Falcons: 5 things we learned from the Charger game

Cornerback Brent Grimes had a rough day with Vincent Jackson. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

THE DOME — The key will be getting the proper perspective on what happened to the first team defense in this one.

San Diego’s Philip Rivers and his set of fleet receivers made some incredible plays on third down. The one-handed grab by Vincent Jackson along the sideline over Chris Houston was remarkable.

But here are the five things we learned from this one:

1. RE-TOOLING THE DEFENSE: The defense has a long ways to go. Granted it was Rivers and the Chargers vaunted passing attack — without L.T. or Antonio Gates — but you can’t allow teams to continually convert on third downs.  Just in the second touchdown drive alone, the Chargers converted on third-and-8, third-and-18, third-and-17 and third-and-24.

2. REDMAN IS NO. 2: Chris Redman’s showing in the second half was the best play of any of the backups QBs this offseason.

3. YOUNG GUNS: Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury and cornerback Chris Owens were cited by coach Mike Smith as players who jumped out at him in the normal course of the action.

4. HOW BAD IS J-ROCK HURT: He didn’t return as a precautionary

We have to find out if William Moore came back too fast from knee surgery. He suffered a hamstring injury against the Chargers. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

measure. If he’d torn something he would not have been allowed to return to the sideline with that plastic airbag contraption on around his left knee.

5. BOOKER CAN GET OPEN STILL: Back up wide receiver showed that he could get open at age 33. He had six catches for 62 yards, included a 21-yarder on a nice seam route.

Not sure what they can do, but I think we better be on the look out for some major changes on the defensive side of the  ball.