A somewhat subdued, sloppy, boring affair given Michael Penix/the ATL 1st-team didn’t play at all, and the Titans did run with Cam Ward for a bit but didn’t put the usual 1st-team weapons around him, so it all looked/was disjointed.
The Titans won by attrition. The Falcons had chances at the end but couldn’t do much with their deep backups. I would have liked to have seen ATL do what we’re seeing all over this preseason -- feed off a home crowd and show a lot of energy in taking down an easy-to-beat opponent, but ATL played with little spark/they played down to the Titans backups. Not a good sign for what I wonder may be (arguably) the worst head coach in the NFL (Raheem Morris)...saved by the fact that Brian Callahan is worse.
Player Notes...
-- Cam Ward (2-7 for 42 yards, 0 TD/0 INT) started but was without Calvin Ridley or Tony Pollard and a few other 1st-teamers. Why? I have no idea. My thought is -- Brian Callahan is a terrible coach, and this is all (the current regime) going to end very badly for the Titans, who are trying to become one of the worst run organizations in the NFL from the GM group and down to the coaches.
The numbers didn’t look great for Ward, but it’s a false read because Ward was mostly good, very good...very good for a rookie playing in his 2nd game with no weapons but playing like he’s a 10-year, unshakable veteran. He looks great, unrattled in the pocket and reads the field well and makes smart throws with easy velocity.
Ward will have some rookies bumps and bruises all 2025. Facing at Denver Week 1 is tragic. But Ward is gonna be fine in the long run when they get a new staff in there in 2026...if they get a decent new staff.
The way I would play Ward is...initially avoid for FF 2025. Don’t draft in a DRD (unless SuperFlex or QB desperate) unless you got time to wait...but if you ‘pass’ for now, he’ll not rack numbers early on or maybe all year, and then some of the bloom comes off the rookie rose...the new car drops in value/depreciation as it drives off the lot -- then come after him, if you want in, when his ‘buzz’ fades midseason.
It's not out of the question he puts up some numbers with a lot of 4th-quarter padding this season, but most all rookies are peak value before they play...then start dropping fast once the ‘newness’/’rookie-ness hype’ wears off.
-- Titans WR/TE report...
They gave Cam Ward the rookies to work with some in this game, which I do appreciate as a scout -- but as an NFL coach/exec, I wouldn’t want my franchise QB out there in a preseason game without his main weapons and missing some OLs, and putting him at greater risk of getting whacked? Let the rookies prove themselves in camp and joint practices or let them rotate with the real first-team.
But it was the rookie weapons out in force this game...and here are my notes on what I saw...
Elic Ayomanor (2-47-0/4) got the best work from Cam among the group. And Ayomanor is OK...he’s just not anyone that stands out. There’s a 100+ backup WRs in the NFL that look and work just like him. It’s a wasted draft pick, really. If I’m drafting a WR, I want them to be something unique or special...not just a ‘JAG’. James Proche (3-35-0/4) and Bryce Oliver (1-7-0/1) are arguably the same or better talents as Ayomanor, for a fraction of the cost and didn’t waste a draft pick to get.
Chimere Dike (0-0-0/2) does have something...he is the team’s 2nd-best WR, to me (albeit/remember this is possibly the single worst WR depth chart in the NFL...so, the bar is low). He and Ward couldn’t connect in their limited time on the field. Dike should be the starting slot at some point in-season, when they realize Tyler Lockett is ‘done’.
UDFA WR/Cam college teammate Xavier Restrepo (2-18-0/2) does have something...he has that ‘Wes Welker’/slot thing going for him. He looked solid running those underneath routes and finding a way to get open with quick cuts. He should make this team, especially this team/WR depth chart, but not sure if he will because he didn’t go into the game until later/I didn’t see him with Cam at all.
TE Gunnar Helm (4-48-1/4)...super slow, good hands...made a great TD catch in double coverage while getting hit as the ball arrived, but he hung on for the score. He’s not a difference maker but he’s gonna make this team and play snaps right away, as a backup TE.
-- The best thing for the Falcons from this game: UDFA rookie RB Nathan Carter (9-63-1, 2-9-0/2). He has what it takes to be in the NFL. For now, he’s totally buried in ATL, but he is gonna make this roster...I think.
Carter had a 43-yard TD run in this game...and had another like 20-30+ yard run called back. He showed quickness, burst, and has really shaped up his body/added muscle nicely (and he already was pretty stout).
5’9”/200, 4.43 40-time/7.15 three-cone at his Michigan State Pro Day with a very nice (for his size) 23 bench reps and a 40” vertical. He’s got something but he’s likely going to be buried/drift around the NFL for a bit before he lands some kinda shot through some team’s injury crisis.
-- Titans rookie RB Kalel Mullings (8-25-0) looked the best of the TEN RBs in this game (no Pollard, no Spears)...but ATL’s Nathan Carter looked better/more urgent, but Mullings is good/OK. He’s another candidate for...IF the Titans try to stash him on the practice squad, LAC/former college coach Harbaugh may snag him.
-- Falcons WR report...
No starters...and that includes Casey Washington, who is set to be the starter for Darnell Mooney’s 1-2-3-4+ week absence to start the season.
I think the Falcons should use two-in-a-row preseason all-star-ish performer Chris Blair (3-78-1/5) in for Mooney, but what do I know. I like Washington OK...he has good hands and is a respectable choice, but I see him more as a possession WR...one to replace Ray-Ray McCloud. Both Washington and Blair will see time with Mooney out, I’m sure.
Rookie UDFA WR Nick Nash (3-14-0/7) has good+ hands and nice college numbers, but he’s just a bit too slow to take too seriously for the NFL.
-- IDP notes...
I have no idea why Cedric Gray (7 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 TFL) is not the obvious starter at ILB for Tennessee over James Williams (3 tackles, 1 TFL). The competition must still be open if they both played in this game. And if you watch the tape, Williams was low impact again while Gray maybe played his best game as a pro here. He made several, noticeable impact plays. Gray may have taken this job this very night.
ATL 1st-round pick rookie EDGE James Pearce (4 tackles) looks like an edge rusher created in a laboratory...good size, nice reach, incredibly quick and ‘bendy’...so, he rushes the backfield well -- but that’s only ‘so valuable’. In the other parts of the game, he looks a bit lost. This feels like he’s gonna be an enigma player...looks great one game/series and then disappears for several series and games. Why am I getting visions of Vic Beasley here?
