Jaguars Falcons Preview

Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, September 2nd, 7:30 Everbank Field, Jacksonville, FL Kickoff Weather: 85 degrees, 10% chance of precipitation

The Jaguars close out their preseason as they take on the Atlanta Falcons, a team that they’re intimately familiar with. The Jaguars and Falcons got together for some combined practices earlier this summer in Flowery Branch, GA.

All 22 starting jobs have been decided, and the final preseason game is little more than a tune-up for the Jaguars projected starters. In other words, if you’re looking to see the ones, don’t blink.

“I think we’ll probably play (the starters) a little bit,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said. “There may be a few cases where we hold a guy, but we’ll probably want to play our guys a little bit. So that’s something we have to work through.”

Here’s what to look for:

Watch the play on the back end of the defense. There seems to be two safety jobs open for three contestants. Sean Considine, Reggie Nelson and Tyron Brackenridge will be competing for the final two jobs and Thursday’s game is the last time they’ll be able to impress the coaching staff.

Time for the receivers to shine. The Jaguars could keep five or six receivers and that number could vary with the play of the guys Thursday night. Tiquan Underwood, Troy Williamson and John Matthews all figure in as the three guys competing for one or two spots.

Watch Brock. After a stellar camp and preseason, Brock Bolen is trying to climb up the depth chart. He is expected to get a heavy dose of carries and if he’s impressive the former Louisville Cardinal could find himself on the active roster.

Three to see:

Leger Douzable- Can Douzable complete the task and earn himself a roster spot after spotting his competition a week and a half? Walter Curry and Ko Quaye could have something to say about it.

Troy Williamson- The former first-round pick has seemed to slip of late and a roster spot is anything but guaranteed. Williamson will have to out-play Tiquan Underwood if he’s going be a member of this team for the third consecutive season.

Reggie Nelson- It all comes down to tonight for Reggie Nelson. Nelson’s draft status can no longer save him and if he can’t show why the team should keep him around for one more year, he’s likely gone. Reggie will have a tough time finding work as the Jaguars are said to have the worst safety talent in the league and if he can’t make this roster, there won’t be many others jockeying for his services.