Ricardo Allen Impressing Quinn, Teammates As He Adjusts To Free Safety Role

[gazoo]

The Falcoholic- Jeanna Thomas

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/8/4/9094695/ricardo-allen-impressing-quinn-teammates-as-he-adjusts-to-free-safety

When the Falcons opted to not re-sign Dwight Lowery following the 2014 season, free safety instantly became one of the biggest needs on the field. The team did sign veteran Charles Godfrey, and though Godfrey wasn't the ideal candidate, it did appear that he would at least serve as a stopgap this season.

Nobody really anticipated Ricardo Allen, a 2014 fifth rounder who was actually cut following training camp last season and subsequently placed on the practice squad, emerging as the frontrunner for the starting free safety role, but Allen's skill set and work ethic have made an impression on the coaching staff.

Allen is currently taking most of the first team reps at free safety and appears to be coming along nicely, though there are still many elements of his game Allen will need to refine.

"He's worked extremely hard at it, and so he's taken to the principles of playing free safety," head coach Dan Quinn said this week. "I think more than anything, it's the communication that he's working on day in and day out. So at that free safety spot, you're furthest from the ball, but you see the most, so that communication's key. It's something that he's continuing to work on."

One thing I noticed from Allen in OTAs was his ability to track the ball and his awareness on the field. These qualities, along with his speed, certainly create the potential for Allen play the free safety position effectively. There's so much to learn with the transition to a new position, however, and Allen is willing to put in the time and effort to master it.

Desmond Trufant commended Allen's commitment to time spent off the field learning the nuances of the free safety position.

"He's looking real good out there. He looks natural, like he's been doing it for years," Trufant said. "He's obviously still young and has to get experience, but he's a student of the game. He's always in his playbook. He's always thinking, and he's going to be just fine out there."

William Moore has also been pleased with Allen's progress and work ethic.

"You've got Ricardo Allen I'm so excited for his progress for coming in for a new position," Moore said. "And he's been here all offseason. I've seen him around the facility."

Allen learned some valuable lessons during his time on the practice squad last season. Allen told me last season that he prepared every day with that "next man up" mentality, and that hasn't changed.

This season, with a starting role and significant playing time nearly within his grasp, Allen's working hard every day to make it happen, and he's willing to play any role the team deems necessary to help the Falcons win.

"Every day I'm going to come out here and compete. Every day I'm going to come out to be better," Allen said. "Every day I'm going to come out and just try to help my team be the best we can be, and wherever they want me at if they want me at corner, nickel, safety I'm going to try to find a spot somewhere."

While the idea of Allen starting at free safety was a surprise to many fans, Allen did spend some time in that role toward the end of training camp last season.

"I actually did a little bit of free safety last year with the other coaching staff, also in training camp it was late in training camp, but it wasn't really many reps," Allen said. "But I always just look to learn everything I can; look to make myself more valuable any way I can, and any way I can help this team out, any way I can help this team be great, I'm here to do it."

The simplified defensive scheme should make this transition a little easier for Allen. The defense is primarily focused on not giving up big plays and creating turnovers without a lot of complicated schematic elements to think through on each play.

Allen had 13 career interceptions at Purdue, four of which he returned for touchdowns. This new scheme should be a good fit for him.

"In our scheme, it's see ball, get ball," Allen said. "We're all about the ball, so you do your technique, you do your assignment, and if you see the ball in the air, it's fair game...if I can go get the ball and I've got the skills to play on it, I want to make a play on the ball."

Closing speed is one of the stronger elements of Allen's game, and that should help him both create turnovers and provide effective over-the-top help to the cornerbacks.

Allen said that the game speed of the safety position is actually a little slower, which helps when there's so much for a free safety to process leading up to and after the snap.

"It's actually a little slower game. You've just got to slow your feet down," Allen said. "Being a cornerback, everything is, like, right now. Quick reactions. So as a safety, you've just got to see the bigger picture. That's really it. You've got to come from being such a narrow view as a corner to opening up to see the whole field."

Allen doesn't have prototypical size for the safety position, but his ball skills, closing speed, intelligence and work ethic have helped him emerge as the best candidate on Atlanta's roster.

[Tuggle'2]

Yay for Allen talk!

[AtlantaFanatic]

The Falcoholic, Andrew Hirsch, and Jeanna Thomas are really good at what they do. You really don't even need to follow Vaughn McClure or Bedwetter if you follow these guys on Twitter.

I just love that we are putting the best player in each position regardless of tenure, draft status, or paycheck size. I'm rooting for Allen to win the job because that means he's better than Godfrey and I think we were all expecting Godfrey to start this year. I also think we were all very worried about that proposition.

[KRUNKuno]

I love the see ball/get ball/ball is fair game comment. That's a defensive back's favorite thing to hear.

[hjerry]

"In our scheme, it's see ball, get ball,"

[hjerry]

The Falcoholic, Andrew Hirsch, and Jeanna Thomas are really good at what they do. You really don't even need to follow Vaughn McClure or Bedwetter if you follow these guys on Twitter.

I just love that we are putting the best player in each position regardless of tenure, draft status, or paycheck size. I'm rooting for Allen to win the job because that means he's better than Godfrey and I think we were all expecting Godfrey to start this year. I also think we were all very worried about that proposition.

I disagree. McClure is good at what he does, and totally worth reading.

Now, Dled, on the other hand, I completely agree on. No one should be subjected to having to read his stuff.

[AtlantaFanatic]

I disagree. McClure is good at what he does, and totally worth reading.

Now, Dled, on the other hand, I completely agree on. No one should be subjected to having to read his stuff.

HAHA. Don't get me wrong, I like McClure and I do read his stuff. I'm just saying the Falcoholic gives you a ton of information and gives it quickly. They will also respond to your questions and even joke around with you. Something McClure doesn't do (obviously a bigger operation so I understand)

[Drunken Minotaur Zebra]

I disagree. McClure is good at what he does, and totally worth reading.

Now, Dled, on the other hand, I completely agree on. No one should be subjected to having to read his stuff.

what stuff?

I keep hearing about him, but I have yet to see him write anything

coherent or sensible or worth reading

[NateDogg1215]

HAHA. Don't get me wrong, I like McClure and I do read his stuff. I'm just saying the Falcoholic gives you a ton of information and gives it quickly. They will also respond to your questions and even joke around with you. Something McClure doesn't do (obviously a bigger operation so I understand)

McClure is very good on Twitter responding to questions . He has to me on several occasions .

[AtlantaFanatic]

McClure is very good on Twitter responding to questions . He has to me on several occasions .

Maybe I just don't ask the right questions.

[Knight of God]

This is awesome!!!

[Return of the Gaucho]

I just worry about his ability to tackle and stay healthy doing so. He seems like a bright guy, and he apparently has the athleticism and ball skills to make a run at the position, but I need to see him lay out a running back and pop right up before I get overly excited about a potential 5th round gem.

[Knight of God]

I just worry about his ability to tackle and stay healthy doing so. He seems like a bright guy, and he apparently has the athleticism and ball skills to make a run at the position, but I need to see him lay out a running back and pop right up before I get overly excited about a potential 5th round gem.

Dude is pretty decent with the tackling.

[gazoo]

I just worry about his ability to tackle and stay healthy doing so. He seems like a bright guy, and he apparently has the athleticism and ball skills to make a run at the position, but I need to see him lay out a running back and pop right up before I get overly excited about a potential 5th round gem.

Keep in mind, the way Quinn plays his FS is way back off the line in deep center field. He'll see some running backs, but most of the game the other 10 defenders will already have stopped them. TEs worry me more quite frankly, but there are other FS his size that have been able to do it.

[Return of the Gaucho]

Dude is pretty decent with the tackling.

I hope you're right, but tackling a corner is a far cry from tackling as an every down FS. He doesn't have to lay the wood like WillyMo, but I want to see him take on TE's and RB's on the regular.

With this new emphasis on Quinn teaching the basics, I sure expect that if he doesn't know how to play that way already, he is learning quickly.

Keep in mind, the way Quinn plays his FS is way back off the line in deep center field. He'll see some running backs, but most of the game the other 10 defenders will already have stopped them. TEs worry me more quite frankly, but there are other FS his size that have been able to do it.

No doubt, and in most systems I would be even more concerned about the measurables. Earl Thomas isn't exactly huge either, but he still has 20lbs and elite athleticism on Allen.

[Navin]

I love that we have a coach that can look at a player and recognize what he CAN do and then capitalize on it. Moving him to a position where he will be better is a win for everybody.

[Knight of God]

I hope you're right, but tackling a corner is a far cry from tackling as an every down FS. He doesn't have to lay the wood like WillyMo, but I want to see him take on TE's and RB's on the regular.

With this new emphasis on Quinn teaching the basics, I sure expect that if he doesn't know how to play that way already, he is learning quickly.

No doubt, and in most systems I would be even more concerned about the measurables. Earl Thomas isn't exactly huge either, but he still has 20lbs and elite athleticism on Allen.

Having played the position for years, I can tell you. There would be more to worry about if this weren't Cover 3. He'll be in on the plays, but just the way the system is structured he will have a lot of help.

[vel]

Having played the position for years, I can tell you. There would be more to worry about if this weren't Cover 3. He'll be in on the plays, but just the way the system is structured he will have a lot of help.

Again, he doesn't have to think about much other than covering the deep middle and who's funneling his way. When you have a guy like Trufant on one side, it definitely helps a lot.

But he looked so fluid and comfortable when I was out there. I think he'll be serviceable at the least and that's the very least.

[Return of the Gaucho]

Having played the position for years, I can tell you. There would be more to worry about if this weren't Cover 3. He'll be in on the plays, but just the way the system is structured he will have a lot of help.

I will take informed opinions over my own less informed opinions any day of the week, especially when they assuage my fears

[gazoo]

I'm trying to think of some of the smaller safeties to have played the position with success.

SS Jim Leonhard was only 5'8 and 185lbs

CB Antoine Winfield only 5'9' 180lbs

[Knight of God]

Again, he doesn't have to think about much other than covering the deep middle and who's funneling his way. When you have a guy like Trufant on one side, it definitely helps a lot.

But he looked so fluid and comfortable when I was out there. I think he'll be serviceable at the least and that's the very least.

I don't know man. I think serviceable may be his floor.

I will take informed opinions over my own less informed opinions any day of the week, especially when they assuage my fears

I opnly say negative things when I really mean it and I'm scared myself.

[Knight of God]

I'm trying to think of some of the smaller safeties to have played the position with success.

SS Jim Leonhard was only 5'8 and 185lbs

CB Antoine Winfield only 5'9' 180lbs

The Honey Badger, Scott Case, a few other guys I just can't remember them all now.

Here's something I found

http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/The-new-breed-of-NFL-safety-is-smaller-faster-quicker-and-harder-to-find/48b3842c-a4f5-4816-bcdd-99c29daf8213

[vel]

I'm trying to think of some of the smaller safeties to have played the position with success.

SS Jim Leonhard was only 5'8 and 185lbs

CB Antoine Winfield only 5'9' 180lbs

Bob Sanders, despite the injury issues.

Tyrann Mathieu

Polamalu is only 5'10

This is a different league now. I think Allen at 5'9 200 is fine. Ain't much different between 5'9 and 5'11.

[Knight of God]

Bob Sanders, despite the injury issues.

Tyrann Mathieu

Polamalu is only 5'10

This is a different league now. I think Allen at 5'9 200 is fine. Ain't much different between 5'9 and 5'11.

Thought he was 189?

[vel]

Thought he was 189?

I saw something a while back that said he was around 197. Maybe I'm mistaken.

I will say he doesn't look small or out of place though.