Did Falcons Bench Dee Alford for Mike Hughes at Nickel CB? Coaches Explain

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford hasn't played a defensive snap in two games while Mike Hughes has taken over at nickel - but why? Falcons coaches Arthur Smith and Jerry Gray explained this week.

The Atlanta Falcons' secondary has undergone significant changes in recent weeks, with a pair of rookies - safety DeMarcco Hellams and cornerback Clark Phillips III - ascending into starting roles.

But movement doesn't stop there.

Veteran corner Mike Hughes has taken over for Dee Alford as the Falcons' starting nickel over the past two games, during which Atlanta's allowed just one touchdown and 19 total points.

Alford was in the midst of a quality campaign. Hughes had played 20 or fewer defensive snaps in all but one of the season's first 13 games.

So, why the change?

Falcons coach Arthur Smith pointed to schematic reasonings, citing how Atlanta's last two foes - the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts - have attacked the game.

“Some of it has been what teams have tried to do first and second down,” Smith said. “If you want to get more DBs in there and try to play to their strengths, what teams are trying to do, usually if you’re playing small first and second down, people try to get you into the run fronts.”

Thus, the Falcons opted for the 5-10, 189-pound Hughes over Alford, who stands 5-11 and is listed at 175 pounds, though he's been around 180.

But even with his bigger stature, Hughes hasn't necessarily been a better tackler than Alford.

Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant (27) celebrates with cornerback Dee Alford (20) after forcing a fumble by New York Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian (not pictured) during the second half at MetLife Stadium / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Over the last two weeks, Hughes has five tackles - but has missed two tackles. His season-long missed tackle rate is 11.1 percent. Conversely, Alford's missed just 6.8 percent of his tackles.

Still, be it maintaining leverage or maneuvering blockers, Smith feels Hughes offers more experience and better overall play against the run than Alford.

“Some of it is that, and then other things is when you have such a competitive room, matchup-based and then some of it’s opportunity,” Smith said. “When (Hughes has) gotten in there, he’s taken advantage.

“It’s a good problem to have when you’re trying to find roles for guys that you trust.”

Smith noted the Falcons try to different roles for each player they dress on gamedays.

For example, Smith pointed to cornerback Tre Flowers, who's played nickel in some packages lately but played outside corner earlier this season.

This depth is a good problem to have, Smith feels, and he believes Hughes has played "pretty well the past couple of weeks" in place of Alford.

“It’s a credit to Mike,” Smith said. “I think the last couple of weeks he’s found good consistency in there, especially on first and second down, but we play a lot of guys in different packages. He’s done a good job.”

But there's still more to the story.

Hughes began the season as Atlanta's punt returner but struggled, averaging just over six yards per return on 11 attempts. He was replaced by Alford in Week 9.

Immediately, Hughes saw his defensive snaps increase.

After playing eight or fewer snaps in all but one of the Falcons' first eight games, Hughes played 20, 18 and 18 snaps on defense in the three games that followed his demotion from punt returner.

The 26-year-old Hughes was inactive against the New York Jets with a hand injury and played only 10 snaps in the ensuing contest - but he's since seen his role take off.

Hughes has played 89 percent of Atlanta's defensive snaps in each of the past two games, allowing three receptions for 41 yards on six targets while making five tackles and a tackle for loss.

Conversely, Alford hasn't seen the field defensively in either of the past two weeks.

It didn't initially start this way, as Alford played 52 percent, 64 percent, 71 percent and 75 percent of Atlanta's defensive snaps in his first four appearances after becoming the punt returner.

Alford's play largely remained stable, allowing 10 receptions for 145 yards and no touchdowns on 15 targets.

All the while, he was delivering Atlanta's best punt return efforts of the season, taking 10 returns for 101 yards - but as his role defensively has decreased, so has his return production, as he's gained just 20 yards on five attempts over the past two games.

Still, the Falcons have gone all-in on Alford as a returner ... and assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray cited this as the main reason behind his swap with Hughes.

“Earlier in the year, Mike was our returner and Dee was our nickel. So, we kind of switched them a little bit,” Gray said. “We were trying to figure out who guys were, where they’re great at, where they’re really good at. It’s nothing against Dee or anything like that.

“Dee is doing a great job at returning.”

As a result, Atlanta's begun tapping into its depth, trying to maximize both Alford and Hughes.

Going away from Alford wasn't necessarily the plan, but the Falcons have been impressed by Hughes' performance and feel he's deserving of the snaps going his way.

“Instead of (Alford) trying to be the returner and the total nickel and have one guy off the field, we’re like, ‘Ok, we’ll give Mike some first and second down,’” Gray said. “So, now, Dee was returning. Mike was doing such a good job, we kind of left him out there.”

Hughes' role has expanded from two downs to three, and Gray feels the former first-round pick validated the coaching staff's trust in Sunday's 29-10 win over the Colts, who boast a unique, run-pass option-heavy offense.

“It’s kind of hard when you’re going against this type of offense last week to do all three jobs,” Gray said. “He started doing some good things. It didn’t look like it was confusing to him. Third down was totally different than first and second down with this offense last week.

“So, that’s what we gauge, like ‘Ok, can you handle all three packages?’ If you can’t, then we’ll split it up. It didn’t bother him.”

Still, the Falcons aren't committed to moving forward with Hughes as their sole option at nickel.

Gray noted Alford has played third down specifically at times, and it'll be a week-to-week determination whether he or Hughes gets the nod on third.

Has Hughes at least nailed down the right to play first and second downs? Even that remains up in the air.

“It just depends,” Gray said. “This week, the wind is going to be blowing. So, how do they handle returns? How does Dee handle his job? Does his job affect the nickel position because if you’re doing a great job over there, if you’re out on the football field, now, let me see if you can do third down.

“Again, it’s going to show up this week.”

And so, entering Sunday's 1 p.m. EST kickoff against the Chicago Bears (6-9) at Soldier Field, little remains set in stone at the Falcons' nickel spot.

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But at least on the surface, it doesn't appear Alford was intentionally benched - he simply fell victim to schematic matchups and strong performances from Hughes while the staff shifted his focus to returning punts.

Still, Alford may return to the field for defensive snaps Sunday - but like with everything else, it simply depends on what happens in the lead-up to the game and how things unfold early.

“We’re going to let the guys compete, like they always do,” Gray said. “We’ll pick the guys that are going to go out there and play on Sunday.”