The Falcons received a strong performance from veteran backup quarterback Matt Schaub to help them defeat the Washington Redskins 23-17 in the exhibition season opener Thursday night at the Georgia Dome.
“Going into the game, we were really looking for effort,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We made a big point of that. That counts twice for us. In a number of places we saw that. I thought it was clearly demonstrated how hard the guys wanted to go and compete.”
Here are the seven things we learned about the Falcons from the game:
1. Ryan's shaky start. Quarterback Matt Ryan played in two series and did not move the ball.
The Falcons’ first-team offense had two three-and-outs before Ryan left the game and was replaced by Schaub, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 179 yards.
“Obviously tough field position to start with, we’ve got to do a better job of being able to punch that out and change the field position,” Ryan said of the opening drive, which started at the Falcons’ 2-yard line. “It’s a great learning experience for us and something we can improve on as we get into practice next week.”
Center Alex Mack and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu made their debuts with the Falcons.
Quinn was pleased with Schaub’s play.
“It was good to see Matt (Schaub) take a few shots,” Quinn said.”That’s why he’s here, to show that he can do it and for him to be in the rhythm… I thought he had a good night. We are not surprised. He’s had a good training camp.”
2. Defense swarms. Free safety Ricardo Allen felt the first-team defense played well.
“We swarmed,” Allen said. “Everybody was running. The communication was on point.”
3. Robinson can fly. Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson got open deep for a gains of 47 and 68 yards in the second quarter. Schaub tossed both of the deep passes, with the second one traveling 54 yards in the air.
The Falcons were able to convert the big plays into a field goal and a touchdown.
4. Physical tone set. Although the Falcons played without rookie strong safety Keanu Neal, the defense set a physical tone.
Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon had a nice hit on Washington running back Matt Jones early in the first quarter. Strong Safety Kemal Ishmael later dropped Washington running back Keith Marshall with a big hit that knocked him on his back.
Neal, the team’s first-round pick and 17th overall player taken in the draft, is expected to add a physical presence to the defense. He did not play because of a “trunk” injury. Ishmael later left the game with an injured shoulder.
“We had a chance to finish some plays,” Weatherspoon said. “Guys did a good job of that.”
5. Project Pass Rush. In the nickel defense, the Falcons opened with Vic Beasley at left defensive end, Derrick Shelby at left tackle, Jonathan Babineaux at right tackle and Adrian Clayborn at right defensive end.
The group did not come up with a sack, but Beasley had a hurry, and Clayborn put a nice hit on backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
Certified sackmaster Dwight Freeney, who signed last week, did not play.
6. Return game. The Falcons may have found a replacement for Devin Hester. J.D. McKissic, an undrafted rookie free agent from Arkansas State, returned the second-half kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown.
“Specials teams is the way for a guy like me,” McKissic said. “The main thing is that I want to prepare myself hard mentally on special teams. I have to show Keith Armstrong that I can help him on each one of those special teams.”
7. Kicking game. Matt Bryant made two field-goal attempts. Nick Rose made a 36-yarder and missed a 45-yarder wide left. But Washington ran into Rose on that attempt, but he missed the re-try from 39 yards.
