MayorWest13 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/6/10/8753703/ricardo-allen-may-arrive-as-the-starting-free-safety-sooner-thanEver since he signed a one year deal with the Falcons way back in early March,Charles Godfrey has been the obvious favorite for the starting free safety job. His skill set was at least a decent fit for Dan Quinn's defense, there didn't appear to be any stellar competition for the gig and the Falcons repeatedly struck out on free agents they were linked to.Then Ricardo Allen was moved to safety, and now it appears we've got a legitimate battle for a starting job. Vaughn McClure predicted that yesterday morning before practice began, and that was confirmed when Allen took first team reps later in the day. vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23Ricardo Allen got a lot of first-team reps today alongside strong safety Kemal Ishmael. Charles Godfrey was with second team at FS1:42 PM - 9 Jun 2015 Allen's path here was anything but easy. After the Falcons took the physical, ball-hawking cornerback in the fifth round last year, they made the surprising decision to cut him last August. He made his way onto the practice squad and finally onto the active roster late in the season, but never saw game action in what had to be a very frustrating rookie season. When Dan Quinn and company arrived in town and picked up multiple cornerbacks through free agency and the draft, his future in Atlanta appeared even more muddled.The move to safety has changed everything. Allen's lack of ideal height is not a liability at safety in Quinn's scheme, and the ability to make plays on the ball and his willingness to hit make him a fine fit for what the team is looking for at free safety. Pair that with a cornerback's range and you can see why the team thought Allen might be a good candidate for conversion. I figured he'd take a year to learn the position, sit behind Godfrey and potentially push for the starting gig in 2015, but it appears I underestimated Allen.It's June, so it would be foolish of me to reward the job to him today, but the team benefits if Allen is impressive and ready to assume the starting job today. That pushes Godfrey into a solid veteran backup role, it sets the team up with a promising young player at the position who is under contract through 2017 and Allen's upside could make any early struggles worth enduring. What once looked like a done deal for Godfrey is now one of the most intriguing position battles on the roster, so be sure to monitor it closely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlGM Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) hope he wins the job. the potential is definitley there Edited June 10, 2015 by atlGM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FentayeJones Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 This off season is setting up for some intense training camp battles at RB, FS, OL, TE, FB, the third, fourth and fifth WR, NB and back-up LB. In prior years it seemed as if there were pre-determined starters at every position... not this year. It's going to be fun to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Dimitroffed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peoriabird Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) What??? Another starter drafted? This ain't looking good for the TD haters! Edited June 10, 2015 by peoriabird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Doktor Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I always liked how scrappy he plays. I was stunned when he didn't make the team last year initially. He played well in preseason. I hope he balls out. Sometimes it just takes a leap of faith and a change of team dynamics to unleash potential. Every player that gets a try out with a team is an elite athlete. They were the big fish in their pond. What separates the cheat from the chaff is heart. Ricardo has that in spades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grrrillapmpn Inc.® Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Allen is big balls, correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayOzOne Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 It would be great if he does well at FS. If he catches the ball, he's a threat to take it to the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da_Truth Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 If he can become the ball-hawking safety that he was as a CB in college with the speed to go sideline-to-sideline then I'm all for Allen being our starting FS. Then I read he likes to hit on top of it. Sounds like a potential winner to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovie_Lover Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Let's go!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peoriabird Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Wonder why the previous coaching staff didn't think he should be on the roster?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Allen is big balls, correct?That's correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lornoth Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 TD's always been good with DB's. It'll suck that we cut him and then signed him to a shorter deal if he ends up being a starter though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Falcon Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Watching OTAs, how can you determine things like this? I think the coaches are just trying out different people in different positions to see what they like. I don't think there is anything to read into every little thing the coaches do at the OTAs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDaveG Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 KOG suggested this move earlier, and I didn't articulate it out of respect for him, but my first thought was "that's nuts."Now I know. Usually when I disagree with him over something football related, I end up being wrong. It happened again, and I'm glad to see it. I'd love to see this kid win the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primetime Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Posted the same in another thread re Alford moving to safety this season (not happening imho). It's Godfredson position to lose however Allen could very well make the team and his lack of speed and ideal height will not hinder him and his good ball hawking ability and want to tackle are real plus's. Hope he does well as I always liked him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconsd56 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I kinda thought this would happen....the guy I equated him to when we drafted was The honey badger.... Who is doing pretty well at Fs for the cards when healthy....they both have something you can not teach....ball skills and instincts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLFalcons11 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Posted the same in another thread re Alford moving to safety this season (not happening imho). It's Godfredson position to lose however Allen could very well make the team and his lack of speed and ideal height will not hinder him and his good ball hawking ability and want to tackle are real plus's. Hope he does well as I always liked himHe is very similar to Alford in style and play.Only reason Alford isn't moving is because Quinn likes what he sees from him at CB so far.Allen is a nice alternative to Alford for the FS position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwickha2 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 As much as I love Allen, and I do. He was consistently in my mocks. My big concern is that he is only 5'9" about 185 lbs. I want to wait till we get pads on to see if he can consistently make tackles. I don't doubt his intelligence or his play-making ability just his ability to take down ball carriers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Doktor Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Wonder why the previous coaching staff didn't think he should be on the roster??Blinkers? Tunnel vision? No vision? Who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Very skeptical of Allen. Hope it works out, seems like a good kid. But I'll believe it when I see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawse Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Told yall last year that I loved this pick and it was one of my favorites last season. Was shocked when our staff cut him. Smitty is an idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconsd56 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 The previous coaching staff cut him and then resigned him to PS......he struggled in preseason games last year...... There are only so many roster spots on the 53 man roster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndySG Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 He was one of my favourite players in the draft last year and I was delighted when we got him. I was gutted when he got cut and pleased that nobody else picked him up on a selfish level. I fully believe that he would have been a first rounder if he was two inches taller. Would love for him to win the job. Seems like a genuinely good guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadMoonRising Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Wonder why the previous coaching staff didn't think he should be on the roster??BS, everyone knows TD drafted him just to release him for fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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