It’s hard to predict the final 53, certainly at this point because injuries are always a factor. Guys get hurt in camp, and thus open up opportunities for others. The team also does a nice job scouring the waiver wire at the end of August for other teams’ cuts to add to the roster. And what areas they target depends heavily on which units did not bring the sort of competition envisioned. For example, if Ovie Mughelli is limited early in camp due to his recovering from his knee injury, it could open the door for either Mike Cox or Bradie Ewing to win the starting job. And if that is the case, it’s highly unlikely the team will keep Mughelli as a resreve. And if Ewing is the one that emerges as the starter, then it might prompt the team to keep one fullback on the roster, have Snelling serve as his primary backup, and thus keep a fourth tailback like Frey, Nance, or Smith.

First let’s go through the players that are locked in, meaning they are near certainties to make the roster unless injuries occur:

Quarterback (2): Matt Ryan, Chris Redman
Running Back (4): Michael Turner, Jacquizz Rodgers, Jason Snelling, Bradie Ewing
Wide Receiver (3): Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas
Tight End (2): Tony Gonzalez, Michael Palmer
Offensive Line (5): Justin Blalock, Tyson Clabo, Todd McClure, Peter Konz, Lamar Holmes
Defensive End (3): Ray Edwards, John Abraham, Kroy Biermann
Defensive Tackle (2): Jonathan Babineaux, Corey Peters
Linebacker (4): Stephen Nicholas, Lofa Tatupu, Sean Weatherspoon, Akeem Dent
Cornerback (4): Brent Grimes, Dunta Robinson, Asante Samuel, Dominique Franks
Safety (2): William Moore, Thomas DeCoud
Specialist (2): Matt Bryant, Matt Bosher

That’s a grand total of 33 players that are locks to make the roster. That leaves 20 roster spots open. It’s likely that the following players will have the best chances to fill those:

Running Back (1): Ovie Mughelli
Wide Receiver (1): Kerry Meier
Offensive Line (2): Joe Hawley, Andrew Jackson
Defensive End (2): Lawrence Sidbury, Jonathan Massaquoi
Defensive Tackle (1): Vance Walker
Linebacker (1): Spencer Adkins
Cornerback (1): Darrin Walls
Safety (2): Shann Schillinger, Charles Mitchell

That’s 11 players that are strong probabilities that they will find their way on the final roster, leaving a total of 9 spots remaining.

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Well, here is the prediction for who will make the Final 53 as teams have until Saturday afternoon to make those decisions. Only one player from my previously mentioned locks won’t make the team, due to the Falcons roster moves earlier this week.

QUARTERBACKS
Matt Ryan
Chris Redman

Wilson’s poor performance vs. the Ravens I think might have gotten him cut, especially given the injury issues the Falcons have on their lines.

RUNNING BACKS
Michael Turner
Ovie Mughelli
Jason Snelling
Jacquizz Rodgers

Despite a strong performance last night against the Ravens, I don’t see either Antone Smith making the roster, but he remains eligible for the practice squad. Injuries on both lines I think will prevent the Falcons from carrying a fifth running back in Week 1. But once those units get healthy, do not be surprised if you see them pick up someone later in September.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Roddy White
Julio Jones
Harry Douglas
Kerry Meier
Eric Weems

Brandyn Harvey showed enough to potentially make the roster, but the Falcons don’t appear able to afford a sixth receiver when they have other injury issues elsewhere.

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We fans have a tendency to exaggerate things particularly when it comes to preseason play. There have been thousands of preseason “superstars” over the years in the National Football League that went on to do little in their pro careers to merit anything but a very obscure trivia question. So I must preface what I’m about to say with that statement.

Brandyn Harvey’s play in the preseason opener against the Dolphins reminded me of Michael Jenkins on his better days, and at least merits some sense of optimism.

Is Harvey going to actually be the next Jenkins? If that means becoming a starter for the Falcons and being a quasi-productive player that averages 45 catches and 3 touchdowns per season over a six-year span, then the answer is no. More than likely, Harvey’s future in terms of what he can actually do as an NFL player probably mirrors that of fellow Villanova grad Brian Finneran rather than Jenkins.

But it’s easy to compare Harvey and Jenkins. Harvey is listed at 6’4″ 205 pounds, which is only a tad off the 6’4″ 214-pound frame that Jenkins sported. They are both long, lean, and probably most similarly they can block. On a team that likes to run the ball as much as the Falcons, being a good blocker can make you stand out. Finneran was also blessed with a large frame, blocking skills, and the steady veteran experience and versatility that allowed him to fill a variety of roles in the Falcons offensive attack.

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The debut of Julio Jones was an impressive one. His stat sheet popped, catching 2 passes for 43 yards and gaining 12 yards on the ground. It could have been even better if Matt Ryan had connected with him on the opening play that was a deep shot down the field.

But with Jones, it was less about actual production and more about potential. Every fan that watched last night’s loss to the Dolphins could walk away with that gleam in their eye as the prophetic highlight reels begin to flash through their minds. Jones showed speed, burst, vision, and toughness, all of the things that you look for in a playmaker.

And that’s what Jones will be for the Falcons this year, a playmaker. It’s why the team was so accepting of Michael Jenkins’ dismission as training camp opened. They want somebody out there that can scare defenses into changing the way they defend the Falcons. Jenkins was a jack of all trades, but a master of none. Jones has the potential to be the opposite, someone that can not only perform in multiple facets of the game, but excel in them. He showed that last night with his ability as a runner after the catch, on the ground, and showing the speed to get behind a defense.

It’s clear from the early misses that Ryan and Jones rapport isn’t all-world and is still a work in progress. It’s something that bears watching the remainder of this preseason and into the regular season. It takes years to build up the sort of rapport that Ryan has with Roddy White, but it’s certainly positive that you can see both Ryan and Jones are striving to build something similar between the two of them. And when they do start to be in sync, we might start to see defenses get out of sync trying to defend it all.

With the Falcons picking up 24 undrafted free agents, including yesterday’s addition of Georgia Tech wide receiver Kevin Cone, it is time to revisit what these two dozen players are bringing to the table in terms of this summer’s camp battles.

The undrafted rookies get somewhat a reprieve, since labor rules prevent veteran free agents from practicing until tomorrow. That means that these players all had the opening weekend to showcase their skills before some veterans were able to come in and outshine them.

Here is a position by position look at where these undrafted players fit in on the Falcons roster outlook:

Quarterback – As said before, Froman is a fourth arm that might have a shot at a practice squad position, but he’s not in a legitimate position to push for a roster spot unless there is an injury to either Chris Redman or John Parker Wilson. He’s more of a long-term developmental project for the Falcons.

Running Back – If the Falcons fail to bring back Jason Snelling, it certainly should increase the changes that Philip Sylvester can make the roster. But he’ll have to beat out both Gartrell Johnson and Antone Smith for that third running back spot. And his only way to do that will either to shine on special teams or show a short learning curve when it comes to pass protections. Snelling’s departure also increases the chances that either Thor Merrow or Lucas Cox can crack the roster as the backups to Ovie Mughelli at fullback. The team will be looking both at blocking ability and special teams production.

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While the team has yet to release an official schedule for training camp, Falcons players are expecting to report to Flowery Branch on Wednesday to undergo physicals according to wide receiver Roddy White. On-field practices are expected to commence Friday according to the AJC.

Thirty two player representatives voted unanimously this afternoon to approve the new Collective Bargaining Agreement for a ten-year period with no chance to opt out. Thus ending the 132-day NFL lockout which began in March.

Teams are allowed to talk with their players beginning tomorrow, including negotiating contracts with veteran free agents, although they will not be able to officially sign those players until Friday at 6 pm Eastern. But teams will be allowed to start signing their own draft picks as well as undrafted rookie free agents tomorrow. Teams can also begin to cut current players on their roster on Thursday afternoon at 4:01 pm Eastern.

The Falcons have announced that single game tickets will begin to go on sale tomorrow morning.

It will be important for the Falcons to settle their issues here in free agency. Both incumbents are impending free agents, although it’s likely only one will be retained.

The likelier of the pair appears to be Matt Bryant who is coming off a resurgent year, hitting three game-winners and being perfect in the Georgia Dome. That likely will leave Michael Koenen out in the cold as the team is ready to move on after an inconsistent season.

The team made plans for this it would seem with the sixth round selection of Matt Bosher. Bosher was a dual threat at the University of Miami, but spent most of his time as a punter. He also served as that team’s kickoff specialist, making him an ideal candidate to replace Koenen in both capacities.

He’ll be pushed by journeyman Ken Parrish, who has a better than average chance due to the lockout and having a bit more professional experience having been with the Eagles the past two off-seasons and working in the United Football League last fall.

It’s Bosher’s job to lose, but it’s definitely a position that the team will keep the best player since field position is very important. This is a position that could be closely scrutinized throughout the summer, as if neither Bosher nor Parrish seem to be pulling their weight, the Falcons could opt to go in a brand new direction.

Long snapper Joe Zelenka is probably safe. The Falcons have brought in undrafted long snappers in recent summers to push him, but it’s probably not necessary this summer since Zelenka has been very consistent for the 21 games he’s served as the team’s snapper.

Eric Weems is unlikely to lose his return job coming off a Pro Bowl year. Although the team may give some opportunities to some of their younger players to see if they can add some value. Jacquizz Rodgers, Andy Strickland, and Dominique Franks could get opportunities. The Falcons may also give top rookie Julio Jones a chance as well. However, the Falcons won’t be looking for someone to replace Weems, instead looking at options in case he goes down with an injury.

The safety position is relatively settled compared to most of the defense. The Falcons are firm at the starting positions, and already have their top backup penciled in.

William Moore and Thomas DeCoud will come back for another year as starters, and hopefully will begin to grow together. DeCoud particularly needs to have a stronger year since he is on the verge of free agency after the season. Moore needs to prove he can stay healthy, after being plagued by injuries throughout the first year of his career.

The top backup position will likely go to Shann Schillinger, replacing Erik Coleman. Schillinger is coming off an ankle injury, which reports indicate is only at about 85% as of the beginning of the month. Getting him back to full speed will be important. If not, then the Falcons may seek to add a veteran as an insurance policy, similar to what they did last summer with Matt Giordano.

Rafael Bush is the other safety on the roster and stands a decent chance of making the roster after spending most of last season on the practice squad. However the Falcons likely will want to add another couple of bodies to promote competition, particularly some bigger, more physical strong safeties. That likely will come in undrafted free agency. The Falcons are likely to keep only four safeties, with an open competition for that final spot.

It has been rumored that the Falcons might pursue a free agent corner on the open market, but it would appear that only a low-level signing is in the books as the team wants to stress fiscal responsibility.

But that won’t mean that there won’t be significant competition at this position during camp. As the team will be primarily looking for someone to step up and fill the void at nickel cornerback.

That role is likely to be held by Chris Owens. He entered last year as the nickel corner, but after a dismal mid-season performance against the Bengals last year as an injury replacement for injured starter Dunta Robinson, he was benched and veteran Brian Williams took over. Williams is a free agent, and previous reports indicate that the Falcons will likely decline to bring him back. That leaves Owens as the front-runner for the job going into this summer.

He’ll be pushed by Dominique Franks, who earned limited playing time a year ago as a rookie. Franks has a chance to unseat Owens, but due to his lack of experience playing in the slot, it’s probably Owens job to lose.

It’s possible that the Falcons could go after a veteran free agent to hold the spot, but that would only happen if the right price comes along.

Both starters are locked in, with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes coming off solid years. Those four players are virtual shoe-ins to make the roster, leaving the possibility of a fifth player. If Williams is not retained, that spot will default to Rafael Priest the only other corner on the roster. But it seems certain that if not via veteran free agency, certainly undrafted free agency the Falcons will add some players that can push him for that spot. If the Falcons do not like how that open competition goes, then the possibility that Williams is signed at or near the end of camp increases.

The Falcons first must address their free agent situation at this position, because it will have impact on the starting lineup. Both Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson are going to hit the open market, and probably that only one will return. The odds probably point to Peterson simply because Nicholas is likelier to get more interest on the open market. If the Falcons had their druthers, Nicholas is probably the better option since he’s younger and adds more value on third downs in coverage and as a pass rusher. But the Falcons also like the veteran leadership that Peterson provides due to the youth they have at the position. Peterson can also play more than one position.

Regardless of the Falcons free agency situation, two of the three starters are set in stone. They will be middle linebacker Curtis Lofton and Sean Weatherspoon at one of the outside spots. Depending on which free agent returns will determine which of the two spots Weatherspoon starts at. But Lofton and Weatherspoon will certainly be the Falcons two everydown linebackers playing both in their base set as well as their nickel formation.

If Nicholas is the one that returns, then it’s likely that Weatherspoon moves to his more natural weakside position after playing the strongside as a rookie. If Peterson comes back, then Weatherspoon will stay at the same position. If neither player returns, and that is a possibility, then Weatherspoon will likely replace Peterson on the weakside, and open up an opportunity for rookie Akeem Dent on the strongside.

The Falcons drafted Dent in the third round likely to be an insurance policy in case the team can’t retain Nicholas. The likeliest scenario has Dent being groomed for a year before replacing Peterson next season. Such a plan would then allow Weatherspoon to move to the weakside in 2012, while keeping the seat warm this year. But if neither free agent return, it’s possible that the Falcons thrust Dent into the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

In camp, Dent will likely be worked at multiple positions if not all three, similar to how the team worked both Lofton and Weatherspoon in their rookie camps.

Also with a fairly secure roster spot is veteran Coy Wire. He adds value on special teams, and can perform on nickel downs. His versatility to play all three spots makes him valuable depth for the team.

The Falcons are likely only to keep six linebackers as they did a year ago, to free up a roster spot elsewhere. The versatility of players like Weatherspoon, Wire, and Dent to play multiple positions allows the team to keep one less linebacker than normal. With those three, Lofton, and one of the free agents likely to form five of the spots, it leaves players like Spencer Adkins, Robert James, and Bear Woods likely competing for a single spot.

Adkins probably has the best odds because of his athleticism and proven ability on special teams (9 tackles in two seasons). James has managed to hang on despite only playing in a single game in three seasons with the club, and unless he can make significant strides this summer it’s hard to see him lasting a fourth year. Woods is a potential darkhorse, dependent on how much improvement he’s made from a year ago on regular defense. But he remains eligible for the practice squad which is his likeliest destination if he can’t unseat Adkins.

The chances that trio makes the roster will be reduced if the Falcons manage to keep both free agents. The Falcons may also add bodies via undrafted free agency, although any of those guys will likely only be competing for a practice squad spot.