Why Cortez Allen Has Everything to Prove in Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not anticipate that 2015 would be a prove-it year for cornerback Cortez Allen.

Just days before kicking off the 2014 regular season, the Steelers awarded Allen with a four-year, $24.6 million extension after two years of steady improvement. But he didn't repay them with a strong performance. Allen began the year as a starter on the outside alongside William Gay, but inconsistent play saw him demoted to the nickelback position and then all the way to the bench in favor of Antwon Blake and Brice McCain.

But Allen is getting a chance at redemption this summer. So far in the Steelers' first two training camp practices, Allen has worked as the first-team cornerback on the right side of the field, as reported by Steelers Depot's Alex Kozora. 

Snaps	Tkls.	Solo T.	PD	Tgts.	Opp. Rec.	Rec.% Allow	Yds. Allow	TDs Allow	INT
463	41	36	11	57	34	59.6%	552	5	2

Allen has spent the offseason trying to rebuild the confidence that was shattered by his benching last year and improving the shaky fundamentals that caused it to happen. He said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette in June that, "What motivates me and what hurts me more than anything else is letting [down] the guys who work around me."

When asked what he struggled with in 2014, Allen said, "A lot of fundamental things I was so critical on in college that I sort of got away from, in my opinion. That's what I'm working on now, just getting back to the basics of football as far as technique and stuff."

In order to fix what broke last year, Allen has been working extensively with defensive backs coach Carnell Lake: "I asked coach to help me with everything—anything he sees or feels that I'm doing, however small or big. I like to be coached. I have a desire to be better. I'm all for any coaching he can give me," Allen said to Bouchette.

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

But as Lake said himself, he cannot play for Allen. All he can do is coach him up and hope that it takes. And there's a lot of pressure on Allen this year; though the Steelers have promising players like Kevin Fogg and Doran Grant behind him, there aren't many corners on the roster who have extensive NFL experience. Add the fact that 2015 second-round draft pick Senquez Golson is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, and the Steelers need a confident Allen to step up.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert was measured but optimistic when speaking about Allen to The Fan Morning Show Monday. Colbert said:

"

We don't know if last year was a flub. [Allen] did some really good things in his first and second seasons, and that's why we were very comfortable in rewarding him with a contract that would keep him here for a period of time. He had a rough preseason, and he lost his confidence. And it's something that if he regains that confidence… it's kind of a wait-and-see.

"

Colbert continued:

"

It's very similar to what Ike Taylor went through… some of Ike's struggles when he was younger. He reached a point where he lost his confidence, lost his starting job, got it back, and ended up having a nice career. So, we're confident that Cortez will put the work in to try to get back to that form, but again, it has to happen on the field for us to regain the confidence in him.

"

It's been a mixed bag for Allen through the team's two practices. On Sunday, as reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly, Allen had a would-be holding penalty when working in coverage against receiver Antonio Brown and gave up a touchdown to Martavis Bryant.

But on Monday, he settled down a bit and was able to pick off a Ben Roethlisberger pass to Bryant in the end zone, according to DKonPittsburghSports.com's Neal Coolong, who was in attendance.

Allen needs to show more of the latter and less of the former during camp this year or else Grant, Fogg or someone else is going to take his spot on the depth chart. And while the Steelers' goal is to field the cornerbacks who give them the best chance to win games, it would certainly sting to keep $6.981 million in 2015 salary cap on the bench because they gambled incorrectly on Allen's talents last year.

This year's training camp may be the final chance that Allen has to be a starter on Pittsburgh's defense. He will be tested extensively, and if he cannot pass, they will move on to someone else who can.

It's not just Allen's starting job that is on the line this summer, it's also his job security after this year that could be in question should he not rebuild both his confidence and his fundamentals. This is a crucial month for Allen, one that could make or break his NFL future.