Game Notes from Preseason Week 2

In the Falcons second preseason game the first team offense came out swinging on their first drive of the game and the face-lifted defense had its moments, but also struggling at times throughout the night.

First Team D: On the opening drive of the game, the defense booted the Browns off the field after just 3 plays - the highlight was Desmond Truant blowing up a block and an intended screen pass for Tyrel Pryor.

On the second drive, the defense relinquished a couple first down plays. Cleveland also changed the tempo on the Falcons, catching them off guard for a 50-yard touchdown connection from Griffin to Pryor. The play was uncharacteristic for Desmond Trufant, as he was burned up the sideline by the former Buckeye quarterback.

The defense looked more comfortable and ready for the Browns on the third drive, even pressuring the quarterback well - forcing the Browns into a holding penalty and cornering them into a 3rd & 15 that Cleveland couldn't convert. The defensive line controlled the drive and put pressure on the offense.

The fourth drive got off to a bad start as RG3 took a zone read for 22-yards on the first play from scrimmage, but the Falcons defense settled in and rookie LBs De'Vondre Campbell & Deion Jones forced an incomplete pass on a 3rd down. Unexpectedly in a preseason game the Browns went for the first on 4th & 2, and got it. Cleveland followed up the fourth down conversion with a deep pass touchdown pass to TE Gary Barnidge over first round pick Keanu Neal's head. Neal covered Barnidge tight, but misjudged the height of the pass and turned around too soon, missing the play on the ball.

First Team O:

An absolutely beautiful first drive - 9 plays, 71 yards. No negative plays and the Falcons established the run very efficiently, controlling the line of scrimmage. Matt Ryan started the night much better than his first preseason game, going 3 for 4 with 35 yards. Devonta Freeman capped the drive off with a 19-yard touchdown run.

The second drive stalled after only one first down. Mohammed Sanu didn't catch what should have been a first down over the middle - at this point in the game he only pulled in 2 of his 4 targets for a catch.

Speaking of Sanu, he made a huge 3rd down catch, turning the slant route up the field for an explosive 32 yard catch and run. Devonta Freeman followed up Sanu's play with a 14-yard run and then Coleman took two carries that ran the clock out on the 1st quarter. On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Nick Williams dropped a very routine catch over the middle and then undrafted rookie kicker Justin Rose horribly hooked a 48-yard field goal attempt. After this drive, Matt Schaub and other backup skill players took the reigns.

Other Notes on the Starters:

After the second drive stalled to a punt, starter Matt Bosher was knocked out of the game on an illegal hit that incorrectly didn't draw a flag. The play was a cheap shot on our only punter, and it sent Bosher back to the locker room to go through the concussion protocol. Bosher is one of the league's best punters, but also serves as the kickoff kicker, so the Falcons need to hope Bosher is not sidelined for long.

Tevin Coleman doesn't seem to be a much improved player from last year - he only had 5 carries for 18 yards, and the 3.2 avg yards per carry is subpar - his vision doesn't seem to have changed from last year. Let's hope in the next games his production increases.

Notes on the Backups:

On Schaub's second drive he went 7-8, looking comfortable in Shanahan's zone offense that produced some of his most successful years with the Houston Texans. On the same drive, Aldrick Robinson followed up last week's performance with a nice catch and Nick Williams made a pair of catches to make up for some of his earlier drops. It looked like the drive would end with a touchdown, but RB Gus Johnson's rush to the end zone was called back for a holding call and the Falcons settled for a field goal.

Receiver and Running Back should be much deeper positions for the Falcons this year. Twelve different receivers caught a ball for the Falcons last night, which is spreading the wealth at it's finest. As for the running backs - Cyrus Gray, Gus Johnson and Brandon Wilds ran the ball with purpose. Gray shook the defense on a team high 18 carries for 76 yards, Wilds took 8 carries for 49 yards and Johnson rumbled 5 carries for 42 yards. The team rushed for 224 yards total, and the battle for the last couple spots on the roster became a much harder decision to make.