Atlanta Falcons-Detroit Lions: Five things to watch

John Abraham, AP Photo/Dave Martin

On Friday, shortly before departing for Detroit, Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith said after two weeks of training camp his team is ready to go against someone else.

This week of camp has been testy and hot, filled with intense practices with pads and a handful of skirmishes.

The Falcons are playing like a team with some pent-up aggression and look to take it out on the Lions, in a replay, of sorts, of last season's Week 1 drubbing of a Detroit team that went on to go winless in the 2008 season.

Every time his team takes the field, Smith wants to win, but he knows the preseason is more about evaluation. He and the staff haven't watched any film on the Lions this week, instead wanting to see how his players react situationally.

"We want to go up there and win the game first, stay healthy second, and evaluate the position battles," Smith said Friday. "There are a number of them, especially in our interior defensive line as well as our cornerbacks. We want to get a good look at those guys."

Rookie safety William Moore and wide receiver Harry Douglas are out for the game. Moore had a minor procedure done late last week and Douglas suffered a torn ACL on August 5. Outside of those two players the health situation is good, though linebacker Edmund Miles and defensive tackle Jason Jefferson will be game-time decisions.

A look at five things to watch in Atlanta's first preseason game of 2009:

1) Jamaal Anderson: This week, the second of camp, it became noticeable the number of snaps five-year veteran Chauncey Davis was taking with the first team. If you see Anderson, the team's 2007 first-round selection, failing to get good pressure on the quarterback, it may a sign of things to come. In 2008, Davis had four sacks and was re-signed in the offseason for depth and to push Anderson for the starting job. In addition to Davis, Anderson has pressure from second-year player Kroy Biermann (2 sacks in '08) and 2009 fourth-round pass-rush specialist Lawrence Sidbury.

2) Interior defensive line play: The defensive line play is something Smith pointed to as being of specific interest to him for Saturday. The franchise has upgraded the depth in the interior significantly. Fifth-year starter Jonathan Babineaux is solid at one tackle position but the other tackle and the depth in general is something to pay close attention to.

'09 first-round choice Peria Jerry was drafted to be a starter, but Trey Lewis, Jason Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, and Vance Walker have all had positive moments in camp. Lewis, in his third year with the team, has struggled with injuries during his career and has found himself sitting out practices thus far in camp so it's possible that he needs a good showing to make the team.

Thomas Johnson is a player Smith has mentioned a few times. “He is a very explosive player," Smith said on Wednesday. "He can really get off on the ball. He’s one of our strongest and heaviest players. He’s done a lot of really good things so far in camp.”

Rookie Vance Walker is another player Smith has said he is pleased with the progression of. “When we did our due diligence we felt that Vance was a guy that had the opportunity to play in this League," Smith said last week. "He’s going to get every opportunity over the next 35 days to see if he’s a guy that can. Up to this point, he’s done very well.”

3) Cornerback play: Entering his third year with the team, Chris Houston has the No. 1 cornerback locked up, but it's anything but a given that he can retain it. Smith likes what he's seen lately from Houston, but pointed out on Wednesday that he expects continued progression from the 2007 second-round draft pick.

"I think Chris has improved," said Smith. "This is his third season and he is a guy that I think will continue to get better. It’s time for him to make that big step. In that third year that’s usually what happens. Chris is gaining confidence and it’s his second year in our system so we anticipate that he’ll play sufficiently.”

Brent Grimes' play through two complete weeks of camp has been exceptional. He'll need to continue that good work and translate it to the field of play to continue to hold onto the starting job that's he's earned thus far.

Rookies Chris Owens and William Middleton are two players Smith says he's excited to watch perform. The team has especially high hopes for Owens, who's often pitted against some of the team's tougher receivers during practices. The third-round selection is a quick and physical player who has flashed some real positive moments in training camp.

Second-year nickel corner Chevis Jackson has been solid and the team seems to really value his play at the nickel, a position that is essentially a starting job.

4) Wide receiver depth: The receiver position has been a curious one for the Falcons this preseason. Entering camp, it was an obvious strength, but the holdout of Pro Bowler Roddy White and injury to Douglas changed the face of the unit.

White eventually signed his megadeal, but the battle for the slot receiver and 4th and 5th on the depth chart has become very interesting. In a move that perhaps signals some dissatisfaction with what was on the roster, the Falcons brought in veterans Marty Booker and Robert Ferguson.

Booker, a 2002 Pro Bowler, at 33 is stable, but his playmaking days may be over. Ferguson is a younger alternative (29) and has shown an ability to fit in at the slot.

Eric Weems, in his third year with the team, is another player in the battle. In camp, he's shown toughness and his ability in the punt return game keeps him in the conversation.

5) Punt return game: With Douglas out, the punt return role is up for grabs and could be one of the more contested jobs in camp. Smith has called it an open audition and he's watching it closely, hoping a play maker can emerge.

Heading into Saturday, Grimes is listed as the punt returner, but the head coach has said receivers Chandler Williams and Brian Finneran will continue to get looks. Weems is also part of the audition.

"We’ll just rotate those guys through camp and preseason games and see how they handle it in a pressure situation in a real game," Smith said Wednesday.

Additional Training Camp coverage

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