‘Alien’ Clark Phillips III is the Atlanta Falcons’ best answer to solving the CB question

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris says cornerbacks are like left tackles.

Not in terms of size, or role, or anything to do with personality – but if you don’t notice when there’s a change at the position, there’s probably something positive happening.

That, Morris said, is what happened in the Falcons cornerback room after star defensive end AJ Terrell missed a week of OTA as a precaution with a hamstring strain.

As Terrell watched, Morris saw “a plethora” of players step up — though he pointed to second-year pro Clark Phillips III as the biggest beneficiary.

“Clark was one of those guys that went out there with the first unit and was able to do some really good things,” Morris said. “I was really excited to see him go there.”

One of those good things Morris referenced was a pick-six in Week 2 of Atlanta OTAs, a hard-hitting play by Phillips that left Morris excited while watching the tape.

Some scoff at the idea that plays in late May or early June will make a difference later. With a largely new coaching staff led by Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, perhaps these games matter a little more.

Morris already knows what he has in Terrell. When the Falcons drafted Terrell in the first round in 2020, Morris was the defensive coordinator and later served as interim head coach for 11 games. He has a complex understanding of what motivates Terrell.

But Morris and the staff are still learning Phillips. After Terrell’s absence, they feel like they know a little more – and in a favorable way.

“When these guys are kind of invisible and they shut things down, that’s a really good sign and that’s what happened last week when AJ was out,” Morris said. “When you start seeing those impact plays, those are the guys that separate.”

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In OTAs, pads are not present and contact between corners and offensive weapons is often reduced to two-handed contact. Still, there are many things to evaluate, from movement, body control and communication to ball skills, knowing what to do and not panicking when the ball is in the air.

Morris has previously praised Phillips for his “elite movement” skills, his ability to mirror and match receivers and his versatility to line up both inside and outside.

Phillips, 22, had a late rise during his 2023 rookie campaign, failing to play a defensive game for the first 10 weeks before starting the final five games. He finished the year with 27 tackles, one tackle for loss and five passes defensed.

Phillips, 5-foot-9, 184 pounds, was targeted 36 times and allowed just 18 receptions for 229 yards and two scores. He drew praise from Atlanta’s previous team for his toughness, and he made a quick impression when Morris reviewed last year’s tape.

Morris, who played safety and coached defensive backs earlier in his career, has a natural fondness for those on the back end. He made another comparison to offensive tackles, noting how allowing a touchdown reception can negate how fans perceive a corner’s performance.

It’s a tough position, Morris said, and it’s one the Falcons did not choose to address in depth during free agency or the NFL Draft.

Atlanta has always believed in Phillips’ upside – and the more time Morris has spent with him, the more convinced he is of that belief, sparked by a better understanding of the person, not just the player.

“The detail, the serious attitude – he’s always smiling, but he’s always very serious,” Morris said. “You love the nature of humans; he’s built for football, and it shows. I’m sure he goes to the grocery store thinking about football.

“He has a little foreignness about him that way. That’s what I like about this young man.”

Although it’s still far too early to draw any definitive conclusions, Phillips is the favorite to become Atlanta’s No. 2 corner. He held that position during open practice Monday after taking advantage of the opportunity to take on more responsibility when Terrell was out.

There’s still work to be done, but for Phillips, who finished last year strong and carried his momentum into the summer, all signs are favorable.

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