INDIANAPOLIS -- Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford should get plenty of helpful advice from a knowledgeable source as he prepares for the 2015 season.
Long-time NFL defensive back Ryan Clark, who officially retired from the NFL on Wednesday to become a full-time analyst for ESPN, will train Alford in Louisiana starting in three weeks.
"All the advice and things I do have to offer him he's going to get, from helping him watch film to helping him understand where he was beat on certain plays, to how he can improve himself, physically,'' Clark said. ``But also the mental approach to the game. So I'm excited about getting an opportunity to work with him. Anytime you get a chance to work with a true friend, somebody you've known a long time, it's exciting.''
Alford and Clark both are from Louisiana. Alford's brother, former New Orleans Saints cornerback Fred Booker, was Clark's college roommate at LSU.
``That's how I met Rob and that's how our relationship has continued to grow,'' Clark said. ``And it really started to become a relationship when he was coming into the draft: just advising him on certain ways to work, certain things to watch out for, certain pitfalls. And that just continued to blossom into what has become a friendship now. Hopefully, it turns into a mentorship.''
Clark said Alford is rehabbing in Atlanta right now. Alford suffered a season-ending broken wrist that required surgery.
It will be interesting to see how new Falcons coach Dan Quinn and his staff assess Alford, who has plenty of speed and athleticism but needs to work on his hands to avoid penalties. He was flagged seven times for pass interference or defensive holding last season.
``I think the way you work on that is you getting him confident enough in his skills of playing the ball and his skills of being down the field with receivers where he doesn't panic and have to grab,'' Clark said. ``A lot of times, it's about not having confidence in finishing that play that makes defenders grab the offensive player.
``We're going to work on those things. We're going to work on those drills. But also, it comes through the confidence in training camp and [organized team activities] of being on Roddy White or being on Julio Jones and stopping those guys from catching balls and then knowing that 90 percent of the guys he'll play against won't be better than practicing against those two every day.''
The Falcons are expected to bring in a cornerback or two to possibly compete for starting roles. Desmond Trufant no doubt is set at one spot. Alford could be pushed if the team signs a player such as free-agent-to-be Byron Maxwell, who started 17 games for Quinn in Seattle the past two seasons.
It wouldn't be a stretch to wonder if the Falcons would consider moving Alford into a nickel back role, considering they want to upgrade that spot anyhow.
``I think his skill-set is actually good for that,'' Clark said of Alford at nickel. ``He's a quick guy. He's fast. You can get him stronger. But also mentally, I think he can handle the load of doing that. So it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But it would be a bad thing to Robert because he would feel like it was a demotion.
``Whatever happens, happens. But I think the cool thing about me being able to work with Robert is my last position coach was [Falcons assistant head coach] Raheem Morris. There will be some things from [Morris] that I can pass on to Rob that he can have a leg up going up against some of these guys in training camp and OTAs. And hopefully he will do well.''