8 Falcons Players to Watch Against Bengals

Preseason games may not mean anything in terms of wins and losses, but for a team like the Atlanta Falcons, tonight's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals holds weight. 

For a Super Bowl contender, the Falcons have many veterans to replace, including Todd McClure, Tyson Clabo and John Abraham.

The Cincinnati Bengals will provide a good first test for Atlanta, especially considering the strength of their defensive line.

The trench battle, among others, will highlight what's sure to be a telling first look at the Falcons. 

Here are eight players fans should keep an eye on. 

Lamar Holmes

Position: Right tackle

Number: 76

General manager Thomas Dimitroff shocked fans with the release of veteran right tackle Tyson Clabo, and his plan might have backfired a bit when the starter-in-waiting, Mike Johnson, went down this week with a dislocated and fractured ankle. 

Johnson was considered a pretty solid, consistent option at the position, while Holmes is a raw, athletic backup. 

Holmes needs to prove his worth. It's his time to shine. If he struggles, the front office could use some of that extra cap space they've got to find some outside help. 

Dominique Davis

Position: Quarterback

Number: 4

Dominique Davis is the current No. 2 in the Falcons depth chart, and hopefully fans won't see him much in a month from now. 

Matt Ryan will likely get a drive or two, but coach Smith made it clear that these first preseason games will focus on younger talent's worth. 

Davis is a talented and athletic player, and he impressed last preseason. However, with the additions of rookies Sean Renfree and Seth Doege, the Falcons now have three quarterbacks who are on similar levels. 

The preseason is the season for Davis. He's an exciting player who should get fans more interested in the exhibitions as well.

Levine Toilolo

Position: Tight end

Number: 80

Yes, Tony Gonzalez is back for another season, but that hasn't kept the tight end position out of the many that need developed youth. 

Falcons fans were probably a little confused when Toilolo's name came up in the draft. The rookie, who is the league's tallest tight end at 6'8", is much like Gonzalez, as he's also a former basketball player. 

Toilolo was a talent at Stanford, but rarely saw the spotlight because the man in front of him was Zach Ertz. 

Toilolo has impressed in camp, and some think he could be the next starting tight end in this offense. He's definitely built to fill the position. 

Jonathan Massaquoi

Position: Rush end

Number: 96

The Falcons struggled with a fragile John Abraham in the playoffs last year, and the verdict at season's end was that the team desperately needed to add depth on the defensive line.

Well, they did sign veteran Osi Umenyiora, but the truth is this front won't be any better unless some of the younger guys can own it.

One of the men who could be an impact player is Jonathan Massaquoi, a second year pass rusher from Troy. Massaquoi can play as a hybrid player, much like Kroy Biermann will. 

With defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's amorphous defense, it will be interesting to see which guys can showcase the athleticism to play with their hands in the turf, as well as standing up. 

Malliciah Goodman

Position: Defensive end

Number: 93

Some fans have already nicknamed rookie Malliciah Goodman the "Sacksquatch," thanks to his freakishly long arms, but he'll have to earn the first half of the moniker. 

Goodman wasn't a big-time name in pre-draft anaylsis, but many saw him as the most likely steal of the draft when it came to pass rushers.

Goodman's stock shot up after a stellar performance against LSU in the Chick-fil-A bowl, though he fell to the Falcons in the fourth round. On tape, he doesn't appear any less than a second-round pick, and so far in camp he's shown signs of that freakish ability.

Goodman is one of many rookies who could steal the spotlight. 

Brian Banks

Position: Linebacker

Number: 53

Brian Banks has been the feel-good story of the offseason. If you're for some ridiculous reason unfamiliar with his story, Banks was a top-flight recruit coming out of high school and on his way to play for the Trojans of USC, but was falsely accused and charged with rape before he graduated high school. 

A decade later, and Banks is out of prison thanks to being exonerated of all charges, and now he's hoping to land a spot on an NFL roster. Many teams have given Banks tryouts since last year, but the Falcons have been the most interested. 

Banks will be in a tough competition. Robert James and rookie Joplo Bartu have been impressive in camp, while Banks had showed some signs of being a little behind. 

A practice squad spot could be in Banks' future, but what would be even better is if he could fight his way into the second depth. 

Desmond Trufant

Position: Cornerback

Number: 21

Desmond Trufant was mocked by many as the Falcons top pick in the draft, and sure enough they traded up to snag the lockdown defensive back from Washington. 

Trufant comes from an NFL family, and has been identified as a physical, gritty, corner who could eventually cut the field in half. 

He's also a rookie, folks. Trufant has also been overshadowed in camp by the man who was drafted a round later...

Robert Alford

Position: Cornerback/Returner

Number: 23

...and that man's name is Robert Alford. Who, you ask?

Alford was a stand out performer for Southeastern Louisiana, which obviously explains why he wasn't a big name during mock season.

Throw all of that out the window, though. Alford might need to wear a name tag in public, but he's been the most exciting defensive player in training camp thus far. 

Speed, quickness, leaping ability, and some return skills make him the easiest on the eyes as well. Falcons fans might quickly forget who Brent Grimes is if Alford can baseline around the ability he's showcased in his first few weeks on the field. 

Mike Foster is a Falcons Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a local sports writer in northwest Atlanta. Follow Mike on Twitter for Falcons news and analysis! 

Follow @michaelsfoster