FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The last play we saw from Kirk Cousins and the Falcons' first-team offense during Wednesday's practice session resulted in a moment of exultation that was as unexpected as it was completely fitting.
On a day largely defined by the connection between Cousins and Drake London, it was Charlie Woerner who took the final bow.
During the team's "mamba" period, in which the starters face the starters and the reserves play the reserves, Cousins found himself in a situation he'll likely face when the season begins.
"It was fourth down, so ball (has) got to go somewhere," Cousins said of his final play of the all-team period. "They drop both defensive ends. I've got (Darnell) Mooney on my left, he was kind of doubled. I was trying to get to Bijan (Robinson) on my right, he's doubled. So, I'm like 'Oh boy.'"
Cousins has not lacked for skill-position talent throughout his 12-year career, but what's helped him last for over a decade in the league is a high degree of composure when that talent is taken away. In other words, when plays break down, Cousins steps up.
"So, now (the play) is off schedule, right? But I think they may have only rushed three – I'm not sure, I've got to go back and watch the tape – so you've got time," Cousins said. "The O-line held up. And then it's a question of, 'OK, do I run around, or do I try to find somebody from the pocket?'"
While Cousins has not resisted escaping the pocket when the situation calls for it in camp, that wasn't how this final play unfolded. He stuck behind his sturdy offensive line and continued to scan the field. What he saw as his eyes shifted further to the right was a matchup few would seek out.
"I saw Charlie one-on-one. And I thought, 'It's fourth down, put it up,'" the veteran quarterback said. "As the ball is in the air, I thought, 'Charlie Woerner and Jessie Bates, odds aren't in our favor.'
"And then, next thing you know, it's a touchdown."
The pass was a perfectly placed jump ball to the front right pylon of the end zone. It was a true contested catch that Bates played about as well as he could have, but Woerner played it better. In an effort that would make Randy Moss proud, the reserve tight end snagged the ball just over the Pro Bowl safety and scored the touchdown.
Atlanta's offense erupted.
It was a fitting end to a highly competitive practice that saw the offense hit numerous big plays.
I'll get into the specific observations shortly, but the big takeaway from Wednesday was just how wide-open the offense felt. This was an air-it-out showing from Cousins and the offense. London was at the forefront, having his best day of camp in my opinion, and it felt like he was cementing himself as the true go-to option.
But what makes Atlanta's offense so exciting at the moment is the sense that we're only one practice away from another player stealing the spotlight.
Notes and observations
- The day started with a healthy dose of special teams competition, specifically the block-and-pursuit elements of punts and kickoffs. This is always a fun part of practice to watch, and it ended in high-stakes fashion. The final showdown between tight end John FitzPatrick and defensive end Bradlee Anae would result in push-ups for the losing unit. FitzPatrick breezed past Anae, and the offense was spared the extra physical work.
- As mentioned above, London's day was exceptional. He lined up all over the formation, caught contested passes and separated smoothly. He looked like the best player on the field. By Terrin Waack's count, he caught six of his seven targets, with four being deep shots down the right side.
- A few of the receivers further down the depth chart who impressed on Wednesday were Chris Blair and Jesse Matthews. Blair stood out with his 41-yard reception in the first preseason game, and he continues to build a rapport with Michael Penix Jr. this week. The quarterback Matthews clicked with the most Wednesday was Taylor Heinicke, though, during the final period. The two connected on three straight plays, the final two featuring full extensions by Matthews.
- Newly acquired wide receiver Jakeem Grant left practice midway through and did not return.
- There were quite a few rollouts and bootlegs in practice, and it was interesting to watch Cousins frequently move to his right and Penix move to his left because of their respective handedness as quarterbacks. Both looked comfortable moving around back there, and Cousins said afterwards that it's an important part of his process to get back.
- It's always difficult to evaluate the running backs in training camp practices. But I thought it was a particularly strong day for Tyler Allgeier. He looked decisive between the tackles and confident as a receiver. Allgeier got a lot of work Wednesday, and he seems ready to go.
- Kevin King had a very nice pass breakup where he cut underneath London's out route and nearly intercepted Cousins' pass.
- Dee Alford and Richie Grant were two other members of the secondary who looked fast and aggressive during the session. There's a level of confidence emerging with the starting defensive backfield.
- Along the defensive line, I thought Arnold Ebiketie and Kentavius Street flashed. On the first play of one of the full-team periods, the two managed to flush Cousins out of the pocket on a tandem rush. Both players have had a strong couple of weeks.
- I wonder if the total numbers bear this out, but, at least to my eye, it seemed like Spencer Brown got a bit more run than Carlos Washington Wednesday. He was in there fairly frequently along with Jase McClellan. It could be that Washington, who has been used a lot in camp, was getting a lighter load today, but this is something to monitor.
