We’re wrapping preseason on Friday night, blessedly, which means most of our battles for starting jobs and key reserve roles should be settled. Right?
Well, no. While kicker is all but declared, QB3 is done, and inside linebacker is extremely set, we’re either looking at heavy rotations or undeclared battles on this list in many other spots. That speaks to healthy competition and Raheem Morris’s desire to keep things close to the vest, but it does mean the third preseason game may have outsized importance
for a handful of positions. Or Morris could tip his hand by sitting, say, Xavier Watts, which would give us a clue.
Either way, here’s a final look at the list of battles before a final preseason game and roster cuts tell the rest of the story.
Safety: A close battle winds down
Injury may well decide this one. DeMarcco Hellams didn’t appear in Week 2 and was in a yellow no-contact pinnie at Monday’s practice, so it’s possible he does not get into the third preseason game at all.
Hellams looked terrific in his one effort, so I’m not willing to rule him out for this just yet. But in a very close battle where Jordan Fuller and Xavier Watts have had their moments, I’ve got to give the edge to the rookie the Falcons have been enamored with since well before they drafted him.
Is that based on anything in particular? Watts got first team reps at safety on Monday at practice and a longer look than Jordan Fuller on Friday night, but that doesn’t tell us much. Fuller has probably been a little steadier overall in preseason action, but Watts is the future at the position and has held his own, and I have to think that’s enough to get him this job. I would not bet a large sum of money on any one man here, though, and as I said last week that’s a good problem for this Falcons defense to have.
Expected winner: Xavier Watts
Nickel cornerback: A two man battle
Everything is pointing toward Alford being the starter at the moment, despite Billy Bowman getting some first team reps at Monday’s practice and a smattering of other times during the summer. He’s had a fine summer, he’s been the starting nickel each of these last two weeks in preseason, and Friday night was a strong effort on limited snaps.
This is Bowman’s job down the line—perhaps even before the season is over, given his playmaking ability—but Alford was keen to make his case that last year’s struggles were more about the defense he was playing in than Alford himself. Aside from a bad end zone coverage rep in the first preseason game, he’s largely showed that, and now has to carry that over to the regular season.
Expected winner: Dee Alford
Kicker: It’s Younghoe Koe’s job, still
Koo kicked Friday night and made everything, even if a couple of those kicks listed a little dangerously to the side. His consistency in practice and preseason alike have given the coaching staff confidence that a player who was recently one of the league’s more reliable kickers is back to his old level. If he’s fully healthy, every indication we have is that he’s got the job, something Raheem Morris all but came out and said the other day.
If Koo is over his battle with accuracy and his injury, this is done and dusted, and the Falcons should be much better for it. But that still leaves the question of Krieg.
Interestingly, Krieg has been handling kickoffs throughout preseason, and minus one short of the landing zone penalty, has been excellent in that regard. I don’t know how much of him we’ll see in the third preseason game, but I do feel pretty confident he’ll be handling those duties again. On balance, Krieg has looked good enough that there’s a non-zero chance he’ll be lost to waivers if and when the Falcons cut him, given that a handful of teams around the league do not have set kicker situations.
The Falcons will have to deal with that risk, because they’re invested in a bounceback campaign from Koo, which seems reasonable given that last year was the massive outlier in his career. If all goes well, they’ll have Koo (who is under contract these next two seasons) and Krieg on the practice squad honing his craft.
Expected winner: Younghoe Koo
Insider linebacker: Divine Deablo’s show
There’s no serious momentum from anyone to knock Deablo out of this job. An expected battle with Troy Andersen did not materialize because Andersen is hurt, and the backups have not exactly blown us away with their ability. With the depth questions, Andersen’s injury, and Jalon Walker being brought along slowly ahead of Week 1, Deablo is going to be expected to play nearly every down in Week 1. Hopefully he excels.
Expected winner: Divine Deablo
Outside linebacker: A true rotation, still
Nothing has really changed here. Leonard Floyd’s lack of preseason snaps tells you he’s counted on as a starter, while Arnold Ebiketie has played sparingly and looked good doing so. James Pearce is soaking up a ton of snaps and Bralen Trice is back out there, and both will figure into this rotation on the back end. Jalon Walker is the wild card, and his Week 1 role likely depends on his health.
I fully expect Ebiketie and Floyd to be the first guys out on the field in Week 1, with Pearce playing primarily third downs and in obvious passing situations, while Trice mirrors him and plays more on early downs. Walker’s role is still an unknown because we haven’t seen enough of him this preseason, but I’d expect him to get plenty of time along as he’s healthy.
The last spot in this group could go to Khalid Kareem, who has done nothing but play well in his chances, or it could go to DeAngelo Malone, who has been cross-training at inside linebacker and is valued by this coaching staff for his special teams acumen. I’d bet on Malone with Kareem hitting the practice squad at this point, especially with Kareem dealing with an injury.
Expected winner: N/A
Defensive line rotation: Ditto
You have a ton of guys to play here. Ruke Orhorhoro, David Onyemata, Zach Harrison, Brandon Dorlus, and Morgan Fox are guaranteed roles, and nobody’s going to be a full-time player. Harrison and Orhorhoro will likely be as close as it gets, given that Harrison is versatile and Ruke is such a potentially fearsome run defender.
The intrigue that remains is about the reserves, with Ta’Quon Graham, LaCale London, Kentavius Street, Simeon Barrow, and new addition Ronnie Perkins competing for a couple of spots. If he’s healthy, I like Graham as a consistent run defender and Street as a veteran the Falcons trust, but Barrow looked really good in his limited snaps and London came on against the Titans. If you wanted to bet on all four of these guys (not so much Perkins, who doesn’t have much time to prove himself) sticking around between the practice squad and roster, I wouldn’t blame you.
Expected winner: Orhorhoro and Onyemata will start, but everyone will play
Punt returner/kick returner: Jamal Agnew, if healthy
Raheem Morris referenced a setback for Agnew the other day, but he was out there practicing on Monday. Health is the major concern with Agnew and his ability to handle punt returner duties, so any lingering ailment would open the door to other options. For now, we’re penciling him as the guy for Week 1.
Expected winners: Jamal Agnew and Ray-Ray McCloud
Third quarterback: Easton Stick
Emory Jones did enough to get a little more run, and I expected he’d play more snaps in the third preseason game. After suffering a concussion Friday night against the Titans and then being waived with an injury designation, though, he’s out of the competition entirely.
Instead, the winner is very obviously Stick, the favorite all along. While he threw an absolutely gruesome pick six and had a handful of shaky balls on Friday night, he’s played pretty well on balance this summer and has the starting experience the Falcons will covet if they have to turn to him. I’m not sure if he’ll be on the roster or the practice squad, but Stick is QB3.
Expected winner: Easton Stick
Other battles to monitor and expected winners
RB3: Undecided
Carlos Washington’s experience, familiarity with the offense, special teams value, and blocking all work in his favor, but he won’t play in preseason at all. That opens the door for Nate Carter, who has been the team’s best preseason runner, or Jashaun Corbin, who the team is taking a long look at for his special teams work. I’d still bet on Washington with Carter or Corbin landing on the practice squad, but like safety, it’s a weak sort of bet.
WR6: Casey Washington
Nominally the sixth wide receiver the Falcons are keeping, Washington is actually going to be WR2 with Darnell Mooney seemingly set to miss a little time at the beginning of the season. He’s looked sure-handed and capable as advertised this summer, and has a chance to make a major case for himself as the long-term WR4 or more.
TE3: Feleipe Franks
Last time I typed this out, I had Teagan Quitoriano in here based on a strong summer and Adnan Ikic’s equally strong feelings that he’s the guy, and he made a huge play on special teams on Friday night that will help his chances. I just can’t shake the feeling that Franks, who Raheem Morris called nasty the other day and who has been showing well as a blocking option and special teamer, is going to be the choice for the Falcons when the dust settles. Quitoriano has made a strong case, though, and could well land on the practice squad if he doesn’t beat out Franks.
I’d still like Josh Simon to make it as a developmental pass catching option, but that’s a practice squad dream at best.
Center 2: Jovaughn Gwyn
Gwyn has run as Ryan Neuzil’s top backup all along, was among the better reserve linemen on Friday night (I know that’s not saying a ton), and is clearly someone Dwayne Ledford likes after the team has kept him around this long. I fully expect him to win the job.
