Robert Alford: Improvement in 2017?

Atlanta Falcons Cornerback Robert Alford is a polarizing player. His speed and natural ability as a ballhawk have resulted in 10 career interceptions in his four years in the NFL, including clutch highlights such as the overtime pick six to beat the Washington Redskins or the Super Bowl LI pick six.

In fact, his amazing Super Bowl performance earned the second best Pro Football Focus rating of Falcons defenders. Hopefully Alford can continue his knack for stepping up in the clutch in 2017.

However, while Alford can bring the crowd to their feet, he more often draws eyerolls and groans from his untimely penalties. In fact, Alford has committed 27 accepted penalties for 404 yards since he entered the league in 2013, according to Pro Football Reference.

Unfortunately, Alford is undersized for a corner. Standing at only 5-foot-10, he can be dwarfed by opposing receivers. This was the case in Week 9 of 2016, where the taller Mike Evans utilized his size to score on the relatively short cornerback.

Many think that Alford’s small stature is a factor for his abundant penalties. Meaning that he plays more physically and aggressively to compensate for his size. Others have criticized his technique, saying that he is not disciplined when a pass is thrown to his man.

Whatever the cause for his struggles, most are expecting improvement in 2017. Given the benefit of an improving pass rush and a more solidified defensive backfield, Alford will have less pressure on him.

He’s shown he can perform under pressure, he just needs to perform consistently. If he can trust himself and the coaching staff, then his natural athleticism and ability to create turnovers will make for a solid contributor to the Falcons defense.

Next: The Revamp of the Falcons Defense