2008 NFL Preseason Notes

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Hall of Fame Game (Canton, Ohio)

SUNDAY'S GAME 8/3/08

Indianapolis Colts - QB Rotation: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi, Quinn Gray, Jared Lorenzen, Adam Tafarlis.

Manning won't play, having minor bursa surgery in July. The recovery time is 4-6 weeks, so he will probably see little preseason action.

WR Marvin Harrison (knees) won't play. Dungy said Harrison also might not play Aug. 9 when the Colts visit the Carolina Panthers. But the coach assured that Harrison "will get his share in" during the preseason.

Several other Colts recovering from injuries also won't play Sunday, including QB Peyton Manning, DE Dwight Freeney, safety Bob Sanders and linebackers Gary Brackett and Tyjuan Hagler. Only Hagler (torn pectoral muscle) is expected to miss any time in the regular season. Freeney expects to miss the first three weeks of the preseason, but perhaps play in the fourth or fifth preseason game.

Defensive line thin with the retirement of Quinn Pitcock, creating a void at defensive tackle. Raheem Brock, a 27-game starter at tackle the past two seasons, has been moved to left end in the base defense and apparently will remain there even with Pitcock's decision.

Colts coach Tony Dungy has a history of taking it easy with his veteran players in preseason.

Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Jason Campbell (1-2 series), Todd Collins (2nd Q), rookie Colt Brennan (3rd Q), rookie Sam Hollenbach.

Backup quarterback Todd Collins is scheduled to replace Campbell after the first or second series and play the rest of the first half, with rookie QB Colt Brennan starting the second half. The starters who take part will do so for only a series or two on offense. The defense will rest most of its starters entirely.

Jim Zorn is the new head coach. The former Seahawks quarterbacks coach has no head-coaching experience.

Zorn will rely on primarily unproven talent to get through the Hall of Fame Game, unable to use about a dozen ailing players. Zorn said starting tailback Clinton Portis, Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels, starting middle linebacker London Fletcher and newly acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor will not play.

The Redskins are being cautious with cornerback Carlos Rogers and linebacker Rocky McIntosh, both of whom are coming back from season-ending knee surgery, and neither will play. Rookie WRs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, both second-rounds picks dealing with hamstring injuries, will not play. Thomas is out probably another week or so, while Kelly continued to experience soreness in his limited practice reps.

Tailback Ladell Betts (thigh bruise), wide receiver Anthony Mix (hamstring) and safety LaRon Landry (hamstring) will not play, while defensive end Chris Wilson (calf strain) may sit out as well.

Greg Blache is the new defensive coordinator, while Sherman Smith is offensive coordinator after OC Al Saunders left. Smith previously served as assistant head coach-running backs with the Tennessee Titans for 13 seasons.


THURSDAY'S GAMES 8/7/08

New Orleans Saints - QB Rotation: Drew Brees, Mark Brunell, Tyler Palko.

Secondary concerns: They hope cornerback Mike McKenzie, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the second-to-last game, is recovered.

To help the defense, the Saints paid particular offseason attention to the line, adding free-agent defensive end Bobby McCray and drafting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis with the seventh overall pick. They also added cornerback Randall Gay via free agency.

Arizona Cardinals - QB Rotation: Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner, Brian St. Pierre, rookie Anthony Morelli.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is handing off most of the offensive play-calling duties for the upcoming season to coordinator Todd Haley.

NY Giants - QB Rotation: Eli Manning, David Carr, Anthony Wright, rookie Andre Woodson.

Detroit Lions - QB Rotation: Jon Kitna, Drew Stanton, Dan Orlovsky.

Joe Barry has been promoted to defensive coordinator, while Jim Colletto is the new offensive coordinator.

Baltimore Ravens - QB Rotation: Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, rookie Joe Flacco.

John Harbaugh is the new head coach, the former Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach. Harbaugh has never been a head coach during his 24 seasons.

Harbaugh said no one has taken the lead in the team's quarterback race. Throughout training camp, Kyle Boller, Troy Smith and Joe Flacco have rotated with the starting offense.

New England Patriots - QB Rotation: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, rookie Kevin O'Connell.

NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff, rookie Erik Ainge.

The offense is in the third year of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's high-tech scheme that features an array of shifts and motions.

Cleveland Browns - QB Rotation: Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey.

The change Browns have made a change in defensive coordinators from Todd Grantham to Mel Tucker.

K.C. Chiefs - QB Rotation: Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard.

Coach Herm Edwards said that Brodie Croyle's job is safe and that he will enter training camp as the starter. "It's his team now," Edwards said.

Last year's starter Damon Huard is now the No. 3 quarterback, behind second-year passer Tyler Thigpen.

Chicago Bears - QB Rotation: Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, Caleb Hanie.

Running back depth a concern after cutting loose RB Cedric Benson.


FRIDAY'S GAMES 8/8/08

Philadelphia Eagles - QB Rotation: Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley, Kevin Kolb.

Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Rotation: Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Jared Zabransky, rookie Dennis Dixon.

Seattle Seahawks - QB Rotation: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye, Dalton Bell.

With RB Shaun Alexander gone, there's a backfield battle between RBs Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett and rookie Justin Forsett.

WR concerns: WR Deion Branch is six months into what is typically a nine-month rehabilitation following reconstructive knee surgery. He likely will not be ready for the season opener.

Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte, John David Booty, Brooks Bollinger.

San Fran 49ers - QB Rotation: Alex Smith, Shaun Hill, J.T. O'Sullivan, Drew Olsen.

Mike Martz is the new offensive coordinator.

Oakland Raiders - QB Rotation: JaMarcus Russell, Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo, rookie Sam Keller.

Keller and Tuiasosopo are newcomers to the system.

Offensive line concerns: New left tackle Kwame Harris is still learning the new blocking scheme; Returning right tackle Cornell Green struggled to contain edge rusher Derrick Burgess in practice, while second-year tackle Mario Henderson remains a work in progress.

SATURDAY'S GAMES 8/9/08

Buffalo Bills - QB Rotation: Trent Edwards, J.P. Losman, Gilbran Hamdan, Matt Baker.

Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, rookie Colt Brennan, rookie Sam Hollenbach.

This is the second game for the Redskins, after playing in the Hall of Fame Game (8/3).

Jim Zorn is the new head coach.

Greg Blache is the new defensive coordinator, while Sherman Smith is offensive coordinator after OC Al Saunders left. Smith previously served as assistant head coach-running backs with the Tennessee Titans for 13 seasons

Atlanta Falcons - QB Rotation: Chris Redman, Joey Harrington, Matt Ryan, D.J. Shockley.

Rookie QB Matt Ryan (BC) was grabbed with the No. 3 overall pick.

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.

It is hard to get a read on the defensive line, since so many players (Jamaal Anderson, Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham) have missed practice time with injuries and personal matters. Grady Jackson hasn't done much since signing last week.

WR Brian Finneran, who missed the past two seasons after tearing the ACL in the same knee, is making a strong case to be retained.

Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Rotation: David Garrard, Cleo Lemon, Todd Bauman.

Jacksonville has a new defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams, who was with the Redskins last fall under Joe Gibbs.

The Jaguars will be without center Brad Meester for eight to 10 weeks and WR Reggie Williams for two to three weeks after both players underwent surgery last week.

Indianapolis Colts - QB Rotation: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi, Quinn Gray, Jared Lorenzen, Adam Tafarlis.

This is the second game for the Colts, after playing in the Hall of Fame Game (8/3).

Carolina Panthers - QB Rotation: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore, Brett Basanez.

Tampa Bay Bucs - QB Rotation: Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Brian Griese, Chris Simms.

Miami Dolphins - QB Rotation: Josh McCown, John Beck, rookie Chad Henne.

Tony Sparano is the new head coach, a former assistant with Bill Parcells in Dallas. He is a proponent of a balanced offense.

Denver Broncos - QB Rotation: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey, Darrell Hackney.

Houston Texans - QB Rotation: Matt Schaub, Sage Rosenfels, rookie Alex Brink.

The new offensive coordinator is Kyle Shanahan, as 2007 offensive coordinator Mike Sherman is the new head coach at Texas A&M.

St. Louis Rams - QB Rotation: Marc Bulger, Trent Green, Brock Berlin, Bruce Gradkowski.

The Rams have a new offensive coordinator in Al Saunders, who ran high scoring offenses in K.C. under Dick Vermeil.

Upgrading the O-line is a key: Ram QBs were sacked 48 times last season and the running game was 25th.

Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Ingle Martin, Paul Thompson.

Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger returns to Tennessee after a two-year hiatus in Denver, replacing Norm Chow.

Dallas Cowboys - QB Rotation: Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel.

WR depth thin.

San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Philip Rivers, Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst, Casey Bramlet.


MONDAY'S GAME 8/11/08

Cincinnati Bengals - QB Rotation: Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeff Rowe, Jordan Palmer.

New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer takes over and said the team will stay with a four-lineman base.

Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Aaron Rodgers, rookie Brian Brohm, Matt Flynn.

Defensive line health is a concern. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery. Former first-round pick Justin Harrell has missed his second offseason, this time with an injured back, and has fallen behind. Colin Cole (forearm), Johnny Jolly (shoulder) and Daniel Muir (pectoral muscle) have also missed some time because of injuries. "I'd just like to see those guys get healthy," HC Mike McCarthy said.

[cal]

thanx for posting this