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.
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