Falcons safety Kemal Ishmael opened the season as the team’s fourth safety.
As the season has progressed, the Falcons have used William Moore, Ricardo Allen and Robenson Therezie ahead of Ishmael, who finished last season as a starter.
When Moore suffered a groin injury against Tennessee on Sunday, Ishmael was called on to help the defense finish the game. With Moore declared out for Sunday’s game, Ishmael’s ready to play his role for the Falcons against the Tampa Bay Bucs at 1 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
It was Ishmael’s pressure on a blitz that forced Tennessee quarterback Zach Mettenberger to panic and throw a pass that was intercepted by Therezie to secure the 10-7 victory.
He played 34 of 54 defensive snaps (63 percent) and finished with six tackles. He also played 15 snaps on special teams.
“It felt good,” Ishmael said. “It was obviously like last year, when a person goes down you ask for another guy to step up. Therezie has been doing a good job. All of the guys have been doing a good job stepping up in there and making plays and doing what we’re supposed to do.”
It was Ishmael who touched off the 56-14 rout against Tampa Bay last season when he intercepted a Josh McCown pass that was intended for Vincent Jackson and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. The score put the Falcons up 21-0, and the blowout was on.
McCown is now in Cleveland, and the Falcons (6-1) are set to face quarterback Jameis Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
“The quarterback is coming along,” Ishmael said. “He threw two touchdowns and has improved from his previous games. He looks good.”
Ishmael, a seventh-round draft pick in 2013 out of Central Florida, played in all 16 games and made 10 starts last season. He finished with 103 tackles, four interceptions, one forced fumble and six pass deflections.
He’s had to adjust to a new system under coach Dan Quinn.
“It is coming along,” Ishmael said. “It is our first year in the system. We’ll get better. The whole team will get better, and I’ll get better.”
The defense has closed out the past two victories. In the win over Washington on Oct. 11, cornerback Robert Alford ended the game with a 59-yard interception return in overtime. Ishmael and Therezie combined to halt the Titans’ threat Sunday.
The Falcons likely will split the playing time between Therezie and Ishmael. They’ll play alongside free safety Allen.
“Just having confidence in each other,” Ishmael said. “We are not too worried about the stats. We are just worried about winning. When you focus on winning, that’s what happens.”
Therezie plans to be ready, too.
“I just try to get that extra work in the classroom and on the field,” said Therezie, who made the team as an undrafted free agent from Auburn. “I’m just trying to stay ready.”
The Falcons are not taking lightly Tampa Bay (2-4), which blew a 24-point lead last week against Washington.
“We just have to play playoff football and do what we do,” Ishmael said.
While not playing, Ishmael just kept trying to practice at a high level. He didn’t get down on himself after sliding back to the fourth safety spot.
“I stay prepared,” Ishmael said. “That’s what it’s all about, stepping up and being the next man up. I’ll be ready.”
He plans to be ready for the Bucs. He’ll lean on the experience he gained last season.
“No doubt. Of course, everybody is going to going to be nervous, but I’ve been there before,” Ishmael said. “I just have to go out there and perform to the best of my ability.”
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