FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- There was just one game last season when Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant was asked to shadow and lock down a star receiver the entire game – at Jacksonville against fellow Pro Bowl selection Allen Robinson.

Trufant settled in at right cornerback the first time he lined up against Robinson. On the next play, he moved over to the left. Robinson got Trufant for gains of 25 and 22 yards on consecutive first-quarter plays and later scored a 10-yard touchdown as Trufant was flagged for pass interference. Trufant won some battles, too, as Robinson had just those three catches on five targets.

"I think I was solid," Trufant recalled. "I think he had 50 yards or something (57). He had a touchdown on me. You never want to get scored on. But, shoot, sometimes it happens. I think I was solid because he was killing guys 150, 200 yards in games. So we just battled. He’s obviously a great talent and a young receiver coming up. It was good going up against him. Just his catching ability; he makes those hard catches that every guy can’t make."

Could the Falcons consider having Trufant shadow top guys more often this coming season even despite their strong belief in the Cover 3 scheme? Secondary coach Marquand Manuel weighed in on the topic.

"It’s a combination," Manuel said. "It’s not really a part of our defense. But it’s still a combination. That’s why we did it a little last year."

It wouldn’t be a total surprise to see it sprinkled in a little this coming season, considering the talented receivers Trufant and the secondary will face in the NFC South.

"I feel like I can match up with anybody," Trufant said. "I go against Julio every day, and nobody’s better than him. So if I can cover him, that gets me ready for everybody."

Desmond Trufant has the confidence of a lockdown cornerback, and he says he's ready to shadow another team's star if called upon. Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

Trufant's confident swagger is one of the aspects that make him such a great cornerback. Not to mention he constantly works on perfecting his technique.

So what if 6-foot, 190-pound Trufant is asked to shadow 6-5, 245-pound Kelvin Benjamin, who returns to the Carolina Panthers this season off an ACL injury? He’s done it before.

"He’s a big receiver, so you’ve got to stay aggressive," Trufant said. "I’ve got to use my speed, my quickness and beat him to the spot. Usually with bigger guys, I can get to the spot faster than them. So you just have to use your quickness and make sure you attack the ball at its highest point. He’s so tall, you feel me, that you have to be aggressive."

Is that the same approach with 6-5, 231-pound Mike Evans from the Buccaneers?

"I think Mike Evans has a little bit more bully in him," Trufant said. "He’s really going to try and like throw you out the way. He’s obviously a great receiver and great ball skills. With him bullying you, you’ve really got to be ready for a fight."

And what about speedy 5-10, 189-pound Brandin Cooks from the Saints?

"He’s more of an inside slot guy," Trufant said. "He plays outside, too. He’s a quick guy so you’ve just got to keep him in front of you. They try to blow the roof off with him and like to get him the ball with screens so he can make guys miss. You’ve just got to be aggressive with him and try to out-physical him."

Again, the Falcons would rather play their scheme straight up, which is why they hope Robert Alford thrives as the nickel corner and someone such as Jalen Collins, Akeem King or perhaps lanky C.J. Goodwin develop at the right cornerback spot. (Collins is suspended for the first four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.) Trufant’s ability to be a true shutdown corner just gives them another option.

"It’s not really the defense that’s the challenge," Trufant of throwing the scheme out of whack with shadowing. "It’s more of a technique thing. As corners, we have a certain way we play our technique. And when you go to the other side, you kind of have to shift [the technique] to the opposite side. You just have to stay focus on your technique and continue to be patient.

"Whatever they ask me to do, I know I can do it."

Trufant is considered one of the top cornerbacks around and expects to keep it that way. Having a coach like Manuel should keep him grounded.

"He’s got to be consistent," Manuel said. "I don’t care if you’re Richard Sherman; you’ve got to be consistent. If you’re not consistent in technique, you’re going to get your ass beat every time."