With a spectacular passing performance, T.J. Yates laid claim to the Falcons’ backup quarterback position.
Yates had one sustained drive and two long pass plays that went for touchdowns to help the Falcons defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-14 before 59,031 fans Thursday night at EverBank Field.
“T.J. Yates, I thought had an outstanding game,” Smith said. “That quarterback battle has been an interesting one. It’s going to lead us into a number of difficult decisions.”
With the victory, the Falcons closed their exhibition season with a 2-2 record and now can get ready for the regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Georgia Dome.
Yates completed 15 of 20 passes for 243 yards and the two touchdowns.
“I finally got back to playing some good ball,” Yates said. “The offense was going pretty well in the first half. We got a couple of drives going and were moving the ball down the field. We made a few explosive plays. Things went well tonight.”
Looking to add a veteran and improve the backup quarterback position, the Falcons traded for Yates after the end of minicamp June 19. They sent backup linebacker Akeem Dent to the Texans for Yates, a Pope High graduate.
Because he arrived so late in the offseason, Yates had struggled during the preseason. On the HBO documentary series “Hard Knocks,” Yates was shown hovering over his computer putting in extra time working on calling the plays.
“It’s been very difficult,” Smith said. “I think you’ve seen up days and down days. I thought this was what we were looking for in terms of his abilities.”
Yates has a better understanding of the offense.
“We tried to get him as many reps as we possibly could to get him up to speed,” Smith said. “I thought that (offensive coordinator Dirk) Koetter and quarterbacks coach (Glenn) Thomas did an outstanding job along with Matt Ryan in getting him prepared.”
Yates sensed that he was in trouble after a shaky performance against his former team in the second exhibition game.
“I was just getting used to the offense,” Yates said. “Coming in so late, I was playing catch up there in the training camp and into the (exhibition) season. I just kind of kept my head down and kept working hard. They gave me some more chances to do it. It went well out there tonight.”
But things clicked for Yates against the Jaguars on the Falcons’ third possession. Yates zipped a spiral up the right seam of Jacksonville’s zone defense to wide receiver Jeremy Ebert for a 28-yard gain. He also completed passes of 12 yards to Eric Weems and 18 yards to Ebert in the drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Devonta Freeman.
Later in the second quarter, Yates tossed a screen pass to running back Antone Smith, who scored from 66 yards out.
After the defense forced a punt, Yates tossed a 67-yard bomb to wide receiver Freddie Martino. The deep pass traveled 59 yards in the air from the Falcons’ 27 to Jacksonville’s 14. Martino took it in for the score.
“I thought he threw and outstanding deep ball on the double cut to Freddie,” Smith said. “It was a great route. He was able to launch it because it was a clean pocket and he was very accurate with his deep ball.”
For Martino, an undrafted free agent from North Greenville, it was his first catch of the exhibition season.
“It’s a play we run in practice along,” Martino said. “We ran it and it connected.”
However, Smith would not declare Yates as the No. 2 quarterback and that was fine with Yates.
“I showed the coaches what I could do,” Yates said. “I thought I played well, but it’s their decision.”
The Falcons, as expected, elected to rest most of their key offensive starters.
Quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receivers Julio Jones, Roddy White and Harry Douglas, running back Steven Jackson and right guard Jon Asamoah (undisclosed injury) did not start. The Falcons used their starters on defense.
“We are ready,” Antone Smith said. “As far as preparation and game planning, we’re going to get ready for the Saints.”
