Tag: Jermaine Grace

And Then, There Were 53

090517

Added LB Jordan Tripp (from Green Bay) to the 53
G Jamil Douglas fills final practice squad spot

090417

– LaRoy Reynolds LB – placed on IR with pectoral muscle injury.

– Courtney Upshaw will be featured in nickel package with loss of Shede.  Jack Crawford and Dontari Poe will step in on other defense packages.

– Ty Sambrailo will play both LT and RT. And practiced over the weekend.

– Starting RG is Wes Schweitzer due to more consistency.

090417:  Ra’Shede Hageman released.

10 of the 11 Practice Squad Announced

RB Jhurell Pressley

WR Deante Burton
WR Marvin Hall
TE Josh Perkins
TE Alex Gray
T Daniel Brunskill
DE J’Terius Jones
DT Joe Vellano
DT Taniela Tupou
S Marcelis Branch

090217:  And Then There Were 53

So, apparently there was some big secret going on at The Branch today as 4pm came and went and it was after 5pm ET before we got the Final Falcons Roster.  I didn’t see any huge surprises, especially on the release list.  Several lists with, waived for this and that, injured, suspended, etc.  Jalen Collins is still on the team, al biet suspended for 10 games, but that gives us a buffer for later in the season.  Another surprise, maybe only to me, was Ra’Shede Hageman.  He is on the commissioner’s exempt list.  Which is, I just learned, a holding pattern.  Shede’s domestic abuse charge from August of 2016 was wrapped in the courts, but continues to be reviewed in the league.  So, Shede is on the team, but can’t play right now….don’t get me started on this.

Congrats to everyone that made the team.  I will mark up my roster from earlier in the week, as I think it is going to be pretty close – short of the traded additions I didn’t anticipate.  Of note, RB Brian Hill made the roster, WRs Andre Roberts and Nick Williams, BEN GARLAND is the starting RG!!!  LBs include LaRoy Reynolds and undrafted rookie Jermaine Grace that earned his spot in Thursday’s game for sure.  Another guy that solidified his spot Thursday was Blidi Wreh-Wilson at CB.  

Andre Roberts is the official returner for now, and I am sure he will get some help from Justin Hardy and Nick Williams along the way.

Practice squad will be announced later, so see who earns a spot there.

Below is the current roster.  Again, congrats to everyone…new and old….welcome to The Brotherhood.

 

53 Man Roster
Mack, Alex
Alford, Robert
Goodwin, C.J.
Kazee, Damontae
Olatoye, Deji
Poole, Brian
Trufant, Desmond
Wreh-Wilson, Blidi
Clayborn, Adrian
Crawford, Jack
McKinley, Takkarist
Reed, Brooks
Shelby, Derrick
Jarrett, Grady
Upshaw, Courtney
Coleman, Derrick
Garland, Ben
Levitre, Andy
Schweitzer, Wes
Bryant, Matt
Grace, Jermaine
Jones, Deion
Reynolds, LaRoy
Harris, Josh
Poe, Dontari
Harlow, Sean
Pasztor, Austin
Beasley, Vic
Campbell, De’Vondre
Riley, Duke
Sambrailo, Ty
Bosher, Matt
Ryan, Matt
Schaub, Matt
Coleman, Tevin
Freeman, Devonta
Hill, Brian
Ward, Terron
Allen, Ricardo
Ishmael, Kemal
Neal, Keanu
Neasman, Sharrod
Matthews, Jake
Schraeder, Ryan
Hooper, Austin
Saubert, Eric
Toilolo, Levine
Gabriel, Taylor
Hardy, Justin
Jones, Julio
Roberts, Andre
Sanu, Mohamed
Williams, Nick

That Defense Though…..

Jacksonville 13 at Atlanta 7
August 31, 2017
Allison Smith

So, clearly our defense is not going to be our trouble this year.  With many of the first teamers not playing at all in Game 4 of the Preseason, the guys that did play, were fighting hard to earn their spot on this roster.  Last week we had “Fumble Central,” this week was an “Interception Clinic.”  The back-up Falcons defense had 3 interceptions in the first half alone.  Blidi Wren-Wilson and Sharrod Neasman, tipped by Chris Odom, both had interceptions in the end zone to stop Jacksonville drives.  Jermaine Grace hauled in an interception as well and has played with good speed and has really been showing some good skills.

Noting that neither Matt Ryan nor Matt Schaub stepped foot on the field, the offense had another rough night.  After a quick 3 and out, Jacksonville was able to score quickly with a 43-yard pass for a touchdown.  Matt Simms was sacked twice in a single drive and Alex Torgersen threw an interception and was sacked late in the game.  Meanwhile, Matt Bosher had 6 punts, averaging 43 yards.

083117 Chris Odom Sack

Chris Odom Sack     Photo Courtesy:  Atlanta Falcons

The defense caused many long field goals and punts for Jacksonville.  Lots of speed, energy, and effort by the young guys Thursday night.  Odom finished with 6 tackles, an assist, a sack, a quarterback hurry, a tackle for loss, and may have played himself into a coveted roster position.

A few offensive stand outs were Deante Burton with 2 catches for 44 yards, Marvin Hall with a 65-yard gain.  Kelvin Taylor had a nice 24-yard catch from Simms early in the game, and Darion Griswold recovered a fumble for a touchdown, then later had a 51-yard catch from Alex Torgersen.  Overall, Sims showed himself well in all the preseason games.  So, all is not lost, even for our 3rd to 4th string team.

Reggie Davis returned one kickoff 22 yards, while Hall had an 8-yard punt return.  Punt coverage for the Falcons was better, or Bosher’s kicks were just too good.  But the kickoff coverage allowed 20 and 21 yard returns.

In the grand scheme, game 4 was pure evaluation for the bubble and not-even bubble guys.  We came out of training camp and preseason with no injuries (Devonta Freeman was fully dressed Thursday).  Head Coach Dan Quinn noted that he and Thomas Dimitroff have “Difficult decisions ahead regarding the roster.”  DQ said it will be a difficult, but exciting weekend ahead.  They both are really happy with the new rule to have a full roster through the end of preseason, to give more guys more chances to make a roster or show off their skills for other teams.

As for the most heated competition of the preseason…..Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer at right guard, DQ commented that “both played at center and guard…pretty much have decision down…could see both playing,” which is what Allison said weeks ago….It will be interesting to see if Coach names a starter or just release the roster or cut list.

While we may not be winning in preseason, we have seen good speed on all 3 phases of the game, lots of team play, effort, and learning.

So now, we wait.

#RiseUp

 

Featured Photo: Courtesy of Atlanta Falcons – Brotherhood celebrates