After getting off to a 13-3 lead versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday night in Jacksonville, the Jaguars pulled away to edge the Falcons 15-13. Falcons starters started out promising, marching down the field scoring a field goal, then a TD, and to top off the last score, another field goal. Then as usually happens in the preseason, the starters are pulled at the half. So lets talk about the starters play from this game, which is what we as fans will be seeing once the regular season kicks off.
The running game has not picked up where it left off last year. In both preseason games, the opposing defense has held the Falcons runningbacks in check. Starting RB Michael Turner looks timid as QB Matt Ryan hands the ball off to him. He gets the ball, and then to me, runs on his tipitoes, thus allowing the opposing D to smother him. I'm a little concerned about the running game, but I will hold any other negativity until the regular season gets underway. Again, not a lot of game planning going on during the preseason.
The passing game is ahead of schedule from where it was last year. Ryan only went 7-15 for 118 yards, which is under 50 percent. But he has so much more command of the offense. Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularky is putting much more in Ryan's hands this year than he did the previous three years. Calling a lot more audibles, and letting Ryan call the offense from what he sees once he gets on the field.
Wide out Roddy White has been calm during the first two games, which is probably the gameplan so rookie WR Julio Jones can get more playing time. In my previous post, I talked about WR Harry Douglas coming off his injury, and how he is going to be much more involved in the offense this year. Well, it showed. In the second quarter last night, coming across the middle, Ryan hit Douglas about 15 yards downfield, and Douglas did the rest with a good block from WR Jones. Douglas turned on his jets and went the rest of the way to the finish line for a 76-yard touchdown for the good guys. That was good enough to tell me that the starting O is ready for game one versus the Chicago Bears at New Soldier Field in Chicago September 11.
The starting defense is inproving with every snap as the forced two more turnovers, for a total of five for the preseason. Starting D gets an A from me. Though the Falcon's D is just really playing a base D this August, they are holding the line and not letting a lot of running lanes for the opppsing runningbacks.
Not saying a lot about the backups, because they are the one causing the two loses. Most of those guys won't even be in an Atlanta uniform in a couple weeks.
Next week the pace and intensity picks up as the Falcons travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. This is the first game where most teams start to gameplan the oppsing teams, which helps the teams get ready for the regular season.
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