Tribal Chief Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Desmond Trufant is confident. No question about it.His swagger is evident simply in his strut. His play on the football field screams, "Go ahead, try me again."That being said, the third year Atlanta Falcons cornerback isn't one to run off at the mouth in the same fashion Antonio Cromartie did recently toward Richard Sherman. Trufant doesn't go around discrediting someone else's game to enhance his own.However, Trufant is not ashamed to thrust himself into the conversation about the league's elite cornerbacks. Such was the topic of discussion this week when Trufant was told of ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Mark Dominik referring to him as "a good football player" but not a Top 5 cornerback. Dominik's assessment was on the heels of his 32-team free-agent list of players any team would want to have on its roster. NFLNewsNowMoreNFL NationFalcons Desmond Trufant believes he's among elite corners6hEmailCommentVaughn McClure, ESPN Staff WriterFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Desmond Trufant is confident. No question about it.His swagger is evident simply in his strut. His play on the football field screams, "Go ahead, try me again."That being said, the third year Atlanta Falcons cornerback isn't one to run off at the mouth in the same fashion Antonio Cromartie did recently toward Richard Sherman. Trufant doesn't go around discrediting someone else's game to enhance his own.However, Trufant is not ashamed to thrust himself into the conversation about the league's elite cornerbacks. Such was the topic of discussion this week when Trufant was told of ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Mark Dominik referring to him as "a good football player" but not a Top 5 cornerback. Dominik's assessment was on the heels of his 32-team free-agent list of players any team would want to have on its rosterInsider."I definitely feel like I'm up there with the elite," Desmond Trufant said. "But I'm also getting better every day. I haven't reached my prime yet, but I'm close to it. So, it's coming. It's coming." (Chris Graythen/Getty Images"I don't really look into all of what everybody is saying," Trufant said. "I feel like if they're not saying I'm the best, then it really doesn't matter. I know where my ceiling is. I know how far I can take this."I definitely feel like I'm up there with the elite. But I'm also getting better every day. I haven't reached my prime yet, but I'm close to it. So, it's coming. It's coming."Trufant didn't hesitate when asked to name his list of elite cornerbacks."I'd say Sherm (Sherman), (Darrelle) Revis, (Joe) Haden," Trufant said. "I like Vontae Davis. But I feel like I'm right there with those guys. I know I definitely have more to prove, and I'm going to do that."It's all love. Like I said, my goal is to be the best. So that's what I'm working for every day."Of the four cornerbacks he mentioned, there is one in particular Trufant tries to emulate more than the others."Just technically, I would say Revis," Trufant said. "His technique is off the charts. That's what makes him great. He's patient. He's strong at the line. ... And I watched Sherm for a long time. He played with my brother (Marcus), so I've seen him develop into what he is. I would say those two guys."Trufant's relentless pursuit of perfection is reason to believe his ascent will continue. He was solid as a rookie in 2013 although he would be the first to admit he dropped a few interceptions. Then last year, Trufant was called upon to shadow top receivers such as Baltimore's Steve Smith, Cleveland's Josh Gordon, and Carolina's Kelvin Benjamin. He finished the season with 61 tackles, 16 passes defensed, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus had Trufant No. 6 in their final cornerback rankings.So what is Trufant's primary focus under new coach Dan Quinn?"Just patience," he said. "I know speed is one of my strengths, and sometimes I kind of play too fast. So I'm just trying to control my speed; be patient. I'm just trying to focus on the small details in my technique: footwork, hand placement, things like that. It's coming."Assistant head coach Raheem Morris, the coordinator of the pass defense, would say Trufant has arrived, based on first impressions."I've got to be honest: I was pleasantly surprised by Trufant, and not because of his athletic ability," Morris said. "It's his in-the-classroom ability and his above-the-neck ability; how smart he is and what he brings to the game."Quinn was asked about Trufant being a shut-down corner in this new defensive system, which will rely on a lot more press coverage."Yeah, we played a lot of three-deep in terms of a style and a scheme that we play, but really both Robert (Alford) and Tru and Jalen (Collins) and the (other) guys, it's a skill we play at corner," Quinn said. "The biggest thing for those guys is getting their hands on people where we can stay on top."The competitor in Robert and Tru is the thing probably that stands out the most to me. And I think with all top players, that's one of the common threads."http://espn.go.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/13823/atlanta-falcons-desmond-trufant-believes-hes-among-elite-corners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 Sorry about the first part. Not going back to change it. Link is there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsH8 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I approve this message. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFanatic Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 He's not far from it. Definitely one of TD's good trade-ups. He will be forever overlooked until we put 10 other good players around him but already I can see him getting less balls thrown his way. Even if the media doesn't respect him yet, your **** sure NFL QB's will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybird56 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 He's rightI think it's funny how the top corners jaw so much between each other on who's the best, meanwhile there are 5+ legitimate guys at WR who could claim to be the best but none of em get into that sh*tGlad Tru doesn't bother with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lornoth Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I believe he is too. If our defense overall can stop being so piss poor the rest of the league will be believers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATL_DirtyBirds Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 In Trufant We Trust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 He's rightI think it's funny how the top corners jaw so much between each other on who's the best, meanwhile there are 5+ legitimate guys at WR who could claim to be the best but none of em get into that sh*tGlad Tru doesn't bother with ityeah players at the same position bickering is silly to me. I prefer a CB vs wr or lb vs RB,guys who will actually get the chance to **** the other up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clownorg Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Ok he's said it.. now go Prove it on the field this year.I believe he is close but not quite there yet. Perhaps a better pass rush this season will help him out tremendously and he will even exceed his own expectations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 Ok he's said it.. now go Prove it on the field this year.I believe he is close but not quite there yet. Perhaps a better pass rush this season will help him out tremendously and he will even exceed his own expectationsimo, the pass rush wasn't holding him back. He held his own without a pass rush. He just can't hold on to balls that should be interceptions. He would be considered top 3 if he doesn't drop all those picks. Not counting the ones that his own teammate interfered on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 He is. He's phenomenal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcanuck Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Teams are going to stop throwing on his side of the field very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpiper Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Trufant is elite. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong. He is one of maybe two or three bright spots on our entire defense and played his butt off last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 Trufant is elite. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong. He is one of maybe two or three bright spots on our entire defense and played his butt off last year.that doesn't make him Elite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I do wish his hands were better though.....if he picked off half of the dropped INTs he had last year, he'd be up around 6-8 INTs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeitdown Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Revis is the guy he should emulate. He doesn't have the same physical characteristics as those other guys, but can be revis like.If he can get his speed under control, like he mentions, and use that to turn his head better/be more in control of his body, he can do big things. Would love to see him turn a lot of those tight coverages into INTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndySG Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I would take him over Joe Haden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawse Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 He's right where he needs to be. I think he begins to peak under Quinn this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzard_falcon Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I don't know about Top 5, but he's definitely a Top 10 corner in the league. Hopefully Alford and Collins are ready to ball this year, because I think opposing QBs will begin to shy away from Trufant more and more now that we'll (hopefully) actually have a pass rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoic Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Ok he's said it.. now go Prove it on the field this year.I believe he is close but not quite there yet. Perhaps a better pass rush this season will help him out tremendously and he will even exceed his own expectationsYou nailed it. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madman88 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Hes right, hes right up there. Im also glad he sees he plays a little out of control. He is gonna be a top 3 CB for a long time after this season is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCartledge85 Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Looking forward to watching Trufant play this year. He may turn into the player we always hoped DeAngelo Hall would turn into.Speaking of D-Hall, he is hated by Falcon fans, but that guy has had quite the career. He gets burned plenty, all CBs do, but turning QBs over is the rarest of talents. The guy is going to turn in a very impressive careers when its all said and done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draftnut57 Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 He is.... IMO the best at his position if considering age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCCooley Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 In Trufant We TrustTru dat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCCooley Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 imo, the pass rush wasn't holding him back. He held his own without a pass rush. He just can't hold on to balls that should be interceptions. He would be considered top 3 if he doesn't drop all those picks. Not counting the ones that his own teammate interfered onTime for him to sart playing with Jugs - the machine that is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.