The Falcons are set to cut down their roster from 86 players to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday.
They’ll make the cuts in stages with the bulk of them being made today and rest by the deadline on Saturday.
Then they can re-stock the practice squad with 10 players plus their international exemption player, tight end Alex Gray.
Here’s my projected 53-man roster:
QUARTERBACKS (2)
Dan Quinn has some kind words for Matt Simms after the Jacksonville game. “I thought overall Matt really showed himself well, and he showed that he can play in this league at quarterback,” Quinn said. “It’s not just tonight. He’s shown that in practice and the way he’s demonstrated that all through the spring. I thought he, in particular, (against Jacksonville) was somebody that really understood leading the whole group, getting calls, and battling.”
On roster: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub
Projected cuts: Simms, Alek Torgersen
RUNNING BACKS (4)
A tough decision will be made between Terron Ward and Brian Hill. We have the team going with Hill, when it appears that Ward out-played him in the exhibition season.
On roster: Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman and Hill. Fullback Derrick Coleman.
Projected cuts: Terron Ward, Kelvin Taylor, Jhurrell Pressley, FB Tyler Renew
WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
Reggie Davis had a great camp. Look for him to come back on the practice squad. Marvin Hall did enough to make the team and Nick Williams survives as a special teamer.
On the roster: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Andre Roberts, Justin Hardy and Marvin Hall.
Projected cuts: Davis, Nick Williams, Josh Magee, Deante Burton and Anthony Dable.
TIGHT ENDS (3)
Second-year man Austin Hooper is set to takeover the starting spot. In this little exercise Eric Saubert was the last player to be cut.
On the roster: Hooper, Levine Toilolo and Joshua Perkins
Projected cuts: Eric Saubert, Darion Griswold, (Alex Gray to practice squad as international exemption player.)
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said we might see Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer playing. Perhaps he’s going to have messenger guards like Paul Brown back in the old days.
On the roster: Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder (tackles); Andy Levitre, Garland, Schweitzer and Sean Harlow (guards); Alex Mack (center), Austin Pasztor (tackle), Andreas Knappe (tackle).
Projected cuts: Daniel Brunskill, D.J. Tialavea (tackles); Travis Averill (guard); Cornelius Edison and Larson Graham (centers)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)
Tackle Dontari Poe and end Jack Crawford were added in free agency to bolster the group. The team also used its first-round draft pick to select defensive end Takkarist McKinley.
Poe, Crawford and McKinley have had strong exhibition seasons and look like upgrades.
On the roster: Tackles -- Grady Jarrett, Poe, Ra'Shede Hageman, Crawford and Joe Vellano (tackles); Ends -- Derrick Shelby Brooks Reed, Adrian Clayborn, Courtney Upshaw and McKinley.
Projected cuts: Taniela Tupou (tackle); Chris Odom and Martin Ifedi (ends).
LINEBACKERS (6)
The Falcons have some tough decisions at linebacker and there could be a surprise or two.
“Our linebackers can run,” Quinn said. “That’s from top to bottom. The speed that they play with shows up on tape. It shows up on the way they hit. It shows up on the way they go after the ball…. we’ve certainly got some tough decisions with that spot as well.”
LaRoy Reynold has a chest injury and could start the season on the physically unable to perform list.
On the roster: Vic Beasley, Deion Jones, De'Vondre Campbell, Duke Riley, Kemal Ishmael and Jermaine Grace.
Projected cuts: Reynolds to PUP list. J'Terius Jones, Jack Lynn and Josh Keyes
CORNERBACKS (6)
The Falcons are looking for a fourth cornerback to replace Jalen Collins, who was suspended for 10 games. C.J. Goodwin has been the steadiest of the group, followed by Deji Olatoye. Blidi Wreh-Wilson made a strong push in the final exhibition game. The two-year experiment to convert Akeem King to a cornerback appears over.
On the roster: Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Brian Poole, C.J. Goodwin and Blidi Wreh-Wilson.
Projected cuts: Akeem King, Deji Olatoye and Jarnor Jones.
SAFETIES (4)
The Falcons appear set here if they keep four safeties. They had to keep five last season because Keanu Neal was coming off a knee surgery.
On the roster: Ricardo Allen, Neal, Damontae Kazee and Sharrod Neasman,
Projected cuts: Quincy Mauger and Marcelis Branch.
SPECIALISTS (3)
The Falcons appear set here with punter Matt Bosher, kicker Matt Bryant and long snapper Josh Harris. However, they have been impressed with kicker Mike Meyer.
“Mike Meyer has done a really good job,” special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “It’s always good when you’re not talking about the kicker. He’s kicking off and he’s getting the balls in play. He’s putting it in the corner. He’s putting good hangtime on the ball in terms of kickoffs.
On the roster (3): Bryant, Bosher and Harris
Projected cut: Mike Meyer.
Credit: ccompton@ajc.com
Credit: ccompton@ajc.com
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