Spider-man premieres for Atlanta Falcons in Sunday night win

October 21, 3:03 PMAtlanta Falcons ExaminerDaniel Cox

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Thomas DeCoud, AP Photo/John Amis

If you look around the Atlanta Falcons locker room after a game, there are always players whose post-game attire stands out.

There are the suit wearers and those that opt for the Ralph Lauren look, among a number of other styles.

There's a guy in the back corner that has a look that's not too flashy and kind of blends in. He's one part Esquire and one part King Magazine. He's a guy that could easily be sporting a backpack at a rap battle or giving a presentation at the University of California on thermodynamics.

Thomas DeCoud's got a style that's all his own.

And before Sunday night's game on national television against the Chicago Bears, he decided to make it even more distinctive.

Shaved into the sides of the second-year safety's head were spider webs.

As a dual-sport star at Pinole Valley High School in Pinole, California, the 24-year-old safety earned the nickname Spider-man, for his athletic ability.

After a tough game three weeks ago against the New England Patriots where DeCoud dropped a few would-be interceptions, Sunday night's game was as good as any to summon some Peter Parker-like powers.

The 2008 third-round pick's first career interception came on Chicago's first possession of the night. With the Bear's quarterback Jay Cutler piecing together a drive that lasted almost seven minutes, Atlanta's defense looked like it was in for a long night. But on third-and-nine from Atlanta's own 12-yard line, DeCoud dove in front of a pass intended for wide receiver Devin Hester.

He reacted like a first-year starter would--with enthusiasm in the knowledge that not only was it his first interception, but it was a key one, stopping the opponent dead in its tracks.

His enthusiasm carried over to the sidelines where he stood as his defensive teammates sat. Atlanta's head coach, Mike Smith, came over to congratulate the young safety, but also to remind him of a few things.

"He was like 'Keep cool, don't get too excited, there's still another half to play,'" DeCoud said. "I was excited. It was my first pro pick. But he was right, we had to keep sawing wood and keep getting after it because it was still the first half."

It worked because one quarter later, DeCoud was up to it again.

Lining up in Cover 2, DeCoud was watching a receiver up the seam and a tight end to his inside. He read the play and snagged a Cutler overthrow to tight end Greg Olsen on Atlanta's 30.

"I just stayed on my landmark," DeCoud said. "He overthrew the ball. I went to make a play. Our offense wasn't really clicking at the beginning of the game so we felt like we needed to get the ball back in their hands."

The free safety has been talking about making plays all season. His play has progressed and he's the first to admit it's mostly due to hard work he puts in off the field. But he's been thirsting for a benchmark play to define his young career.

"I feel like I'm getting better each week," said DeCoud. "That's one of the things about me, I want to always be on an uphill grade, getting better each and every time. I feel like I'm doing that. But there's still a lot I haven't seen. I'm just a first-year starter."

A first-year starter, but one whose play is pleasing the man that named him the starter in training camp.

"Thomas was playing the ball very well in the air," said Smith. "He went through his reading of the route progression and played the ball. It's good to see Thomas, a young player, a third-round draft pick, and second year in the league make plays like that. It's good to see these young guys continue to progress and start making plays for us."

The continued progression came after a strong week of study for the Cal graduate. There was the sense that this could be his week to burst onto the scene going against a gambler for a quarterback.

"Through the course of the week I watched a lot of film and studied what he (Jay Cutler) liked to do, what he looked like when he made a decision to throw the ball, and I think it really helped me out today," the safety said. "He is the type of quarterback who's really confident in his arm. He thinks he can make every throw, so he'll try to get every ball to his receivers when he can. I knew I had to make a play on the ball, and it paid off for me tonight." 

In the span of one night he became the new team-leader in interceptions. The team's defense was suddenly allowing the fourth fewest points per game in the league. In one night Atlanta's entire defense may have summoned up some of its own special powers to accomplish some things few thought were possible.

And Spider-man led the way.

Athletes and superheroes mirror each other in many ways. Superior speed, strength, quickness, vision, and both are perhaps a little bit superstitions as well.

"I'm keeping the spider webs," DeCoud said with a grin in front of his locker after his nationwide premier.

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