The Falcons and the Houston Texans, the two disappointing teams of the 2013 season, get to measure their rebound efforts when they play at 8 p.m. Saturday at NRG Stadium.
The Falcons and Texans were considered Super Bowl contenders entering last season. The Falcons dipped to 4-12, while the Texans won their first two games before losing 14 consecutive.
The starters, perhaps even wide receiver Julio Jones, are expected to play between 20-25 snaps.
Here are five things to watch against the Texans:
1. The return of Jones? Falcons coach Mike Smith gave his stock "we have a plan" answer when asked if Jones was set to make his return from his broken foot.
“We have a plan, and we all know what it is and that’s to make sure that we have our players healthy and ready to go,” Smith said. “We’re not going to deviate from that. And I don’t want to give anybody any information that’s going to help (opponents) get prepared.”
Smith appears to be a little uptight for the second exhibition game.
However, Jones told a medical reporter from ESPN.com that he plans to play against the Texans. He is returning from a broken fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot that he suffered in the fifth game of last season against the New York Jets in October.
2. First-team defense: The starters played 13 snaps against Miami on Aug. 8 in the Falcons' exhibition opener and didn't look comfortable as the Dolphins put together a crafty 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive.
All of the problems from last season seem to surface quickly.
There was a missed tackle, two wide-open receivers and no pass rush. That was a formula for disaster in 2013.
The first-team defense has a favorable matchup against the Texans, who were pummeled 32-0 by the Cardinals on Saturday in their exhibition opener and don’t appear to have a starting NFL quarterback.
Veterans William Moore, Osi Umenyiora and Jonathan Babineaux were not too alarmed by the showing against Miami.
“Miami came with an offense that we’d never seen before,” Umenyiora said. “They have a completely different offense that we never prepared for. We were just going out there playing, and whenever you go out there like that, that’s going to happen.”
Jacques Smith, the backup linebacker who took all the punches from Ryan Schraeder, is expected to get more playing time.
“The back-end roster spots for the linebacker position is something that will take care of itself over the next couple of weeks,” Smith said.
3. Rodgers in the backfield: With Steven Jackson out with a left hamstring, Jacquizz Rodgers will start.
Running backs coach Gerald Brown believes that Rodgers has a little extra pep in his step after being “nicked up” down the stretch last season.
“That happens in the NFL,” Brown said. “You’ve got to play through those type of deals with the length of the season and physical play in the games, but Quizz has been a well-rounded football player since he’s been here.”
Rodgers has been a dependable blocker and pass catcher. He’s had over 50 receptions in each of the past two seasons.
“He’s a good receiver out of the backfield,” Brown said. “I know he can pass protect. What do you want him to do, pick up the blitz? You want him to chip? You him to cut? He can do it all.
“He is a solid runner. He gives us a little change of pace if you will, with his quickness and his ability to make you miss. He’s been a well-rounded and a great addition to us since he’s been here.”
4. Depth in the secondary: Free safety Sean Baker is having a solid camp.
“Yeah, Sean did a nice job,” Smith said. “We’re going to continue to have a rotation. Especially when we get into second and third quarters, but it will be different than it was last week.”
Josh Wilson had a firm hold on the position early in training camp, but Robert McClain and Javier Arenas are coming on strong.
McClain is playing tougher in coverage.
“The nickel-back battle is wide open,” Smith said.
5. Backup quarterback: Sean Renfree, who's coming off shoulder injury, is following his dazzling offseason with a strong training camp.
He forced the Falcons to feel comfortable enough to release Dominique Davis and is making a legitimate run at T.J. Yates for the No. 2 quarterback position.
“He’s got a knack for making plays,” quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas said. “He reads coverages extremely well. He’s efficient pre-snap as far as getting the defense (identified). Once the snap happens, he does a nice job of seeing the field and gets through his reads really, really well.”
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