Re-assessing which players have raised and lowered their stock after two preseason games.

STOCK UP

Thomas Johnson – He started the first preseason game and has added some size. It remains to be seen if Johnson will be the opening day starter, but he’s made an impression that he should at least land a reserve spot in the rotation.

Chris Owens – He’s given up two touchdown passes in the preseason, but Owens has impressed the coaches throughout the summer with his speed and instincts. While he’s probably not in the hunt for a starting position with Brent Grimes taking the lead there, he still stands a good shot of landing the nickel back spot by opening day.

Michael Turner – There was no doubt that Turner is the man. But he’s looked very strong in his two preseason performances so far.  Questions still remain whether Turner’s workload last year will have a detriment later in the season, but just like in 2008, Turner seems poised for a strong start in 2009.

Eric Weems – He seems almost a lock to make the final roster because he’s been the most consistent return threat, and has shown an ability to contribute somewhat on offense as a potential slot receiver. Weems isn’t the player that Harry Douglas is, but if he continues to play like he’s done, the team’s need to find that player elsewhere will be less by the end of the preseason.

STOCK DOWN

Peria Jerry – He is still in the hunt for the starting position, and the coaches will give him plenty of chances to win it. But Jerry hasn’t done much in the first two preseason games, suggesting that he may be better off working off the bench as the season starts.

Mike Peterson – Peterson hasn’t had great days in the first two preseason games. While he’s no threat to lose his starting job, don’t be surprised if he loses a lot of reps to Coy Wire or Jamie Winborn once the regular season starts.

D.J. Shockley – Shockley hasn’t been overly impressive in his two preseason performances, and may need a strong finish to salvage his roster spot. He just hasn’t shown the mastery of running an NFL offense that one should seem coming from a fourth-year veteran and a guy with a year’s experience in this offense. Comparing him to John Parker Wilson right now, it’s hard telling who’s the rookie and who’s the fourth-year veteran.

Peria Jerry

The Falcons announced the signing of first round pick Peria Jerry today. Jerry was the team’s top draft pick and last one to sign.

Terms of the deal are unknown, but it is a five-year deal. The Falcons begin training camp practices on Saturday. Jerry is expected to compete for the starting defensive tackle position opposite Jonathan Babineaux.

The Falcons become the sixth team to sign all of their draft picks.

William Moore

The Falcons announced the signing of second round safety William Moore today. That leaves only first round pick Peria Jerry as the team’s only unsigned rookie among its eight-member draft class.

Terms of Moore’s contract were not available, but it is likely a four-year contract worth upwards to around $3.5 million based on contracts signed by other draft picks. Moore is only the sixth second round pick to sign a contract.

The Falcons will kick off their first practices of training camp on August 1, leaving the team with a little more than a week to get a deal done with Jerry to prevent a holdout.

Unlike the offensive line, the defensive line is fairly unsettled as far as the starting lineup. Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham can be assured of retaining their starting spots, but the other two positions are up for grabs.

At left end, Chauncey Davis and Jamaal Anderson will compete. But this is Anderson’s job to lose. The team is fairly confident that Davis can handle the starting job if need be. He outplayed Anderson last year, despite coming off the bench. This summer may mark the last chance Anderson has to prove his worth. If he doesn’t impress, might find himself in a new city by the end of August.

At nose tackle, Trey Lewis and rookie Peria Jerry are expected to be the primary competitors. It seems the Falcons would prefer for Lewis to win the gig, and Jerry to serve as the backup tackle at both interior spots, but the coaches like Jerry enough that they would feel fairly comfortable starting him right away. Lewis was solid for the first half of 2007 before an injury sidelined him and he missed all of last year as well. So this summer will be really the first chance the coaches get a look at him outside OTAs and some film study.  So they definitely aren’t married to him as far as the starting spot goes.

The competition for the backup behind Abraham should also be fairly intense between Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury. The winner of that battle could get a lot of reps on passing downs, subbing for Abraham as well as working opposite him since the team likes to move both Anderson and Davis inside to rush the passer. It’s likely that both players will be retained, since the team is looking to develop more speed off the edge.

Also in the mix inside is Jason Jefferson, Thomas Johnson, Tywain Myles, and Vance Walker. All four are likely competing for probably only one roster spot in the tackle rotation. Jefferson is the most experienced, but Walker is a draft pick, giving him a small boost. Myles and Johnson however offer a bit more beef. But because the team can move either Davis or Anderson inside on passing downs, there isn’t a strong need for a fourth tackle if none of the players steps up.

If I was to make a predict today, I would lean more towards the team keeping five ends and three tackles with Davis and Jerry winning the starting gigs by summer’s end.

Saturday morning, the Falcons top draft pick defensive tackle Peria Jerry suffered a mild sprain in his right knee according to team officials. He was held out of practices later on Saturday and Sunday. Per an AJC report, Falcons head coach Mike Smith indicated that he should be ready to go later on in the month as the Falcons convene for another mini-camp beginning on May 16.

Jerry suffered a torn lateral meniscus in the same knee a year while at Mississippi. He had surgery on it this past August. Jerry was the team’s first round selection this past year, taken with the No. 24 overall pick.

The Falcons opened up their 2008 draft class by selecting defensive tackle Peria Jerry with the 24th pick in the first round. Jerry was one of the top rated interior defensive linemen out of Mississippi.

Jerry had a strong finish to his collegiate career, recording 18 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 49 tackles. The 6’2″ 299-pound player was touted for his pass rushing ability on the inside.

He’ll help shore up the Falcons interior pass rush and run defense, after having lost Grady Jackson to free agency this past off-season.