Atlanta Falcons: 5 Surprises from the First Preseason Game
5 Surprises from the First Preseason Game for the Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons’ preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals this past Thursday night may have been the most anticipated Falcons preseason game in history, and not many fans were really counting on being on the losing side of the draw. Was the loss disappointing? Absolutely. Was the loss a determining factor for the remainder of the preseason and into the regular season?
Absolutely not.
There were surprises to be had, of course. Some were jaw dropping, but most were more of the ‘say what?’ variety. How the consequences of these surprises affect the future roster remains to be seen, yet are of the utmost importance. Wins would be certainly be nice in the preseason, but it’s more essential that when roster cuts are made, the best players are in the best—and prime—positions to move forward in the regular season.
Either way, football is back. Though it’s just preseason for this month, Falcons’ players and fans alike are ready for another winning regular season and playoff season, this time taking it just a few steps—and yards—further. The motivation is there for the team as a whole. The anticipation is rising for the fans and foes alike. The Super Bowl awaits, and this could well be the year the Falcons make those extra few yards and get there.
Only time will tell, and it’ll be a wild ride for all who have chosen to invest their time, money, maybe even their angst, with the Falcons. Without further ado, here are five of the surprises that the first preseason game delivered.
5. Desmond Trufant
The surprise factor with Desmond Trufant turned out to be a double-edged sword. The first edge was his limited playing time. It’s possible that his playing time was cut short because of how he was doing on the field, which in a nutshell, wasn’t well (and the second edge of the sword). Taking rookie status into consideration, I’m ready to see him take the field again against the Ravens. The more experience he gets, the better off they’ll all be.
4. Robert Alford
The fact that Robert Alford performed above and beyond expectations isn’t a surprise, but his performance trumping that of Trufant’s is. The battle between these two will continue, and it will be something to see. At this point, I won’t predict an outcome, but the journey that these two take on their quests will be a battle to watch.
3. Brian Banks
The surprise here wasn’t Brian Banks’ abilities or style of play; it was how little time he was actually on the field. That may or may not have been because of Paul Worrilow’s dominance, but I look forward to seeing more of Banks on the field and what he brings to the team. And yes, I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t make the roster.
2. Dominique Davis
Honestly, I expected more from Dominique Davis…and I’m not the only one. Seeing as the Falcons chose not to get a veteran quarterback as Matt Ryan’s backup, Davis must shoulder quite a bit of responsibility, and those responsibilities make those backup shoes all the more daunting for Davis. Again, it was one game in preseason. Davis still has time to pull it together and remind everyone why a veteran quarterback may not be needed this season.
1. Paul Worrilow
Paul Worrilow, breakout linebacker? Who saw this one coming? I certainly didn’t, and that element of surprise was a jaw-dropper in a good way. Eleven tackles with few rookie mistakes quickly made Worrilow a fan favorite. That performance makes it easy to forget it’s just the preseason, and quite a few have made that leap onto Worrilow’s bandwagon. Hopefully his hits keep on coming.
Leigh Allen is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter, on Facebook, and on Google.
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