NFL Preseason Week 3: What to Watch for in Thursday's Action

Are you ready for something that resembles NFL football? 

The third preseason game is the closest fans come to watching legitimate play without it actually counting. The league's "dress rehearsal" is the one instance where teams trot out their stars and allow projected starters to play beyond the first half. 

Since the fourth preseason contest devolved into a glorified junior varsity game, this week's meetings are the last chance to put it all together against an opponent before shifting attention toward the regular season. 

A light slate highlights Thursday's action, with the Atlanta Falcons visiting the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys traveling to the Great Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks. 

All four organizations have legitimate playoff aspirations even though three of them didn't make it last postseason. Everyone will get the truest sense of where each stands going into the regular season when these teams meet Thursday. 

Atlanta Falcons' Edge for Success Comes from Beasley, Freeney

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Atlanta Falcons LB Vic Beasley

Over the last four seasons, no team produced fewer sacks than the Falcons. 

To rectify the situation, the organization spent the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft to acquire Clemson Tigers defensive end Vic Beasley and signed veteran pass-rusher Dwight Freeney three weeks ago. 

These two have yet to play opposite each other. They'll get their first chance Thursday. First, Beasley had to overcome a slight shoulder injury—one not related to last year's torn labrum. 

"He had a good comeback from his setback last week," head coach Dan Quinn said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Cunningham. "We are excited to see him, especially in nickel (defense). We are anticipating a good deal of throwing in this game."

Beasley is no longer starting at defensive end after the staff moved him to outside linebacker, but his value will come as an edge-rusher on passing downs in the team's sub-packages. The 36-year-old Freeney will also be limited as a pass-rush specialist. 

Once both are on the field, though, the two should feed off each other. 

"He said, 'It's all about standing out and being a dominant player,' and obviously he's been that," Beasley said, per ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure. "We talk on the practice field and in the locker room. We talk everywhere. ... It's just about making folks notice me and standing out."

First, the duo needs to be on the field at the same time, and it will be against the Dolphins. 

Atlanta Falcons Secondary Expects to Play at a Higher Standard

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Atlanta Falcons CB Desmond Trufant

There are two sides to every story. 

For example, Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III excited those who want to see him return to his 2012 form with a stellar passing and running performance last week. 

However, the former Heisman Trophy winner completed a pair of deep touchdown passes and six of eight overall against the Falcons secondary. 

What surprised many is when quarterback-turned-wide receiver Terrelle Pryor cleanly beat Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant for a 50-yard touchdown. 

Trufant described his disappointment but acknowledged it was only one play, per McClure: 

"

There's always a standard. I have a standard. We have standard. I didn't meet that on that play. I know I'm better than that. At the same time, I've got to move on. That's just part of being a corner. Sometimes, you get got sometimes. I just bounce back and, yeah, I'm ready for this week.

"

Falcons secondary coach Marquand Manuel viewed the scoring play as a positive at this point in the preseason. 

"Trufant taught everybody in the room—Jalen [Collins], Robert [Alford], Keanu [Neal]—he taught everybody in the room, 'If it can happen to the guy we call elite who comes and competes at every level, it can happen to me," the coach said. "So it's a learning, teachable moment for everybody."

What Manuel and the staff can't allow is letting a teaching moment develop into a consistent problem. Trufant is too talented for this to happen on a regular basis, but the rest of the secondary is young and still developing. There's a fine line between learning from an experience and having one's confidence shaken. 

Mike Pouncey's Latest Injury Adds to an Already Uncertain Dolphins O-Line

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Miami Dolphins C Mike Pouncey

Anthony Steen is the Dolphins' man in the middle…for now. 

The offensive line has long been a problem in Miami, and the group isn't getting off to a good start. According to head coach Adam Gase, the team's starting center, Mike Pouncey, could miss the season opener against the Seahawks due to a hip injury he suffered during the second preseason contest, per the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero. 

"I don't want to put a timetable on it, but, I mean, there's a possibility," Gase said. "He could if things change for us or if we get some kind of diagnosis where they tell us it’s going to be a longer period of time than what we originally thought. It could happen."

With Pouncey expected to miss at least the next two preseason contests, Steen takes over at center. 

"He's worked his way in there, and it was one of those things where you get in the spring, it's hard to tell sometimes who your guys are," Gase said. "You're giving everybody a shot, and he's come out there in training camp and really caught our eye a little bit, as far as doing everything right."

If the Alabama product does start the opener, it will be the first time he played center in a meaningful game after being a collegiate guard. 

His performance over the next two weeks will indicate whether the Dolphins should be concerned with the possibility of the third-year pro anchoring the line. 

"It's the same plays, just the next level, ones from twos," Steen said, per the Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins. "You're going against different guys, but it's the same exact plays."

Jordan Cameron Needs to Become a Key Component in Dolphins Offense

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Miami Dolphins TE Jordan Cameron

It's been more than a year since Jordan Cameron signed with the Dolphins, yet the tight end is still trying to define his role in the team's offense. 

Cameron signed a two-year, $15 million contract last offseason, but he only managed 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. 

The organization is looking for more from its investment—especially after he dropped a touchdown pass last week against the Cowboys. 

"Obviously, we want to make those plays, but he's going to make a lot of plays for us," Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said, per the Palm Beach Post's Joe Schad. "He has to keep his head up, keep working and he'll make it next time."

The signal-caller continued, "He's extremely athletic. He's a talented guy. You like your matchups with him on safeties and him on linebackers."

Cameron earned a Pro Bowl nod as a member of the Browns after the 2013 campaign. He hasn't been the same player since. 

Gase utilizes a tight end-friendly system, but Cameron must take advantage of the scheme and matchups he creates. What he can't do is continue to drop passes, or the Dolphins might not be interested in re-signing him after the season.

Will Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Continue to Impress?

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Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Six quarterbacks came off the board during the 2016 NFL draft before the Cowboys selected Mississippi State's Dak Prescott with the 135th overall pick, yet none of those previous six has looked nearly as good as Prescott during the first two preseason contests. 

Prescott's preseason has been magical, but it's still the preseason. Everything he's done or continues to do must be kept in context. 

Tony Romo is still the starting quarterback, and Prescott's play hasn't changed his status. 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn't going to induct the rookie into the team's ring of honor after two preseason performances. However, Prescott is building a tremendous starting point to his career and making everyone forget the Cowboys once appeared to have a massive need at backup quarterback. 

In his first two games, the Mississippi State product owns a perfect passer rating and scored more touchdowns (six) than he threw incomplete passes (five). 

Jones discussed the importance of Prescott's preseason play on 105.3 The Fan (via Rob Phillips of the team's official site). 

"

And get this one: he may get as many snaps during this preseason – experience, evaluation, all of those kinds of things – as Romo got in his entire career before he became a starter. And you can’t buy that. You can say well, look at his college tape. But look, we all know that position also has a history of being really hard to judge coming out of college, even with top picks. And so the snaps that he gets in his case under center rather than back in the shotgun position, so to speak – all of that is just enormously valuable to the team.

"

Romo will lead the first-team offense Thursday, but Prescott has everyone's curiosity piqued. 

Ezekiel Elliott's Debut for the Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas Cowboys rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott

The Cowboys' first-round pick, running back Ezekiel Elliott, has yet to participate in the team's preseason contests, but that's about to change.  

Head coach Jason Garrett discussed how the staff will utilize this year's fourth overall pick.

"What we try to do with players playing in their first game is we have eight, 10, 12 plays, sometimes we go 15 to 20 plays with guys," Garrett said, per ESPN.com's Todd Archer. "So we'll have a plan for him."

The coach continued, "Typically with running backs, you want to make sure they get a couple of touches, throw them a couple passes, let them do different things, the things they're going to do in games."

The Ohio State product nursed a hamstring injury he suffered Aug. 2 before finally returning to practice late last week. The young back feels he's ready for his first official action as a member of the Cowboys. 

"I think I've done a good job getting my mental reps when I was out, and I'm finally getting back into the groove," he said. "I think I'm ready."

Fellow rookie Prescott just might take over the world during the preseason, but Elliott's presence in the lineup is far more important to the Cowboys' success this season. 

Christine Michael's Time to Shine for Seahawks

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Seattle Seahawks RB Christine Michael

In his second go-round with the Seahawks, Christine Michael might finally realize his potential that once made him a second-round pick. 

The Texas A&M product appears to be a completely different person than the one who played for three different teams in 2015. 

Michael only ran for 254 yards in 14 games during his first two years. The organization traded the running back to the Cowboys before the start of last season. Dallas eventually cut Michael, who then signed with the Washington Redskins before being released in December and returning to Seattle.

Teammate Doug Baldwin described the differences he sees in Michael, per ESPN's Sheil Kapadia: 

"

He's different. I think going away for awhile, he was able to take some time to evaluate himself as a football player. And then when he came back, he started fresh, and he worked his tail off. And he spent a lot of time in the playbook, working on his craft. I know specifically with him just in terms of catching the ball and things that he wanted to do, he wanted to elevate his game in terms of the passing game. And so, he’s worked really hard to work to get where he’s at. So nothing’s really changed. Sometimes you need a kick-start like that.

"

According to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, the fourth-year pro is now considered "kind of the leader" in the running back room, per 710 ESPN Seattle's Liz Mathews. 

Thomas Rawls projects as Seattle's starting running back. However, his status for Thursday's game remains undecided as he slowly returns from last year's fractured ankle. This will give Michael another opportunity to prove he can be a reliable veteran presence in the Seahawks' running back rotation. 

Young Linemen Take Seattle Seahawks Defense to New Heights

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Seattle Seahawks DE Frank Clark

Here's a scary proposition: The Seahawks defense could be better than ever this year. 

Young defensive linemen Frank Clark and Jarran Reed have the potential to make this year's group even more dangerous.

Clark flashed last year after the organization spent a second-round pick on the troubled defensive end, but he struggled with the overall transition to the pro game. After last year's hiccups, the second-year pass-rusher is being used all over the defensive front and can add another versatile weapon opposite Michael Bennett. 

"He's trying to really focus, like a wild dog at a meat house," Bennett said of Clark, per SeattlePI.com's Stephen Cohen. 

Clark said, per TheMMQB.com's Robert Klemko, "I did counseling, I changed a lot in my life. I had to ask myself what was the most important thing in my life, and where I was going versus where I wanted to go. I wanted to go to the NFL and be known as a great and make it to the Hall of Fame, and I realized I was headed in the other direction."

Like Bennett, Clark has the traits to be a dominant edge or interior pass-rusher. Thus, the two can be mixed and matched in a variety of manners. 

Reed, meanwhile, came out of Alabama as college football's best run defender. Last season, the Seahawks finished first in run defense with veterans Brandon Mebane and Ahtyba Rubin manning the middle. Mebane is no longer with the team, and Rubin has never been a consistent presence at the point of attack. 

With Reed's ability to control the line of scrimmage, the Seahawks will become even more difficult to budge. Unfortunately, this year's second-round pick won't play in Thursday's contest due to a lingering ankle injury, according to the team's official Twitter feed.