Preseason Game 3: Tenessee Titans

The Falcons get their first win in the preseason with a 17-3 win over the Titans friday. Ryan started his first game and all of the rookies shined in the contest.

A poised, comfortable Ryan completed 15 of 21 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown (97.7 passer rating) in the game. Ryan spread his completions among six different receivers, including Brian Finneran, who got several reps with the first string and finished with a team-high five catches for 53 yards. Michael Jenkins also had five receptions (44 yards).

Running back Michael Turner fought for 16 tough yards on five carries. For another week, rookie Sam Baker had a solid day at left tackle. This time the rookie held Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch without a sack.

Equally impressive was Ryan's patience as the offense eased out of the gate.

Three of the Falcons four quarterbacks have started in the preseason, but Smith ended the night saying the team isn't ready to name a starter.

“We’re going to go back and watch the tape," he said. "We’re going to be very systematic. We’ve said from the very beginning, in terms of how we’re going to put this football team together that it’s very important that we as a staff get in and watch the tape. We want to really evaluate where we are as a football team. We’re getting down to two weeks before the regular season. We’re not ready at this point to name a starter. We will continue to evaluate. When there is clarity, we will make that announcement.”

Mike Smith Confirms Horns Release

The Falcons released veteran wide receiver Joe Horn Tuesday afternoon. Head Coach Mike Smith confirmed the move after practice.

"I'm disappointed that Joe didn't get an opportunity to compete because of his (hamstring) injury in training camp and because he chose not to come to (organized team activities)," Smith said. "We're going to move forward. We feel very comfortable about the receiving corps that we have and I wish Joe the best of luck as he moves on."

Widely published reports had the receiver wanting to leave Atlanta for much of the off-season and training camp.

Horn, a 13-year veteran, signed with the Falcons prior to the 2007 season. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection (2000, '01, '02, '04) and established himself as one of the game's best receivers during a long tenure with the New Orleans Saints. No player in Saints history approaches Horn's seven-year totals of 523 catches for 7,622 yards and 50 touchdowns. He owns a Saints record with 27 games of 100 or more yards receiving.

Ryan to start against Titans

Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith said rookie quarterback Matt Ryan will start against the Tennessee Titans Friday evening. The starters are expected to work with the first team through the first two quarters and early in the second half during the team's third preseason contest.

"When you go into your third game you want to try to take your first unit through halftime and through the first series of the second half," Smith said. "We're going to take our guys through the second half baring a couple of guys that might be a little banged up."

Ryan leads all Falcons quarterbacks this preseason with 175 passing yards one touchdown and one interception. In two games the rookie has a 68.6 quarterback rating.

But this will be his first start.

"I talked to Coach Smith about that before so it's exciting to be out there and go in right away. We're going to have a good week of preparation and hopefully we can play well Friday night," Ryan said Monday afternoon. "The biggest thing is you have to stay composed. Guys move faster in the NFL than they do in college so you have to make smart decisions toward the end of a play. The big thing is to stay relaxed and go out there and stay composed."

Ryan admits he didn't make the smartest decision in his last game when he threw his first interception. The pick was returned by Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden for a touchdown.

The rookie said he reviewed the tape Monday. He learned and will put it behind him. If his quick progress through the off-season is any indication, it may be a while before he makes a similar mistake.

"I think I've made pretty good progress and continued to improve since I got here," he said. "I think I'm a lot farther along than I was when I started and hopefully I can continue to make strides as the year progresses."

Preseason Game 2: Indianapolis Colts

This week the Falcons played their first game in the new renovated Georgia Dome. Although they dropped their second straight preseason game, Michael Turner set the tone for the first home game. He broke a 52 yard run on the second snap of the game to set up and early field goal. On the next series, Turner got reacquainted with the Colts secondary, heading up the middle for a 63-yard gain. The play set up another Falcons field goal and put the running back on track for a brief, four-carry, 113-yard night.

“Honestly, it was probably one of the easiest quarters of football I have ever played," said Joey Harrington, who started the game at quarterback. "The way we ran the ball made my job as a quarterback easy. There were a couple of times when I handed the ball off, looked back inside and saw the offensive line had created a pretty big hole. The offensive line did a great job up front and Michael did a great job running the ball.”

The Falcons defense held a Manning-less offense to 149 yards and three points in the first half. The Colts took a 10-6 lead into the locker room with a 67-yard interception return by Kelvin Hayden.

The pick came off the hot hand of rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, who came into the game with 11:20 remaining in the first half. He finished 8-of-16 for 62 yards in his second professional game. That ended a promising drive inside the two-minute warning that Ryan kept alive with a 15-yard completion to Roddy White on third down. The quarterback found the receiver open over the middle as he rolled out of the pocket and threw on the run.

Preseason Game 1: Jacksonville Jaguars

Although the Falcons fell 20-17 in their first preseason game, they showed much improvement. Matt Ryan threw for 113 yards and one touchdown in his NFL debut. "I felt pretty good after the second series I was in there," Ryan said. "In the first series, I was a bit nervous. I settled down – did some good things and some bad things – but got more comfortable as I went along."

The rest of the team also showed much improvement. Newly acquired running back Michael Turner played a couple of snaps. He had 22 yards rushing averaging 4.4 yards a carry.“It was pretty good," said Turner, who is taking on feature back responsibilities after spending four years as LaDanian Tomlinson's backup in San Diego. "We’ve still got to work out some kinks here and there. We need to try to eliminate the penalties. If felt great to finally start the 2008 season.”

The Falcons also debuted another important position, new coach Mike Smith. “It didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to," Head coach Mike Smith said. "Of course when you come down in a football game, you want to win. I told the guys in (the locker room) that we are not into moral victories. I thought our guys play hard and with passion. There were some really good plays and I think there was some play that we have to get some corrections on. Until we get a chance to watch the film and really get a chance to evaluate it, it’s really going to be hard to pinpoint the areas that we are going to have to work on.”

Matt Ryan: The Start of a New Era?

After Michael Vick's departure from the NFL, the Falcon's future seemed to go downhill. The 07' season was not at all promising. New coach Bobby Petrino deserted the franchise with only a few games left during the regular season. Petrino accepted an offer from Alabama and interim coach Emmitt Thomas took his place. After the dismal season they had the third overall pick in the upcoming draft. There was no debate as to who the Falcons were going to pick up.

The Falcons signed Matt Ryan not long after he was drafted. He was given a six year contract worth $72 million with $34.75 million guaranteed. There was much debate after the contract signing. A rookie that has never played at the professional level was making more then veterans without stepping on the field once.

The Falcons have a choice, they can either start Matt Ryan, or they can continue to struggle with the other quarterbacks. The Raiders had a similar problem a year ago. They signed a player for a huge amount of money and he has not proven himself worthy. I believe that the Falcons will give Matt Ryan the nod at starting quarterback in the first week. That will give the young rookie time to develop as a quarterback and as a leader. The team has nothing to lose with starting Matt. It is a young team and with time and patience they will be better.