For the record, Falcons right cornerback Fabian Moreau doesn’t like pick plays.
He was involved in one that led to DeVonta Smith’s 18-yard touchdown catch in the Falcons’ 32-6 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
Moreau, who opened the season as a starter for the first time in his five-year career, said the Falcons know teams like to run pick plays or rub routes when they are playing man-to-man defense. They’ll have to communicate and recognize the play faster and adjust their coverage.
That’s probably something they could have worked out if the Falcons had played the starters in the exhibition season.
Moreau ended up with three tackles and one pass breakup.
“He did all right,” Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Thursday. “I don’t think he got challenged too much. I think they threw one out-route on him in cover-1. It was for like a 10-yard gain, if that. But I thought he played pretty well. I thought he was pretty steady.”
Moreau’s one of three new starters in the secondary, with free safety Erik Harris and strong safety Duron Harmon. Right cornerback has been a revolving door since the Falcons moved on from Robert Alford after the 2018 season. First Isaiah Oliver and then Kendall Sheffield were drafted for the spot by the Falcons’ former regime.
“We all try to help each other,” Moreau said of the newcomers. “They’ve played a lot of ball. I’ve played a lot of ball, so I try to help the young guys, too.”
The new revamped secondary is blending together. The only holdovers are A.J. Terrell at left cornerback and Oliver at nickel back. Sheffield is on injured reserve.
“Just knowing that it was the first game,” Moreau said. “We still (have) 16 more to go, plus playoffs. We have to take one step at a time and know that what you did this week. Teams are going to test you again the next week. So, we have to get that corrected and just play our ball.”
Moreau played his first four seasons with the Washington Football Team after he was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was a projected first-round pick until he suffered an injury at the scouting combine.
Moreau quickly put the play against Smith and the game against the Eagles behind him.
“As a (defensive back), you have to have short memory,” Moreau said. “I was already onto the next game. Once the game is over, you have to move on to the next one. You have to know that it’s a long season. You have to know that there are going to be a whole lot more plays to be made, just make them.”
After getting only one sack and one quarterback hit, the Falcons are hoping to mount more pressure.
“That helps us tremendously,” Moreau said. “You have to be able to attack the quarterback. Get him to look at the rush instead of downfield. I thought we did that. Coach Dean puts us in great position to make plays, and we just have to finish them.”
Moreau knows the Falcons’ defense faces a major challenge going against the Bucs and quarterback Tom Brady, who’s shown no signs of slowing at age 44.
“He’s smart,” Moreau said. “He’s able to read the defense. You can’t show your hand too early because he’s going to know (how to attack).”
Brady uses other devices to read defenses.
“He likes to use motion a lot to be able to (identify the defense),” Moreau said. “That’s one thing that puts him … like I said, he’s the best. One of the best quarterbacks ever. We know that. We just have to play to that.”
The Falcons had a few takeaways from the Bucs’ 31-29 win over the Cowboys on Sept 9.
“They like to take shots,” Moreau said. “Throw the ball down the field, and that’s something that you can tell the receivers like getting the ball deep. Tom likes throwing it deep. That is definitely something that we know.”
Brady relied on receivers Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown against the Cowboys. He didn’t even used three-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans much as he had only three catches for 24 yards. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught all eight of his targets and had two touchdown receptions.
“It’s a great opportunity; they have four top receivers,” Moreau said. “It’s a great challenge to go up against them. They are all different kind of receivers as well. It’s a good matchup.”
This figures to be an early-season “stress test” for the Falcons’ secondary.
“I feel like we are gelling well,” Moreau said. “Definitely, it’s a new scheme, new players, but that’s no excuse. We know that we have to play together, and we are capable of playing great football.”
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