Jaguars @ Falcons
Final Score: Falcons 28, Jaguars 12
Writer: Chuck Steele (@ChuckSteele_T2t on Twitter)
The Jacksonville Jaguars came to town to take on the Atlanta Falcons. Both teams had most of their starters inactive, so there were plenty of players showing they deserved a roster spot, with a few with their eye on something more, team starter. We had a close game in the first half, with Jacksonville just missing a chance to tie at halftime. After a close game early, the Falcons were able to take over the game defensively and keep the Jaguars out of the endzone in the second half as their running game ran down the clock, and the Jaguars’ defense, giving Atlanta a 28-12 victory in their home stadium to close out the preseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars
| HOF Game | Preseason Week 1 | Preseason Week 2 |
Quarterback
E.J. Perry: 19/37, 201 yards, TD, 2 INT | 2 carries | 10 yards
E.J. Perry played the entire game for the Jaguars. It was a hot and cold game overall from Perry. Finishing with nineteen completions on thirty-seven attempts, Perry found himself throwing some beautiful deep balls. He hit Tim Jones for several big plays. One came in the first quarter where he found Jones deep for a forty-nine-yard completion. On the same drive, Perry would have had a touchdown pass to Laviska Shenault on a fourth and 3 had it not been called back for a holding penalty, forcing the Jaguars to settle for a field goal attempt, which they missed. Right before halftime, Perry was able to find Laquon Treadwell for a seven-yard touchdown with 12 seconds to play in the half. They would have tied the game on a two-point conversion had it not been for a drop by Gerrit Prince.
The second half was a different story. As the Jaguars fell behind more, Perry was forcing his hand. Both of his turnovers came in the second half. Perry delivered a ball to Kevin Austin Jr., only for it to bounce off of his hands and to the defender a few yards behind for the easy interception. The second one came on the last play for the Jaguar’s offense. With immediate pressure in his face, Perry just threw one up, only to have a member of the falcons settle under it for another easy INT, except this one sealed up the game. Perry finished with 201 yards, one TD, and two interceptions. He is a cut candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Running Backs
Snoop Conner: 11 carries, 15 yards | 2 receptions, -3 yards
Ryquell Armstead: 2 carry, 15 yards | 1 reception, 2 yards
Mekhi Sargent: 3 carries, 14 yards | 2 receptions, 13 yards
With the Jaguars mainly passing in this one, there was not too much excitement with the run game. Snoop Connor got the start and the bulk of the touches. With the 11 carries he had he faced a stiff Atlanta front that ended run plays before they even began. Ryquell Armstead was their most effective runner. However, his two carries for 15 yards weren’t saying much.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Tim Jones: 3 receptions, 103 yards
Gerrit Prince: 4 receptions, 32 yards
Laviska Shenault Jr.: 2 receptions, 19 yards
Laquon Treadwell: 2 receptions, 14 yards, TD
Willie Johnson: 1 reception, 12 yards
Luke Farrell: 1 reception, 7 yards
Jeff Cotton: 1 reception, 2 yards
Tim Jones was the leading receiver. Not just for the Jaguars, but also for the game. He gashed the defense for two 40+yard receptions. One for 49 yards and another for 41. Finishing with three receptions and 103 yards, Jones is making a strong case for the WR4 of the Jackson Jaguars. Undrafted free agent Tight End Garrit Prince finished second on the team in receiving yards with 32, though finished first on the night I’m receptions good for 4 total. Prince was targeted at the end of the first half for a two-point conversion to tie, however, he dropped a ball that hit him right in the hands.
The only receiving touchdown came right before Prince’s two-point conversion drop, a catch and run on a slant route by Laquon Treadwell, running through a defender and into the endzone. Laviska Shenault Jr. would have had a touchdown as well on a 4th and 3 had it not gotten called back due to a holding penalty. Shenault ended up with 2 receptions for 19 yards.
Atlanta Falcons
| Preseason Week 1 | Preseason Week 2 |
Quarterback
Desmond Ridder: 14/21, 185 yards, TD, 2 INTs | 2 carries | -1 yards
Feleipe Franks: 0/1 | 3 carries, -6 yards
Rookie Desmond Ridder got the start for the Atlanta Falcons while starter Marcus Mariota had the night off. Ridder looked really solid and showed off the skill set of why the Falcons drafted the young QB. However, it didn’t start pretty. On the first play of the game, Ridder feels the pressure and tries to throw over the linebacker playing coverage. Though he did manage to get the ball over the defender he had no step into his throw letting it get away from him for an interception by the man covering the receiver. The second drive of the game faired better. On a third and eight, Ridder had one of his cleaner pockets of the night. He was able to deliver a beautiful pass to Damiere Bryd for a sixteen-yard catch along the sideline. He finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Alligere for his only touchdown on the night.
Riddler just missed a second score when he felt the pressure in the pocket, stepped up while keeping his eyes downfield, and found tight end Anthony Frisker who took it down to the one-yard line. He also overthrew a wide-open Byrd who would have taken it stride for a big touchdown. Playing with 2 score lead most of the second half, Atlanta focused more on the ground game to close it out. Feleipe Franks played the final two drives, after not completing his only pass, he was able to line up in victory formation for three kneels, which did give him minus 6 yards, though those are the loss of yardage plays a coach doesn’t mind seeing.
Running Backs
Caleb Huntley: 19 carries, 86 yards, TD
Qadree Ollison: 9 carries, 30 yards, TD | 1 reception, 12 yards
Tyler Allgeier: 8 carries, 26 yards, TD | 1 reception, 2 yards, TD.
Tyler Allieger got to start this game, with intentions and possibilities to eventually overtake the starting role. He was involved in both the rushing and passing games, contributing a score in each. Allieger brought in a two-yard pass in the flats and scored for Atlanta’s first touchdown while punching it from four yards out on the ground in the 4th quarter. Besides the two scores, Allieger didn’t do too much to show he’s ready for the head spot minus his two short scores, but he still showed signs he can at least contribute in more ways than one.
Their best rusher on the night was Caleb Huntley. Finding space in the second half on a worn-down Jaguars defense Huntley was able to rip off several big gains late. One on third and five, where he was able to find some open field for a first down to keep the drive alive. He also ripped off a 22-yarder a few plays later on a first and fifteen. He even was able to punch in a touchdown from one yard out earlier in the night. Each of Atlanta’s running backs was able to find the endzone, including Qadree Ollison who was able to cross the plane from one yard out on the first play after Jacksonville had a punt blocked and Atlanta recovered it at the one-yard line.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Frank Darby: 1 reception, 35 yards
KeeSean Johnson: 1 reception, 34 yards
Anthony Firkser.: 2 receptions, 25 yards
Cameron Batson: 3 receptions, 22 yards
Damiere Byrd: 1 reception, 17 yards
Jared Bernhardt: 1 reception, 14 yards
Stanley Berryhill III: 1 reception, 14 yards
Tucker Fisk: 1 reception, 5 yards
MyCole Pruitt: 1 reception, 5 yards
With the running backs getting the bulk of the work in the second half, the receivers didn’t light up the box score too bright, but there were several big plays for a good chunk of yardage. The biggest play of the night came from Frank Darby, streaking down the sidelines and making the catch with tight coverage for a 35-yard completion. After that, it was KeeSean Johnson, who caught a slant and had a nice run after the catch for a 34-yard completion.
Only two receivers had at least two catches on the night, reception leader Cameron Batson who finished with three receptions for 22 yards, and Anthony Frisker who came up one yard short of a touchdown, finishing with two receptions. Drop a two-point conversion just before halftime that would have tied the game 14 going into the break. No wideouts on the team were able to find the endzone in this one.