Tag: Casey Washington

Jags Ones Defeat Falcons Two Plus

Article by Allison Smith

Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons – Jay Bendlin

August 23, 2024

Pre-season game 3 is in the books. A third loss by the Falcons, but no starters have been seen suited up. Each of the games provided allot of evaluation and insight into who should be on this 53-man roster by Tuesday.

The Jaguars start with their number one defense while the Falcons continue to hold their starters. Taylor Heinicke gets the start at QB and has two failed attempts, but on 3rd and 10, finds Casey Washington over the middle for a 20-yard gain. The next first down has a hold on the offensive line, for a 1st and 20 that leads to a 2nd and 20 after a no gain run by Carlos Washington, Jr. Heinke finds Washington Jr on a quick flip for a gain of 8 yards on the left side. On 3rd and 12, an incompletion leads to a punt at midfield.

Jacksonville sends out their first team offense. Trevor Lawrence, from the 10, hands the ball to Travis Etienne, twice, for gains of 7 and 19 yards, stopped both runs by DeAngelo Malone. From the 29, Lawrence misses a receiver, then finds another for a huge catch and run, a gain of 42 yards. Back to Etienne, quickly stopped by Anthony Johnson. On 2nd and 7, another run for a gain of 2 yards. On 3rd and 5, Lawrence quickly throws a pass to the sideline for a first down, covered by Jayden Price. Milo Eifler was called for roughing the passer and the ball is moved to the 8. Etienne goes to the 5, Zion Logue got off his blocker and stopped Etienne. On 2nd down, outside toss to Etienne is stopped by Kevin King, who was flying across the field to stop the play near the sideline. Then Lawrence finds a receiver in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. King and Price were in close coverage, but not close enough to break up the pass.

Q1: 7:01 Jax 7/Atl 0

Natrone Brooks takes the kick off from the end zone to the 30. Heinicke dumps the ball out to John Fitzpatrick, who leaps over a defender for a gain of 9 yards. Washington gets the fake as Heinicke takes the ball along the right side for a first down. A quick pass for 2 yards, then a first down to Chris Blair along the sideline. Across midfield, Heinicke hands off to Washington Jr for a 5-yard gain. Heinicke keeps the ball and goes out of bounds on the left side after a 2-yard gain. From the shotgun, the pass is tipped in the air and falls incomplete. It’s 4th and 3 from the Jaguars’ 38, Heinicke takes a shot towards the end zone for Washington. The ball falls incomplete and Jacksonville will take over at the 38.

Lawrence has a short pass to Evan Engram, who is quickly pushed out of bounds by Brooks after a 5-yard gain. Then, Etienne for 4 yards, stopped by Donavan Mutin and Micah Abernathy. On 2nd and 6, Lawrence with the bootleg to Engram with Brooks quickly bringing him down. Etienne finds a small hole and shoots up the middle for 14 yards, finally stopped by Abernathy and King. From the Falcons 39, Lawrence finds a receiver at the first down marker to move the chains again. Lawrence is pressured and has to run out of bounds after a 9-yard gain.

End of the First Quarter

After a failed pass and rush, on 4th and 1, Tank Bigsby gains 2 yards and is stopped by Brooks, after the first down. Bigsby is stopped for no gain by Price. On 2nd and 10 from the 17, Lawrence finds Engram for an 11-yard gain and first down. From the 6, Etienne gets the ball and gains a singe yard before being stopped by LaCale London. Lawrence has an incompletion, then returns to Engram for another touchdown in the corner of the end zone.

Q2: 11:19 Jacksonville 14/Atlanta 0

From the 25, Heinicke throws high, but Washington snatches the ball out of the air for a first down. Jase McCellen goes up the middle for 11 yards and another first down. A quick release to Blair and the Falcons are across midfield. No huddle continues on 2nd and 3, Heinicke stands too long and is sacked. On 3rd and 6, Heinicke drops back, is hit as he throws an incompletion. Bradley Pinion punts 40 yards to the Jacksonville 11.

Mac Jones enters at the quarterback position. Hands off to Bigsby who is tackled by Mutin after a 7-yard gain. Brooks makes the next short stop, but there is an offensive penalty that moved the Jags back to the 9 for a 2nd and 12. From the shotgun, Jones is hit as he throws from the goal line and the ball is incomplete along the sideline. On 3rd down, Jones quickly finds a receiver for a 6-yard gain, immediately stopped by Price, forcing a punt at 4th and 6.

After a 60-yard punt, McClellan goes for 3 and then 5 yards. on 3rd and short, Heinike has to step up, nearly sacked in the pocket and passes incomplete, with a flag on the play – holding on the offense. Pinion back on to punt for a 44-yard punt.

Jones hands off to Bigsby who only gained 5 yards. Quick pass across the middle and immediate stop by Price. At midfield, Jones finds a receiver along the sideline for 5 yards, pushed out by Eifler. Another single yard gain stopped by Brandon Dorlus and then a SACK by Bradlee Anae for a 5-yard loss. The sack forces a punt from the 50 which falls into the end zone.

Heinicke completes a pass to Drummond for 5 yards.

Two Minute Warning

From the 25, Heinicke throws 2 incompletions and Pinion is back on for another punt, this one, 45 yards.

From their own 30, Jacksonville’s Bigsby runs up the middle for a first down, stopped by King. After an incompletion, Jones finds a receiver for a 12-yard gain, finally stopped by Eifler. On 2nd and 4, with 41 seconds to go before half time, Jones hits a receiver for a 6-yard gain, another stop by Brooks. On first down, the receiver has a 15-yard reception, then Jones scrambles 8 yards, stopped by Eifler. On 2nd and 2 from the 13, Jones finds a receiver in the end zone for another Jaguar touchdown.

Half time: Jaguars 21/Falcons 0

Again, watching via online app is sketchy at best. This gives a good account of the first half, but not sure this changed any minds on any players. The same standouts continued to stand out. The first team – guaranteed starters – were is sweats on the sideline, so this is not indicative of what we will see in 2+ weeks when Pittsburg comes to town to kick off the season.

The Era of Rah Begins

Atlanta Falcons 13 and Miami Dolphins 20

Article by Allison Smith

August 9, 2024

And so it begins…..the Era of Rah. Head Coach Raheem Morris is coaching his first game back as the Atlanta Falcons Head Coach. Pre Season Game 1 is at the Miami Dolphins, where the team has been in co-practice most of the week.

Captains are Storm Norton, Richie Grant, and Younghoe Koo.

Received the opening kickoff, with the new kickoff rules. Carlos Washington Jr returned the kick a few yards.

Now, we see Michael Penix, Jr for the first time. Casey Washington gets the call for a run that ended in a 3-yard loss. On 2nd and 13, Penix from the shotgun, finds Washington for a quick 7-yard gain. Now on 3rd and 6, Penix takes a shot down the field, just over the extended hands of Washington.

Deangelo Malone makes the tackle finally, even farther back as the returner escaped the first tackle, but ran backwards. Miami starts at their own 12. A quick pass, Antonio Hamilton Sr makes the quick stop. He was blocked, but got away and forced the 4-yard loss. From the shotgun, another quick pass. Kevin King knocked the ball out, but went out of bounds so the Dolphins retain. On 3rd and 3, empty backfield, Miami takes a shot down the field, out of bounds. King with good coverage.

Demarco Hellams was carted off the field with some sort of leg injury.

Natrone Brooks calls for a fair catch on the punt at the 41. Toss to Washington, Jr who gains a couple of yards along the left side. Penix drops back and hits Chris Blair, but he fumbles and Miami takes over in Falcon territory.

The Miami quarterback takes the ball himself and runs left for 5 yards. At the Falcons’ 45, Hamilton Sr makes a good tackle, but after the first down. From the 40, Miami runs the ball to the left and JD Bertrand makes his first NFL tackle after a 3-yard game. Second down has the running back slipping on the field with Kentavius Street on the tackle. Street and Arnold Ebiketie pressure the quarterback who throws early for an incompletion. Dolphins kick a 57-yard field goal to go up 3-0.

Washington, Jr grabs the kickoff and takes it up to the 20. Penix is under center and fakes the handoff, Penix finds Washington on the sideline for a big gain, but was just out of bounds for an incompletion. Next is a big pass to Blair for a 41-yard completion. Penix then overthrows Washington. False start backs the Falcons up, on 2nd and 15, Penix drops back, pumps and finds Washington on the 2nd read for another first down. From the 28, Jase McClellan gets the call and goes up the middle for 8 yards. McClellan then gets stopped at the line. On 3rd down, under pressure, Penix overthrows Washington, Jr in the end zone. Koo ties the game up.

The Dolphins begin their second possession with a pick off by King who returns the interception 29 yards. undercut the route.

From the Miami 16, Washington Jr loses a yard. Penix screen to Washington Jr who catches and runs up to the 4. First and goal, Washington Jr is wrapped up for a loss. From the 8, Penix passes to John Fitzpatrick who carries defenders to the one. Penix analyzed and held the ball for Fitzpatrick to get open. Third and goal from the one, Penix overthrows Washington in the side of the end zone. On fourth and goal, Penix hands to Washington Jr who runs straight into the end zone.

With 3 minutes left in the first quarter, the Falcons lead 10 to 3.

Miami starts at their own 27. A quick hand off, Zach Harris makes the stop in the backfield. On 2nd and 11, Miami’s pass is nearly intercepted, the receiver is WWE slammed by Bertrand immediately. On 3rd and 5, empty backfield, a wide open tight end gains 43 yards, Falcons were caught in cover 2, then a missed tackle, but finally a stop by Hamilton, Sr. Second down is an incompletion by blocked pass. A successful reception gets the Dolphins to the 9. First and goal, a handoff for 4-yard gain.

The second quarter begins with a 2nd and goal from the 6, from the shotgun, the Dolphins have a dropped pass. On the next play, the Dolphins score with Bertrand closing, but the receiver gets the ball over the pilon before the tackle.

A few seconds into the second quarter, the Falcons begin their third possession form their own 10. Penix drops back and passes up to McClellan, who tries to one-hand the ball but cannot. Penix goes back to McClellan up the middle for a successful reception, then to Fitzpatrick for the first down along the right side. McClellan tries to run again for no gain. A reception my Washington on 2nd down causes a 3rd and 6. Penix in the shotgun drops back and fires to the sideline at the marker to KhaDarel Hodge, but the pass is broken up.

After the punt, Miami gets a good run off a reverse for a 21-yard gain. Across midfield, the running back is stopped by Braylen Trice after a 2-yard gain. Back to back first downs and shove out of bounds by Micah Abernathy move the Dolphins to the Falcons 25. Several more quick first downs have the Dolphins at the Falcons’ 5, then backed up vis delay of game to the 10. Still driving and on 4th and 2, the quarterback keeps the ball and slides for a first down at the 3, but Raheem Morris challenges the spot of the ball and the Falcons get the ball.

First down is a Washington run up the middle for a gain of 6 yards. Then Taylor Heinicke, in at quarterback, hands off to Jovaughn Gwyn who fumbles and loses the ball.

Miami takes the ball two yards on the recovery, then another quick 6 yards for the touchdown and with just over 5 minutes left in the half, the Dolphins lead 17 to 10.

The Falcons take over on the 19 after the kick off. Heinicke has a short 4-yard pass to Dylan Drummond. Heinicke then attempts two deep pass that fall incomplete to Blair, then to Washington. Ryan Sanborn punts 42 yards to the Miami 35.  

The defensive rookies continue to stand out. Miami goes three and out with quick stops and passes defended by Bertrand, Ruke Orhorhoro.

As the first half draws to a close, the teams exchange punts again, with one final play and possession by the Falcons as time expires.

I was not able to watch the second half as the stream of the game kept going out. The Falcons did lose 20/13 with no scoring in the fourth quarter.

Overall, we got much of what we expected. Seeing mostly rookies and guys competing for playing time and positions. Penix looked pretty good, al biet overthrowing some receivers, but also those overthrows were out of reach of defenders too. Penix finished 9 of 16 for 104 yards. Both Casey Washington and Carlos Washington, Jr stood out offensively. Casey had 3 receptions for 27 yards and a fumble recovery on special teams. Carlos had 16 carries for 25 yards, a long of 9 yards, 1 reception of 13 yards, with only 2 targets. The offense had 3 fumbles, 2 lost; which does not bode well, but some of these guys may not be on the roster by September, or certainly will learn to hold onto the ball better.

Defensively, rookies Jayden Price had 7 tackles, Bertrand 4, Ruke 2 and looked good overall. Returners, Malone, Abernathy, and Ebiketie had decent playing time and good performances. King, of course, stood out with a great interception. He read the play and stepped in front of the pass. There are many defenders that are new to the Falcons that competed well, but with the starters on the sideline in plain clothes, it will take a couple of games to see who sticks and who does not.

Unfortunately, the game started pretty early with some injuries on both teams. DeMarcco Hellams left on the cart with an injury to his left leg, later in the first half rookie Bralen Trice also injured his left leg. No prognosis on either yet.

Overall, saw some good things from some young guys. Seemed like the same story we have seen for 10 years, close, red zone, no scoring, defense hands O the ball and nothing good happens. But this was pre season game 1 with a totally new regime, so we will see.

#RiseUp

#FalconAlleyOwt