DON'T: Expect much out of the starters Thursday
Provided that the first-team crew aren't colossal failures in the opening quarter, expect most of the starters (or otherwise termed, first-team) to be pulled after a series or two. It would be surprising if they played the entire first quarter.
However, if they're still on the field by that point, then the coaching staff believes that they needed more work and thus, weren't playing very well. Yet, one shouldn't necessarily commit fandom suicide or drink to an alarming excess because of it.
The team isn't implementing a focused gameplan to beat the Falcons; they're more concerned about their own players, where they fit, how they can contribute, and what changes need to be applied to correct certain mistakes.
DO: Get familiar with backup and bubble players
We have an intense three-way battle for the vacant starting strong safety position between George Iloka, Taylor Mays and rookie Shawn Williams. Iloka is listed with the first-team defense, so it's a reasonable conclusion that he'll start on Thursday.
Mays and Williams should rotate throughout the evening, similar to how the team rotated all three during trianing camp. How much will Iloka play? That's undetermined. He may accumulate more snaps than the other starters because the team is continuing evaluations at the position to determine who will start.
We're also looking forward at battles near the bottom of the roster, such as the fifth and sixth cornerback, fourth running back, backup quarterback, fifth and sixth receiver. Preseason games like this carry a critical component for players vying for a spot on the 53-man roster. This is their playoffs.
DON'T: Apply this game as a reaction to the season as a whole.
In fact, we'd argue that applying any predication based on what you see in the preseason is extremely risky.
Offenses and defenses, from both teams, will play more generic formations, routes, and plays. Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer will want to keep their best cards buried away for more important games during the regular season.
Additionally the backups and third-team players will play together, which never happens during the regular season. You'll have a backup starting in spots because of an injury with the starter, but never will an entire second and third team unit play together when it matters (we're not talking about mop-up duty).
So if the second-team offense struggles with a bunch of three-and-out possessions, it's not like Josh Johnson is throwing to the receivers that will be contributing much. However, watching one-on-one matchups is a completely different animal.
DO: Look for those rookies
Tyler Eifert and Bernard Giovani may have a similar time-card with the first-teamers in an effort to avoid injuries.
But the rest of Cincinnati's '13 draft class will turn in a significant number of snaps on Thursday. From Shawn Williams rotating in at start safety, to Margus Hunt's continued development as a defensive end, and even Cobi Hamilton, who may benefit with playing time with A.J. Green and Andrew Hawkins sidelined this weekend, you will see a lot of rookies contributing Thursday night. Sean Porter should make his debut early, as will Tanner Hawkinson.
Provided that the first-team crew aren't colossal failures in the opening quarter, expect most of the starters (or otherwise termed, first-team) to be pulled after a series or two. It would be surprising if they played the entire first quarter.
However, if they're still on the field by that point, then the coaching staff believes that they needed more work and thus, weren't playing very well. Yet, one shouldn't necessarily commit fandom suicide or drink to an alarming excess because of it.
The team isn't implementing a focused gameplan to beat the Falcons; they're more concerned about their own players, where they fit, how they can contribute, and what changes need to be applied to correct certain mistakes.
DO: Get familiar with backup and bubble players
We have an intense three-way battle for the vacant starting strong safety position between George Iloka, Taylor Mays and rookie Shawn Williams. Iloka is listed with the first-team defense, so it's a reasonable conclusion that he'll start on Thursday.
Mays and Williams should rotate throughout the evening, similar to how the team rotated all three during trianing camp. How much will Iloka play? That's undetermined. He may accumulate more snaps than the other starters because the team is continuing evaluations at the position to determine who will start.
We're also looking forward at battles near the bottom of the roster, such as the fifth and sixth cornerback, fourth running back, backup quarterback, fifth and sixth receiver. Preseason games like this carry a critical component for players vying for a spot on the 53-man roster. This is their playoffs.
DON'T: Apply this game as a reaction to the season as a whole.
In fact, we'd argue that applying any predication based on what you see in the preseason is extremely risky.
Offenses and defenses, from both teams, will play more generic formations, routes, and plays. Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer will want to keep their best cards buried away for more important games during the regular season.
Additionally the backups and third-team players will play together, which never happens during the regular season. You'll have a backup starting in spots because of an injury with the starter, but never will an entire second and third team unit play together when it matters (we're not talking about mop-up duty).
So if the second-team offense struggles with a bunch of three-and-out possessions, it's not like Josh Johnson is throwing to the receivers that will be contributing much. However, watching one-on-one matchups is a completely different animal.
DO: Look for those rookies
Tyler Eifert and Bernard Giovani may have a similar time-card with the first-teamers in an effort to avoid injuries.
But the rest of Cincinnati's '13 draft class will turn in a significant number of snaps on Thursday. From Shawn Williams rotating in at start safety, to Margus Hunt's continued development as a defensive end, and even Cobi Hamilton, who may benefit with playing time with A.J. Green and Andrew Hawkins sidelined this weekend, you will see a lot of rookies contributing Thursday night. Sean Porter should make his debut early, as will Tanner Hawkinson.
