FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons second-year cornerback Darren Hall is slated to take over at right cornerback for Casey Hayward, who went on injured reserve Tuesday.
“Darren is a guy that is in the second year in our program,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday. “We have a lot of confidence in Darren. I think he had a pretty good season up to this point. He had a really good camp.”
The Falcons’ pass defense ranks 28th in the NFL and is getting ready to face the Cincinnati Bengals’ passing attack that ranks eighth in the league. The Falcons (3-3) play the Bengals (3-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Paycor Stadium.
“Every week is a big week in the NFL,” Hall said. “We are playing a competitive team every single week, so I’m going in there with the same mindset that we want to win another game. Go 1-0 every week.”
The Bengals feature three top receivers in Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins.
“They have a good receiving corps,” Hall said. “We have DB corps. We are both young. Going out there and playing within the scheme of the defense this week.”
Hall played in 14 games as a rookie and made one start. This season, he’s played in all six games as a reserve.
“It’s just football,” Hall said. “I’ve been playing football my whole life. So, going out there and playing within the confines of the defense. Doing my job.”
Hall, who was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) from San Diego State in 2021, already was playing behind Hayward.
“Like all of our guys, there are high expectations, and we’re very pleased with Darren’s progress,” Smith said.
Last season, Hall finished with 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and three pass breakups. He played 282 defensive snaps (29%) and 104 on special teams (31%).
This season, Hall has nine tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. He has played 85 defensive snaps (21%) and 41 special-teams snaps (27%).
“The good thing about Darren, going into the games in earlier games, going in for a few plays for Casey or somebody, got him ready to play last week,” Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Thursday. “When he went in last week, it wasn’t like the first time that he’d been in all year. ... I’ve got total confidence in Darren Hall.”
It appeared the Falcons had been getting Hall ready to eventually take over for Hayward, who is 33 and signed a two-year contract in free agency. Hayward, who is from Perry and played at Vanderbilt, has been a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was playing well.
But Smith debunked the notion that Hall was being groomed for the spot.
“When guys play, there is a lot of different reasons,” Smith said. “You only have got 48 guys dressed. If we give somebody a helmet, we expect them to contribute. How much depends on the plan, the flow of the game. Everybody is on different plans. It’s not just apples to apples.”
Despite the low pass-defense ranking, Smith has been pleased with the play of the secondary.
“It’s depends on the coverage,” Smith said. “It hasn’t been perfect. I think they tackle relatively well as a group. It’s a physical group all the way around.
“I think A.J. (Terrell) is one of the most physical corners in run support. … Depending on the coverage and the call, more times than not, they have been in the right spots. Progress is being made every week. Those guys enjoy playing out there with each other.”
With injuries to Hayward, Terrell (groin) and Isaiah Oliver (undisclosed) in the last game, the Falcons finished the game with Hall, Dee Alford and Mike Ford at the cornerback spots.
“We have a lot of guys,” Smith said. “The guys we finished the game with, we have a lot of confidence. Dee was working through some things, and he was able to finish the game. Mike Ford goes out there. Isaiah (went back in). That’s why we train the way we do. We believe in our team.
“We’ll see what it looks like this week with some of the other guys nicked up.”
For more content about the Atlanta Falcons
Follow me on Twitter @DorlandoAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta Falcons News Now
On Instagram at DorlandoLed
Atlanta Falcons coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Bow Tie Chronicles
Atlanta Falcons 2022 schedule
Sept. 11: Saints 27, Falcons 26
Sept. 18: Rams 31, Falcons 27
Sept. 25 Falcons 27, Seahawks 23
Oct. 2 Falcons 23, Browns 20
Oct. 9 Buccaneers 21, Falcons 15
Oct. 16 Falcons 28, 49ers 14
Oct. 23 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Oct. 30 vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.
Nov. 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Carolina, 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 20 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Washington, 1 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
BYE WEEK
Dec. 18 at New Orleans, TBD
Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, TBD
About the Author
