Defending champions get chance to look like themselves against Lions
August 24, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -The Indianapolis Colts have followed their traditional August script.
Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, three Pro Bowl players who have been teammates since 2001, spent more time watching from the sidelines during the first two preseason games than playing. Backup quarterback Jim Sorgi did most of the work, and coach Tony Dungy took a look at his new players.
Week 3 of the preseason is always a little different. Dungy will make his usual changes Saturday night against Detroit, finally giving Manning and Co. a chance to show everyone what the defending Super Bowl champs really look like.
``We'll prepare for the Lions like we would a regular-season game,'' Manning said. ``We'll play it more like a regular-season game and, hopefully, we'll see as many situations as we can.''
Just don't expect too much.
While most of the starters are slated to play into the third quarter, there will be some anomalies.
The offense will likely be more vanilla than normal, meaning defensive tackle Dan Klecko and backup offensive lineman Charlie Johnson will probably not be catching passes as they did during last year's playoffs - and Manning will not be running much.
Running back Joseph Addai will see his most significant action, too, albeit with a sprinkling of his unknown backups, whom Dungy wants to see work with the starting unit.
Former Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list Wednesday, is expected to play, too, but he'll likely leave earlier than most to avoid risking any additional injuries after having offseason shoulder surgery.
Still, it will look more like a game than an exhibition.
``We're looking forward to playing a game where we'll have everyone going through the third quarter,'' Dungy said. ``We really want to treat this like a game situation.''
For the Lions, it's more test than tuneup.
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has taken his ``Greatest Show on Turf'' routine from St. Louis to Detroit, and the Lions appear to be catching on.
With Pro Bowl receiver Roy Williams, No. 2 overall draft pick Calvin Johnson and Mike Furrey, who caught 98 passes last season, quarterback Jon Kitna has become the architect of the NFL's most proficient preseason offense.
Detroit has averaged 429 total yards per game, a league-high 349 through the air and scored 50 points in victories over Cincinnati and Cleveland. The Colts have only 34 points in their two preseason games.
Lions fans want to know if this for real, and Saturday night's matchup against a defense that was strong enough to beat Kansas City, Baltimore, New England and Chicago to win last year's title, will be their toughest test yet.
``It's still a preseason game,'' coach Rod Marinelli said. ``If we win, we can look back at the things we did right against a good team. If we don't, then a team like (Indianapolis) is going to show us what we need to work on pretty quick.''
It's the first time Marinelli will face his former Tampa Bay boss, Dungy, since taking over the Lions last season. And Marinelli thinks he knows what to expect from the Colts.
``To play his teams, you know the execution, the speed - I mean this is the fastest team we'll play in all three phases of the game,'' Marinelli said. ``They're fast because they know what they're doing.''
Even if the regulars haven't had much time to show it.
In brief appearances against Dallas and Chicago, the Colts' defense looked faster, more confident and more aggressive - attributes the Lions are still seeking on both sides of the ball.
And although the Colts are 0-2 for the third straight preseason, and Detroit is 2-0 for the first time since 1995, it's not the records that will matter Saturday night.
All teams must cut down to 75 players by Tuesday, meaning this is the last opportunity for some players to impress the coaches.
If tradition holds, it will also mark the final tuneup for the Colts starters before the regular season since Dungy typically rests them in the final preseason game.
``I think it's hard to get that flow when you have three-and-out series and you're in their for such a short time,'' Manning said. ``The other night, we had first downs, we had multiple plays in a drive and that's good. When they took us out, I felt we could continue to execute from that point on, and that's what we're going to try and do Saturday.''
NFL Preseason Odds: Colts, Lions Ready for Shootout
August 25th, 2007
* Detroit at Indianapolis (-3), Saturday, 7 p.m.
It's not too often when it's wise to bet against Peyton Manning and the Colts. The preseason, though, is a near sure thing. The Colts have one NFL preseason win since 2004 and Manning is likely going to play less than a half, which means the streak has a good chance of continuing. The Super Bowl champs are 0-2 this preseason, but the first-team offense has been on its game. The Lions wish they could say the same for their starters. Although they've won both their games, the backups have looked better. Jon Kitna hopes to rectify that situation as he aims to get the ball to highly touted rookie Calvin Johnson and top-flight wideout Roy Williams. The Lions will also continue to feed new RBs Tatum Bell and T.J. Duckett to see who's the most capable runner to start the season. Last year's starter, Kevin Jones, is injured and could miss the first six weeks of the regular season. Fantasy football players will want to keep an eye on J.T. O'Sullivan, the Lions' backup QB who has been outstanding in two games. With two high-powered offenses, this game could go over the betting total.
* Tampa Bay at Miami (-3.5), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
The battle of South Florida pits two teams that figure to have significantly different looks this season. The Dolphins think Trent Green can lead them back to the playoffs. The veteran quarterback has started to look more comfortable with the offense and third-year running back Ronnie Brown is finally resembling the player Miami thought it was getting when it drafted him second overall in 2005. With Brown's power running and Green's ability to manage the game, the Dolphins will seek to win low-scoring contests. Their defense figures to be a strength again with Jason Taylor leading the way. The Bucs, meanwhile, are getting accustomed to Jeff Garcia being under the center. The former All Pro hopes to energize an offense that was anemic last season. He's got weapons, with Cadillac Williams in the backfield and Joey Galloway at receiver. Whether it's enough to get the Bucs back to prominence in the NFC remains to be seen. For complete NFL exhibition odds and Super Bowl odds, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.
2007 NFL Preseason Notes
SATURDAY'S GAMES 8/25/07
Detroit Lions - QB Rotation: Jon Kitna (first half), J.T. O'Sullivan (3rd Q), Dan Orlovsky, Phil Horvath.
QB Jon Kitna's injured back will be tested in the pre-game warmups Saturday before any decision will be made on whether he plays. Kitna missed practice Wednesday and Thursday because of back spasms. Kitna said after practice Thursday that the injury was not serious, and that it was something he had experienced at other times in his career.
The starting offense will play the first half. QB Jon Kitna was held out of Wednesday's practice because of tightness in his lower back. QB Dan Orlovsky didn't practice Tuesday because of turf toe. Coach Rod Marinelli rated Orlovsky as doubtful.
If Kitna and Orlovsky are out Saturday, O'Sullivan will be the only quarterback available who has thrown a pass in an NFL game. The Lions signed Phil Horvath, a rookie free agent from Northern Illinois, on Tuesday. QB Drew Stanton (knee) had arthroscopic surgery and is out for the year.
For the first time this season, the Lions could have their 11 defensive starters on the field together. Linemen Shaun Rogers and Dewayne White will play Saturday. Both missed the first two exhibitions with injuries. Right end Kalimba Edwards missed last week's game because of a foot injury but is expected to play against the Colts.
The Lions are increasing the amount of game-plan preparation for the last two exhibition games, but the emphasis is still on how they perform, not the opponent. Coach Rod Marinelli will spend part of the practice time preparing for Indianapolis on Aug. 25 -- but the focus remains on the Lions executing their own assignments. "It's going to be on us," Marinelli said. "It's how we do our basics. Are we playing our gaps? Are we running our routes? Are we rerouting?"
Indianapolis Colts - QB Rotation: Peyton Manning (into the 3rd Q), Jim Sorgi, Josh Betts (see below).
Tony Dungy expects the first-teamers to play into the third quarter, their busiest action in preseason. "We'll be shooting for somewhere between 35 and 45 plays," he said.
RB Joseph Addai will get ample work against the Lions, but backup prospects DeDe Dorsey and Kenton Keith probably will help ease Addai's workload. And that could help determine who has the upper hand in a three-back backup derby that includes rookie Clifton Dawson.
Safety Bob Sanders is slated to see limited action Saturday against the Lions.
Tight ends thin: TEs Bryan Fletcher and Gijon Robinson will miss at least the next preseason game.
D-Line weak: DT Anthony McFarland will miss the season after a serious knee injury. Defensive lineman Corey Simon was let go.
With McFarland out, the Colts will move forward with Raheem Brock at one starting defensive tackle spot. The list of replacements for the other spot is long, but short on pedigree. Darrell Reid and Dan Klecko have appeared in a combined 62 games but share only four starts. Four of the other five prospects are rookies, including third-round draft pick Quinn Pitcock and seventh-rounder Keyunta Dawson, who has been moved inside after spending most of the offseason at end.
Tampa Bay Bucs - QB Rotation: Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Bruce Gradkowski, Chris Simms.
Though many coaches seek to play their starters longer in their team's third exhibition game, some even leaving them in well into the third quarter, Bucs coach Jon Gruden is not one of them.
"In the pre-salary cap era, I remember the third preseason game being a big part of getting ready for the regular season," Gruden said. "But I don't necessarily agree with that. "Sure, I'd like to look at some of the regulars a little longer [tonight]. But we have some very important cutdowns to make in the next week or so, so we have to see some of these other men play."
Offensive line problems: Rookie left guard Arron Sears is on crutches and out 10-14 days. Reserve guard Jeb Terry suffered an ankle injury against Jacksonville and center John Wade was overcome by the stifling conditions at the Buccaneers' complex Tuesday.
Jeff Garcia's presence has prompted Coach Jon Gruden to consider the shotgun as a legitimate option for his version of the West Coast attack. Gruden is eager to expand his playbook in terms of rollouts and bootlegs to capitalize on Garcia's mobility.
Defensively, the Bucs are considering new packages in an effort to disrupt timing and generate more heat on opposing quarterbacks. Last season, QBs feasted against Tampa Bay's defense, posting a cumulative 91.0 rating.
Don't be surprised if new MLB Jerry Mackey sees substantial playing time in the final two preseason games. Mackey, 22, was reacquired in a trade with the Jets on Tuesday, three days after Antoine Cash suffered a season-ending knee injury at Jacksonville.
Gruden has been preaching for an aggressive team. "We've got to be a more physical football team," Gruden said. "That was an area that got away from us a bit last year. This year, I want to see us hit in most every practice. And I want us to hit hard."
Miami Dolphins - QB Rotation: Trent Green (first half), Cleo Lemon, rookie John Beck, Gibran Hamdan.
QB Trent Green likely will start Miami's final two preseason games as Miami's new offense attempts to find a spark. Cleo Lemon, in his third season with the Dolphins, will be the backup with rookie John Beck holding the third slot.
With the exception of linebacker Joey Porter, the Dolphins will have their entire corps of starters on the field Saturday. LB Zach Thomas, defensive end Jason Taylor and DT Keith Traylor will all participate in part of the first half against the Bucs. It will mark the first time any of the three have seen action during this year's exhibition games. It also will be the only action they see, because all of the starters will sit in the final exhibition against the Saints. Porter will remain out while he continues to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago.
Cameron's goal seems to be giving as much work as possible to an offense that is under reconstruction and needs repetitions together in a game setting.
They have a revamped offensive line.
Cam Cameron is the Dolphins new head coach, after being offensive coordinator of the Chargers in 2006.
Dolphins outside linebacker Joey Porter underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. He should miss all the preseason.
Dallas Cowboys - QB Rotation: Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel and Matt Moore.
QB Tony Romo and the rest of the starters are expected to go at least three quarters in Houston tonight. They won't play much in next week's preseason finale at Minnesota.
Getting the ball to WR Terrell Owens is a focal point of the offense, so the Cowboys might go to him early and often tonight.
QB Tony Romo and the first-team offense, which has played without injured WRs Terry Glenn and just briefly with Terrell Owens, have been efficient in the passing game and dominant on the ground.
WRs thin. WR Terry Glenn got arthoscopic knee surgery and missed the first 2 preseason games.
Saturday against Houston, DE Jay Ratliff will see some time on the inside as the Cowboys continue to look for alternatives behind starting NT Jason Ferguson. Remi Ayodele saw first-team action last week against Denver. "Jay will stunt more and move more than Jason," Phillips said. "Jason is a bigger guy. We will substitute Ratliff with the first team and see."
Look for more blitzing: The Cowboys were a read-and-react defensive scheme under Bill Parcells, but Phillips and new DC Brian Stewart bring in more of an attacking, disruptive philosophy. They also want defensive players to take third-down conversions personally.
The first-team defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in two preseason victories. The unit is starting to find its identity in Phillips' attacking 3-4 scheme, so much so that the Broncos complained about the overzealous blitzing.
Phillips has tweaked the 3-4 defensive scheme, moving strong safety Roy Williams closer to the line of scrimmage and allowing outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware, and when healthy, Greg Ellis to blitz more.
Wade Phillips is the new coach (Chargers' defensive coordinator in 2006).
Houston Texans - QB Rotation: Matt Schaub (2.5 to 3 QBs), Sage Rosenfels, Bradlee Van Pelt, rookie Jared Zabransky.
HC Gary Kubiak is going to play his starters from 2.5 to three quarters. He will look closely at the offensive line and the running backs. He wants to see an improved performance in the running game.
30-year old RB Ahman Green hasn't played much. The bulk of the carries has been split between Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado, who are battling for the No. 3 job.
The Texans have lost starting strong safety Glenn Earl for the entire 2007 season. Starting free safety C.C. Brown will move to the strong safety spot. Von Hutchins and Jason Simmons will work at free safety, and veteran CB Dexter McCleon will get snaps at safety.
New offensive coordinator Mike Sherman is putting in a plan for more balance to the offense this fall.
Baltimore Ravens - QB Rotation: Steve McNair, Kyle Boller, rookies Troy Smith and Drew Olson.
Billick would not outline how long the starters will play, but he dismissed the notion of letting them play out the first half. "I don't know who came up with that formula," he said. "We're going to play as long as we need to play with the starters to get a good rhythm. If that's a quarter, great. If it's a half, great. We're not going to take them into the second half."
Offensive line thin: With guard Chris Chester (foot) and tackle Steve Edwards (knee) nursing injuries, the offensive line featured a few different looks. At times, Jason Brown would move from left guard to center and Keydrick Vincent would fill the vacancy. Another look included Mike Flynn at center, Brown at left guard and Vincent at right guard. OT Jonathan Ogden (turf toe) has not been practicing and first-round pick Ben Grubbs sprained his knee.
WR Mark Clayton will miss the remainder of the preseason because of a sprained ankle. Demetrius Williams will make his second straight start.
With Samari Rolle expected to miss the final two preseason games with an ankle injury, the Ravens have decided to start David Pittman at cornerback, the team's most surprising move this preseason. Pittman, a third-round pick in 2006, was a major disappointment last season when he failed to take control of the nickel back job and fell to the bottom of the depth chart.
Kelly Gregg might play in his first preseason game Saturday, but fellow defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is likely to be sidelined with a swollen left knee. The outlook was much better for Gregg, who bruised his right knee and thigh July 31.
Unlike many teams that play vanilla defense in the preseason, the Ravens are turning up the heat on quarterbacks. In their preseason opener, they blitzed linebackers and cornerbacks from every angle, punishing the Philadelphia Eagles with five sacks. "We don't make apologies to anybody," defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. "It's not our job to protect your quarterback."
One justification for their aggressive style in meaningless games is evaluation purposes. "We're not out there to scrimmage," Ryan said. "We're out there to play a football game. And that's how we play. Playing passive is somebody else's defense."
Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Jason Campbell (doubtful), Todd Collins, Mark Brunell, rookie Jordan Palmer (see below).
QB Jason Campbell (bruised left knee) is doubtful. Todd Collins will start, with Mark Brunell following. Rookie QB Jordan Palmer is cautiously optimistic about seeing his first action of the preseason.
The Redskins traded for LG Pete Kendall on Thursday, but he is unlikely to play.
The Redskins took another blow after it was revealed that LB Marcus Washington will be out at least a week with a dislocated right elbow.
RBs thin: RB Clinton Portis missed 2 days of practice with knee tendinitis. RB LaDell Betts (neck) and Derrick Blaylock (ankle) are hurting, so they signed RB Dee Brown this week.
OT Chris Samuels (knee) is out a few more weeks. Journeyman Mike Pucillo will start at LG Saturday in place of injured Todd Wade.
Backup Mark Brunell is coming off shoulder surgery, and the Redskins want him to get plenty of work to make sure he has recovered. That doesn't leave a lot of throws for the other QBs.
NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, Marques Tuiasosopo, rookie Brett Ratliff.
Pennington will start tonight and likely play at least two quarters, if not more. Clemens is also expected to get work. It's unclear how much time multipurpose player Brad Smith or ex-Raider Marques Tuiasosopo will get behind center.
"It's obviously very disappointing," said an agitated Mangini after last week's loss. He hinted strongly that a grueling week of practice lies ahead. "If anyone has the impression that it's OK because this is preseason, they're wrong."
RB Thomas Jones (leg) is still ailing and won't play. RB Leon Washington has been starting, but the Jets are looking for a third back, and rookie free agent Danny Ware could be their guy. Rookie free agent Alvin Banks and veteran Tony Hollings are also in the mix.
The offense is in the second year of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's high-tech scheme that features an array of shifts and motions.
Rookie CB Darrell Revis is in camp and expected to play.
Offensive line change: Disgruntled Pete Kendall was traded this week so quality of their offensive line takes a hit. They will turn over the left-guard job to rookie Jacob Bender or Adrien Clarke, whose NFL resume consists of only 13 games and four starts, all with the Eagles in 2005. Clarke started the first two preseason games, but Bender, a sixth-round pick from Nicholls State, is working with the regulars this week in practice, and probably will start against the Giants.
NY Giants - QB Rotation: Eli Manning, Jared Lorenzen, Anthony Wright, Tim Hasselbeck.
The starters will play into the third quarter during their annual preseason tussle with the Jets. Manning will be followed in the quarterback rotation by Anthony Wright, then, if there's time, Tim Hasselbeck. After that, it's a cameo appearance in the preseason finale in New England.
The Giants suffered seven injuries in Sunday's preseason win over the Ravens, including WR Michael Jennings (out for the season.)
Cornerback Sam Madison, who pulled his hamstring on Sunday, will probably be out for a few weeks. Safety Will Demps is expected to miss three weeks with a dislocated right elbow. At corner, Madison's absence will most likely be filled by Corey Webster, the team's second-round pick in 2005. The other options are rookie Aaron Ross and second-year corner Kevin Dockery, who had a very good game on Sunday.
Punter Jeff Feagles will not suit up because of back spasms, leaving those duties to Cory Ohnesorge, a first-year player from Occidental College.
WRs thin. WRs Plaxico Burress is back and will play, but WR Sinorice Moss (ankle) is hurting. WR Amani Toomer is still testing his reconstructed knee. TE Jeremy Shockey is experiencing "tightness" in his hamstring.
HC Tom Coughlin brought in Chris Palmer as QB coach and moved Kevin Gilbride over to offensive coordinator.
San Fran 49ers - QB Rotation: Alex Smith (first half and into the 3rd), Trent Dilfer, Shaun Hill.
The 49ers' starters will play at least a half and possibly into the third quarter, depending on how many snaps they get, coach Mike Nolan said.
Pro Bowl RB Frank Gore broke a bone in his right hand and might not play in the preseason. That means running backs Michael Robinson, Maurice Hicks and Thomas Clayton will take most of the pounding in camp and throughout much of the preseason.
"We'll just take it a day at a time," Nolan said. "We want Michael and Mo (Hicks), in particular those two players, to get the bulk of the first group's work while Frank is down." HC Mike Nolan said Gore could return as early as the final preseason game at San Diego. Nolan said Robinson could fill in as the third quarterback if an injury occurred.
Starting NT Aubrayo Franklin (knee) will miss the entire preseason. He is the centerpiece of Nolan's three-year scheme to install a true 3-4 defense in San Francisco. Isaac Sopoaga and rookie Joe Cohen will get the first chance to replace Franklin.
Cornerback Walt Harris is still recovering from a mild calf bruise. This is giving coaches a chance to look more closely at Shawntae Spencer.
Chicago Bears - QB Rotation: Rex Grossman, Brian Griese, Kyle Orton, rookie Chris Leak.
"We'll play our guys into the third quarter.5?that's the plan," coach Lovie Smith said. "Haven't told anybody specifically when they'll come out. We want to see how guys respond after coming in at halftime."
Rookie QB Chris Leak, an undrafted free agent from Florida, has been getting more work in practice with Kyle Orton (knee) banged up.
Love Smith likes the depth: "It's the deepest team we've had. We have to see how it turns out, but we talk a lot about getting our 53-man roster as strong as we could. I would definitely say that is the case. We have good backups."
Cleveland Browns - QB Rotation: Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Ken Dorsey, rookie Brady Quinn (see below).
Frye, who has the inside track to start the season, will open the game and probably play into the second quarter. Anderson will replace Frye, presumably in the first half, but must dazzle to revive his chance to start. Quinn will replace Anderson in the second half. He must excel to have a shot at Pittsburgh. "We'll reassess after every game," Crennel said. "Every day they have to compete for their jobs."
Rob Chudzinski is the Browns new offensive coordinator.
Starting left guard Eric Steinbach, the Browns' blockbuster signing of the off-season, fell on his right knee in practice and could miss up to two weeks. The line has been in flux with right tackle Ryan Tucker getting suspended the first four games of the season because of steroid use. That bumped rookie Joe Thomas up to the starting job at left tackle and moved Kevin Shaffer from left to right. Backup guard/center Lennie Friedman has worked in Steinbach's place.
LBs thin.
Browns DE Orpheus Roye, a 12-year pro, will undergo arthroscopic on his right knee and be lost for the rest of the preseason. It's a blow to their 3-4 defense. While Roye is out, four players will try out in his place: backup NT Shaun Smith, J'Vonne Parker, Simon Fraser and Orien Harris.
Denver Broncos - QB Rotation: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey, Preston Parsons.
RBs thin: RB Travis Henry has a sprained left knee and backup RB Mike Bell strained his left hip. Henry was able to walk without help to the locker room, and the MRI revealed he should return before Bell. Tests on Bell's hip delivered news he will be out two weeks, the rest of the preseason. Denver signed tailback Cedric Cobbs this week.
Patrick Ramsey's extended bench time the past two years is why Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has been playing him more.
Four of Cutler's projected top five receivers - Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler, Brandon Stokley and Rod Smith - are banged up. Rod Smith is coming off hip surgery and out. The Broncos expect the No. 2 WR Brandon Marshall to play, but No. 3 WR Brandon Stokley continues to be bothered by a thigh injury.
Offensive line thin. Left guard Ben Hamilton has missed significant time with a concussion. Left tackle Matt Lepsis has been out with a pulled groin. Right guard Chris Kuper was replaced on the first-team by Montrae Holland.
Lepsis' injury caused the Broncos to move Erik Pears from right tackle to left tackle one day, then back to right tackle the next. Adam Meadows has been playing whatever tackle position is opposite Pears, and Chris Myers has been filling in for Hamilton. Another backup left tackle, rookie Ryan Harris, hurt his back Thursday.
Starting LB Ebenezer Ekuban suffered a torn Achilles tendon and is out for the season. That means more work for first-round draft pick Jarvis Moss.
Mike Shanahan fired most of the defensive staff in the offseason, including DC Larry Coyer, and hired Jim Bates, whose M.O. is forcing turnovers by getting pressure on the quarterback.
Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Tarvaris Jackson (first half), Brooks Bollinger, Drew Henson, Tyrus Thigpen (see below).
HC Childress said the starters would play into the third quarter. "I'd like to see them go through the process of going through halftime, readjusting, coming back out and playing both offense and defense," Childress said. He expects a fired up Seahawks team Saturday. Through two exhibition games the Vikings have scored four defensive touchdowns, including three off interceptions, and have six interceptions overall. The offense has gotten into the end zone once.
QB Tavaris Jackson's downfield accuracy has been lacking as he learns the offense, and most of his best throws have been dropped.
Running backs thin.
The Vikings have a new defensive coordinator in Leslie Frazier.
Seattle Seahawks - QB Rotation: Matt Hasselbeck (first half), Seneca Wallace, David Greene, rookie Derek Devine.
Holmgren's plan is to have his starting units play into the second half. QB Matt Hasselbeck, who didn't play last week, will start. Holmgren likes to use the third exhibition game of every year to see where the starters are as far as fine-tuning the No. 1 units.
Mike Holmgrem was furious after the 48-13 loss at Green Bay. "I cannot tolerate how we played," Holmgren said. "It's just unacceptable, and so we'll fix it.
Defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs will appear in a game for the first time since early last season, when knee surgery forced him into a long rehabilitation period. Sean Locklear, the team's No. 1 right tackle, will move to left tackle for Saturday, with Ray Willis opening at right tackle. Rookie defensive tackle Brandon Mebane might see time with the No. 1 defense.
Tackle Sean Locklear returned after sitting out last week with tendinitis in his right knee. But rather than lining up at his spot on the right side, Locklear was at left tackle to replace Walter Jones, who remains sidelined with soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder. Tom Ashworth started at left tackle in Green Bay and was beaten for two of the Packers' seven sacks.
Defensive coordinator John Marshall is devising more blitz schemes, involving more players.
San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Philip Rivers (will start and into the 3rd Q), Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst (see below).
San Diego's starters, minus LaDainian Tomlinson, will go for about 40 plays Saturday, which should take them into the third quarter.
"It's going to be the most extensive playing time our guys get," coach Norv Turner said. "I like our guys to have that feeling coming out at halftime and preparing for the second half and going out and getting a series or two to start the second half."
RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't play in the preseason, so Michael Turner will start.
Nose tackle Brandon McKinney (ankle) and linebacker Matt Wilhelm (calf). McKinney definitely won't play in the final two exhibition games.
Norv Turner is the new head coach. He was the 49ers OC last year.
The Chargers will be without starting WR Eric Parker for as many as six games (toe surgery).
Arizona Cardinals - QB Rotation: Matt Leinart (first half), Kurt Warner (3rd Q), Shane Boyd, Lang Campbell.
Most of the Cardinals starters will play through the first half, but Ken Whisenhunt isn't sure how much they'll play, if at all, in the second half. It depends on how many snaps the first teams get in first half.
Potential season-ending injuries to two starters have moved first-round draft pick Levi Brown into Arizona's starting lineup and triggered a battle for the outside linebacker job. Offensive right tackle Oliver Ross and outside LB Chike Okeafor were hurt Saturday and both might require surgery. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Brown, the No. 5 pick overall in this year's draft, would move to Ross' spot, with Darryl Blackstock and Calvin Pace competing for Okeafor's job.
Ken Whisenhunt, the 2006 Steelers offensive coordinator, is the new Cardinals head coach. Whisenhunt is going to call plays.
The new coach wants the Cardinals to be more of a run-oriented team.
jimfeist.com
NFL Notebook: Simms hoping to play vs. Miami
The Associated Press
Former Buccaneers starting quarterback Chris Simms may be playing for a spot on the roster -- if he gets in the game tonight when Tampa Bay faces the Miami Dolphins.
Simms is trying to come back from a spleen injury and overtake Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski behind new starter Jeff Garcia.
Simms sat out the first two games, and whether he plays will be a game-time decision by coach Jon Gruden.
"I'm definitely hoping to give it a go this week," Simms said. "Obviously I want to be on the roster, I want to be here, be a part of this team. I need to continue to keep working and just be happy and make sure I'm right where I need to be Saturday night."
Simms has started 15 games for the Buccaneers, but was out for the season in Week 3 last year when he injured his spleen and had it removed.
He resumed throwing in December, but has been limited in practice since training camp began.
"If you asked me two months ago, I would have just never envisioned it," he said. "It's a little bit more of an obstacle to overcome than I thought."
More Buccaneers
Receiver David Boston was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after police found him passed out behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle. The 29-year-old was found slumped over the steering wheel of a red Range Rover, police said.
Packers
Green Bay is hopeful that two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Donald Driver's foot injury is not too serious. Driver was hurt on Thursday night in the Packers' 21-13 loss to the Jaguars after making a 12-yard reception late in the second quarter. Jaguars safety Sammy Knight rolled up on Driver's right leg. Driver was aided off the field and did not return. The Packers have not released official word on the injury.
Bills
Defensive end Aaron Schobel reached a contract extension with the Bills, a reward for Buffalo's top pass-rusher coming off his first Pro Bowl season. The 29-year-old Schobel has been a regular starter since his rookie season as a second rounder of the 2001 draft out of Texas.
Last night's game
Playing only the first half, Vince Young went 13 of 19 for 162 yards passing and a touchdown, and also scored a rushing touchdown in the Tennessee Titans' 28-17 victory against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills' young defense struggled, allowing 218 yards in the first half and 293 overall.
Bears give Niners a nice reality check in today's exhibition
sfgate.com
- While it's a given that the preseason is too long at four games, is largely meaningless and is an affront to common decency, there is a point to be made for this third exhibition game for the 49ers.
A small point, but a point nonetheless.
This is the game, tonight in Chicago, in which the 49ers will see how they measure up to the NFC champion Bears ... in the first half and the first drive of the third quarter, that is.
The Bears are expected to play their starters about the same amount, so for a half at least, the 49ers will get a gauge not only on progress made in training camp but on their ability to match up to a team that whipped them 41-10 in October and went on to play in the Super Bowl.
"It's a little more of a realistic look as we get closer to the regular season," said running back Michael Robinson, who will play with the first unit in Frank Gore's absence. "It's going to be a good test for us."
It's a particularly good test for San Francisco's offense. With quarterback Rex Grossman continuing to show vexing inconsistency in Chicago, the Bears have to rely on their defense, and they do.
"Look what they did to us in the regular season," said quarterback Alex Smith, who reviewed tape this week of that Oct. 29 debacle at Soldier Field. "It'll be a test to see how far we've come. This is a team that prides themselves on turnovers, forcing fumbles, wearing teams down mentally and physically. I'm glad it's the Bears in August and not November, with the wind blowing 40 miles an hour."
Chicago had the No. 5-ranked defense in the NFL in 2006, bolstered by the best corps of linebackers in the league in Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer. Add to that opportunistic defensive backs Nathan Vasher and Mike Brown and the return from injury of defensive tackle Tommie Harris and the Bears are formidable on that side of the ball.
"Anytime you're going against one of the elite teams in the NFL, you definitely get a little more excited, a little more aware," center Eric Heitmann said. "Every game is important, but when you play a team like Chicago, there's definitely an electricity for that game."
As such, the 49ers prepared for the Bears this week as if it were a regular-season game. Meeting times and practice schedules were the same as for a game that counts in the standings. This is as real as it gets in the unreality of the preseason.
"This game carries a little more weight in terms of showing us where we are," right tackle Kwame Harris said. "They were in the Super Bowl last year. It's certainly exciting to test your mettle against them."
Coach Mike Nolan said his starters, both on offense and defense, will play the entire first half and the first drives of the second half, then give way to the backups and the backups to the backups.
"Right now we're more concerned about Xs and Os and being assignment correct," wide receiver Darrell Jackson said. "You've got to remember it's not like a real game. We're going to work on some things that might not pertain to the regular season."
First-round draft pick Joe Staley will alternate with Harris at right tackle in what has to be his best chance to show the coaches he deserves to start at the position. He's looked proficient in training camp in the one aspect of the job that Harris struggles with, pass protection.
At right guard, David Baas will play with the first unit on the third and sixth series. Starter Justin Smiley seems much more secure in his job than Harris is with his.
Robinson and Maurice Hicks will alternate through the first half and into the third quarter in place of Gore. Defensive tackle Bryant Young will also miss his third preseason game as he takes care of a bulging disk in his back.
After this game, the 49ers will have three days to prepare for the most meaningless of all exhibition games, the last one. The team will play the San Diego game largely with reserves, as will the Chargers.
Once that bit of tedium is over, the 49ers will have 10 days before the real football begins. Thus, the first half tonight in Chicago will reveal how the 49ers compare to one of the best teams in the league.
"It's great they (the Bears) are the third game, because the third game means the most," Smith said. "It will help us get more game-ready. It will give us a gauge, good or bad."
With expectations so high, is Turner in a no-win situation with Chargers
August 25, 2007
SAN DIEGO (AP) -Lucky Norv Turner.
Or is it poor Norv Turner?
Turner was minding his offseason business as offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers when the San Diego Chargers called during their search to replace the suddenly fired Marty Schottenheimer.
Turner landed the job over five other candidates, none of whom had ever been an NFL head coach.
Turner had. He coached the Washington Redskins when they had the NFL's first $100 million roster. He also coached the Oakland Raiders, who were simply awful. His combined record over eight-plus seasons: 58-82-1.
The Chargers were coming off an NFL-best 14-2 season. Although playoff-challenged, they had been 35-13 in the last three seasons under Schottenheimer.
Turner's third chance as a head coach comes with staggering expectations. Most Chargers fans will be happy with nothing short of a Super Bowl victory from a team that features league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson and 10 other Pro Bowlers.
There are also plenty of skeptics out there who view Turner as being in a no-win situation.
Go even 11-5 and fail in the playoffs, and Turner could get savaged as much as Schottenheimer did after all of his one-and-dones in the postseason, including the Chargers' collapse in a 24-21 home loss to New England in their playoff opener last year. Based on his overall record, some feel Turner better not mess up such a good thing.
What makes this situation unique, of course, is that no NFL team had ever blown out its coach following a 14-2 season until team president Dean Spanos had enough of what he called a ``dysfunctional'' relationship between Schottenheimer and general manager A.J. Smith.
Turner knows what he's up against. Not surprisingly, he's not worried.
``No, because I've been doing it too long and I know that if this football team's 11-5, it's played pretty damn well, and that doesn't mean we're not going to have a better record than that,'' he said. ``I understand, but it's so far off, you've got to handle each step at a time.''
Turner wonders if his critics understand how competitive the NFL is.
``Our guys know that you line them up and play,'' he said. ``The last game they played is the best indicator of that. Every play is crucial and every quarter, every series, you have to go out and perform. This league isn't about talent or potential, it's about production. And we have to make sure this training camp is about making sure those 11 Pro Bowlers are prepared to play at the level they're capable of playing.''
Quarterback Philip Rivers realizes the coaching change was out of the ordinary. But he thinks too much is being made of Turner's situation.
``To really put it in a no-win situation, I don't think that's right,'' said Rivers, whose father used to coach high school football in Alabama. ``And, I'd like to know how many coaches wouldn't want to be coaching a good team. You want to go coach a bad team, you know what I mean?''
Had the Chargers been coming off a Super Bowl victory, then Rivers might understand the perceptions more.
``We're not at the top,'' he said. ``We got beat in our first playoff game. I know the expectations are high and we have high expectations as well. Obviously if you were to go on and win a championship, which has never been done here, he and his staff are going to have something to do with that. I think it would be unfair to say that if he does that, they were going to do it anyway, and if we don't, it's his fault. We obviously haven't done it.
``I think whatever happens, obviously the staff and the coach are going to be held to responsibility, just like I am and all of us are.''
Despite Turner being 24 games under .500 as a head coach, the Chargers think he's the right guy to lead this bunch. The front office mentions continuity, since it was Turner who installed the current system when he was San Diego's offensive coordinator in 2001, Tomlinson's rookie season.
``He like gets it,'' Tomlinson said. ``He's able to play off his players and really motivate them individually.''
The part of Turner's resume that shines to the Chargers players is when he was offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990s, working with Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin and NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith. Turner won two Super Bowl rings before moving on to Washington.
``You know the guys he's been around,'' All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates said. ``It's been a variety of things you can kind of pull from and say, ``Golly, you don't have that kind of background without knowing something.'
``He's been around Troy Aikman, so I would imagine if he coached Troy Aikman, what he's telling Philip? There's some credibility there,'' Gates said. ``He's been around Jay Novacek, he's been around Michael Irvin, so he knows how to get guys open and maximize their abilities.''
Smith and Schottenheimer basically couldn't stand each other. Smith and Turner say they have a good relationship.
Smith also disagrees with outside perceptions of Turner, ``but again, time will tell exactly what will happen. I didn't pay attention to his record. I'm aware of his record in Washington and with the Raiders, but he hasn't coached the Chargers and he hasn't really worked with me.
``We're approaching this long term,'' the GM said. ``I need somebody to get on the same page with me and work with me. It's a huge job and I look forward to attacking this together.''