rotations...saturday

[IE]

Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Rotation: Byron Leftwich, Doug Johnson, David Garrard, Quinn Gray (exact amount of playing time still to be determined).

The Jaguars have had a smooth camp: "No significant injuries. No holdouts. A lot of good, hard work," said coach Jack Del Rio.

This is the second season of the West Coast offense under offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. They expect to have a better running game behind RBs Fred Taylor and rookie Greg Jones, and the offensive line is healthy and has more depth with the addition of free agents Ephraim Salaam and Mike Compton.

Defensively, the Jaguars have added some new schemes to improve their ability to pressure the QB. They showed the zone blitz last week in practice when DE Tony Brackens dropped back into coverage and intercepted a pass.

Miami Dolphins - QB Rotation: Jay Fiedler (first half), A.J. Feeley (3rd Q), Sage Rosenfels (4th Q), Clint Stoerner.

Dave Wannstedt said the starters will play more than usual for an opening exhibition game. QB Jay Fiedler and the first team offense will play most of the first half. The first team defense will play one quarter.

Former running backs coach Joe Collier is the new offensive coordinator for the Dolphins.

It was a dreadful weekend as Miami lost a top offensive player in WR David Boston and top special-teams player Chris Akins.

Secondary thin: S Shawn Wooden (lower back), CB Sam Madison (hamstring), S Chris Atkins (knee surgery) and CB Patrick Surtain (groin) are hurting.

Dave Wannstedt said some of the wide receivers might be held out of action. Chris Chambers, Derrius Thompson, Terrence Wilkins and Ronald Bellamy have missed practice the past seven days because of hamstring problems. Current No. 3 WR Kendall Newson was unable to finish practice because of a left leg injury. "We're probably not going to have a couple of the receivers in there, especially if the weather is bad," Wannstedt said.

Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Rotation: Tommy Maddox (1 Q), rookie Ben Roethlisberger (2nd Q+), Brian St. Pierre (will follow Roethlisberger and finish). QB Charlie Batch is hurting (sore arm) and is out 2-3 weeks.

Bill Cowher said Maddox and the starters will play approximately one quarter. Roethlisberger is expected to enter the preseason opener by the second quarter. Cowher did not say how long Roethlisberger would play, only that he would replace Maddox. St. Pierre will then come in for Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger and St. Pierre, last year's fifth-round draft choice, will get more preseason action than anticipated because of the injury to Batch.

RBs Duce Staley (knee) and RB Jereome Bettis (Quad) both practiced on Thursday, but were held out of live hitting and may see very limited playing time.

The Steelers have a new defensive coordinator in Dick LeBeau.

Defense hurting: LBs Clark Haggans (hand) and Dedrick Roper (knee), defensive ends David Upchurch (knee and ankle) and Eric Taylor (hamstring) and nose tackle Kendrick Clancy (calf) banged up.

Cowher said three of the four secondary starters -- CBs Chad Scott (abdominal strain) and Deshea Townsend (groin) and free safety Chris Hope -- will not play because of injuries. They will take a long look at young but highly regarded backup corners Ike Taylor and No. 2 draft pick Ricardo Colclough.

Cowher also said six other players will not play against the Lions: LB Clark Haggans (broken hand), NT Kendrick Clancy (calf), TE Jerame Tuman (elbow), rookie DE Eric Taylor (hamstring), DE David Upchurch (ankle) and CB Shane Walton (back strain). Rookie OLB Nathaniel Adibi (back), the team's No. 5 pick, is questionable.

Detroit Lions - QB Rotation: Joey Harrington (1 Q), Mike McMahon (2-3 Qs), Rick Mirer, Curt Anes.

Coach Steve Mariucci isn?t sure how long Harrington will play. He wants to give backup quarterback Mike McMahon some work.

The Lions have a new defensive coordinator in Dick Jauron.

The defense has its share of new starters, but the lineup for Saturday night has been shuffled because of injuries. Secondary thin: CB Fernando Bryant (hamstring) is out and CB Dre Bly (hip) is questionable.

The Lions? linebacking position lacks depth, with the injury to Boss Bailey and rookie Alex Lewis (high sprain.) "The linebacker spot is a little thin right now," Mariucci said Wednesday.




Carolina Panthers - QB Rotation: Jake Delhomme (1 Q), Chris Weinke, Rodney Peete, rookie Rod Rutherford.

Coach Jon Fox said Jake Delhomme would play about a quarter. Fox wouldn't say if Rodney Peete or Chris Weinke would follow Delhomme. Peete has taken most of the second-team snaps in practice.

WRs thin, with Muhsin Muhammad (finger) and Steve Smith (ankle) both questionable.

Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Patrick Ramsey (1st Q), Mark Brunell, Tim Hasselbeck, Gibran Hamdan (exact amount of playing time still to be determined).

QB Patrick Ramsey will start. This will be the second game for the Redskins, having played Monday in the Hall of Fame game.

Offensive line took a hit: Starting T Jon Jansen ruptured his left Achilles in the first quarter of the 20-17 exhibition victory over Denver Monday. He's out for the year.

Cleveland Browns - QB Rotation: Jeff Garcia (2-3 series), Kelly Holcomb (2 Q), Todd Husak (3 Q), Nate Hybl and rookie Luke McCown.

Terry Robiskie has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

Defense banged up: DE Courtney Brown (knee) is questionable, and LBs Chaun Thompson (wrist) and Brant Boyer (fractured foot) are hurting. Boyer is out.

Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Steve McNair (1-2 series), Billy Volek (will follow and finish the 1st Q), Jason Gesser (3 Q), Robert Kent (4 Q).

QB Steve McNair will play a few series before being relieved by Billy Volek. Jason Gesser and Robert Kent will play in the second half.

The starting offensive line could play into the second quarter. Fisher said RBs Chris Brown and Antowain Smith should get six to eight carries against the Browns.

Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger wants to see No. 3 Jason Gesser and No. 4 Robert Kent show better command in the huddle against the Browns than they've shown so far.

Defense ailing: Defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth (foot) and James Atkins (knee), and DEs Travis LaBoy (groin) and Bo Schobel (foot) are currently out of action. "We need some help," Coach Jeff Fisher said. "We are down to nine healthy defensive linemen right now and that is going to be tough the next couple of weeks."

 

[IE]

Arizona Cardinals - QB Rotation: Josh McCown, Shaun King, rookie John Navarre (exact amount of playing time still to be determined).

This will be the debut of first-year Arizona coach Dennis Green and rookie WR Larry Fitzgerald (No. 3 pick in the NFL draft).

Wide receivers thin: WR Bryant Johnson, expected to be a starter, is out with a stress fracture in his right foot. WR Anquan Boldin, another starter, has a knee injury of undetermined severity.

Running game thin: Two running backs, Marcel Shipp (knee) and Larry Croom (hamstring), are out.

Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Daunte Culpepper (2-3 series), Gus Frerotte (2 Q+), Shaun Hill (3 Q+).

Mike Tice said RBs Michael Bennett and Onterrio Smith will get three to four carries apiece before giving way to the rest of the running backs Saturday. Keenan Howry will handle at least the first punt return, and Bennett and Mewelde Moore will be back for at least the first kickoff return, with WR Ryan Hoag getting a look there as well.

Ted Cottrell is the Vikings new defensive coordinator.

Coach Mike Tice emphasized the need for a stellar showing in exhibition games ? to "play winning football," especially given the heartbreak of how the 2003 season ended on that infamous fourth down in Arizona. "Because of how the season ended, because of the shock and the depression we were in as a football team, winning is the only thing that's going to cure that," Tice said. "So it's important for us to have an exceptional preseason. Winning's a habit. It needs to become a habit."

Dallas Cowboys - QB Rotation: Vinny Testaverde (1 Q+), Drew Henson (2nd Q+), Tony Romo (3 Q+).

"I will play the quarterbacks in thirds," coach Bill Parcells said, explaining his plan for splitting their time. Vinny Testaverde will start, Drew Henson will be the second quarterback to play Saturday night at Houston and second-year QB Tony Romo will be the third.

Parcells isn't planning to bring another quarterback to camp. He wants Testaverde to get ready as the starter, and give Henson and Romo as many snaps as possible.

Houston Texans - QB Rotation: David Carr (1-2 series), Tony Banks (2nd Q+), Dave Ragone (3rd Q+), rookie B.J. Symons.

QB David Carr will be limited to "a couple of series" against the Cowboys, coach Dom Capers said. Banks and Ragone will split the rest of the game.

Capers had not yet finalized how the playing time will be scripted, but Carr will not play beyond the first quarter. The remainder of the snaps will be divided between backups Tony Banks and Dave Ragone. "I would say you would see a minimal amount of reps out of David Carr," Capers said. "I think you can anticipate seeing rookies playing significantly more than what the veterans will play."

Coach Capers said he might use RB Jason Anderson on kickoff returns. TE Billy Miller, who missed all of last week with back spasms, is being brought along slowly. "I anticipate Billy being ready to play a certain number of plays Saturday," Capers said.



Oakland - QB Rotation: Rich Gannon (1 Q), Kerry Collins (2 Q), Marques Tuiasosopo (3 Q), Tee Martin (4 Q).

QB Rich Gannon is expected to play for most or all of the first quarter, Norv Turner said, before giving way to Kerry Collins.

C Adam Treu worked with the first-team offense Thursday and will start at center against the 49ers. Rookie Jake Grove will replace Treu after a handful of plays and get some work with the starters, as well.

The defense has a new look: The Raiders are reshuffling their linebacking corps after the injury to middle linebacker Napoleon Harris (knee -- out six weeks.) They have to shuffle for this weekend's game and learn first-year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's new 3-4 scheme.

S.F. 49ers - QB Rotation: Ken Dorsey (1st Q+), Brandon Doman (late in the second quarter and 3rd Q), Cody Pickett (4th Q).

Coach Dennis Erickson envisions Dorsey playing well into the second quarter, then giving way to Brandon Doman and rookie Cody Pickett.

QB Tim Rattay is not ready to play yet.

Ted Tollner is the new offensive coordinator for the 49ers, and Willy Robinson is the new defensive coordinator.

A whopping 19 players missed practice Monday morning, when several players had been expected to return. Saturday's public practice at Kezar Stadium claimed three players: tight end Marcus Helfman (hip), linebacker Saleem Rasheed (knee) and fullback Jasen Isom (knee).

Indianapolis Colts - QB Rotation: Peyton Manning (12 plays), Corey Sauter (2nd-3rd Qs), Jim Sorgi (4th Q), Joe Hamilton.

Peyton Manning will go around 12 plays while Sauter will see the most action. Said coach Tony Dungy, "Sauter is going to get to play more than he has in the past."

Players who won't play Saturday against the Chargers are LB Kendyll Pope (thigh), defensive backs Willie Miles (knee) and Corey Chamblin (hip), DT David Pugh (knee), DE Nautyn McKay-Loescher (hamstring) and TE Ben Utecht (hernia). RB Dominic Rhodes (groin), CB Donald Strickland (shoulder) and DE Raheem Brock (ankle) are questionable.

S.D. Chargers - QB Rotation: Drew Brees (1st Q+), Cleo Lemon (2nd Q and into the 3rd), Joe Germaine (rest of the third and will finish).

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said the quarterbacks will play as follows: 1? quarters each for Drew Brees and Cleo Lemon, with Joe Germaine finishing.

In addition to RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Schottenheimer said a number of players won't play, including:LB Donnie Edwards; DL Adrian Dingle and DeQuincy Scott; WR Tim Dwight; QB Doug Flutie and RB Leon Johnson.

San Diego is short on QBs, with Doug Flutie hurt (out two weeks) and rookie Philip Rivers holding out.

The Chargers have a new defensive coordinator in Wade Phillips.

 

[The Mover]

Thanks IE ! Will be going with my lions, listening to j. harrington yesterday got a feeling he is going out their for the quick kill & then let the backups in maybe before 1st. qt. is over.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Great info, IE. I completely forgot about K. Collins as a 2nd stringer in Oakland. Buying back (at a price - laziness penalty)

 

[60 SEC ASSASSIN]

Thanks for the great info IE