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**papachaz** · 08-13-2012, 08:23 PM

Coach Smith has announced he wants to leave the starters in on both sides of the ball for 25 to 30 snaps. Last week, the offense got 21 snaps, and the starting defense only got 9. Kudos to the defensive starters for 3 consecutive 3 and outs!

But coach says he wants to see more of the starting D, and there are a few players they'll take out, but he wants to get the OL starters some more reps. I'm going to say this means we'll see Redman or JPW behind the starting OL some of the second quarter.

what's everyone's thoughts on this? do we risk leaving the starters out there longer risking injury in a PS game? Obviously if coach says so, then they will. I'm just thinking about it this way. Ok we all know Dent is in the base defense, and you keep the core guys on base D in on ST, but he had enough reps on ST last year, and yet we leave him out there to get hurt, when we have plenty of other guys trying to make the roster on ST to look at......of course, hindsight is perfect isn't it.

My opinion is, get the starters some reps to keep them in rythym no doubt, but don't risk them by letting them stay too long. what do YOU think?

***phocis850*** · 08-13-2012, 09:30 PM

Injuries happen. Being ready for the first game properly is very important. I'm not worried, its football.

AUTiger7222 · 08-13-2012, 09:33 PM

I still don't see how people can blame Smitty for Dent getting hurt. He could have just as easily gotten hurt on a defensive play. Starting linebackers have to play ST in the NFL. That's just the way it is. Only the elite of the elite linebackers don't play ST.

Jesus · 08-13-2012, 10:09 PM

Like Phocis said injuries happen. You can't stop them. I don't see why its more noble to get hurt in a regular season game rather than a preseason game. Fact is we have a new offense and defense. Our boys need the practice. I don't see the big names playing in week 4 though.

**papachaz** · 08-14-2012, 01:10 AM

i see the point, but.....well, never mind. I wasn't blaming smitty per se, and I do agree we need to practice and be ready for game one. thing is, now Dent is hurt and can't practice in practice OR the next couple of preseason games.....

i guess i'm just frustrated as heck at the injuries we get every freakin year. and some article i was reading yesterday, some stupid taint fan was all 'the Falcons have been so lucky they haven't had any injuries the last few years' of course it was fun to go off on the idiot.....stupid taint fans

**Radical** · 08-14-2012, 02:12 AM

I say any "ramp up" we see in first-string play has more to do with the fact we're installing two new schemes, with a fairly radical change in defense.

ggp · 08-14-2012, 02:21 AM

The starters need their reps. The Falcons have lost games early in recent seasons that they should have won. The team needs to get off to a strong start and the only way to do that is to get the starters ready now.

Injuries happen.

***phocis850*** · 08-14-2012, 08:49 AM

If Dent was injured in the seasons game 1 would you be saying the sane thing?

juraitwaluzka · 08-14-2012, 09:40 AM

I would actually have a problem with it if it happened in game one, our starting MLB doesn't need to be in on ST. In preseason they are still battling for positions.

Can we trade JPW for Patrick Willis?

dmo_dlo · 08-14-2012, 10:32 AM

There are two problems with Dent's injury:

1- Starting MLB playing ST: Your starting player at a position where you're extremely thin due to injuries and departing players risks injury by playing ST. This is risky but I can live with that.

2- Starting MLB playing ST in preseason: This one is inexcusable. Dent was an outstanding ST player so he won't benefit by practicing ST play in preseason. However, he has almost never played MLB in the NFL so he needs all the practice he can get for his PRIMARY position. Playing ST would take away from that in addition to risking injury during the preseason. Let him focus on playing MLB and come September ask him to play ST if you must.