FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A lot has certainly happened since the Atlanta Falcons' first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.
And it has only been a week.
A few key injuries and a pair of notable transactions have given the 90-man roster a new look, and fans will get their next look at the team when the Falcons face the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET at M&T Bank Stadium, and the exhibition action will air live locally on FOX 5.
Amid all the changes, the Falcons editorial staff – Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden, Terrin Waack and Amna Subhan – each picked a player to watch Saturday.
McELHANEY: Anthony Johnson. If you have listened to the Falcons Final Whistle podcast you know how much I have enjoyed watching the play of Johnson recently. He has a physical presence that is so different than some of the other defensive backs the Falcons have at their disposal. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he mimics the look of a safety or small linebacker, but his speed allows him to keep up against the receivers most downs.
Johnson first caught my eye in joint practices. He maintained my attention through the first preseason game and through the last week of practices, with a really nice pass breakup against Drake London Monday. However, I couldn't find a way to keep him on my 53-man roster projection, which pained me. It's why he is my player to watch this Saturday in Baltimore.
The depth at cornerback is standing out. Though Mike Hughes has taken majority of the first-team reps with A.J. Terrell, Clark Phillips III continues to shine, too. Dee Alford has held down the slot corner spot throughout camp. It's the second-wave combination of Kevin King, Antonio Hamilton Sr. and Johnson who are fighting for roster spots. All three bring with them differing degrees of skill and value, and the argument could be made for any combination to make this 53-man roster at the end of the month.
For Johnson, a couple key showings in the preseason could tip the odds in his favor if he plays his cards right.
McFADDEN: I gave serious consideration to receiver Jesse Matthews in this spot, because he had a couple of nice practices heading into the second preseason game and I think there's still a chance to earn a role at the position. However, it's high time we give a little bit of love to the trench warriors on the offensive side of the ball. That's why my pick is Jovaughn Gwyn.
When I watched Atlanta's first preseason game live, I had the impression that Gwyn struggled a fair bit. Upon a second viewing, though, my attitude shifted. He played 45 snaps at center - 63% of the team's offensive total - and looked really steady in pass protection. It wasn't all perfect for Gwyn, though. Two balls hit the turf on the quarterback-center exchange and the run blocking wasn't clean (for anyone, really).
That's what makes him the perfect person for this list. Unless Ryan Neuzil takes the field for his first exhibition action, Gwyn will likely once again play a big role and have the chance to show progress in the areas he needs to. I expect Atlanta's run game to show some improvement from the first game, but a lot of that will start up front and part of the reason I'm keeping a close eye on the offensive line.
Gwyn has interior versatility and has spent time at both guard and center in practice. To land a spot on the 53-man roster, the second-year pro will likely need to beat out guard Kyle Hinton. Hinton didn't have a great performance against the Dolphins, so the door could be slightly more open for Gwyn to make a move.
WAACK: Micah Abernathy. The safety played 41% of the Falcons' defensive snaps against the Miami Dolphins last Friday. It wouldn't be surprising to see him take even more in Baltimore. Better yet, he may even start.
Richie Grant and DeMarcco Hellams started in the first preseason game. Hellams, though, is now out indefinitely with an ankle injury. If given the chance, this is Abernathy's best opportunity to show what he can do in an elevated role.
There were numerous reports Thursday that the Falcons signed Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons, but that shouldn't impact Saturday's lineup.
Besides, what the Falcons are in search of is a dependable backup. Hellams provided that while proving capable of more.
Injuries, however, can happen to anyone. Atlanta learned that lesson first-hand last season when starters Grady Jarrett and Troy Andersen missed significant time.
Depth is important. Depth is what Abernathy can provide. He just needs to prove he's a viable option in that regard. Training camp and exhibition matchups are the perfect time to do so.
Besides, Abernathy may be riding high after his interception off starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in Thursday's practice. Time to pick off foe rather than friend.
SUBHAN: OK. I'm going to kind of cheat with this one, but I'm most excited to watch both Casey Washington and Chris Blair.
Each wide receiver has something to prove in this next preseason game. Neither is a lock to make the 53-man roster, though Washington may have a bit of the upper hand. He did lead the team in both targets and receptions in the first preseason game, after all.
That's what makes me excited to watch Blair. I'm always interested to see how someone performs when their back is against the wall. Blair had a solid first preseason game leading the team in total yards. Most of that came off a deep catch from Micheal Penix Jr. for 41 yards. But this is a competitive field at receiver for a very limited number of reserve spots. Blair needs to continue to stand out.
Meanwhile, conversations I've had about Washington this week make me want to keep an extra eye on the rookie receiver in Baltimore. Falcons wide receiver coach Ike Hilliard had a lot of positive things to say about Washington, but what stuck out most to me is that he plays with "no fear." I've seen that translate on the practice field, now I want to see that during live gameplay.
The rookie connection I've seen develop between Penix and Washington during practice also makes me excited to see more. So, keep your eyes peeled on the receivers this Saturday.
