Rams DC has highest praise for Atlanta Falcons superstar CB

Current Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons interim head coach, Raheem Morris has the utmost respect for his former player, A.J. Terrell.

He mentioned his respect for Terrell during a recent interview leading up to Morris’ first matchup with the team he formerly led.

Former Atlanta Falcons interim HC, current Rams DC praises CB A.J. Terrell

The Atlanta Falcons hired Raheem Morris in 2015 when they went through a transition from the Mike Smith regime to the Dan Quinn regime. He ended up lasting longer than Dan Quinn as he became the interim head coach following Quinn’s dismissal after an 0-5 start in the 2020 season.

Initially, he was hired as the assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, and then took on the extra responsibility of being the wide receivers coach in 2016. He held those three positions up until 2020 when he became the defensive coordinator following Dan Quinn’s lone season as head coach and defensive coordinator. Raheem ended up moving on to become the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator after Brandon Staley became the Chargers’ head coach.

Anyways, Raheem Morris became one of A.J. Terrell’s primary coaches during his first season in the league, and now he is preparing to take on the team he formerly led.

He made the following statement about A.J. Terrell:

"He’s scary. A.J. Terrell is a guy that I have high regard for, I remember him coming out of college and we all bashed him because he got beat by Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. I think we all kind of wanted to retract those statements. You’re talking about a high-quality individual that came on and was very competitive right from the beginning. I noticed his competitiveness right away, going against Julio every day and having a competition that he was able to have as a rookie."

Calling a cornerback “scary” is not the first compliment that would come to most people’s minds, but it perfectly illustrates what he thinks about the superstar corner.

It is also funny how he mentions how everyone bashed him following his National Championship performance.

Sure, it wasn’t the best coverage performance at all, but I personally will die on the hill that it wasn’t nearly as terrible as everyone made it out to be. I have been saying that from the day he was drafted. Terrell had an illness and a fever in the National Championship. He had decent coverage for much of the game but was beaten by perfect throws and catches.

Fans immediately criticized the selection of A.J. in the first round but those haters have been quiet ever since. He has been one of just two defensive players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft that has proven they were worth a high draft pick. With Chase Young’s injuries, he has actually been the best defensive player from that draft class.

One other thing worth noting is that A.J. Terrell actually made his first career interception in Raheem’s first game as the Atlanta Falcons’ interim head coach. He made a crazy interception off of Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings.

As we wait to see the Falcons take on the defending champs, do not expect the Los Angeles Rams to be caught off guard by one of the best corners in the league. Their defensive coordinator knows A.J. Terrell all too well to allow their offense to overlook him.