They will have to rush the passer better. The will have to account for covering the tight end. They could intercept a few more balls. Their 10 picks were fewest in the NFC last year.
But if the Falcons are to improve from their No. 28 ranking as a pass defense, they can’t ask for much more from cornerback Desmond Trufant. Thrown immediately into the mix as a rookie, his 17 pass break-ups were 10th-most in the league and set a Falcons franchise record.
One year later, he wants more
“Very comfortable. I’ve been here for a year now and I’m comfortable with the scheme,” he said after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m playing with confidence. I’m just trying to get better every day. That’s my goal.”
It was not an easy offseason for the former first-round draft pick from Washington. He made the Pro Football Writers All-Rookie team while Pro Football Focus named his rookie of the year. Yet the team he did all that for had big aspirations and then collapsed.
“I attacked the offseason,” he said. “I know I can take my game to two or three more levels. I’m looking to have a big year.”
While the Falcons defensive front seven is repurposed as a 3-4 and 4-3 hybrid, the secondary will have few new wrinkles in coverage. The unit has plenty of room for improvement. Only four teams allowed a higher completion rate last year than the Falcons’ 66.1 percent.
“We’ve got confidence in the whole defense,” Trufant said. “The secondary helps the D-line and the D-line helps the secondary. We’re working together. We’re going to put it together this year.”
Then he added: “Got to get those wins, though.”
About the Author
