Well, the opening preseason game versus the Miami Dolphins started out just like the season ended last year against the Green Bay Packers, BAD. The Falcons won the toss and elected to receive first. After the opening kickoff, the opening drive started around the Falcon 25. Falcons went three and out with a false start. First false start, be it preseason, came from left tackle Sam Baker. My first thought was, oh no, here we go again. But I caught myself, and relaxed, and realized it was only the first drive of the first preseason game.
Falcons (0-1) ended up losing to the Dolphins (1-0) 23-28. The good thing about the game was the starting O settled down, with QB Matt Ryan going 6-10, for 90 yards on TD. The TD came at the hands of wideout Harry Douglas. Douglas went down the right side of the field, then cut back to the center of the endzone where Ryan split the D and hit Douglas between the two defenders for six. That was Atlanta's second TD. The first TD came from the legs of the burner, RB Michael Turner, as he barreled over the goal line. The Falcons ended the first quarter leading 17-0, and intercepting the ball two times from Miami QB Chad Henne at the hands of DE John Abraham and CB Brent Grimes. Falcons added another INT on Miami's opening drive of the second half. Then, the starters were taken out of the game at the start of the second quarter. The Falcons just scored six more points the rest of the way to end up losing.
My view of preseason is this. Wins and losses are good during this time, but that is not what the peseason is all about. Preseason is about personel. Seeing what type of team the organization is trying to put on the field. In this game, the Falcons starters played better than the Dolphins starters, outscoring them 17-0. But the rest of the way was all Miami. The Dolphins backups played better than Atlanta's. The Falcon's special teams need to improve, in which they gave up a 75- kickoff return for a TD. But this is what preason is all about, improving, and correcting the mistakes.
Key battles in the Falcon's secondary for the nickel CB slot has to go to Dominique Franks over Christopher Owens. Owens had his troubles last year, and they continued last Friday night, giving up a 28 yard TD. It would not have been so bad if he was in good coverage, but he was giving the receiver a five to ten yard cushion, and got burnt. This is something he has done both seasons in Atlanta. Franks has the edge because he has been in good coverage, and he has had the speed to return punt returns, which he has done well. If Franks continues doing well with punt returns, this gives starting kickoff/punt returner Eric Weems the ability to concentrate more on receiving, in which he is going to do more of this year. Okay, talking about receiving. First round draft pick WR Julio Jones showed why GM Thomas Dimitroff moved up 21 spots to pick him sixth in this years draft. Jones had 2 catches for 43 yards, and a reverse for 11 yards. Watching the offense while Jones was in there opened up the entire field for everyone. It's going to allow Ryan to be able to spread the ball around to everyone.
So even though the game was a loss, I was pleased with what I saw from the first team. Falcons next game is against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, kickoff set for this Friday at 7:30pm est. But the team will be traveling down on Tuesday to compete with the Jaguars in a couple of practice scrimmages.
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