AtlantaFalcons.com managing editor Jay Adams dishes up the five biggest takeaways from Thursday night's game so you can sound like an expert at work Friday morning:
William Moore hits hard. Very hard. Moore, who struggled to return from a groin injury during training camp, has hit his full stride in the final two preseason games, and he has announced his presence with a huge thud. Moore is really showing that he can be a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and it's possible that he could nip at the heels of Erik Coleman during the regular season.
Matt Bryant looks like he's become reliable again. After struggling last week by missing an extra point on the dirt of Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Bryant came in Thursday and kicked three field goals for the Falcons, accounting for all of the team's 9 points. All three of his field goals were inside of 35 yards. The veteran kicker finished the preseason converting 5-of-7 field goals and 3-of-4 extra points.
Troy Bergeron made a case for a roster spot Thursday night. The wide receiver had a huge door open when Kerry Meier was lost for the season during, and Bergeron has made the most of the opportunity. He caught several clutch passes Thursday night and showed that he could be a reliable option as the Falcons search for a replacement for Meier. The former Georgia Force star did, however, drop a sure touchdown pass from Chris Redman in the first quarter. Bergeron beat his man on a hitch-and-go, but he couldn't pull in the very well-thrown pass from Redman as he crossed the goal line.
Speaking of Redman, the Falcons' steady backup turned in a great performance starting in place of Matt Ryan. There were rumblings that John Parker Wilson could unseat Redman during the preseason as Ryan's primary backup, but Redman showed Thursday night why he has been Atlanta's go-to reserve since the club drafted Ryan three years ago. Redman finished the night 15-of-22 for 142 yards and an 85.8 passer rating.
The Falcons sat out a whole slew of players from Thursday night's game. A total of 25 players, mostly starters, did not play against the Jaguars. Some of the notable names include Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner, Roddy White, John Abraham and Dunta Robinson. Robinson was slated to play, but head coach Mike Smith decided prior to game time that his offseason free agent acquisition would not risk injury prior to next week's season opener at Pittsburgh.
