FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The official final score is a mystery, but the Atlanta Falcons did indeed scrimmage Wednesday.
For all but one series, the first-team offense faced the second-team defense and vice versa. This was consistent with most 11-on-11 work in practices this preseason, so not too much of a surprise that those matchups continued. There was still, however, what Falcons head coach Raheem Morris calls "mamba period," where the starters duked it out for a single series to finish off the day's work.
Rather than continuing to set the scene – which was a shocking but welcomed 75 degrees – let's get right into the takeaways.
ROLL CALL
There were four players missing from Wednesday's scrimmage. Safeties DeMarcco Hellams (ankle) and Dane Cruikshank (ankle) continue to be absent for the second consecutive week. Inside linebackers Nate Landman (quad) and Kaden Elliss (groin) were new – and definitely notable – absences.
SCRIMMAGE OBSERVATIONS
— Overall, the offense had a stronger first-half performance. Whatever was said during the makeshift 10-minute halftime, though, flipped the script. The defense had the overall advantage in the second half.
— Per Cousins, the outcome of the scrimmage was determined by a final 2-point conversion between the starting units. That was the sole "mamba period." If Cousins is to be believed, a completion to running back Bijan Robinson gave the offense the victory.
— At least eight penalty flags flew: three on offense, four on defense and one on special teams.
— There were two notable guests in attendance for Wednesday's scrimmage: Falcons team owner Arthur Blank and former NFL quarterback Alex Smith. The latter was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and a three-time Pro Bowler, who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-12, the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013-17 and the Washington Commanders from 2019-20. Smith joined ESPN as an analyst upon retiring from the sport as a player.
OFFENSE
— Cousins completed 16 of his 22 pass attempts with one touchdown and one interception. That count broke up into 12 of 13 in the first half and 4 of 9 in the second half. The first-half score went to tight end Kyle Pitts, and it was about a 45-yard completion. The second-half pick was by safety Lukas Denis, intended for tight end Charlie Woerner.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., meanwhile, completed 21 of his 28 pass attempts. That count broke up into 14 of 16 in the first half and 7 of 12 in the second half. He was not responsible for a touchdown or an interception.
— To break down the running backs: With the first team, Robinson had 15 carries and a touchdown, while Tyler Allgeier had seven carries. With the second team, Carlos Washington Jr. (five), Jase McClellan (four), Spencer Brown (three) and Avery Williams (two) combined for 14 carries total.
Robinson and Allgeier each had two completions, too. Then, Washington and McClellan had three apiece.
— Chris Blair was the most productive wide receiver of both groups, catching six passes from Penix. Darnell Mooney had the second-most receptions with five from Cousins. Drake London and Casey Washington each had four catches.
— Coordinator Zac Robinson did not stand along the sideline with the rest of the players and most of the coaches. Robinson was more so in the corner of an end zone. Perhaps this means Robinson will be calling plays from the booth during regular season games, which has been the case in both of Atlanta's preseason matchups. Robinson's relative isolation could have been a continued test of communication from a distance.
DEFENSE
— With Elliss and Landman out with injury, JD Bertrand became Troy Andersen's running mate as the first-team inside linebackers. Bertrand was the Falcons' fifth-round draft pick in April. He had primarily been working with the second-team defense in training camp but was recently promoted out of necessity. This is a common situation during an NFL season, so Wednesday provided a nice trial run for the next-man-up mentality.
Bertrand didn't have any standout moments, but he didn't have any glaring mishaps, either. Andersen, though, forced a fumble against wide receiver Casey Washington after he caught a pass from Penix. Washington managed to recover it, though.
In addition to Bertrand and Andersen, the rest of the starting unit included outside linebackers Matthew Judon and Lorenzo Carter, defensive linemen David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett, safeties Jessie Bates III and Richie Grant and then cornerbacks A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes and Dee Alford.
— The front lines did very well putting pressure on the quarterbacks. Outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie had three sacks on Cousins. Defensive lineman Eddie Goldman had one on Penix.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett definitely would have had one himself on Penix if hitting the quarterback was allowed. He came charging – full steam – and pulled back at the last second. A whistle wasn't blown before the incomplete pass, hence why the sack wasn't given to Jarrett, but he was lit after the play nonetheless. Jarrett looks like he is in peak form once again.
Also, defensive lineman Kentavius Street may not have been credited with a sack, but he was in the backfield a noteworthy amount, too.
— As already mentioned, Denis intercepted Cousins' pass meant for Woerner. That pick was possible because the defense was able to squeeze the pocket around Cousins, pressuring his throw. It went up the middle late, where Denis was able to snag it.
Cornerbacks Clark Phillips III and Antonio Hamilton Sr. each had very nice pass breakups. Phillips' came against London. It was deep along the left sideline, close to the end zone and looked like two NBA players fighting for a rebound. That's not a battle London typically loses, but Phillips made a better play. Hamilton's was against Mooney and also occurred on a long ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
— Kicker Younghoe Koo made all five of his field-goal attempts. It was very difficult to see where Koo was kicking from due to the media's vantage point near the opposite end zone. But it was estimated they were all at least 45 yards out, with maybe a 51-yarder as the longest.
This perfect performance comes after Koo missed three of his five field-goal attempts last Saturday in the Falcons' preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
— The new kickoff rule made its appearance six times. Coordinator Marquise Williams used each opportunity to test different sets of returners. Here are the pairs in order of their reps — the first player listed is the one who ultimately caught the ball: Ray-Ray McCloud III and Avery Williams, Mike Hughes and Dee Alford, Hughes and Carlos Washington Jr., Williams and McCloud, Hughes and Alford and then Williams and McCloud.
— Avery Williams is definitely back, returning multiples punts in the scrimmage. There was, however, a hold-your-breath moment in the second half. Williams signaled for the fair catch, but Hamilton and Kevin King were tussling in the coverage portion of the play and seemingly didn't notice. The two players ran into Williams just as he fielded the ball. They hit Williams pretty hard, too, and all three players went to the ground. Williams looked OK afterward, though, and continued to participate.
UPCOMING
The Falcons host the Jacksonville Jaguars for their third and final preseason game Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Action will air live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium locally on FOX 5. The game will also be televised nationally on NFL Network.
Then, on Tuesday, the Falcons' front office has big decisions to make. The 90-man roster must be cut down to 53 men by 4 p.m. ET.
