Falcons vs. Dolphins 5 Preseason Observations: Rookies Shine, Position Battles Heat Up

The Atlanta Falcons’ defense starred in Friday night’s preseason win over the Miami Dolphins - more on that and four other takeaways from the commanding victory.

The Atlanta Falcons returned to action with an impressive 19-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins during Friday night's preseason opener at Hard Rock Stadium.

But beyond the score and dominant finish, not to be lost is that the preseason is designed for evaluation, and Falcons coach Arthur Smith has plenty to assess after Friday night.

Here are five notable takeaways ...

HELLAMS CAPITALIZES ON EXPANDED ROLE

After working largely with the third-team defense in training camp, Falcons seventh-round pick DeMarcco Hellams found himself on the field to start Friday night's contest alongside Atlanta's second-string defenders.

Better yet, Hellams capped off his first drive with an interception and continued to impress, collecting a team-high seven tackles and showing some of his signature power over the middle. Things weren’t all smooth, as he was evaluated late for a concussion after a hit over the middle … but his statement had long been made by then.

The Falcons' No. 4 safety spot is up for grabs, and the primary challengers appear to be Hellams and Micah Abernathy. The battle will likely run throughout the remainder of the preseason, but Hellams is certainly stating his case early.

IGWEBUIKE LEADS OFFENSIVE CHARGE

One of the more intriguing battles to watch this preseason is Atlanta's No. 4 running back competition, and both Carlos Washington Jr. and Godwin Igwebuike impressed in their first live runs.

Washington Jr. was slotted ahead of Igwebuike on the first depth chart and received the start on Friday night, but Igwebuike found the endzone first, putting Atlanta on the board with an 11-yard rushing touchdown.

For the game, Igwebuike rushed for a team-high 70 yards on 13 carries, while Washington Jr. added 12 runs for 27 yards and three receptions for 19 yards.

Like at safety, this battle should run all the way up to final cuts, but for now, Igwebuike looks like he may have surged ahead.

Regardless, early indications from both ballcarriers are encouraging for Atlanta's depth behind the three-headed monster of Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson.

WOODSIDE SHOWS COMMAND, MAKES CASE TO CARRY THREE QBs

With neither starter Desmond Ridder nor backup Taylor Heinicke playing, third-string quarterback Logan Woodside received the nod under center and looked comfortable from the start.

By the end of the first quarter, Woodside completed six of seven passes for 48 yards, finding five different receivers along the way. The former Tennessee Titans reserve finished the game 14 of 23 for 146 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions while taking three sacks.

Smith wanted to see if his team needed to carry a third quarterback on the roster - or perhaps more importantly, if Woodside belonged - and saw promising signs early.

DEFENSE MAKES BIG PLAYS IN BIG SPOT

Hellams’ interception largely set the tone for Atlanta’s defense, as the unit proceeded to make two stops inside its own 10-yard line, saw Lukas Denis make an interception to put the finishing touches on a once-promising Dolphins drive derailed by penalties and a sack by corner Natrone Brooks and a late, game-sealing pick-six from Breon Borders, who had a big pass breakup earlier in the game to thwart a scoring opportunity.

There were few players on the field who figure to be key parts of the Falcons’ defense this fall, with only outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and cornerbacks Dee Alford, Mike Hughes and Tre Flowers seeing snaps after taking first-team reps in camp.

Ebiketie and Alford both shined, with the former logging two quarterback hits and a strip sack while the latter had a 79-yard punt return touchdown and pass defended … but the story remains about the reserves.

And so, while there wasn’t much learned on Friday night about Atlanta’s starting defense, there was a clear lesson told on the toughness and fight that the rest of the unit possesses.

LANDMAN, DAVIS HIGHLIGHT STRONG LB SHOWING

Another position battle of particular intrigue during camp was the fight to fill up the Nos. 4 and 5 linebacker spots, with Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen and Mykal Walker holding down the top three spots.

The early favorites entering the preseason were Nate Landman and Tae Davis, and both players flashed in positive ways on Friday night. Davis had six tackles, which trailed only Hellams for most on the team, and added a tackle for loss, while Landman had five tackles and pitched in another for loss.

It was also an impressive showing for undrafted rookie linebacker Mike Jones, who had only two tackles but added half a sack and a pair of quarterback hits.

One final shoutout goes to 2022 third-round pick DeAngelo Malone, who had four tackles, one of which coming on special teams, and continues to flash throughout the summer.

The Falcons will return to action on Friday, Aug. 18, with a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

---

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @ByDanielFlick

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.

Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.

Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the Si.com team page here