The Falcons play another preseason game on Thursday night when they visit the Dolphins.
Here are eight players we will have our eye on.
QB Matt Schaub
With their loss in the Hall of Fame Game, the Falcons have now dropped nine straight preseason contests. That doesn’t matter, but having a good backup quarterback does and Schaub’s performance the last few preseasons has been bad enough to warrant real concern.
Schaub shouldn’t be expected to play at a Pro Bowl level like he did 10 years ago. However, if Matt Ryan were to get injured Atlanta’s passing offense would be in a tremendous amount of trouble.
At some point in the next four games, Schaub has to prove he still has the arm strength and accuracy to make pro throws. He’s under as much pressure as anyone going into this game. If he lays another egg against the Dolphins, the Falcons have to consider bringing in another veteran for competition.
QB Matt Simms
Third-string quarterback Kurt Benkert played far better than Schaub against Denver. He also injured his toe in the fourth quarter and it was significant enough for Atlanta to bring back Matt Simms, who served as the No. 3/practice squad QB before Benkert came along.
If nothing else, Simms knows the fundamentals of the offense and is familiar with at least some of the pieces. Even if he’s a standout for the rest of the preseason, Simms is probably never going to be a legitimate answer to backup Matt Ryan. The Falcons need all the depth they can get at the position right now, though.
RB Brian Hill
Backup running back Brian Hill was one of only a handful of Atlanta players that had good games last week. He was by far the team’s most efficient running back, averaging over five yards per carry while no other RB could crack two. Hill also scored the team’s only touchdown.
This means the competition to see who plays behind starter Devonta Freeman just got even more interesting. We assumed Ito Smith would take that role in the offseason, but coach Dan Quinn says there is no favorite right now. Another productive game for Hill could move him to the front of the line, though.
WRs Christian Blake, Shawn Bane
The Falcons brought in several undrafted free agent wide receivers this year. Virginia’s Olamide Zaccheaus has gotten the most hype, but he struggled in Canton, catching just two of six targets and dropping a punt.
Christian Blake and Shawn Bane wound up leading the way for the UDFA receivers, combining for eight catches and 75 yards. Bane nearly scored a touchdown after making a catch at the goal line on a laser from Kurt Benkert, but Denver managed to keep him out of the end zone. With Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley unlikely to play, they should get another opportunity to shine in Miami.
OT John Wetzel
With Kaleb McGary out due to a heart procedure, the Falcons will be starting Ty Sambrailo at right tackle for the time being. It appears that the first RT backup is now veteran John Wetzel.
Wetzel is the biggest human on the team outside of McGary, checking in at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds. He also has more experience than most of Atlanta’s backup offensive linemen. The team needs him to be a reliable option at right tackle given McGary’s situation and Sambrailo’s inconsistency during his career.
DL John Cominsky
Perhaps nobody stood out more for the Falcons last week than rookie John Cominsky. We expected that he would make some flash plays on defense early, but Cominsky far exceeded our wildest expectations against Denver.
Cominsky was active throughout the evening and always seemed to be around the ball. He led the team with six combined tackles and also posted a sack and a tackle for a loss. On special teams, he recovered a punt, downed another and made a few tackles.
It’s only August, but if Cominsky continues to play like that, coach Dan Quinn will have no choice but to give him a significant role once the real games begin.
LB Stephone Anthony
The Falcons are a bit thin at linebacker right now with Duke Riley and Deion Jones both nursing minor injuries and being limited at practice. Neither one played last week and that may not change against Miami.
Atlanta brought in a couple of veteran linebackers for depth recently, including former first-round pick Stephone Anthony. While he was drafted by the Saints, he spent the last two seasons playing as a backup for the Dolphins. It may be too late for Anthony to shed his bust label, but a strong preseason game could help his chances of making a roster this year.
CB Hamp Cheevers
Last but not least, the Falcons made a series of minor moves at the bottom end of their roster last week. The most notable of which was signing former Boston College cornerback Hamp Cheevers, who we had pinned as a potential Day 3 target for Atlanta.
Cheevers is an instinctual defender who can cover both outside and in the slot. That could give him a significant advantage over other rookie corners trying to make a crowded roster this year.
