Mike Smith will see plenty from the Falcons reserves Thursday
Coach Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons heads into Thursday’s final preseason game with plenty of questions surrounding his team, but is hopeful to see some players on the bubble of making his final 53-player roster stand out and win jobs.
The Falcons offense hasn’t been clicking, the kicking game is a point of contention with Matt Bryant being a bit erratic, and the defense still has some lingering question marks.
Most of the starters will see limited playing time Thursday against Jacksonville, which will give current players on the bubble a chance to shine.
Smith thinks those players will be prepared for game-action, and he thinks they need to show him they can perform at a high level when they are on the field.
“I think the mental part of it is very important, Smith said. “The guys that we’re talking about that are fighting for roster spots are going to probably play more plays in this game than they will during the regular season. I think it’s going to give us an opportunity to see how they prepare for significant playing time. Most of the guys we’re talking about will be in back-up roles or special teams roles. We’re going to get a real good evaluation because they’re going to play significantly in the game on Thursday.”