ESPN AFC South Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

	Joe Robbins/Getty Images
	Colin Allred's special-teams play will probably earn him a spot on the Titans' final roster.

Linebacker Colin Allred looks like he'll put the Titans in position to keep seven linebackers.

That may seem a little odd considering Stephen Tulloch ranks as the fourth guy, and would almost certainly be the first player off the bench to fill-in if a starter gets hurt.

Tennessee sandwiches plugger Ryan Fowler with playmakers Keith Bulluck and David Thornton. Both the outside guys will probably sit Thursday night with minor injuries, which means Allred and Tulloch will work outside with the starting defense. Jeff Fisher will play his starters into the third quarter in Green Bay.

Seven linebackers would mean the Titans can populate special teams with more tacklers as opposed to looking for extra receivers to cover kicks and punts.

Allred's been able to be around long enough that things have clicked for him. He was an undrafted rookie out of Baylor in 2006, but was cut before the season started. The team resigned him after that season and he spent the first 13 games last season on the practice squad before Fowler's season-ending shoulder injury prompted the team to put him on the 53-man roster. He played in the final three regular season games and the playoff game.

"Here's a guy whose roulette ball fell in the right slot because he's been able to stay around here for three years," linebackers coach Dave McGinnis said. "He's been in the offseason program, he's completely changed his body, he's been with me now for three years, he knows the defense, he can go inside and outside. Because of his improved conditioning he's learned how to play special teams, and that's his ticket. He's increased his value.

"This is a guy probably like a lot of guys across the league. If he gets a chance to stay someplace long enough and develop, he's got a chance to produce, he's got a chance to make the team. That's where he is right now. He has enhanced his chances, increased his value every year he's been here. He isn't just happy to be here."

Beyond the starters and Tulloch, the Titans have rookie Stanford Keglar, a fourth-rounder out of Purdue, and veteran Josh Stamer, a free agent from Buffalo who was brought in to upgrade depth and be an anchor on special teams.

"I've stuck to it, I've worked hard on my body and just getting to know the defense," Allred said. "I do feel comfortable now."

Allred is listed at 6-foot-1, 248 pounds. He said he hasn't put on a lot of weight since he first joined the Titans, but he's a lot stronger and leaner. He's cut his body fat from 11-13 percent to five or six.

A lot of special teams amounts to simple will, he's decided, and he can win battles using that. He sounds confident he's making the team.

"It's about what I can affect, and that's my play," Allred said. "I'm on all the special teams and on the second-string defense, but I don't think the numbers are really a problem for me right now. I've just been kind of flying under the radar. Nobody's really been noticing me, but I've been out there a lot."

Bulluck said he doesn't think Allred will be looking to steer clear of the Turk later this week.

"I would be surprised if he's not here," Bulluck said.