Buccaneers safety Will Allen speaks to Polk County juvenile offenders

September 2005

Facing a group of incarcerated juveniles in Polk County on Tuesday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Will Allen shared stories of growing up near Cleveland with friends, some of whom went to jail. Others were shot. Some are dead.

Allen admitted he was fortunate because he made a lot of the poor choices and decisions his friends did, but never got caught.

"He connected really well with the kids," said punter Josh Bidwell, who also spoke to the juveniles. "He shared some real solid truth with them."

"I just spoke from my heart," Allen said.

That's how he plays football, too. His desire to be the best and play at the highest level is resulting in more playing time.

In his second year, Allen has been making the push to be a starter on the league's No. 1-ranked defense. Last week against Green Bay, he saw his most significant action when starting free safety Dexter Jackson strained his hamstring. With Jackson still nursing the injury, Allen could start against Detroit on Sunday, but it wouldn't be his first.

Allen, last year's fourth-round draft pick out of Ohio State, sheepishly admitted he's started before. He played in the Bucs' first defensive series against Buffalo, but Jackson took over after that.

"I didn't get my name called though," Allen said of his first career start. "It will be a great feeling to hear my name announced, but I enjoy just running out when my name is not called."

Last season, he and wide receiver Michael Clayton were the only two Bucs rookies to play in every game. Most of Allen's playing time has been on special teams, but his defensive abilities are getting him noticed.

"If you look at all the great safeties from past time, they always had a knack for making big plays," said Allen, who leads the team in special teams tackles with seven and is second with two interceptions. "That's because they were smart. They knew how to read the quarterback and just had a feel for the game. I think I'm developing that."

It seemed like every time Coach Jon Gruden looked onto the practice fields at One Buc Place in the offseason, he saw Allen.

Again and again, Allen caught footballs shot out of the Juggs machine. That image of Allen on the practice field hasn't changed. The safety was one of the last players off the field Wednesday and Thursday after he got extra work with the machine.

"I'm going to make an effort every year that I'm in the league to capitalize off any opportunity that I may have," Allen said. "That's what the offseason is for, to get better, work on your mistakes and work on your problems you may have. I just worked on my hands, did all types of ball drills and just continued that throughout the year."

The extra work paid off against Green Bay when he snagged two interceptions in the fourth quarter. The second, in which cornerback Juran Bolden tipped the pass while Allen leapt over the top to grab the ball, made the highlight reel.

Allen said he's watched the play only twice during film study. He's turned the page on the Green Bay game and is focused on Detroit and its multitude of offensive weapons.

"They're big, athletic and fast. What more can you say?" Allen said of the Lions' receiving corps. "When they get the ball in their hands, they know what to do with it. We've just got to play solid ball, play our ball."

Allen's position in the secondary carries great responsibilities and he's ready to accept them. "The safety position is almost like the center on the offensive line. It's communication central," defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's in the eye of the storm, so to speak."

Allen has been in the storm before. He lived through it. He said he draws from his past experiences, good and bad, to help him become a better player and a better person.

"You go through different life experiences and you live and you learn," he said. "When I got to college I changed my life and accepted Christ in my life. It's been different growing stages and the things I've seen, I take it all in and know that everyone has a different plan and agenda for their life."

By KATHERINE SMITH
The Tampa Tribune

:: back to articles and archives