We are just over a week away from the start of Atlanta Falcons training camp, and there are a lot of storylines that will begin to unfold between the first camp practice and the start of the season.
Until then, we’ve got a few more position previews summarizing where things stand for each unit following the offseason. Today, the focus is on Atlanta’s cornerbacks.
Position coaches include Jerry Gray as assistant head coach/defense, Justin Hood as secondary coach, and Lance Schulters as defensive assistant. Returning starters for this season are A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, and Dee Alford. Notable newcomers to watch are Billy Bowman Jr., Mike Ford Jr., and Keith Taylor. The rest of the roster includes Natrone Brooks, Cobee Bryant, Lamar Jackson, Kevin King, Dontae Manning, and Clark Phillips III. Antonio Hamilton Sr. is among those who have departed in the offseason.
The Falcons face three key questions regarding their cornerbacks:
1. Who emerges as the starting nickel? Dee Alford started 11 games last year but was inconsistent. The team drafted Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr., indicating he might challenge Alford for his spot.
2. How will Ulbrich use his cornerbacks? Last season, Atlanta ran zone coverage 77% of snaps while New York under Ulbrich ran it 64.6%. How these strategies blend will be observed during training camp.
3. Can Mike Hughes put together an encore? Hughes had a strong performance last year with two touchdowns allowed across 420 coverage snaps. His continued performance is crucial for Atlanta’s defense.
A fourth question addresses depth: A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes are expected starters outside; however, Mike Ford Jr., Keith Taylor, Clark Phillips III, Natrone Brooks, Lamar Jackson, and undrafted rookie Cobee Bryant will compete for backup roles.
