The final preseason game is one day away and with roster cuts due by 6 p.m. ET Saturday, there are several position battles that are undecided for the Atlanta Falcons, including wide receiver. For the rookies and young players in the wide receiver corps, the matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday night at Everbank Field will be their time to shine.
By Saturday afternoon, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, head coach Mike Smith, and the entire coaching staff will have combed over hours of film and countless notes on each member on the roster in order to get it down to the best 53-man squad.
At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, rookie WR Bernard Reedy has been a player on the radar since arriving at Flowery Branch for rookie minicamp, OTAs and then 2014 XFINITY® Atlanta Falcons Training Camp, particularly for his speed. Although it is a very noticeable trait, it's one he's humble about.
With the third preseason game only two days away, the players took full advantage of their final full practice before gameday.
QB T.J. Yates
LB Tyler Starr
QB Jeff Mathews
QB Sean Renfree
T Ryan Schraeder
QB Jeff Mathews and T Jake Matthews
RB Antone Smith and CB Devonta Glover-Wright
DE Malliciah Goodman
WR Julio Jones and WR Roddy White
CB Robert Alford
RB Josh Vaughan
LB Tim Dobbins and TE Brian Wozniak
T Jake Matthews
Defensive players warm up before practice
RB Jerome Smith
HBO's 'Hard Knocks' crew films during warm ups
RB Antone Smith
T Terren Jones
WR Geraldo Boldewijn breaks down the huddle
CB Robert McClain and DE Jonathan Massaquoi
DE Jonathan Massaquoi
RB Devonta Freeman
T Pat McQUistan, G Justin Blalock, T Lamar Holmes and G Jon Asamoah walk out to practice
G Jon Asamoah
DT Theo Agnew
Secondary coach Tim Lewis observes practice
Linebackers coach Glenn Pires yells directions to the players
FB Patrick DiMarco matches up against S Kimario McFadden
RB Antone Smith
Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong gives directions
QB Sean Renfree, QB Jeff Mathews and QB T.J. Yates warm up
Assistant offensive line coach Wade Harman talks to tight ends coach Chris Scelfo
WR Harry Douglas
LS Josh Harris and RB Jacquizz Rodgers listen to TE Levine Toilolo
CB Robert McClain works through a drill
TE Levine Toilolo
WR Harry Douglas warms up with HBO's 'Hard Knocks' crew films the action
P Matt Bosher
S Kemal Ishmael stands next to head coach Mike Smith on the sideline
WR Julio Jones
G Justin Blalock
Offensvie line coach, Mike Tice
T Jake Matthews, T Lamar Holmes and T Pat McQuistan
QB T.J. Yates
WR Roddy White
"I don't think it separates me from everybody else," Reedy said after Tuesday's practice. "It's a difference, of course, but I just try to use it to my advantage any way I can — on special teams, wide receiver."
Reedy understands the leading roles for wide receiver are already filled by Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Julio Jones, but to come in as a backup and to continue to learn from them would be beneficial to him.
In fact, it already has been.
Throughout training camp, not only did Reedy spend extra time watching film and taking notes in order to adjust to playing each day – something he found to be a hard task in itself – but he jotted down tips from the veteran trio and studied them each night.
Like all first years, Reedy wants to show what he brings to the table within the different groups he belongs to, knowing, even as a backup, he could be essential and wouldn't "lose a beat," he said.
As far as Thursday night's game, Reedy's mindset is to show the Falcons front office his skills and to show he's a worthy player to have on the final roster as they head into the regular season.
"I'm looking to prove my worth, my consistency," Reedy said.
