivered against Carolina receiver Steve Smith, whose seam route came to an abrupt end when Allen leveled him with a blow to the chest. The third-down play ended a Carolina drive in Tampa Bay’s 20-10 victory.

“He’s a big-time player, and to come up with a big play like that, especially against Carolina, who we were fighting for the NFC South championship at that time, it was huge for momentum,” Allen said.

“He had the ball in his hands and I just came across the field and I gave it to him. I just reacted. You really don’t think about it. You just go do it.”

Allen has possessed big-play instincts since he was “this high” growing up in Ohio. He came into his own at Ohio State, where he is best remembered for his game-saving interception against Michigan to preserve an undefeated season in 2002. The win sent the Buckeyes to the national championship Fiesta Bowl, where they beat Miami.

“It’s being in the right place at the right time, just reacting and being a football player, not thinking too much,” said Allen, who will wear a brace this season to protect his left thumb, fractured early in training camp. “I just go hard and have fun and let my instincts and athletic ability take over.”

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin liked what he saw of Phillips and Allen in the five games they started together last season. Allen’s other three starts came at strong safety when Phillips was hurt.

“Last year they really came into their own,” Kiffin said. “Will hadn’t played a whole lot and he stepped up and really showed he could start. I feel really good about them.

“They’re really conscientious. They work together so well back there. They’re both good leaders. You have to be smart back there. Those guys make a lot of calls.”

Allen is accustomed to having his team depend on him. He looks forward to proving to the rest of the league he belongs in the starting lineup of an elite defense.

“Every year you’re going to get tested and tried and you have to keep proving yourself,” Allen said. “Hopefully you go out and make some plays and they start respecting you. We’ll see. The challenge is always fun.”
 
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Will Allen interview

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/24/Bucs/Buckeyes__brothers_an.shtml

The national championship game is coming soon and you went to Ohio State. Why will the Buckeyes beat the Gators?

I think as a team, we're more disciplined. We're going to make fewer mistakes. And I think we have a coaching advantage, too, because our coach has been here before. He's been in a lot more big games than Urban Meyer has. But I think talent-wise, it's probably the same. It's going to come down to who makes fewer mistakes and who makes the bigger plays. So that's where I think we have the edge.

Seems like Ohio State alumni really stick together. You guys are always talking about your roots and always rooting for each other in the NFL. Why is that?

They really, really preach that as soon as you get there. It's like a fraternity, like a family. We go back all the time and you're always welcome. It's been like that since my freshman year. I always saw guys around who had been in the (NFL) or even guys who didn't play in the league.
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Free safety Will Allen has shown great leadership ability during the offseason and has become more vocal out on the field. He?s a much more confident player this offseason in the presence of Morris, the new defensive backs coach who worked with Allen extensively during his rookie season in 2005.

Allen made a great read on the ball in 7-on-7 drills and got in the way of wide receiver Chad Owens. That allowed Buchanon to step in front of Owens and pick off a pass. An impressed Morris yelled, ?Oh, yes! I like that, P-Buc!?
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Inside Bucs' Mini-Camp: Tuesday A.M. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Pewter Report
 
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Bucs Safeties Look to Step It Up This Season
By Mike Cobb
the ledger

LAKE BUENA VISTA
Buccaneer safety Will Allen has one thing to say about the criticism of the team's safeties last year. It was justified. "Oh yeah. Definitely," Allen said this week at Bucs' training camp. "We didn't play up to our standards. We didn't play the way we're capable of playing, and it showed."
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Bucs Safeties Look to Step It Up This Season | theledger.com

Bucs Expecting Fundamental Changes At Safety
Skip directly to the full story.
By ROY CUMMINGS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 15, 2007


LAKE BUENA VISTA - Looking back on it, Will Allen realizes that he left the Bucs with no other choice. Jermaine Phillips didn't leave the Bucs with much choice either.

Really, what were the Bucs supposed to do? Sit back and hope their two deep safeties would just get better overnight? Pretend what they saw last year didn't really happen?

Teams that finish 4-12 can't hope. They can't pretend. They have to take action, and that's what the Bucs did, drafting safeties Sabby Piscitelli and Tanard Jackson in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, this spring.

The Bucs didn't stop there, though. They also rehired their fiery former assistant secondary coach, Raheem Morris, and named him the replacement for mild-mannered Greg Burns, who was fired.

Allen and Phillips are fortunate they weren't the ones who were fired. They became the poster children for just about everything that went wrong with the Bucs defense last year.

Many say the label is unfair because the problems on defense started up front and filtered all the way through the unit. But don't count Allen among those who believe he and Phillips were unfairly labeled.

"Oh yeah," Allen said when asked whether the criticism was justified. "Definitely - because we didn't play up to our standards. We didn't play the way we're capable of playing, and it showed.

"There was definitely a drop-off from years past, and so we need to step up our game [this year] because of it. I mean, the pressure is definitely on us [to play better]."

Allen and Phillips aren't the only ones who believe the pressure is on them to improve. Their boss, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, will tell you the same thing. He'll even tell you why.

"They just missed too many tackles last year," Kiffin said flatly. "Those safeties are the last line of defense a lot of times, and they gave up some explosion plays against the run that we didn't give up two years ago.
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Bucs Expecting Fundamental Changes At Safety
 
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PRO FOOTBALL y TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Rookies putting defensive backs on the defensive
Safeties Will Allen and Jermaine Phillips know they have to step up their play this season if they want to keep playing

By TOM BALOG



[email protected]

TAMPA -- The alarm sounded for Will Allen and Jermaine Phillips on draft day when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting safeties watched the team draft not one, but two safeties.

Sabby Piscitelli, a second-round pick, and fourth-rounder Tanard Jackson were selected high enough that the team expects them to compete for playing time sooner, rather than later.

"They felt like safety was a need to address," said Allen. "You can't be mad at that. You have to roll with it. It's adversity. But what are you going to do with it?

"Are you going to wilt? Are you going to fall? Or are you going to step up to it? That was the challenge for myself. I took it personal. You have to. Or you don't deserve to play ... don't deserve to be on the team."
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It's a threat that Allen is taking seriously.

"I'm going to play great this year," Allen said. "I dedicated myself as soon as the season was over to changing my attitude, my mindset and approach to the game."

The Bucs defense tumbled to 17th in the league last season, out of the top 10 for the first time in 10 years.

"They both need to tackle better, their tackling slipped a little bit," said defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. "They knew that."
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"A lot went on last year and we have to look at ourselves first," Allen said. "Not reading my keys every play, not being in tune to how important this organization is, how important this defense is every time, and appreciating it. ... At times we let that slip. I know I did. I can't speak for the rest of my teammates. As a whole defense, that might have left us a little bit."
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"When they play, they play pretty good," Gruden said. "We missed some tackles early in the Miami game that we have to take responsibility for. But I've been pleased with Phillips capping plays off, finishing plays. Will Allen has been solid. Those are two guys that have played a lot of football, that have had solid camps."
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Allen made 83 tackles last year in his first full season as a starter. He was more impressive in 2005 when he was the new kid on the block. Allen had three interceptions and 56 tackles making eight starts and playing in 13 games. He returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown against the Dolphins that year.

"They've really tackled well in the preseason," Kiffin said. "They want to play better. They had a good off-season."
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PRO FOOTBALL y TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Rookies putting defensive backs on the defensive
 
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PewterReport.com has learned that Bucs fourth-round draft pick, rookie safety Tanard Jackson, has been splitting reps with Will Allen in practice and could start at free safety on Sunday.

?They actually have me and Will rotating right now, so it isn?t slated in stone yet,? Jackson said. ?But it is a possibility that I could be starting. I really don?t know. I hope so. They have me running with the ones right now. Sometimes I will running with the twos and Will will be go in with the ones.?

If Jackson does start, it would be quite an impressive feat, especially when considering the fact that he?s been making the transition from cornerback, which he played at Syracuse, to cornerback with the Bucs.

?I always thought I was the type of athlete and competitor where I would come in and play early,? Allen said. ?But the reality of that situation is that it wasn?t likely with two veteran safeties that have been here.?

Allen has started 24 games for the Bucs since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Ohio State in 2004. However, both he and starting strong safety Jermaine Phillips struggled mightily in 2006, which prompted the Bucs to draft Jackson and S Sabby Piscitelli in April.
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http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/3312
 
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S Will Allen

5th NFL season, 5th with Buccaneers

How Acquired: 4th-round draft pick (111th overall), 2004

2007 Statistics: 15 games, 14 tackles, 15 tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams

Allen is well-versed in the Buccaneers' defensive and kicking game schemes, having played four seasons for the team and spent time as a part-time starter, a full-time starter, an oft-used reserve and a special teams ace. He primarily filled the latter role in 2007, as the Bucs' safety tandem of Tanard Jackson and Jermaine Phillips made 31 of a possible 32 combined starts (Kalvin Pearson made the other) and gave the team strong play in the defensive backfield.

Allen's starting experience is at free safety, and Jackson would appear to have that spot nailed down after a very strong rookie season. Still, the former Ohio State standout gives the Bucs good depth at the spot, having started the entire season at free safety in 2006, producing 83 tackles. In 2006, Allen started eight games and turned in a career-high three interceptions.

Last year, Allen was fifth on the team with 15 special teams tackles. Since the Buccaneers place a premium on kick-coverage skills when forming the 53-man roster, continued strong play in that phase of the game should aid him in nailing down a roster spot once again.
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Buccaneers.com | News
 
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Hoping Will picks up his game this preseason

Over the last 4 years I have liked seeing the great hits from Will Allen. At this point however, he needs to step it up to make sure he will make the 53 man roster with the way Gruden likes to collect QBs.

It has been disappointing to see Will Allen move into the starting rotation for Tampa Bay and then play himself well out of it. His 2007 numbers were way down (due to playing time) and he now appears to be outside of the top 3 on the safety depth chart for the Bucs.

Here's hope that Will rights the ship and makes some plays this preseason. He led the team with 4 solo tackles vs the Fins which is a good start.
 
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Allen plays special role for Bucs

Former Tampa Bay starting safety captains those units

By DAVID DORSEY ? [email protected] ? October 31, 2008

TAMPA ? Having patience has prevailed for Will Allen, a Tampa Bay Buccaneer who has slid far down the depth chart since starting at safety two years ago.
Allen, 26, watched as Tanard Jackson, a rookie at the time, took his spot last season. He watched this year as another younger player, second-year pro Sabby Piscitelli, supplanted him on the safety depth chart as well.
But Allen, in his fifth season as a fourth-round draft pick out of Ohio State University, has maintained his enthusiasm and drive to succeed ? and could start again if needed, defensive backs coach Raheem Morris said.
Although Allen now comes off the bench on defense, he has had a leadership role bestowed upon him as captain of the special teams units.
"I couldn't be more proud of him," Morris said of Allen. "He's really taken up the special teams and become a leader.
"I call him Captain Coach Willie. He knows every position. He knows corner. He knows nickel. He knows safety. I can't say enough good things about him."
Morris might find himself shouting at Allen sometime after 1 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., to get into the game.
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2009_02_28_659_Allenk2k2lsmall.jpg

The Bucs have re-signed safety Will Allen (Cliff Welch)

Bucs Re-Sign Allen
By: Charlie Campbell and Jim Flynn
February 28, 2009

On Saturday the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed backup safety Will Allen. The special teams captain stays with the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. After being a starter for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Allen has been a reserve the past two years backing up Tanard Jackson.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed a key reserve player on Saturday when they re-signed safety Will Allen to a new contract according to RotoWorld.com. Allen, 26, was the special teams captain for the Bucs in 2008, and backed up starting free safety Tanard Jackson. The Ohio State product was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Allen (6-1, 200) started eight regular season games at free safety during the 2005 season and set a career high with three interceptions, but was hampered by injuries during the year. In 2006, he started all 16 games and made 83 tackles.

The Buccaneers started Tanard Jackson ahead of Allen the past two seasons, but Allen has been a core special teams player that is on punt and kick coverage and punt and kick return units. He finished second on the team in special teams tackles with 21. Reserve linebacker Quincy Black led the team with 24. Allen also forced a fumble on special teams.

Last season Allen made 11 tackles on defense
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February 28, 2009

Will Allen re-signs on 1-year contract
S Will Allen didn't remain a free agent for long. The team has re-signed the veteran backup to a one-year contract that will pay about $1.83-million but has a maximum value of $2.35-million.

Allen lost his starting job in 2007 but has been a key reserve and was the Bucs' special-teams captain in 2008.

With starting SS Jermaine Phillips still unsigned, the Bucs certainly need depth at the position. Even if Phillips is re-signed, Allen is a big contributor on special teams, which makes him valuable.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay Bucs Schedule, News and History | Will Allen re-signs on 1-year contract
 
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