 Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons Game Notes
Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Ingle Martin, Paul Thompson (see below).
QB Vince Young is 7-of-19 passing (36.8 percent) in two games and the offense has produced just three points in the seven drives he's engineered.
Secondary dinged up.
Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger returns to Tennessee after a two-year hiatus in Denver, replacing Norm Chow.
Titans right tackle David Stewart underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to miss at least two preseason games. Fourth-year pro Daniel Loper is expected to replace Stewart in the lineup.
Coach Jeff Fisher has ruled Bulluck (calf) and Hawkins (ankle) out for Friday's game at Atlanta. Stephen Tulloch will start in Bulluck's place.
Secondary thin. Cornerback Nick Harper (concussion) and cornerback Cary Williams (knee) are ailing.
Atlanta Falcons - QB Rotation: Joey Harrington, Matt Ryan, Chris Redman, D.J. Shockley.
QB Matt Ryan will start Friday's preseason game against Tennessee. For Ryan, this will be his first test facing complex defensive looks at the outset. He'll also get some exposure to halftime adjustments, which is why most teams play their starters into the third quarter.
With Atlanta wanting to see how Ryan handles NFL pressure, it wouldn't be shocking to see him play early and for a prolonged period. Ryan also appears to be in line to start against Tennessee Aug. 22 at the Georgia Dome. That would leave D.J. Shockley to start the preseason finale at Baltimore Aug. 28. Should Ryan start against the Titans, it could be an indication that the rookie will start the regular-season opener.
The Falcons have spent a lot of time re-tooling the running game. Tailbacks Thomas Brown and Jason Snelling should have a battle for the No. 3 job.
The new head coach is Mike Smith, with Mike Mularkey taking over as offensive coordinator. Smith was the defensive coordinator of the Jaguars and faces his old team here.
A young secondary: The Falcons could start Chris Houston (second year) and Brent Grimes (second year) and use Chevis Jackson (rookie) as the nickel back.
Centers thin. Alex Stepanovich, the Falcons' backup center, suffered a back injury at practice Monday and was taken off the field on a cart. Stepanovich started the exhibition season opener against Jacksonville Saturday in place of center Todd McClure, who has been out with a lower-back injury since July 28. | 
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