Don't think they moved the ball at all against the ones, albeit the sample size was small.

We were very vanilla last night, they were not.  I'd be willing to write this one off as Kyle's "getting even" game.

Pluses for me:

Chris Thompson looked excellent.  Wasn't in a ton, but he looks a weapon now.  Hopefully he can stay healthy.  Kid is extremely talented with the football.

Special Teams looked good, even with the long return - for the most part they did well getting down the field and there was only one missed coverage assignment.

Su'a Cravens was outstanding.  Wow.  Wow.  Not quite Sean Taylor-esque debut, but he was around the football and made some grown up tackles and almost forced a turnover.

Lauvao looked good with the twos, hopefully he'll be moved up for the next game.

Kirk took what the game gave him.  If he does that we'll be fine.

Minuses:

Penalties - holy **** penalties.  Have to tidy that up.  Some of them were inexcusable things, too. 

Phillips - I don't like singling out younger players here, but that kid put himself squarely behind the 8-ball with his performance in coverage and his penalties. 

Lichtenseiger - If we have a weakness on the starting offense, it's going to be him.  Hopefully Long can take over once Lauvao is ready to move back up.

Golston - everyone loves Ked, in the building at least... but he was pushed straight back on ever snap last night.  Mack is a premier Center in the NFL, maybe THE premier C, but that's been Golston's problem... he doesn't really penetrate and he doesn't "hold his ground" as a NT.  He's skating backwards two yards every time.  Not even sure he's a back up at this point.  Just cut the cord already... please.

Safety position - difficult to tell how poorly they played or how well with Atlanta gameplanning and us just looking at other things, but Bruton and Nacho need to be better.  Thought DeAngelo had a decent game.

Tackling - normally an issue this early in the preseason, but I'll add it here just for GP.

I liked seeing Sudfeld with two chances to win the game at the end and I like the fact that the play of the offense and defense put us in that position in the 3rd and the 4th.  But the "glorified 3rd string QBs" of Redskins yesteryear cash in on those opportunities... especially early in the preseason against scrubs.  Didn't show well for him.  Looked like he was overthinking things when he had to make a quick decision.

I think we may need to spring for a veteran pass rusher just to have some depth. 

DC9 writes:

Penalties - holy **** penalties.  Have to tidy that up.  Some of them were inexcusable things, too. 

Yep. Some of the penalties were the typical young guys and rookies making mistakes in a preseason game variety.

Some were not.

Phillips - I don't like singling out younger players here, but that kid put himself squarely behind the 8-ball with his performance in coverage and his penalties. 

Dunbar, too. They are going to play themselves off this team with performances like that.

Lichtenseiger - If we have a weakness on the starting offense, it's going to be him.  Hopefully Long can take over once Lauvao is ready to move back up.

In fairness to him, I'm going to wait till we get the left side of our line back on the field together (Williams and Lauvao).

Safety position - difficult to tell how poorly they played or how well with Atlanta gameplanning and us just looking at other things, but Bruton and Nacho need to be better.  Thought DeAngelo had a decent game.

Funny thing is, Keim thought Nacho did great last night.  Maybe he was actually looking at someone else.

We were very vanilla last night, they were not.  I'd be willing to write this one off as Kyle's "getting even" game.

This is the big thing I tried to impart on people in the game day thread last night. It was clear the Falcons were out to win the game (otherwise, why throw six passes downfield like a playoff berth is on the line?).

Our starting offense only played about 8 snaps. Our starting defense just two 3-and-out drives. Some of their starters played well into the second quarter (maybe longer).

If this was Kyle "getting even" then let him enjoy his hollow victory.

31 minutes ago, SkinsGuy said:

DC9 writes:

Dunbar, too. They are going to play themselves off this team with performances like that.

Didn't write it in my notes but as I watched a little before work this morning again, Blackmon is more in danger than Dunbar.  I think Dunbar has some room to grow, but Blackmon needs to play better to make this team.

I saw someone on twitter say those exact words this morning.  Couldn't agree more.