By Don Stone - Football
Atlanta
A few notes as another
football season gets under way. Yes, its only a preseason game and not even
HBO's "Hard Knocks" is following the team this year. They're shining the
light in Houston.
But, its still football. I start getting a bit nostalgic as I
realize this is the next to last season for this building. It's still better
than most stadiums around the country, just 20 years since its birth. But
like the players on the field, as you get older, you have to make way for
the hot new guy. And, that new guy happens to be the as yet sponsor tagged
Atlanta Stadium, rising up impressively in the Georgia Dome's southside
shadow.
And, in case fans might forget, a stunning virtual tour of
the new stadium was shown on the matrix board before the game. You were
treated to a literal bird's eye view as if you had flown in from the outside
through an open door and soared over the field and throughout the corridors.
But, I'm here to enjoy the building that has given me and
millions of others such happy times and great memories over the last two
decades. Starting with the 1996 Olympics to two Super Bowls to SEC
Championship Games, Chick-fil-A Bowls and even an NFC Championship Game.
But, today, it's just practice as the Titans come to town. I
watched a smiling Harry Douglas, now
wearing blue, shake Arthur Blank's hand
on the sidelines and wave to fellow teammates as he
joined his new team from Tennessee.
He is obviously not the only change on the Falcons. Too many to
mention starting with Dan Quinn as he
begins his first game as a head coach. He brings a new coaching staff and
new way of doing things. Most seem to think it will be better. A 4-12 season
in 2014 leaves little doubt for that. The Braves hold the crown for most
player turnover but the Falcons have their fair share, as you would expect
with a new system installed. First round draft choice Vic Beasley
came south a couple of hours from Clemson. Several other changes on the
defense include OLB Brooks Reed, OLB
O'Brien Schofield and DE Adrian
Clayborn.
As the defensive coordinator at Seattle, Quinn's defense led the
NFL in scoring defense (15.9), total defense (167.1), and passing yards
(185.6), while ranking third in rushing yards (81.5) helping the Seahawks to
return to the Super Bowl for the second straight season. All things that
gives Atlanta hope that some of that will rub off on his new team.
Maybe the sparse crowd was slow arriving because they had to get here in
a Friday afternoon rush hour for the 7:00pm start. Or, maybe they just
didn't make it.
Julio Jones got things off to a
nice start with a 26 yard catch in the opening drive taking Atlanta to their
41. Matt Ryan hit Leonard Hankerson
for 13 to the Tennessee 42. TE Patrick DeMarco
picked up 12 on a catch to the 30 with Jones
pulling the next play in at the 14. He got the rest on a slick move to
evade a few defenders and put the home team on the board first 7-0 with an
effective ten play 91 yard drive.
It would be all you would see of the A-team. But, they impressed
with Ryan going 6 for 6 giving Quinn all he wanted to see.
Then it was the starting defense's time to impress and they did just that
giving QB Marcus Mariota all he could
handle. Tennessee had some high draft picks of their own, including Mariota
at #2 overall out of Oregon. After a few short gains, he was welcomed to the NFL with a Tyson Jackson sack making it second and 21
from the Titans 35. On the next play, Atlanta threw the welcome mat in his face with
an interception returning it for 21 yards to the nine. That's where the
positives ended as T.J Yates came in
at QB. After a few incompletions, a penalty and a sack moved them back 18
yards, Atlanta had to settle for a 43 yard field goal from always reliable
Matt Bryant.
The Titans began their second drive at their 16. But, Mariota showed his
inexperience again as he dropped the ball. LB Paul Worrilow
scooped it up and ran it back 14 yards to make it 17-0.
But, as more backups entered the game, it was the visitors who took
over. The 17 point deficit would be eliminated and both teams would wind up
tied at 24 in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons stepped up and added another score to put it away
31-24.
It would be the first time a new head coach for the Falcons had won
his first preseason game since June Jones in 1996. And the most points
scored by any Falcons team in a preseason game since 2002.
In the end, what counts is how your first team played against their
first team because that's who will be on the field when it counts. And
Atlanta's starters dominated on both sides of the ball. That's also what you
would expect when you're playing a team that had the second worst record in
the NFL in 2014.
But, when your backups are outscored by that team 24-14, there is
an area of concern with your depth.
Also of concern is who you have to play at running back. A
recurring problem for the Falcons. This time, its not for lack of talent but
lack of healthy hamstrings. Devonta Freeman
and rookie Tevin Coleman
were both sidelined with that injury leaving the ball carrying duties for
this game to Antone Smith
and Terron Ward. Smith joined the
hammy squad as he pulled his on a one yard touchdown dive leaving Ward to
finish the game. As the team progresses, it will be a week to week
prognosis.
All in all, mostly positives to take away from the preseason opener.
The team heads to New Jersey next Friday to continue the preseason against
the Jets.
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