Atlanta Falcons will be the Belles of the Preseason Cotillion
The Atlanta Falcons’ rendezvous with the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
For most, if not all NFL franchises – the Atlanta Falcons included – the third game of the NFL preseason is a dress rehearsal ahead of the real thing. A sort of debutante ball, if you will. In that vein, the Falcons’ rendezvous with the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the former’s coming-out party.
As such, the team’s starters will have a chance to make a grand entrance. Perhaps not while they twirl in a backless dress, but still pretty grand. Quarterback Matt Ryan has only played one series in each of the two preceding games, the starting defense has left the field halfway through the first quarter more often than not, and wide receiver Julio Jones has not played at all.
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That has been the modus operandi since head coach Dan Quinn took the reins in Atlanta. For example, the defensive starters played much of the first half and into the third quarter in 2015, while certain offensive players remained on the gridiron longer than others. Matty Ice played four series but the offensive line played nearly the entire first half.
By way of contrast, the starting offense and defense played six series and left the game after their first possessions in the third quarter. There is no template or blueprint, though.
"“You can’t put a big blanket on the whole thing, because there’s a lot of guys on the team that are in different stages of their development,” Coach Quinn said according to Will McFadden of their official website. “A first-year player is still trying to figure out where’s the bus going to the game, and the veteran player is trying to really be sharp in their approach.”"
Therefore, “Our approach will be more on an individual basis,” said Quinn. And speaking of individuals who have turned heads during the preseason, safety Kemal ‘Call Me’ Ishmael and linebackerJosh Keyes lead the Falcons in tackles with four each, and defensive back Quincy Mauger had one of the team’s two pass interceptions against the Steelers on Sunday.
Meanwhile undrafted rookie wide receiver Reggie Davis caught three passes for the second straight week. Generally speaking, the offense has scored on its first possession in both games, and the defense started each game by forcing a three-and-out.
The Falcons are 0-2 in the preseason, which makes fans wonder whether they are ready to come out, or whether they should be out back in because they’re not done yet. However, as general sports columnist and blogger Jeff Schultz points out, “there’s no correlation between preseason and regular season results” in the history of the Falcons .
Next: Dan Quinn talks Week 3 playing time
A history that will turn a new chapter when the Falcons play their first NFL game in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium – which Forbes calls “the best ever.” It has an “Ancient Greece-inspired retractable roof” (who knew the Greeks had convertible stadiums?), a halo board “circular video screen that wraps 360 degrees around the stadium,” and a Chick-fil-A concession stand that won’t open on Sundays, which is probably the best part of it all. Of the Falcons were the O’Haras, the Mercedes Benz Stadium would be Tara.