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_NFLTony Esposito Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Jonathan Toews Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.authenticblackhawkspro.com/Ar...wks-jersey/.com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center. Stan Mikita Jersey .Y. - Carey Price had an early feeling that one goal might be enough to settle the latest matchup between his Montreal Canadiens and longtime Original Six foe, the New York Rangers. Martin Havlat Jersey . -- The guys in green raced off the court and into the locker room where they danced and sang, compared whose shot was most likely to end up featured on "One Shining Moment," and checked Twitter to see who was giving them a shoutout. SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea football coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Thursday as he took responsibility for his teams disappointing performance at the World Cup in Brazil. Hong has faced mounting criticism after South Korea was eliminated from the World Cup by finishing last in the four-team Group H. South Korea was defeated 1-0 by Belgium, 4-2 by Algeria and a drew 1-1 with Russia. Hong told a televised news conference that he feels "deeply sorry" for the results. "We talked about giving hopes to our people. But we eventually failed to give hopes and only gave disappointment," Hong said. "Im leaving from the post today." Hong ssaid he first thought about quitting after his teams loss to Algeria.dddddddddddd His resignation comes as something of a surprise after South Koreas football association said last week it would retain him as the national team coach. After Hongs resignation announcement, Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-Gyu told the same news conference that his association will try to find new coach as soon as possible. Hong was captain of the South Korean team that made a dramatic run to the semifinals in 2002 when his country co-hosted the World Cup with Japan. He also coached South Koreas Under-23 team to the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics. ' ' '