Falcons rookie Robert Alford will provide a weekly diary for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this season.
The Hammond, La., native, who played at Southeastern Louisiana, intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees in his NFL debut. This week, he’s getting ready to face Tampa Bay and will serve as the team’s primary punt returner for the first time this season.
Here’s his latest installment, as told to D. Orlando Ledbetter.
Everything has been going good this week. I’ve been just getting in with (assistant coaches Joe Danna and Tim Lewis) and studying the Arizona receivers, the quarterbacks and the route tendencies that they like to run.
(Cardinals receivers) Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd are big guys. They can run and have good hands. I mean, you just have to do your job and do your part and make sure your guy doesn’t catch the ball so that we can come up with a victory.
Last week, it felt the same playing on the right side of the defense. During training camp, I trained at both left and right corner. When they came to me and told me that they needed me to play right cornerback, it wasn’t much of change at all. It’s just different angles on that side of the field. As far as playing-wise, you just have to do your part.
As far as the fumbled punt last week, everything happens for a reason. That’s something that my Mom always taught me. I guess it was meant for me to (fumble) that punt. If I get another chance, I’m going to take it and I’m going to run away with it. As far as learning from that, I just have to secure the ball more when running and don’t dangle it around.
Everybody was excited to come away with a win. I think that was a big win for us. I think we are about to turn this thing around.
