The debate over whether the NFL preseason holds any real value has been a heated topic for fans, sports reporters, and the coaches and players that actually have had to participate in these games for many years.
For a rookie or second-year player trying to make a team’s roster, the preseason provides the best opportunity to show the fans and coaches that they are ready for the speed of the professional game.
For a veteran player trying to learn a new system, the preseason can be an opportunity to test how much they have a grasp on a team’s system.
But in the case of the 2021 Atlanta Falcons, the debate over whether the preseason holds significant value in the overall preparation for the upcoming regular season is both complex and tricky.
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The Falcons are a team loaded with veteran players, led by a former MVP QB entering his 14th year in the league. When considering that element, the argument toward the value of the meaningless preseason games sways greatly toward the side of non-relevant, and not worth the risk of injury.
On the other hand, factor in that the Falcons are now under the leadership of first-time head coach Arthur Smith, along with new DC Dean Pees, both trying to implement a new complex offensive and defensive system.
Now, complete the argument with the less than impressive showing that the Falcons have produced in the first two games of the 2021 preseason. Games mostly played by the aforementioned rookies, second-year players and new veteran additions to the roster, and the answer that seems to now be being screamed, yelled, and pleaded for by most spectators, fans, media members or anyone that has any interest in this team is quite simple. Can we please see the starters in the third and final preseason game Sunday versus Cleveland?
Former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl DE Chuck Smith joined Dukes and Bell for his weekly segment on Monday, and Chuck was heavily in favor in seeing the starters take the field this week.
“When you get a new coach, it takes time to understand and really gel between the coaches and players,” emphasized Smith as spoke with D&B.
Smith, also went on to explain the different ways a player thinks and prepares for the season when they are in the younger years of a career versus the same player once they are more seasoned and older.
If the Falcons come out in Week 1 of the regular season, and execute like a fine-tuned machine, all the struggles thus far will be long forgotten. However, if the Falcons come out the gates slow and sputtering, the finger pointing toward the lack of game reps the starters received in the preseason will be fast, harsh, and swift.
