The Atlanta Falcons defense has helped carry this team all season as the offense has struggled to click, but one player may have flown under the radar this season.
It may surprise some that Arthur Smith recently shared that he loves how a lesser-known defender has performed on that unit this season ... fourth-round rookie cornerback Clark Phillips III.
“The practices, how competitive it is, and Clark, his mindset, (are) why we liked him so much when we drafted him,” Smith said. These are moments. He’s played a little bit, not a lot, but he’s kept working. – Jerry and Steve (Jackson) have done a good job, and Clark, credit to him, he competes, and that’s why we love him. His role changed not only twice today but going in, whether it’s (Mike) Hughes or him. He’s got a slot role; then AJ goes out, he has an outside role. That was cool to see.”
With a rookie, especially one drafted on day three, it's often the work being done in practice that matters most for their development and future role on the team.
So far, the 5-9, 184-pound cornerback has proved doubters wrong for thinking that he was too small to make it in the NFL. Utah’s former All-American and the AP Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has carried his success to Atlanta.
Last year, Phillips intercepted six passes but still fell to the Falcons in the fourth round. It’s promising to see he didn’t let other people’s doubts discourage him and instead has used it as a chip on his shoulder to carve out a role as a rookie this season.
Despite being a healthy scratch for many games earlier this season, Phillips may have earned himself more playing time in the future.
This Sunday, Phillips could play an integral role against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ talented receivers as Atlanta attempts to keep hold of their No. 1 spot in the NFC South.
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