Falcons offense takes a pass on a final tune-up

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

JACKSONVILLE -- Instead of getting a final tune-up for the regular season, the entire starting offense was given the night off.

They strolled the sidelines in gray warm-up shirts and black shorts, cheering on the reserves.

Instead of Matt Ryan handing off to Michael Turner and throwing passes to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons went with Chris Redman handing off to Jerious Norwood and throwing to Andy Strickland and Michael Palmer.

Falcons coach Mike Smith has repeated his desire to enter the regular season as healthy as possible. He clearly didn't want to risk any injury to most of his starters.

Smith also stated that the coaching staff wanted to take a good, long look at the players fighting for the final roster spots before the team has to trim from 75 players to 53 by Saturday.

However, the first-team offense, which scored one touchdown in 13 preseason possessions, likely could have used some extra work before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 12.

In all, Smith sat 20 of the 22 starters listed on the pregame lineup handed out in the press box. The only first-team players to start were defensive tackle Peria Jerry and defensive end Jamaal Anderson.

Redman starts red hot

Redman completed his first five passes, for 43 yards. His first incompletion was a deep pass that was dropped in the end zone by Troy Bergeron.

Redman completed 15 of 22 passes for 142 yards in the first half. John Parker Wilson took over in the second half.

Weatherspoon starts

Rookie Sean Weatherspoon started at weakside linebacker. He started every exhibition game, two at weakside linebacker and two at strongside linebacker.

Smith said last week that he wasn't ready to declare Weatherspoon, the team's first-round draft pick, a regular-season starter.

Bombs away

The game could have gotten out of hand early if the Jaguars had been able to execute on their deep passes.

Jacksonville had receivers open running behind Falcons defensive backs on three plays in the first half, but they couldn't haul down Luke McCown's passes.

Kassim Osgood was open behind Brian Williams. Tiquan Underwood was open behind Chevis Jackson and later Dominique Franks.

Kicking game

Kicker Matt Bryant, who had missed a kick in each of the previous three exhibition games, made field goals of 31 and 26 yards through three quarters. ... With the Falcons backed up to their 1-yard line with 5:15 left in the second quarter, punter Michael Koenen boomed a 61-yard punt.

Etc.

Cornerback Dunta Robinson, the team's major offseason pickup, likely will make his debut in the season opener. He did not play in any of the exhibition games after injuring his hamstring early in training camp. ... Linebacker Spencer Adkins, who started, left the game with 7:05 remaining in the third quarter with leg cramps. ... In order to "earn" their day off, the players who didn't dress had to complete some fitness sprints on the field with Jeff Fish, the team's director of athletic performance, before the game.