It’s been a tough season for second-year safety Kemal Ishmael, a former seventh-round pick, who played in all 15 games and made nine starts.
After some struggles on deep passes this season, Ishmael came up with the game-changing play against New Orleans when he stripped Saints tight end Jimmy Graham of the ball at the goal line.
“It felt good,” Ishmael said. “The coaches talked about going into this week and playing with no regrets and putting everything on the line. Our playoffs started (against the Saints).”
Ishmael will likely have to start against Carolina if William Moore can’t play after re-injuring his shoulder against the Saints. He left the game and did not return.
Ishmael fought through those tough times after blowing coverages on deep passes against Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay.
“Just sticking together with the guys,” said Ishamael when asked how he made it through those difficulty times. “Matt (Ryan) does a great job of holding us together. William Moore does a great job and we know that we are a good team. We know we can beat anybody if we do what we have to do and not make simple mistakes.”
Ishmael, a tough and rugged player who played for George O’Leary at Central Florida, has tried to eliminate those simple mistaks and make plays for the defense.
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