Starters look sharp in rainy win

By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/26/05

JACKSONVILLE — It was the preseason game in which the Falcons were supposed to look like the Falcons are supposed to look.

Atlanta's starters stayed on the field for the better part of two quarters against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Alltel Stadium on Thursday night. The 23-7 victory featured cohesiveness among the first-teamers and a much-needed breakthrough by wide receiver Michael Jenkins, showing that the Falcons might be ready to open their season in high gear.

"When you're going against a good defense like Jacksonville has and you have some success like we did it gives you some confidence that you got things going a little bit we feel good coming out of that game," coach Jim Mora said.

The only real downside was that starting split end Dez White and starting free safety Bryan Scott suffered leg injuries, the severity of which was not immediately known. White hurt his knee, while Scott, who missed most of training camp recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, injured his hip.

Depending on the severity of their injuries, Scott and White could miss next week's preseason finale at Miami, when the starters are expected to have their playing time curtailed in order to avoid further injuries heading into the Sept. 12 season-opening showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins, who had gotten off to a slow start since being promoted to the starting flanker ahead of Peerless Price at the outset of training camp, caught touchdown passes of 18 and 4 yards and had four catches for 35 yards overall.

Mora has said he's been waiting for one of his wide receivers to step out of the pack, and Jenkins, at least for one night, cast a shadow. He did fail to handle a slightly high pass from Matt Schaub late in the second quarter that resulted in an interception, but he atoned for that with his second score on a pass that was intended for tight end Alge Crumpler, but was tipped in his direction in the back of the end zone.

"It feels good to get the offense rolling early," Jenkins said.

The Falcons controlled the game clock, converted third downs, executed a balanced attack and scored on three of the four drives the starters played, with Todd Peterson kicking two field goals.

Tailback Warrick Dunn gained 65 yards on eight carries, 42 coming after Crumpler sprung him with a kick-out block on the team's second drive, which ended with Jenkins' first score.

Crumpler did more than block. He caught his first pass of the preseason on the game's second play to garner a first down and added another reception later.

Vick produced a combined 74 yards (5-of-10, 44 yards passing, and 30 yards on four rushes).