News » Alex Smith is frustrating Josh Norman

.Norman likes having Smith with the Washington Redskins Womens Shawn Lauvao Jersey , but practice time against the veteran quarterback at training camp hasn't been as beneficial as the big-money cornerback had hoped. That's because Smith has been so on-point with his decision-making and throws that Norman isn't getting a whole lot of work in team drills."You're in great position, you get there top of the route, you're ready for your play to be made and it doesn't come," Norman said. "But the ones you are a little step behind on and you're almost there to make it, he throws it. It's those games, cat and mouse, man. It's cat-and-mouse games that it just sucks when you're the mouse."Norman feels like the mouse early in camp but hopes facing a QB like Smith each day benefits him in the long run. Entering the third season of a $75 million, five-year contract, Norman is balancing the lack of work he's getting during 11-on-11 time with his usual half-hour plus of individual drills after practice as one of the last players on the field."That's what you've got to do to be the best, to be great like him," said undrafted rookie safety Quin Blanding, who worked out with Norman following practice Sunday. "It just shows he wants extra work no matter all the work he's done in practice. It's always find ways to get better, and that's what he's doing."Norman is known for his post-practice regimen, whether it's going for jump balls or catching in rapid succession out of a JUGS machine. But none of that compares to team snaps, where Smith is avoiding Norman the way he would in a real game."I'm just staying the course and trying to understand that your technique is not flawed, continue to do what you do even though your chances are not coming," Norman said. "But when they do come, try to be better than the quarterback in making a play. He's so precise right now, so he's not making mistakes, and that's the biggest thing you've seen. Even in practice, he's not making mistakes. It's hard to try to key in on that."Coach Jay Gruden approves. His offense is built around quick decisions and finding the right receiver to throw to, and that's not usually by challenging Norman."Josh is getting plenty of work," Gruden said Tuesday. "We're not going to throw a flat route out to Josh Norman and let him pick it. That's just common sense Womens Dustin Hopkins Jersey , so Josh is going to have to wait for somebody else to throw it to him."Norman is still isolating elements of his game to work on at age 30, going into his seventh NFL season. He had no interceptions last year and dropped more than a handful of prime opportunities, so at practice he's working on the little things that turn a broken-up pass into a pick."Being in place is the first part, but finishing the ball should be something that already is established and ingrained in you," Norman said. "It's just that six inches from making a play to not making a play."Trying to close the gap on those inches is what goes into Norman's extra work after practice. And in the process, he's helping young defensive backs like Blanding and Kenny Ladler develop the same kind of habits."You fix the mistakes and then when it comes again, you don't make the same mistake," Blanding said. "You've got to be ready to work no matter if it feels like a great day of practice or if it was a bad day of practice. You've got to put that aside and you've just got to work. You've got to keep on working, and that's what he does."NOTES: RB Chris Thompson, who's recovering from surgery to repair a broken right fibula, took his first snaps in team drills Tuesday. ... LB Mason Foster was limited at practice by a strained stomach muscle. Team: Atlanta Falcons2017 Record: 10-6 (3rd, NFC South)2018 Record: 3-4 (t-3rd, NFC South)Outlook: 2017 marked the second consecutive year in which the Falcons had their season ended by the eventual Super Bowl champs.Coming off the devastating loss to the Patriots at the end of the 2016 season, Atlanta put together a solid 10-6 year.Although that was only good enough for third place in the NFC South, the Falcons beat the Rams in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, then fell in a 15-10 battle against the Eagles.In theory, the Falcons boast weapons all over the field, with Matt Ryan, Tevin Coleman, and one of the best receivers in the NFL (if not the best) in Julio Jones.Still, Atlanta has struggled a bit since offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left to become the head coach of the 49ers.A groin injury that put Devonta Freeman on IR this year did some additional damage.The Falcons were down offensively last season, finishing in the middle of the pack in points.Atlanta currently ranks a respectable 11th in PPG.The much bigger problem is the defense.Last season, Atlanta’s defense actually carried the Falcons more than once Womens Mason Foster Jersey , led by Pro Bowlers Deion Jones and Keanu Neal.Atlanta’s defense held opponents below 21 points on nine occasions in 2017.This time around, Jones and Neal are both on injured reserve, and the Falcons have given up at least 29 points in four of their seven games so far.They rank 30th in the league in scoring defense, a big part of the reason Atlanta has sputtered to a 3-4 record.Like the Redskins, though, the Falcons also don’t turn the ball over much.How Worried Should We Be?: Somewhat worried.Washington needs to play well, but this game is winnable, especially at home.I was always a little concerned that Julio Jones could have a monster day against Greg Stroman and the Redskins’ secondary.I don’t think any other individual player on a 2018 Redskins opponent worries me more than Jones does.That said, Washington’s defense is really coming into its own.The addition of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix via trade this week is another boost, although Clinton-Dix will likely be somewhat limited this Sunday as he adapts to the Redskins’ defensive schemes.There’s no question the Falcons move the ball almost as well as anyone when they’re clicking.But they have yet to recapture the offensive magic of 2016, and, meanwhile, the Redskins defense seems to be finding a little magic of its own.I’ll say this, though—if Washington’s passing game can’t get on-track against the Falcons, we should all be worried.Alex Smith hasn’t topped 200 yards passing in almost a month.He hasn’t had a 300-yard game all year.He had five in 15 games for the Chiefs last year.Meanwhile, the Falcons have surrendered over 300 yards in five of their past six games.Granted, having a consistently good running game makes that less important, but, if Washington’s resistible force can’t overcome Atlanta’s moveable object this weekend, it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the year.