For years, the Steelers used cornerback Ike Taylor to cover the opposing team’s top receiver. Wherever that No. 1 receiver went on the field, Taylor followed him around.

For the past couple of games, pretty much since Josh Gordon of the Browns torched the Steelers for 237 yards in the first meeting between the two teams last month, Taylor has stayed on the right side of the defense and Cortez Allen has stayed on the left side.

Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau explained today why the move was made.

“We just wanted to settle the defense down,” LeBeau said. “We didn’t feel like we were playing anywhere near our capability and we thought that might help settle us down. I think to some extent it has, so we’ve stayed with that formula.

“Talking with Mike [Tomlin], we were just trying to settle everyone down and get a few more turnovers and make a few more plays, which we have done.”

Allen made one of the biggest plays last week against the Packers when he returned an interception for a touchdown in the second half that gave the Steelers a 10-point lead. In the Miami game at Heinz Field, Allen's first game back in the starting lineup after seven games as a reserve, Troy Polamalu returned an interception for a touchdown. 

After an ankle injury limited Allen's effectiveness early in the season, he was inserted into the starting lineup against Miami and has stayed there. The advantage of having a second starting cornerback who is 6 feet 1 means the coaches don’t have to worry about an offense game planning their biggest receiver to one side of the field.

First Published: April 6, 2016, 4:13 p.m.