When Could Holmes Take Over?
May 12, 2012; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Lamar Holmes (76) watches from the sidelines during Falcons rookie camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Practices are very fun to watch and coaches can tell a lot from them. But it’s hard to get a real good understanding of how the players perform in a game without, say, a game.
The preseason game is more than four weeks of winging-you-on football that doesn’t count. It’s more than just a chance for fans to see the future of the team play. It’s a chance for those second string guys to get a starting job. It’s a chance for those third and fourth string guys to keep their job. It’s not easy for them which makes the competition in these games incredible.
Mike Johnson has done nothing to lose his job. He’s looking great as the starting right tackle. But without going full speed, it’s hard to see how he can really perform. In the past he had some problems in pass protection, which is kind of important in a pass happy offense, but hasn’t shown to be too shabby in practice. Lamar Holmes on the other hand, is an athletic freak and is predicted to be the starting right tackle. He has to win the job though and unless Mike Johnson is doing absolutely terrible, which he isn’t, Holmes is going to have to win the job in the preseason.
That’s what makes the preseason so much fun to watch. The fact that a loss doesn’t matter also takes some of the stress off.
The first Preseason game is against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 8th, so we’ll get to see a lot of stories in that game.
What position battles are you looking forward to?