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Robert Alford: Versatility Key in Secondary Improvement

By John Buhler

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Robert Alford begins his third NFL season in the Atlanta Falcons secondary.  After an up-and-down first two years in the League, Robert must use his versatility to his advantage to help get Atlanta’s defensive backfield back on track in 2015.

Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff must have really liked Alford coming out of college as Dimitroff selected Robert in the 2nd Round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Southeastern Louisiana University.  Though it didn’t go according to plan initially with former HC Mike Smith, TD did take two strong defensive backs with his first two picks in the 2013 Draft.  Both Robert Alford and former 1st Round pick Desmond Trufant are cornerstones in new HC Dan Quinn’s secondary.

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While Trufant did not play in Friday night’s first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, it was Robert Alford who stepped up in Tru’s absence.  Rarely did I see Alford make a bad read, playing both on the outside as a traditional corner and inside at times as a nickelback.

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    • Quinn has stated publicly that he would like to mix and match defensive backs in different roles in his secondary.  Assistant HC/DB Coordinator Raheem Morris and DB Coach Marquand Manuel would echo the same sentiment.  The way that Atlanta wants to best attack the ball in the defensive backfield is to have a strong rotation of 6 or 7 guys that can play in multiple spots.

    We know that often-injured safety William Moore can play both strong and free safety positions as well as a STAR position if need be.  Likely Desmond Trufant will stay in man coverage and keep the other team’s best vertical threat on an island.  That list in 2015 includes Dez Bryant, TY Hilton, Vincent Jackson, and Cordarrelle Patterson to name a few.

    With Jalen Collins struggling mightily to stay healthy and keep up with the NFL’s pace as a rookie, Dan Quinn will have to lean on Robert Alford as the shining example of cornerback versatility in the Dirty South Remix of the Legion of Boom.

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    I envisioned that Alford’s skill set best translates to nickelback due to his ballhawking tendencies.  However he is demonstrating improvement in his deep ball man cover skills in training camp.  I guess going against the Atlanta Falcons’ always deep receiving corps only helps in that matter.

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    Even if he lacks the size to play inside on a muscular slot receiver or a quick-moving tight end, I believe that Robert Alford’s inherent aggressiveness can allow him to play up on the line in press coverage in the Atlanta Falcons’ secondary.  Look for Robert Alford’s continued improvement in the remaining three games of the NFL preseason.  With Desmond Trufant out with a shoulder injury and William Moore out with a calf injury, Alford has to step up more than ever and lead by example on the field against the New York Jets Friday night.

    Next: Atlanta Falcons: Freeman, Coleman Back in Practice

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