Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith had a one-on-one discussion with cornerback Robert Alford, who’s on pace to have 21.3 penalties this season.
He’s been called for eight penalties (two have been declined) in five of the six games.
“I don’t pull him aside,” Smith said on Wednesday. “I had the one-on-one man-to-man talk with him. He’s fully aware that he’s had some of the penalties.”
The Falcons believes that Alford’s situation can be corrected.
“We’ve evaluated him on game film and also, as a matter of fact, on TV copies,” Smith said. “The play that happened there in the (Seattle) game, I thought he was looking back at the quarterback.”
Looking back at the quarterback is a major violation for cornerbacks because they can lose track of the receiver.
“Later on, when you go back and look at it for a second time, there are some things techniques-wise that we can get better at,” Smith said. “He’s aware of it. We’re aware of it. We’ll continue to work on that on a consistent basis.”
Alford has been receptive.
“He’s not a player that does not accept the coaching part that’s going on,” Smith said. “He does. Hopefully, he will continue to get better in those particular areas.”
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