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Pittsburgh Steelers Meet the Pick: S Marcus Allen

By Brandon Kring

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Marcus Allen #2 and Troy Apke #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions record a tackle against the Georgia State Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Marcus Allen #2 and Troy Apke #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions record a tackle against the Georgia State Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers double dipped at safety in the 2018 draft. After releasing Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden, the Steelers clearly were looking to upgrade with the Morgan Burnett signing and two drafted safeties.

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the draft with safety as one of their top needs. They filled that need early with the Terrell Edmunds pick.

Picking Edmunds lead most to believe Pittsburgh would not go after another safety in the draft. However, when their first pick of the fifth round came up, they made another choice to draft a second safety.

Local guy, and Penn State senior, Marcus Allen had his name called as the newest Pittsburgh Steelers draftee. Allen, a huge Steelers fan himself, got drafted in the fifth round.

The new Steelers safety has a Steelers style to his play. He is a physical safety that is great in run support and is a tackling machine.

Allen racked up 320 tackles in his collegiate career, 181 of them solo tackles. He also made 17 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Allen’s speed and limited mobility are the two biggest knocks on him as a rookie. His long speed is not good so he may struggle in over the top coverage as a last line of defense type of safety.

Allen’s best production and most useful position will be anywhere close to the line of scrimmage. His linebacker style play along with his 6’2″ 215 pound frame will allow him to play as a linebacker in sub packages.

With Morgan Burnett and Sean Davis seemingly entrenched as the starters, Allen will likely start out on special teams. Fellow rookie Terrell Edmunds will also be ahead of him for play time but both could be the future of the team.

Davis has had his struggles early in his career so Allen will look to impress early on to show he belongs. He will need to outwork fellow rookies as well as veterans to get a roster spot.

Allen is the type of player the Steelers love. He is a humble, tough, physical player with a passion for playing great defense.

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If Davis struggles or has any injuries at safety, Marcus Allen will most definitely have his chance to shine. What he does with an opportunity, when it arises, is up to him and how hard he will want to work in the NFL.

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