With intensity picking up for the Atlanta Falcons in training camp, position battles are the major headline, something head coach Dan Quinn is loving it. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are competing to start. Justin Hardy and Leonard Hankerson are making battling in the wide receiver group and the secondary is seeing some players step up as the starters are not set in stone. Knowing they are on the bubble, both Ricardo Allen and Robert Alford are impressing Quinn early on.
With William Moore and Desmond Trufant the only two players truly guaranteed to start at the safety and cornerback positions, competition is high to join the rotation. Entering the season, Alford was a player in real need of stepping up and proving himself. He came into the league at the same time as Trufant, but has yet to make that next step. However, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, so far in training camp Alford is a real standout getting interceptions and breaking up big passes. He told the media he is full of confidence this season.
"To me, I feel like I can cover anybody," Alford said, via ESPN.com. "I never have any doubt that I can cover anybody. I mean, they've got some nice receivers as far as Calvin Johnson. Then I'd have to say Julio. Man, I don't know anybody else. I never go out there feeling like I can't cover somebody."
With Jalen Collins in the mix at cornerback as well, Alford has competition for the spot. Allen is in the same position. The Falcons added Charles Godfrey to the roster while moving Dezmen Southward over to the spot along with Kemal Ishmael. That puts pressure on Allen who is now competing for a safety position over a cornerback job. Allen is taking the competition seriously and now earning first-team reps with the Falcons. While he appeared to be at risk of getting cut from the roster early, Quinn likes what he sees out of the young player.
"He's worked extremely hard at it, and so he's taken to the principles of playing free safety," Quinn said, via AJC.com. "I think more than anything, it's the communication that he's working on day in and day out. So at that free safety spot, you're furthest from the ball, but you see the most, so that communication's key. It's something that he's continuing to work on."
The Falcons have a lot of depth in the secondary and roster cuts will be a big headline in a few weeks. Southward would be at risk along with Ismael. Allen and Alford are doing everything they can to make sure they are locks to make the team and it is working.