Falcons cornerback Robert Alford leads all NFL defensive backs in penalties incurred, and it’s not even close. It’s also nothing new: Alford has been a penalty magnet since the Falcons selected him in the second round of the 2013 draft out of Southeastern Louisiana.
Officials called Alford for seven penalties (three were declined) during his rookie season. During his second season Alford had nine penalties (four declined), and he had nine last season (three declined).
Through six games this season Alford has been called for 10 penalties (two declined), including four pass-interference infractions and three holding calls. No other NFL defensive back has as many as five penalties this season.
But the way Falcons coach Dan Quinn sees it, there aren’t many cornerbacks with Alford’s ability, so Quinn is not inclined to make a change “at this time.” There aren’t many options, anyway, at what’s a thin position group for the Falcons.
Quinn said he will keep working with Alford, nicknamed “Rocky,” on covering receivers without being so grabby.
“He’s got the speed and the athleticism to stay with the receiver, so right at the point where you have to foul or not foul, we’ve got to be better at that spot,” Quinn said. “That’s something that ‘Rock’ and I will look at the fouls together and … (work on) having that poise right there at the end. He knows the issues with the fouls and how long those penalties can be.”
Alford said he does understand the problem and plans to focus on his technique in practice this week. He said the pass-interference call that set up a key Seahawks touchdown during Sunday’s loss is part of the “ups and downs” of playing cornerback in the NFL.
But Alford said many of the same things when his penalties became an issue in each of his first three pro seasons. Yet the problem has continued even as Alford has played in 47 NFL games with 35 starts.
Why does Quinn think Alford still can’t avoid being called for so many penalties?
“I can’t answer that,” Quinn said. “He’d be a better one to ask for that one. What I can say is that he is working hard at the technique, but it’s that moment of truth when the ball’s in the air where, ‘Let’s go play the ball’ and make your play that way as opposed to using your hand for fouls.”
Alford has always been a scrappy, ultra-competitive player — traits that are perhaps amplified by his small-school background and relatively small stature (5-foot-10, 185 pounds). Those qualities have served Alford well during a career trajectory that led him to eventually supplant Asante Samuel as a starter.
There was the possibility Alford could end up as a reserve last season because Quinn’s defensive system favors bigger cornerbacks. Instead, Alford not only held on to his job, but had the best season of his career.
Now if only Alford could cut down on the penalties.
Pass interference and, to a lesser extent, defensive holding are judgment calls by officials. The Falcons, like all teams, have a scouting report of the rates of different penalties called by each officiating crew.
There often doesn’t seem to be much consistency on pass-interference calls, but Alford said that’s no excuse for his high penalty rate.
“It’s the league,” he said. “You are going to have different referees every week. Different referees throw flags on different things. But it’s up to me as a player to know the rules and abide by the rules. It’s something I just have to focus on and overcome.”
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