Most Atlanta Falcons starters will most likely be held out of the match-up Thursday night, we already know that Julio will not at all this preseason, for the second straight year. This preseason should be dedicated to one thing and one thing only – building depth to ensure that the most talented roster in the NFC does not go 7-9 and miss the playoffs for a second straight year.
In that regard, having five pre-season games is a blessing. On the offensive side of the ball, this will allow the young running backs an ample opportunity to sort their room out, will give wide receivers not named Jones, Sanu or Ridley an opportunity to make their case and more importantly, this should give the offensive line time to establish their identity and depth.