Game overview:
Wow, this was a barn burner! So many backups and backups to backups. No real starters or cool rookies played here. No Bijan, but we did get Achane.
Miami should’ve won this game a hundred times over. They were driving the ball all game it seemed, but then they’d blow it in the red zone. Atlanta had less talent on the field, but they were the luckiest ones on the field.
The game was 6-0 Falcons into the 4th-quarter, then cut to 6-3…then a late punt return TD by the Falcons extended their lead and soon after a tipped pick for a short pick-six and the Falcons walked away the big ‘winners’…but not really.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- The biggest thing I wanted to scout from this game was the debut of De’Von Achane (10-25-0, 4-41-0/4). He didn’t start, Miles Gaskin (7-57-0, 2-20-0/2) did…and Gaskin is still a legit #3-4 RB/depth RB in this league…he looked fine.
Achane came in after Gaskin and took a lot of touches and snaps, and you can see he’s fast…but I was never like ‘whoa’ watching his work here. He’s fast…not ‘wow’ fast, or wasn’t here. If I didn’t know he was ‘De’Von Achane’ watching this game, I woulda thought he was just another guy out here.
The fact that Achane got 12 touches and didn’t make any huge plays or just dominate the +/- 3rd-string defense for the Falcons…not endearing.
The fact that Achane played so much in this useless game…doesn’t make me think he’s gonna matter to start the FF 2023 season at all.
They worked him like a real RB, not a gadget guy…so, that’s good.
I like Achane, but going into this, as a scout -- I left his NFL debut feeling ‘flat’ on him. But it’s a rookie debut, so I won’t make any sweeping judgements yet. Many rookie RBs are tentative the first preseason game or two.
-- I was more impressed with Miami UDFA rookie RB out of Cal/BYU Chris Brooks (5-24-0, 1-11-0/1)…than I was impressed with Achane in this game -- maybe just because of the surprise factor it was for me.
Brooks has a bully size (6’1”/220+) and mediocre speed, but the bully part can rule over the speed. I was not clued into Brooks from my pre-NFL Draft work, but I’m on him now…to watch and see how he journeys in the NFL from a likely practice squad stash in September.
Brooks is a bully runner and has decent hands. There’s something here potentially. But it will begin as ‘ignored’ in the NFL…but that’s the story of most UDFAs who eventually make it to something.
-- Atlanta countered Miami with their own UDFA rookie RB, Carlos Washington (12-27-0, 3-19-0) started for the Falcons. I’ve heard good things about Washington. I’ve seen some of his work in college, and it wasn’t bad. But he did not catch my attention here…nothing close to like what Achane or Brooks showed for Miami.
-- The best player in this game…and/or the one that caught my attention the most -- 2nd-year WR Erik Ezukanma (2-52-0, 3-15-0/3). He had two terrific jet sweep runs and he had at least one fantastic catch. He’s buried on this roster, but I think he might wind up the #4 WR and gets ‘Robbie Chosen’, among others, punted off this team come 53-man roster time.
-- Ezukanma will likely get UDFA rookie WR, who I like a little, Chris Coleman (1-12-0/2) sent to the practice squad. Coleman has something, but not sure he’s willing to work for it like Ezukanma has (based on some Coleman scouting/background study).
-- Miami rookie CB Cam Smith (4 tackles, 1 PD) looked good…and that matters as he will be needed right away with the Jalen Ramsey injury. He looked legit.
-- Wrapping it up with DST talk…
I had someone mention that the Falcons defense looked promising here…maybe because they saw Miami had only scored 3 points in this game. But I am here to tell you -- this was not good for the ATL DST/depth. Miami was knocking at the goal line on the first three series and were in the red zone most of the game it seemed…but then the Dolphins would blow it. Mike White threw a goal line pick on the first drive. Then there was a 4th & goal miss 2nd or 3rd drive. It was a mess for scoring for Miami…and the Falcons D was not providing much resistance all game.
I walked away from this downgrading Atlanta’s sleeper (to FFM) DST a little bit. Miami should have won this game 25+ to under 10. The score was DEFINITELY NOT indicative of the reality of this game.
