20 Questions: No. 17 - Game night

The 20 Questions series will run every few days leading up to the end of training camp and the start of the NFL season.

No. 17: What should I expect to see out of the Falcons in tonight's preseason game against Jacksonville?

Hopefully, a different team from last year. A lot of football fans don't care a whole lot about the preseason because they say it doesn't mean anything. I beg to differ. While the season is certainly a whole lot more exciting than the four games that make up the preseason for each team, these mean-nothing games can tell you a lot about how a team is going to perform once games start counting.

That said, you need to watch preseason games differently than you watch regular season games. During the preseason, it doesn't matter how many touchdowns Peyton Manning throws. You already know he's aces, so what he does isn't important. What is important, however, is what the younger, lesser experienced players do during the preseason.

Tonight, I'm going to really keep a close eye on Matt Ryan. Chris Redman has been announced as this week's starter, but head coach Mike Smith said all the quarterbacks are going to get equal time. This will be Ryan's first taste of what an NFL field is really like, and how he performs tonight will tell you all you need to know about his preparation and ability to this point.

I'm also going to pay close attention to DJ Shockley. The boat is awfully full at quarterback for the Falcons with Ryan, Redman and Joey Harrington, which means Shockley is fighting for his career tonight. I'm rooting for him because I think he brings something to the field Harrington doesn't (OK, he brings a lot of things to the field that Harrington doesn't), but he has to know that tonight will go a long way in determining his future with the Falcons, or possibly any other NFL team.

Watch for the first team offensive line and see how it does against Jacksonville's front four. Watch for the Falcons' receivers and who plays where. Watch for rookie linebacker Curtis Lofton and see if he really has what it takes to start during his first year.

The final, perhaps most important, thing to watch for tonight will be coaching. We all remember last year's debacle when it came to play-calling. Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey's system will be on display tonight, although hardly in full effect. Even so, pay attention to the types of plays he runs in different situations. I'm sure you'll notice a vast difference from last year right away.