The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Preseason poses key questions
Trufant among least of Falcons’ worries
ORLANDO, FLA. — Falcons coach Dan Quinn was just as stunned as the masses.
The sight of Cleveland wide receiver Terrelle Pryor streaking up the sideline to the old Dawg Pound end zone was initially disturbing. A converted quarterback from Ohio State, Pryor is fast, but he was rolling past the Falcons’ top cornerback, Pro Bowler Desmond Trufant, one of the cornerstones of the defense.
Quinn was curious what happened and noted that it was not a double-move route Trufant got faked out on. There was some confusion with the play call getting in late, but Trufant still should have had the presence of mind to run with Pryor.
While the Falcons may have the proverbial 99 problems in light of Thursday’s 17-6 exhibition loss to Miami, the play of Trufant is not one of them.
“What’s happening is, he had the one throw against him and I know he was disappointed in that,” defensive coordinator Richard Smith said of Pryor’s catch. “But what I’m impressed with, and I told the defense, this guy is a veteran football player
and you watch the way that he practices and competes.”
Smith was pointing out that Trufant didn’t let one play sidetrack him. He moved on and went right back to work.
“That’s why he’s a Pro Bowl player,” Smith said. “He takes every one of his snaps. He’s not like ‘Hey, I’m big-time, I can just lay off.’ He works at it hard.”
On Miami’s first possession, defensive end Brooks Reed tipped a Ryan Tannehill pass that was intended for wide receiver Kenny Stills. Trufant intercepted the pass, for the Falcons’ first opponent turnover of the exhibition season.
“We thought that was appropriate for it to be ‘Turnover Thursday’ and to get a turnover,” Quinn said. “That’s a way to get it going.”
Trufant doesn’t plan to rest on his laurels.
“I obviously always want to improve,” Trufant said. “I’m always looking for ways to get better.
“Last year, I definitely did some good things, but I’m always trying to get better. I can definitely take it to a whole new level and that’s what I’m working on.”
While at the University of Washington, Trufant visited the Seahawks often while his brother, Marcus Trufant, played safety. He was familiar with the defense Quinn brought with him to Atlanta from Seattle.
On his Pro Bowl trip to Hawaii he reunited with Seattle defensive back Richard Sherman. The two went over the nuances of the defense and the technical aspects of playing left cornerback.
“We also talked about the mental part of the game,” Trufant said. “It’s obviously the same scheme and different techniques. We play pretty much the same technique as well. Just little tidbits like that. It was just casual (conversation) from player to player.”
Trufant, whom the Falcons selected in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2013 draft, has started 48 consecutive games.
As the most-decorated and senior member of the secondary, he knows that the younger players are watching him.
“I’m always leading by example and practicing hard,” Trufant said. “I want to take it over to the game.”
Trufant is not the loud or overbearing type.
“When guys have questions for me, I always answer the questions and vice versa,” Trufant said. “Anything that they can tell me to help me, I’m always willing to learn.”
The Falcons picked up his fifth-year option for next season and if he play continues to get better, he’s in for a big payday.
“I’m just focusing on getting better,” Trufant said. “It’s going to come whether it comes this year or next year. Regardless, I still have to produce and continue to play at a high level.”
Detroit cornerback Darius Slay, a second-round pick in 2013, recently signed a fouryear, $50.2 million extension.
“You obviously see it,” Trufant said. “It’s all over the internet. But as for me, I’m just focusing on getting better and doing what I need to do for the team to win.”