Falcons 'Excited' About Clark Phillips' Future, to Rotate with Jeff Okudah at CB

The Atlanta Falcons are optimistic about Clark Phillips III's future, but will alternate between he and Jeff Okudah at outside cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell.

The Atlanta Falcons made headlines this week for a change at quarterback - but have a similarly noteworthy competition unfolding at cornerback.

Since growing acclimated after missing the first three weeks of the season with an ankle injury, Jeff Okudah had been Atlanta's starter at corner opposite A.J. Terrell.

But when Okudah missed the Falcons' Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a separate ankle injury, rookie Clark Phillips III stepped in ... and shined, allowing zero receptions on seven targets.

Okudah returned to action for last Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, but when Atlanta took the field for its first defensive series, it was Phillips who received the nod as a starter.

Phillips played 76 percent of Atlanta's defensive snaps, while Okudah was on the field for the other 24 percent - most notably on the final drive, when the Falcons' defense desperately needed a stop but ultimately came up short.

So, what's next?

Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen touched on the subject Thursday, noting that assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray and secondary coach Steve Jackson have implemented an effective rotation that figures to remain in place moving forward.

“We’ve been talking about this since OTAs - everybody on the defense plays,” Nielsen said. “So, really like the rotation that Jerry and Jack have had those guys on where Jeff will get in for a series or Clark in for a series and rotate those guys.

“It takes a few snaps off of them. Keeps them more fresh in the game, fourth quarter and things like that.”

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III (34) in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Nielsen added this is common throughout Atlanta's defense for everybody except linebacker Kaden Elliss and safety Jessie Bates III, who've missed four and six total snaps this season, respectively.

Not only is freshness a priority, but it dates back to what Nielsen, Gray and Falcons head coach Arthur Smith have often preached about - competition.

“We say we don’t have starters,” Nielsen said. “Everybody has to be ready to play. That’s what’s going on.”

Cornerback rotations aren't new to the NFL, as Gray, a former four-time Pro Bowl defensive back, stated most people just don't see corners going in and out of games.

Gray used an example from his time as the Minnesota Vikings' defensive backs coach, when he had a pair of quality corners in Terence Newman and Xavier Rhodes.

In 2015, the Vikings spent a first-round draft pick on another corner, Trae Waynes. All three were good players, Gray said, and Minnesota's defense was one of the best in the league.

The Falcons are now following a similar blueprint.

“It’s like 'okay, you want one guy on the bench and only play two players, or can you play the best of those three?'” Gray said. “So, if you explain to them what they’re going to do, they don’t have problems with it. Every guy doesn’t have to play 60 snaps, especially if you’ve got good football players.

“Because if not, you’re going to redshirt a guy, and he’s not ever going to get a chance to get out on the football field.”

The Falcons may say they don't have starters, but there's still a process being taken to determine who takes the field first.

It starts in practice, Gray said, where Atlanta's looking for a comprehensive understanding that each player needs to be competing at a high level.

There's no concern over whether alternating series will disrupt rhythm, with Gray selling it to the players much like Nielsen did - as an opportunity to stay rested and play at the top of their game.

And so, with past evidence to boot, Gray is committed to rolling forward with Okudah and Phillips splitting time.

“Jeff’s going to his chance, Clark’s going to get his chance,” Gray said. “And they may be in one series, or they may not be in one series.”

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Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick in 2020 who was acquired via trade from the Detroit Lions this spring, had a strong start to his time in Atlanta giving up three total catches in his first four games.

But he's faded of late, headlined by a dismal two-game stretch against the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets in which he allowed 13 receptions for 240 yards on 19 targets, per Pro Football Reference.

Against Carolina, Okudah played only 16 defensive snaps and allowed three receptions for 45 yards on as many targets.

He was the victim of a difficult back-shoulder reception from Panthers wideout Jonathan Mingo, a critical 20-yard pickup to convert on 3rd and 3 during Carolina's game-winning drive.

Over his last five appearances, Okudah's been targeted 33 times and given up 25 receptions for 411 yards. Opponents are completing 75.8 percent of their targets against him in that span.

But at least against the Panthers, Atlanta's pleased with how Okudah performed.

“I thought he did a good job,” Gray said. “Mingo did a hell of a job on the fade and keeping his feet in because that was a really good pass. Pretty much should have been out of bounds, but big, tall guy (and) Jeff had his hands on him and did a pretty good job there.

“So, he made the best opportunities with the plays he was in.”

Phillips had a similar game to Okudah but with much more action to boot, seeing 50 snaps. The 22-year-old allowed three completions for 43 yards on five targets while adding five tackles.

A healthy scratch in six of the first 11 games of his rookie season, Phillips has been stout when given a chance defensively, giving up just seven receptions for 71 yards on 21 targets.

Gray feels Phillips has been "playing really well the last couple of weeks" - and while the former University of Utah standout had a few rookie moments and wasn't always in the right position to make plays, he still left Gray satisfied with his performance.

“I thought he did a good job,” Gray said. “On a couple of them, I thought he had his eyes a little bit down the field, looking at the quarterback, but then he disciplined up and got back to what he was supposed to do, and that’s what you see in rookies.”

Entering the Panthers game, Phillips had been targeted 16 times but allowed only four receptions for 28 yards through three contests of extensive action.

In essence, while his numbers against Carolina were stout, it wasn't quite what he'd done in previous weeks - which netted several learning experiences for the Lakewood, California, native.

“He did ok,” Nielsen said. “Don’t think it was his best game but didn’t think it was his worst. There were a couple of plays that, and he knows, that he could have probably played a little better, but I think if you look at the overall, he did a pretty good job.

“It was a just a couple of plays in that game where, 'ah, this leverage, this technique, finish the play.'”

Phillips, a fourth-round pick in April's draft who won PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year in his final season at Utah, has allowed only 17 yards through the air this season.

His outing against Carolina wasn't his best, as Nielsen said, but did little to tarnish the optimism Atlanta has in its budding corner.

“Don’t let the overall performance get lost in those couple of plays because his whole body of work has been very solid," Nielsen said. “I'm excited about the future of this guy. It’s very bright. He’s still a young player playing in his fifth game. So, we can work on a couple of things, continue to increase – he’s going to get better.”

Phillips didn't see the field defensively until Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals. He was a healthy scratch the next game, a Week 12 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Some players are baptized by fire. Others are given more time to sit and learn.

The Falcons opted to play Dee Alford and Mike Hughes in the nickel, letting Phillips fall into the latter category. He's capitalized on each opportunity thrown his way, be it inside or out.

Now, he's got another opportunity - comprehend from his lapses against Carolina and keep ascending ... and Nielsen's confident he'll do exactly that. 

“He’ll learn from a couple of things that happened in that game,” Nielsen said. “Then, you’ll see, he’ll take that off the tape, and he’ll continue to rise. Has done a pretty good job overall.”

Okudah will be a free agent this spring, while Phillips has another three years on his rookie contract. As things are trending, the latter feels the much safer bet to be around long-term.

But the Falcons are focused on the present, just a game out of the NFC South lead and final two wildcard spots.

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And so, rotating appears to be the plan - starting Sunday, when Atlanta (6-8) hosts the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) at 1 p.m. EST inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.