There is plenty for Kendall Sheffield still to learn about life in the NFL, and there is much to learn about him beyond what is known – that the Falcons rookie cornerback is fast. There also is a fresh and more substantial sample size suggesting that he may learn at a rate as if riding on a rocket.
Just don’t expect him to be a fast talker about it.
The speedy lad held up pretty well in his first professional start Sunday at Arizona, where he played all 69 defensive snaps against the Cardinals, or 22 more than he played in the Falcons’ first five games combined.
Filling in at the left corner spot as Desmond Trufant was sidelined – and will be again Sunday against the Rams -- with a sprained toe, he did work.
Sheffield finished with four combined tackles and assists, and while he didn’t break up any passes, neither was he in the vicinity of several significant plays made by the Cardinals.
“I would say it went well. I think my technique was really good throughout the game,” he said in summary. “Didn’t really give up any big plays, so that’s always a plus. I think I played well.”
This will continue for at least one more week. Trufant has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Perhaps when Trufant returns, Sheffield will move to the right side, where second-year corner Isaiah Oliver has scuffled.
Sheffield has ramped up quickly after playing nine defensive snaps in the Falcons’ first three games, chiefly in slot work. While active on special teams all along, he drew more defensive action in games 4 and 5 with 10 and 28 snaps. Again, he worked mostly inside, although he subbed on the right side for a bit for Isaiah Oliver.
The young man is marked foremost by speed, although his preseason was slowed by a strained hamstring. He’s been running for a while.
He won three state high school hurdles titles in track while growing up in Missouri City, Texas, before redshirting one season at Alabama, playing one season at Blinn College and then spending two seasons at Ohio State.
The Falcons knew he could run before they drafted him in the fourth round.
Sheffield finished second in the 60-meter dash at the Big Ten’s indoor track and field meet in 2018. That came shortly after he set the Ohio State indoor record for the 60 with a time of 6.663 seconds.
His wheels were rolling against the Cardinals, and the 5-foot-10, 212-pounder routinely was in the right places at the right times.
“I was pleased with Sheffield on the defensive side playing outside. As you know, we've featured him more in nickel, so to see him work outside, I thought he really responded to the challenge,” suggested coach/defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
“We'll keep him outside. ... His first time outside I was pleased with where he was at. He played square and tough at the line of scrimmage. What I hoped to see from him, we did.”
It does not seem to be in Sheffield’s nature to say a lot, although he maintains dialogue with former Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, who had a lot to do with bumping Sheffield into a reserve role in his first season as a Buckeye. Sheffield started three games that season, after which Ward was made the No. 4 overall pick by the Browns.
Commonly, talented defensive backs have to wait their turn as Buckeyes. Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, one of the NFL’s stingiest, redshirted at Ohio State in 2014, played in seven games as a reserve in ’15, was a starter in ’16 and the NFL’s No. 11 draft pick in ’17.
So, yeah, Sheffield stays in touch. He also spoke recently with his position coach at Ohio State, current Tennessee Titans secondary coach Kerry Coombs.
“I’ve talked to Denzel a few times. After the Texans game, I talked to (former Ohio State cornerback) Bradley Roby,” he said. “I talked to coach Coombs after the Titans game. He and my family talked. He actually recruited me out of high school and junior college, so I’ve talked to him a few times.”
But no, he doesn’t talk a lot.
Does he have a preference for some coverages over others?
“It doesn’t matter if it’s zone or man-to-man,” Sheffield said. “Whatever they tell me to do, I can do.”
Outside or inside, where would he rather play?
“It doesn’t matter,” the man said. “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do.”
Perhaps he’ll elaborate upon whether he learned things more valuable in his first full NFL game than in practices. Yeah, that’ll get him to open up a can of words.
“I learned a lot. One big thing would be my confidence,” Sheffield said. “That’s the first time I played a full game as a starter, so just my confidence just skyrocketed after that.”
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