As the Atlanta Falcons prepare to take on the NY Jets on Monday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, many fans and reporters are curious to know if any of the Falcons predicted week one starters will get extended playing time in any preseason game.
In 2021, Falcons HC Arthur Smith decided not to play any of the projecting starters for extended time during the preseason, and was highly ridiculed when the team seemed to have a lack of continuity when the regular season began with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith has admitted that his philosophy will be different going forward, but not to want extent.
“This is actually something that Arthur Smith has kind of kept close to the chest,” commented FOX 5 Atlanta Sports Reporter Miles Garrett when asked by Sam & Greg on the Weekends if he expected the Falcons starters to play most of the first half against the Jets.
Garrett also commented that, “you want to see what the starters can do, especially on the offensive line where you basically only have two positions set in stone.”
In the years when NFL teams played four preseasons games, teams would use the third game is the “dress rehearsal” contest, in which most of the starting lineup would play at minimum the first half and often some of the third quarter. However, since the NFL has now changed to a 3-game preseason slate, many teams have used the second preseason game while others have chosen to use the third.
If Falcons starters play an extended amount of time Monday night against the Jets, it would be expected that when they return to action only five days later at home, verse Jacksonville that only reserves will see any playing time, but that is all speculation until we find out Coach Smith’s plan.
Miles even suggested that when he asked a few Falcons players, such as TE Kyle Pitts, about how much they expected to play Monday night, he got one simple answer.
“I have no idea, ask Coach Smith”
To listen to the entire conversation between Miles, Sam & Greg download the link above.