One day after veteran safety Troy Polamalu’s retirement, the Steelers quickly started preparing for life after Polamalu. In order to add much needed depth at the safety position the Steelers re-signed veteran Will Allen on Friday.
Allen, who turns 33 in June, has played 11 seasons in the league for three different teams. Of those 11 seasons Allen has spent five with the Steelers. Over his career Allen has played 163 games mainly as a backup and has recorded six interceptions and forced five fumbles.
Allen has great familiarity with the Steelers defensive scheme having started 11 times for the Steelers at safety including four times last year. In primarily a backup role last year Allen contributed 22 tackles and forced one fumble.
As it currently stands, the Steelers only have one other safety, Mike Mitchell that started any games for them last year. The other two safeties under contract are Shamarko Thomas and Ross Ventrone. Both of those players were special teamers last year.
Thomas, the third year pro, remain the leading candidate to take over Polamalu’s starting spot as strong safety. The Steelers from the beginning seemed to have tabbed Thomas as the heir to Polamalu’s throne. They traded a third round pick from the 2014 draft in order to draft him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.
Photo credit: USA Today
