Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets: Full Game Preview
Aug 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) breaks up a pass over Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter (15) during the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Who to watch
The young players remain a priority in this game, and Dan Quinn will be keen to see which rookies will be ready to play in Week 1, and which players aren’t there yet. There are four players in particular to watch in this one.
Jalen Collins
It can take a while for rookie cornerbacks to adjust in the NFL, and this has been the case so far with Jalen Collins, the Falcons’ second round pick out of LSU. Collins was outplayed by Robert Alford in camp and struggled in the preseason opener against Tennessee.
With Desmond Trufant out due to injury, we could see Collins tested against the likes of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker on Friday. A good performance here could go along way.
Justin Hardy
Justin Hardy made one error against the Titans last week, tipping what looked like a simple catch into the hands of Coty Sensabaugh. Other than this, he put in a good performance, catching three passes for 41 yards. How will he perform against a strong defense this week?
Hardy impressed with his crisp route running, and looks like he could be a dangerous threat in the slot this season. This is another audition for him, and a chance to gain some more experience.
T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree
T.J. Yates is currently listed as the backup quarterback to Matt Ryan, although he will need to play a lot better than he did a week ago if he wants it to stay that way. Yates went 9 of 15 for 105 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Renfree looked more comfortable, completing 6 of 7 passes for 68 yards.
Renfree may come into the game earlier against the second-string Jets defense, so this will be a tougher test for him. A similar result to last week could tilt the battle in his favor.
Next: Falcons at Jets: What to expect