PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary calls it the island. And it can be an unflinching, unforgiving place.Stay out there on the fringes of the defence trying to keep opposing receivers in check long enough and bad things happen. Developing the short-term memory required to get over them, however, isnt an innate talent but a necessary survival skill.One Cortez Allen is still working on.The Steelers signed the fourth-year cornerback to a $25-million contract on the eve of the season opener, a financial statement from the front office that Allen was ready to officially supplant veteran Ike Taylor as the teams top defensive back.Two months into the new deal, Allens quiet confidence is shaken, his spot in the starting lineup is in doubt and the path back uncertain. While the polite, reserved former cadet at The Citadel has kept a low profile heading into a crucial showdown against Baltimore on Sunday, his teammates are stumping for patience as Allen tries to break out of a prolonged funk.Everybody goes through it, veteran Ike Taylor said. I went through it. Deucey (William Gay) went through it. Now, hes going through it. Hes got to fight his way out.At the moment, its a decidedly uphill battle.Rock bottom may have come last Sunday, when Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck targeted Allen repeatedly while throwing for 400 yards in a 51-34 loss. Luck hit tight end Dwayne Allen for a 21-yard touchdown behind Allen in the second quarter and found Donte Moncrief for a 31-yard score over Allens outstretched arms in the third, part of a nightmarish day in which Allen was also beat for a 27-yard gain by Hakeem Nicks and drew a penalty for illegal contact, the team-high seventh flag hes earned this season.Hes got to lick his wounds, roll his sleeves up and come back to work this week, coach Mike Tomlin said. Well watch him close and expect him to do it and answer the bell that comes with putting bad stuff on tape.Theres plenty to go around. Allen started against the Colts but reserve Brice McCain also saw extensive playing time. McCains role could increase on Sunday night as the Steelers (5-3) try to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Ravens (5-3).Either way, Allen will likely be on the field. Tomlin expects Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco to locate Allens No. 28 and attack. Its what Tomlin would do if he saw an opposing defensive back struggling.He better work to defend himself, Tomlin said.Tomlin is doing his best to keep Allens spirits up. He pulled Allen aside even as the big plays piled up against Indianapolis and reiterated his support for Allen both publicly and privately. Tomlin also drafted the injured Taylor — who is still working his way back from a broken right forearm — to serve as Allens de facto life coach.Taylor stressed hes 100 per cent certain Allen will regain the form that made him the teams best defensive back last season. When that happens, even the perpetually optimistic Taylor isnt sure.What I always tell my guys at corner is that youve got to be honest with yourself, Taylor said. There is no grey area when you play corner. Either youre getting the job done or youre not. So, once you establish that, everything else comes easy.Allen is putting in the work. He spent an extra 20 minutes on the practice field on Thursday, doing some one-on-one work against practice squad wide receiver C.J. Goodwin while third-string quarterback Landry Jones threw passes and defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau watched attentively.It was only a month ago Allen pulled down momentum-shifting interceptions in consecutive games. Thats perhaps the most befuddling aspect of his slide. Its not like receivers are running away from him. On most plays Allen has an opportunity to make a play on the ball. Hes just not making them.Its an ebb and flow even the best endure. LeBeau carved out a Hall of Fame career while picking off 62 passes for the Detroit Lions from 1959-72. He was beaten far more often than he succeeded. His ability to not let one mistake bleed into the next is what set him apart. It has to be the same for Allen.A corner learns to live alone, and hes got to believe in himself, just go out there and play, LeBeau said. Youve got to believe in yourself to play corner and I think (Allen) does. I have a lot of confidence in him. Hes got to produce and get out there and make some plays.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL USA Soccer Jerseys 2020 .C. United on Wednesday night. Forward Bright Dike scored the games only goal in the 85th minute on a foggy night in Bradenton, Fla. Fake USA Soccer Jerseys . When Reyes signed a US$106-million, six-year deal with Miami last month, there was speculation Ramirez was unhappy about being supplanted at short. But new manager Ozzie Guillen sold Ramirez on the idea. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/. -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No. Custom USA Soccer Jerseys . The club announced on Wednesday that Malhotra signed a 25-game professional tryout contract. The 33-year-old suffered a serious eye injury when struck by a puck during a game versus Colorado in March of 2011. USA Soccer Pro Shop . The Senators return from a lengthy layoff caused by Wednesdays attack on Parliament Hill to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Even the lopsided ones come with last-inning frights for the Cincinnati Reds. Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in three runs, and Mike Leake pitched into the seventh inning and doubled home a run, leading the Reds to a 9-5 victory on Tuesday night that ended their six-game losing streak against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds held on in the ninth, needing their closer to finish off only their third win in the last 11 games. They are 17-33 since the All-Star break, sliding out of contention. "The good thing was we stayed resilient," manager Bryan Price said. The Cardinals lost for only the second time in 11 games but maintained their 4 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central. St. Louis is 10-4 against the Reds and 40-25 overall in the division. Leake (11-11) was coming off his worst start of the season, giving up a season-high seven runs and three homers during a 9-7 loss in Baltimore last Thursday. Against the Cardinals, Leake allowed three runs and eight hits. He also doubled home a run in the fourth off Michael Wacha (5-6) for a 3-1 lead. His fifth double of the season was his 68th career hit, the most by any pitcher in the majors since his debut in 2010. Aroldis Chapman relieved with two on and two outs in the ninth and fanned Mark Ellis on a 101 mph fastball to end it, getting his 31st save in 33 chances. Mesoraco hit his 23rd homer in the first inning, a two-run shot. He also doubled home a run in the fifth as Cincinnati scored four times, knocking Wacha out of the game. "Thats the first time Ive faced Wacha, and I wasnt quite sure what to expect," Mesoraco said. "On 3-2 he threw me a curveball in the middle of the plate. I wasnt sure it was going to be a home run, but the ball was carrying tonight." Wacha made his second start since returning from a shoulder problem that had sidelined him since mid-June and gave up six hits, six runs and three walks. Down 7-1, the Cardinals sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh inning. Tony Cruz and Jon Jay had RBI singles, and Jumbo Diaz walked Jhonny Peralta with the bases loaded, cutting it to 7-4.dddddddddddd. First baseman Brayan Pena made a diving stop of A.J. Pierzynskis line drive to end the rally. "We had some diving plays," Leake said. "This was one of the best games weve played so far." Chris Heiseys two-run single in the eighth let Cincinnati pull away. STAR PLAY Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong saved a run in the fourth when he sprinted into right field and made an over-the-shoulder catch of Billy Hamiltons fly, holding onto the ball as he tumbled on the ground. MESORACO AND BENCH Mesoraco has hit 22 of his 23 homers while catching, the most by a Reds catcher since Johnny Bench hit 23 in 1980. His other homer came as a designated hitter. STATS Wong extended his hitting streak to six games. ... Wacha allowed five earned runs for the first time this season. ... RHP Sam Tuivailala made his big league debut and gave up two runs and retired two batters. ... Xavier Scruggs got his first career hit. ... Reds SS Zack Cozart snapped an 0 for 16 slump. ... It was the first time this season that the Reds won a game when they allowed 14 hits. TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny is gradually increasing Wachas pitch counts. Matheny says getting him back is "like getting a new player" for down the stretch. He threw 70 pitches on Tuesday, 44 for strikes. Reds: Starter Dylan Axelrod is likely done for the season with a strained right oblique, sustained on his seventh pitch Monday night. ... 1B Joey Votto took ground balls for a second straight day on Tuesday. The Reds are trying to get him ready to play the final week of the season. He has been on the disabled list since July 8 with strained muscles above his left knee. UP NEXT Cardinals: St. Louis is 10-4 against the Reds this season. John Lackey (13-9) starts the third of their four-game series on Wednesday. Reds: Alfredo Simon (13-10) is 1-7 with a 5.27 ERA in 10 starts since his first All-Star game. ' ' '