Falcons coach Mike Smith was more protective of his starters than usual in the exhibition-finale loss — 20-16 against Jacksonville on Thursday at the Georgia Dome.
Last season, he played the defensive starters for a couple of series and the starting line in the exhibition finale. Smith said he planned to follow the same pattern, but obviously changed his mind.
Perhaps playing his starters in a meaningless Game 16 last season and having John Abraham suffer an ankle injury last season was on his mind.
Of the Falcons’ projected 22 starters, 19 of them did not play. Only right tackle Lamar Holmes, fullback Bradie Ewing and rookie right cornerback Desmond Trufant started.
“We wanted to rest as many starters as we felt we needed to,” Smith said. “We had some guys we felt we needed to. We had some guys that we specifically wanted to get work.
“Our mindset this year, more than anything, was to try to get to game number one as healthy as possible and we’ve done a pretty good job of doing that.”
Dominique Davis started for Matt Ryan at quarterback. Running backs Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling split Steven Jackson’s duties at running back.
“Every game you want to win,” Davis said. “Every game is never, not important. Every game is important and I try and win everything.”
On defense, there was a surprise starter in safety Zeke Motta. He was in the lineup next to Shann Schillinger as Pro Bowlers Thomas DeCoud and Willliam Moore chillaxed — chilled out and relaxed — on the sidelines. Motta got the start over Charles Mitchell, who was a fifth-round pick in 2011 and showed some promise last season in a reserve role.
On the third play of the game, rookie cornerback Robert Alford undercut a route by Jacksonville receiver Ace Sanders and intercepted Chad Henne’s pass.
Davis started the Falcons’ opening drive on Jacksonville’s 38-yard line, but a holding penalty on Phillipkeith Manley helped stall the drive. Kicker Jeremy Shelley came on and missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt wide left.
After an exchange of punts, Jacksonville went on the attack behind backup quarterback Chad Henne. Running back Jordan Todman scored on an 18-yard run through the heart of the defense. Motta and Schillinger both appeared to miss tackle chances.
Jacksonville kicker Josh Scobee added the extra point to make the score 7-0. Henne moved the Jaguars 60 yards in six plays that took 2:09 off the clock.
The Falcons were forced to punt again. Jacksonville stayed on the move behind Matt Scott, their third quarterback to see action. Scott connected with tight end Brett Brackett, who slipped behind linebacker Robert James for a 24-yard gain. Trufant, who was on a blitz, was called for roughing the passer.
With the gain and the penalty, the Jaguars had first-and-10 at the Falcons’ 25, but the Falcons’ reserves stiffened.
Dominique Franks nearly intercepted a pass by Denard Robinson, who was in at quarterback for a play. They stopped Robinson, who shifted back to running back, on a run, and then Motta made a stop on third down. Scobee came on and made a 29-yard field to put the Jaguars up 10-0.
Behind the play of running backs Ewing, Snelling and Rodgers, the offense finally started to move the ball.
Ewing picked up a third-and-1 to keep the drive alive. Rodgers had runs of 6 and 15 yards. Snelling caught a pass for 7 yards, and wide receiver Kevin Cone caught a pass for 13 yards as the Falcons drove to Jacksonville’s 37.
But the drive was slowed by an unsportsmanlike penalty on center Joe Hawley, and Davis was sacked as the Falcons stalled again and were forced to punt.
After defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi returned a fumble 9 yards for a touchdown and Shelley added a 42-yard field goal, the Falcons trailed 10-9 at halftime.
“It felt great,” Massaquoi said.
In the third quarter, Scobee added a 32-yard field goal to make the score 13-9, before Falcons backup running back Josh Vaughan broke loose for 65-yard touchdown run. Shelley’s extra point put the Falcons up 16-13.
“Josh Vaughan had a great run,” Smith said. “It was blocked extremely well and I thought Josh showed some speed there to run away from their defense. Josh is a very hard worker for us. It was great to see him have that individual success tonight.”
Later, backup quarterback Sean Renfree left the game after apparently injuring the shoulder.
Jacksonville regained the lead, 20-16, when Mike Kafka, quarterback No. 4, tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ebert in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons must cut down from 75 players to 53 by 9 p.m. Saturday night.
“The evaluation process is not going to be determined by one game,” Smith said. “It’s going to be determined by the whole body of work and that body of work started back in April.”
The Falcons, the defending NFC South champs, are set to open the season on the road against the rival New Orleans Saints on Sept. 8.
About the Author
