It’s a tough couple of days in the NFL, where hundreds of players are going to go from roster hopefuls to seeking a new team. The Falcons are no exception, as they have to cut 27 players by 4 p.m. today.
We don’t know when Atlanta will announce their cuts, as it could be any time between now and late tomorrow afternoon, but we do know there are some very tough calls to be made at position groups like wide receiver and the defensive line, where multiple depth options played extremely well this summer. We’ll see who stays and who goes soon enough, and we’ll round up updates here as they come in. Remember, again, that this is a fraught time for NFL players and do be kind in your reactions.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Falcons wrapped their second (and last) joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday afternoon at IBM Performance Field, a session that doubled as the last training-camp style session open to fans and the media.
While some in the media will miss all the access, head coach Arthur Smith wasn’t exactly up upset to close things and get to work planning for the New Orleans Saints and the regular season in private.
It was a solid summer overall, with just a preseason game against Jacksonville and a closed practice remaining before the first 53-man roster is formed.
Smith thought the Falcons got in some good work after 20 practices (and many more walk-throughs) in four-plus weeks, which included joint practice sessions against the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars. We saw some position battles get settled and roster spots earned, with a few more of both unsettled entering Saturday’s preseason game against the Jaguars.
Smith was pleased with the effort and level of competition through what he considered a productive part of this campaign.
“The work was very encouraging. We’ve had a great camp,” Smith said after Thursday’s practice. “We still have a lot of work ahead before Saturday’s game and certainly before facing New Orleans, but we’re pleased. I really enjoy coaching these guys. They love to work. They’re fun to be around.”
Thursday’s practice was an excellent capper to an eventful preseason practice window, so we’ll forgo the typical player lede and get straight to the notes from a quality joint session that featured plenty of good work.
Arthur Smith was candid after practice that just because Jones is back on the practice field does not mean he immediately slots back into a starting spot. No one is going to forget the work that Rashaan Evans and Mykal Walker have put in through camp to earn those spots.
“I’ll give Deion credit, because he’s going to come out here and he’s going to compete,” Smith said. “He’s going to work his way back in. It’s going to be hard to get on the field in that room. And that’s what you want with that competition. Rashaan and Mykal Walker are doing a great job. We gotta see what Troy (Andersen) can do. (Nathan) Landman, Dorian (Etheridge)? They’ve had good preseasons… It’s going to play itself out.”
Position group working to overcome injury setbacks to Vincent Taylor, Marlon Davidson
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The Falcons are working through a taxing stretch, with four joint practice sessions and two preseason games over the course of nine days.
Grady Jarrett couldn’t be more excited about it. He loves the work, the competition and the opportunity it will brings to get better.
“We’re pushing the envelope. We’ll be pushing our bodies to that max, and I love it,” Jarrett said after Monday’s joint-practice with the New York Jets. “You have to embrace it and know it’s going to pay off when the season starts. When you have that high intensity back-to-back-to-back, it forces you to push yourself physically and mentally. I’m excited about it, and I’m accepting the challenge. That’s my job, to push my guys to bring it every single day.”
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The night before the 2001 NFL Draft, the Falcons traded up to obtain the No. 1 overall pick from the San Diego Chargers. In return for the top spot, the Falcons sent their first and third round picks and a second-round pick from the 2002 NFL Draft to San Diego for a young Virginia Tech talent. That talent being Michael Vick, to be exact. The emotions that ran through Vick that night was everything he could’ve dreamed of.
“Right then and there, my heart melted because my mom didn’t have to fly across the country to see me play,” Vick said in an interview with AtlantaFalcons.com. “She could come to more games. Atlanta was eight hours away if she wanted to drive and it was an hour flight. It was just set up perfect, and I felt like it was divine by God. When I got here and put the uniform on, it was the black jersey, black helmet and turf on the field.”
The dog days of this Falcons preseason have come and gone. Now it’s on to the fun stuff.
They’ll travel north on Thursday afternoon to prep for two joint practices and then a game against the host New York Jets. The Falcons will fly back home, take a rest day and follow the same cycle while hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars.
We’re going to learn so freaking much about the Falcons over that vital, competitive stretch.
That will lead to plenty of questions, comments and progress reports on the state of this current roster. So let’s get to some of them in the last Bair Mail before things get really real:
Sure, the 27-23 win was a fun one, and yes, it was exciting. However, what you should actually take from this game is a lot more meaningful to the overall scope of the Falcons organization in 2022.
DETROIT — It was the moment everyone was talking about: Desmond Ridder took a direct snap on fourth and nine in the final two minutes of the Falcons 27-23 preseason win in Detroit. From the 21 yard line, Ridder stepped back into the pocket, scrambled a bit towards the Falcons sideline and then tossed the ball up to Jared Bernhardt in the endzone. In one-on-one coverage, Bernhardt tracked the ball, went back to it and came down with the catch for a touchdown. It’s the play that sealed the win for the Falcons in their first preseason game of the 2022 season.
However, while everyone was talking about Ridder and Bernhardt on that play (as they should), go back and watch it again. Chances are that the first time around you may have missed something important that – I believe – embodies this 2022 Falcons roster.
Upon the snap, Detroit sent their middle linebacker on a blitz. Without hesitation, Tyler Allgeier stepped up to take the charging linebacker head on. He created enough time and space for Ridder to get the ball out.
For an Oregon Ducks fan, there are few things more enjoyable than watching Marcus Mariota getting a chance to play football and prove what he’s capable of.
After his legendary career in Eugene that resulted in a Heisman Trophy, the NFL career has been somewhat frustrating for Mariota. An injury-riddled stint with the Tennessee Titans saw a few high moments, such as his performance in the playoffs, but there were many low moments as well. In the end, Mariota was replaced by Ryan Tannehill, and left to be the back-up to Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tori breaks down her top five things to watch when the Falcons travel to Detroit.
The Falcons first preseason game is upon us, and with it comes a great many questions regarding playing time and player evaluations. The team leaves for Detroit this afternoon, and don’t worry: I’ll be there, too. (Not that I think you’re overtly worried about my presence in Detroit but still).
Here are the top five things I’ll be watching when the Falcons kickoff against the Lions on Friday night.
Asked how many snaps he feels like he needs to feel comfortable, Mariota gave the company line: However much or however little Arthur Smith wants him to play. Does this mean we’ll see Mariota for a half, and Ridder for a half? Perhaps. Will they rotate every quarterback? They could. Regardless, though, I feel confident in saying we will see both quite a bit.
ATL D’BIRD 