2007 NFL Preseason Notes
SATURDAY'S GAMES 8/18/07
Houston Texans - QB Rotation: Matt Schaub (30 snaps), Sage Rosenfels, Bradlee Van Pelt, rookie Jared Zabransky (4th Q).
QB Matt Schaub will take 30 snaps at Arizona on Saturday and play almost three quarters in the next game against the Cowboys. QB Zabransky is slated to play at least the fourth quarter against the Cardinals.
30-year old RB Ahman Green won't play much. The bulk of the carries likely will be split between Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado, who are battling for the No. 3 job.
Coach Gary Kubiak said Steve McKinney again will start in place of Chester Pitts at left guard against Arizona on Saturday. Pitts, suffering from a lower back injury, will have to get in some makeup work against Dallas and Tampa Bay in the last two preseason games.
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.
Arizona Cardinals - QB Rotation: Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner, Shane Boyd.
The starters are scheduled to play well into the second quarter Saturday, with backup quarterback Kurt Warner taking over for Matt Leinart for a couple of series before the half. Coaches don't want to play Warner behind the second-team offensive line.
The Cardinals won't have a game plan for Houston, but Whisenhunt, who calls the plays, will enter the game with a set number of plays that he wants to make sure to use.
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.
Detroit Lions - QB Rotation: Jon Kitna, J.T. O'Sullivan, Dan Orlovsky.
The No. 1 offense will play well into the second quarter -- with Jon Kitna at quarterback. Gaining first downs -- the No. 1 offense had three in the exhibition opener -- and controlling the ball is a priority. J.T. O'Sullivan will be the first one to relieve Kitna again. Dan Orlovsky will play the fourth quarter.
QB Drew Stanton (knee) had arthroscopic surgery and is out for the year.
Three starters on the defensive line probably won't play Saturday: Kalimba Edwards (ankle), Dewayne White (groin) and Shaun Rogers (ankle).
Marinelli and defensive coordinator Joe Barry said starting jobs have not been settled. Fernando Bryant and Stanley Wilson have to work to remain the starters.
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 the next two opponents -- at Cleveland on Saturday and at 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?"
Cleveland Browns - QB Rotation: Derek Anderson (1st Q), Charlie Frye (2nd Q), Ken Dorsey, rookie Brady Quinn (see below).
Coach Romeo Crennel said he's leaning toward starting Derek Anderson at quarterback. "I've been talking about being as equal as I can in this competition, so I might let Anderson start," he said. Crennel said no clear starter had emerged following Saturday's 16-12 victory over the Chiefs.
Crennel said Anderson and Frye will probably play the first half again and rookie Brady Quinn will see action in the second half. Quinn worked with the first-and second-team offense yesterday while Ken Dorsey ran the scout team. But Crennel would not concede that Quinn has been moved ahead of Dorsey.
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 Tuesday 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.
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.
Crennel said he expects CB Leigh Bodden to play Saturday against the Lions and their premier receivers Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and rookie Calvin Johnson. If Bodden is idle Saturday, rookie Eric Wright and Daven Holly will probably start.
New Orleans Saints - QB Rotation: Drew Brees (1st Q), Jamie Martin (2nd Q+), Matt Baker (second half) rookie Tyler Palko, Jason Fife (see below).
Sean Payton said most of the starters will play the entire first half Saturday. Drew Brees will call it a night after the first quarter so backup Jamie Martin can work with the first-string offense. Martin will start the second half before turning the game over to Matt Baker. QB Matt Baker will get a chance to audition for the No. 3 QB job when he plays most of the second half. Palko and Fife are not expected to play.
Third game for the Saints, after opening in the Hall of Fame Game (8/5).
Cincinnati Bengals - QB Rotation: Carson Palmer (1st Q), Doug Johnson, rookies Jeff Rowe and Jeff Smith.
Carson Palmer will play more this week against New Orleans than the two series he got in last week.
Second-round draft pick RB Kenny Irons is out for the season with a torn ACL. Irons was expected to provide depth behind Rudi Johnson this year.
Offensive tackle Adam Kieft is expected to play Saturday against the Saints, as are safety John Busing, WRs Tab Perry and Antonio Chatman, CB Johnathan Joseph and rookie LB Earl Everett.
Offensive line changes: Gone are center Rich Braham and left guard Eric Steinbach from 2006. Eric Ghiaciuc takes over at center, while either Stacy Andrews or Andrew Whitworth will play left guard. LT Levi Jones is rehabbing from offseason knee surgery. 12-year right tackle Willie Anderson has not been practicing. The Bengals will benefit more if he doesn't have to take all the rigors of a normal training camp.
Depth on the defensive line is a concern.
Tampa Bay Bucs - QB Rotation: Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Bruce Gradkowski, Chris Simms.
QB Chris Simms (elbow) won't play.
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.
The Bucs were still tinkering with their defensive-line rotation when camp ended Thursday. The reason is simple. They have yet to figure out a way to generate the kind of pass rush they need to make their defense potent. This is a task that could go on all year.
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."
Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Rotation: Byron Leftwich (first half), David Garrard (3rd Q), Quinn Gray, Tim Couch, Lester Ricard.
Del Rio said the starters will likely play the entire first half on Saturday against Tampa Bay. So far in the preseason, Byron Leftwich and David Garrard have combined to complete 73.1 percent of their passes while hitting 13 different receivers.
With Quinn Gray (ankle) and Tim Couch (back) missing Wednesday's workout, Byron Leftwich, David Garrard and Lester Ricard took all the repetitions for the Jaguars.
Jacksonville has a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach.
Jaguars center Brad Meester broke a bone in his right foot and will be sidelined at least eight weeks. Meester has started 108 games for Jacksonville in seven years.
Free agent safety Sammy Knight joined the team this week. Jacksonville replaced starters Deon Grant and Donovin Darius in the offseason. The Jaguars drafted safety Reggie Nelson with the 21st overall pick, and he has played well. Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh has also been impressive, but the team's backups have mostly struggled.
Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Rotation: Ben Roethlisberger (20 snaps), Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre, Bryan Randall.
The first teams will play longer against the Redskins, a normal progression as the Steelers go deeper into the preseason. "Tentatively we're going to play our first groups a lot longer than what we've done at this point," coach Mike Tomlin said. "But, like always, we're going to be prepared to play it by ear. But it's our intention to play guys more in this game."
Coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday Parker will play with the rest of the starters, who are expected to get about 20 snaps against the Redskins.
Mike Tomlin made two more moves this week to his starting lineup: Bryant McFadden replaced veteran incumbent Deshea Townsend at right cornerback, and WR Santonio Holmes moved ahead of Cedrick Wilson at split end. "We're still shopping, if you will," Tomlin said. It's likely McFadden and Holmes will start Saturday.
Third game for the Steelers, after opening in the Hall of Fame Game (8/5).
Outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (groin), the team's No. 1 pick, continued to do light workouts in uniform, but has not participated in any contact drills.
HC Mike Tomlin, the former defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, was hired by the Steelers. He is just their third coach in 38 years.
The Steelers plan to zone block more often this season.
The Steelers will break out their no-huddle offense soon in a preseason game. The Steelers also used it last season in the preseason against the Vikings.
Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Jason Campbell (first half), Todd Collins (will follow), Mark Brunell, rookie Jordan Palmer.
The starters will play similar to last week, about a half. QB Todd Collins will be the second QB into the game.
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.
San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Philip Rivers (first half), Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst.
Starters will play the first half Saturday at St. Louis. Said Norv Turner: "Hopefully we'll look a lot more in sync. We need to play with more consistency. We're going to play a half."
RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't play in the preseason, so Michael Turner will start.
Norv Turner is the new head coach. He was the 49ers OC last year, and was fired by the Raiders in 2005 after going 9-23 in two seasons.
The Chargers will be without starting WR Eric Parker for as many as six games (toe surgery).
St. Louis Rams - QB Rotation: Marc Bulger, Gus Frerotte, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brock Berlin.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a cracked rib and is a game-time decision.
The Rams plan to use more two-tight end sets this season.
They have a revamped defensive front with Leonard Little at left end; former Detroit Lion James Hall at right end; La'Roi Glover and rookie Adam Carriker at tackle.
In five preseason games since Linehan became head coach in January 2006, the Rams' first offensive unit has yet to score a touchdown.
Denver Broncos - QB Rotation: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey, Preston Parsons.
Patrick Ramsey's extended bench time the past two years is why Broncos coach Mike Shanahan had him play three quarters against the 49ers. More will be expected from Ramsey in the next preseason game, Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys.
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 Monday 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.
Denver Broncos first-round draft pick Jarvis Moss injured his left knee during 1-on-1 pass-rush drills and is out.
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.
Dallas Cowboys - QB Rotation: Tony Romo (first half), Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel and Matt Moore.
HC Wade Phillips said he plans to play his starters for the first half on Saturday against the Broncos.
WRs thin. WR Terry Glenn is getting arthoscopic knee surgery and will miss the first 2 preseason games and rookie WR Isaiah Stanback has shin splints.
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.
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).
Seattle Seahawks - QB Rotation: Matt Hasselbeck (2-3 series), Seneca Wallace, David Greene, rookie Derek Devine (see below).
Matt Hasselbeck will start Saturday, but it won't be much more than the one series he got against San Diego. Mike Holmgren said he has to see No. 3 QB David Greene play.
RB Shaun Alexander, fullback Mack Strong, WR Bobby Engram, TE Marcus Pollard and right guard Chris Gray, all front-line players, will see a little more action than they did last week. None, however, will play past the first quarter, said coach Mike Holmgren. Coaches will spend most of the game evaluating backups and rookies.
Injuries and precaution will keep the following players from making the trip: LB Leroy Hill, defensive back Jordan Babineaux, tackles Walter Jones and Sean Locklear, tight ends Will Heller and Leonard Stephens, WR Courtney Taylor and defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs.
Defensive coordinator John Marshall is devising more blitz schemes, involving more players.
The Seahawks are playing without injured tight ends Will Heller and Ben Joppru, and possibly Leonard Stephens, and had only two healthy tight ends available. Facing an injury-depleted roster at tight end, the Seahawks signed TE Andy Stokes.
Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Brett Favre (25-30 snaps), Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin, rookie Paul Thompson (see below).
Coach Mike McCarthy said he is committed to starting Brett Favre against Seattle and Jacksonville. Favre's performance in those two games will determine how much, if at all, he is used at Tennessee. The plan is for Favre to play 25 to 30 snaps against the Seahawks.
RBs thin. Vernand Morency (knee) will miss the first two preseason games and RB P.J. Pope hurt his knee. Rookie RB DeShawn Wynn (thigh) also will sit out another game with a thigh injury that dates to Aug. 7.
Defensive tackle Justin Harrell is off to a sluggish start. The 16th pick in the 2007 draft is trying to play himself into shape after not having played football since mid-September because of a torn biceps.
Oakland Raiders - QB Rotation: Andrew Walter (1st Q), Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper, Jeff Otis, JaMarcus Russell.
QB Andrew Walter will start. If Walter doesn't wow with the first-team offense, don't be surprised if Daunte Culpepper gets a crack next week, after which Kiffin is expected to make a final decision.
Strong safety Donovin Darius injured his left calf and does not know if he'll be able to play Saturday. Featured in the team's 4-2-5 defense, he has gotten some first-team snaps with the regular 4-3 defense this week.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was hospitalized Monday with mono. He's back in camp.
"No one of the three has emerged as the clear-cut guy by any means," HC Kiffin said. "We don't need to have a starter right now. We're going to let them play and do the best that we can."
Former USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, 31, is the Raiders new head coach.
San Fran 49ers - QB Rotation: Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer, Shaun Hill.
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, which is why he did not play in the game against Denver. He might miss another practice day or two, Nolan said. This is giving coaches a chance to look more closely at Shawntae Spencer.
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