For Robert Alford, there’s always room to improve.
With one tackle and three pass deflections against the Texans on Sunday, defensive coordinator Richard Smith said he’s seen great improvement in Alford during Alford’s three seasons with the Falcons.
“Before last week, a lot of balls were going to his side (downfield), and he did a nice job challenging the throws,” Smith said. “Overall, his progress has gone really well. A year ago, he had several penalties and (a) pass-coverage aspect he hasn’t had that (this season). We’ve been really pleased with him.”
With seven tackles and five pass deflections this season, Alford said he’s personally seen improvement in his technique on the field.
“Ever since training camp and each and every week, (my technique) has been getting better and better with the coaching I’m getting,” Alford said. “We go every week to improve. There’s always something for us to improve on and we’re going to impress every week.”
With Desmond Trufant on opposite side of the field from Alford in Sunday’s 48-21 win, Smith said he’s pleased with the coordinated play of the two cornerbacks.
“We have two corners that are playing really similar,” Smith said. “They both have great personalities in terms of toughness where they can handle the run game for (us) and they can cover.”
Last season, Alford recorded 36 total tackles, three interceptions and 11 pass deflections before he was placed in the injured reserve list after ten games.
Defensive backs coach Marquand Manuel said Alford has improved drastically because of his eagerness for opportunities to be coached and improve fundamentally.
“It takes a lot of humility (to listen and be coached),” Manuel said. “(Listening) is one of the parts he’s been able to do, and it’s translated in the game. I’m excited for him.”
Alford said that in coach Dan Quinn’s first season with the team, he’s taught the secondary several new skills and mental tactics.
“The first thing that he always said was for us to go out there and compete,” Alford said. “If it’s something as long as film-wise, he just tells us to study one side of the field as much as we can. I think that’s something that’s helped us out a lot.”
Alford said film study especially influenced his performance in the Falcons’ win over the Texans. Alford said everything he learned during film study the Wednesday morning before, he remembered and took to the field against Houston.
Quinn said after the Falcons’ fourth win of the season, tackling and takeaways are still at the forefront of every defensive conversation in practice.
“It’ll always be a part of our conversations for us,” Quinn said. “We’re going to do that within the system in terms of the style and technique that we want to play, but we don’t get caught up in the stats.”
As the Falcons’ focus shifts to the Redskins (2-2), Alford said a big part of the Falcons’ preparation will be film study and translating that to the field Sunday.
“(Washington) has a very good group: good quarterback, good backfield, good receivers,” Alford said. “It all comes down to film study and just going out and putting it to work on Sunday.”
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