Q&A with Falcons defensive backs coach Doug Mallory

Doug Mallory, Atlanta Falcons defensive backs coach. (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Doug Mallory, Atlanta Falcons defensive backs coach. (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Falcons defensive backs coach Doug Mallory, after spending the first two seasons with the team as a defensive assistant, was promoted in February.

He worked with the defensive backs under Marquand Manuel, who was promoted to the defensive coordinator position, last season. In 2015, he worked with the linebackers.

Mallory, 52, the son of former college coach Bill Mallory, coached in the collegiate ranks for 25 years with stops at Indiana, Army, Western Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma State, LSU and New Mexico.

He chatted with Matt Winkeljohn for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently. Here’s what he had to say on a variety of secondary issues:

ON DOING MORE WITH HIS YOUNGER PLAYERS: "We're always going to go back to square one. We're always going to go back to fundamentals. From an installation standpoint, we are young and we have a lot of rookies in here.

“We feel like we have a full veteran group coming back that maybe can do a little bit more. But we feel like we’re never going to bypass step two before we get to step three, but we feel like we do have a veteran group coming back. There is a possibility of adding a little bit more to the system.”

ON POSSIBLY PLAYING MORE PRESS COVERAGE: "You have to fit what you are seeing offensive, but we feel like we have corners and nickel backs that can do both. They can be effective in zone coverage and be effective in man coverage. You have to be able to play both coverages because I think both coverages are going to complement one another. I think what hurts you in zone coverage you have an opportunity to come back and play man to it and overcome some of those areas that are issues. Vice versa, if you are playing a lot of man coverage and other people are going to run some man-beater type concepts that you can come back and play complementary zones against what you are seeing. So, we feel like we've got the personnel to play both. We are going to rep both in practice.

“I think as we went through and we did look at our breakdown from a year ago, there was more zone coverage early on. As we got going a little bit more mature and guys got a little bit more mature in the system, we did run a little bit more man coverage as the season went on.”

ON KEANU NEAL'S IMPROVEMENT PLAN: "In our system, particularly on the back end, whether if it's a linebacker or safety, they have to be able to play man coverage. Again, when we built the team and as you drafted for it or picked up guys in free agency, that's one of factors and skill sets that you're looking for, guys that do have the ability to play man coverage. When you look at a guy like Keanu and the position that he plays is probably one of the more difficult positions to play in our system is the strong safety because he's a hybrid between a free safety and a linebacker. There are times when he's down in the box like a linebacker would be, but he's got to be athletic enough to match up and cover a tight end. There are times where he has to be able to matchup on wide receivers and there are times where, again, he's going to be back playing in the middle of the field. So, it is a unique position.

“Keanu, in year one, you saw steady progress throughout the season. But again, there are a lot of things that he’s got to work out just as everyone else back there. But the things we’ve focused on in offseason is his areas of improvement. He’s been working hard to clean up some of those.”

ON GETTING DESMOND TRUFANT BACK: "It will be great to get him back. Even when Desmond was hurt last year, he was in on every single meeting. Even though he was hurt, we didn't lose his leadership. He was there every day. He was out there at practice every day and at the games. It was great just to have his presence. But we know that we are getting a healthier body and healthier player back. It's good to get him back. He adds an awful lot to that room. When he's on the field he adds an awful lot on the field.

“It was kind of a blessing in disguise that other guys stepped up when (Desmond) went down. If you look at Robert Alford and the level of his play and the level of his game went up. Jalen Collins was able to come in and give us some good and productive play last year. Again, that’s helped us in the long run that those guys (received) that much quality playing time…It gives you better depth and it gives you better competition, but it will be good to get Desmond back.”