"The Falcons' cornerback group usually left you wanting more in past years. As terrific as A.J. Terrell is, the inability to add an above-average second outside cornerback and the instability at nickel had fans frustrated on a long list of defensive frustrations. Those issues were somewhat alleviated last year with Mike Hughes being solid enough, Billy Bowman Jr. showing legitimate flashes, and Dee Alford's revival."
"That has to be the mindset for Jeff Ulbrich's defense. They set the bar high for how well they played last season. Mediocre units don't rattle the Bills and Rams as they did. Ulbrich deserves enormous credit for how well he coached in both matchups. The players stepped up to execute his vision. It was an overall positive year for the group, but there is genuine potential to do significantly more with at least one personnel upgrade."
"After performing at an All-Pro level in 2021, Terrell endured a difficult 2022 season. He allowed nine touchdowns and suffered a midseason hamstring injury. The high variance in play has evened out, as the one-time second-team All-Pro has established himself as one of the more highly regarded cornerbacks in the NFL. What prevents Terrell from reclaiming his place as one of the best, as he was in 2021, stems from two issues: his propensity to commit penalties and crumble in certain matchups."
The Falcons' cornerback group showed improvement with A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Billy Bowman Jr., and Dee Alford easing prior instability at outside and nickel positions. Jeff Ulbrich's defense elevated overall play, notably neutralizing elite offenses like the Bills and Rams, and players executed the scheme effectively. Terrell stabilized after a volatile 2022, regaining top reputation but remains hindered by tendency to commit penalties and struggle in certain man coverage matchups. The unit performed positively overall but has clear upside if Atlanta adds at least one above-average perimeter cornerback or improves nickel consistency.
Read at The Falcoholic
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