Neasman comfortable filling in for Neal at strong safety

Sharrod Neasman made the start for Keanu Neal at strong safety Thursday in the Falcons’ 23-20 exhibition loss to the Dolphins. Neal was held out as a precaution.

“He looked real comfortable,” coach Dan Quinn said of Neasman on Friday. “He had a nice tackle on a screen play that went out to the defensive left. He did a really good job of wrapping the receiver up.”

Neasman, who played at Florida Atlantic, has been in the Falcons’ developmental program.

“Last year, we moved him around between strong safety and free safety and he was really the third there,” Quinn said. “Allowing him to settle in and play in the strong safety spot, he’s performed better at that.

“We are fortunate that (Damontae) Kazee is there and can handle a lot of the free safety stuff backing up (Ricardo Allen.) Neasman has done a good job of working with Keanu at strong safety.”

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