Fridays QB Rotations and Starters Info

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INFORMATION COURTESY OF JIMFEIST


FRIDAY'S GAMES 8/19/05

Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Steve McNair, Billy Volek, rookie Gino Guidugli, Shane Boyd.

Jeff Fisher said his first teamers will go a little longer than they did last week, when most played about halfway into the second quarter.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus is looking to find a number 1 spot for Volek. Volek threw for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, his fifth in the NFL. It was his first real taste of starting, and admitted it hasn't been easy slipping back into a reserve role.

RB Travis Henry is unlikely to play in Atlanta on Friday.

Competition in the secondary: CB Michael Waddell was the nickelback for the Titans in Friday's game, but his head coach said the second-year pro may be worth more. "I haven't ruled out Michael as a starting corner," Jeff Fisher said. Waddell and rookie safety Vincent Fuller have been competing for the nickel, or third cornerback. Veterans Andre Woolfolk and Tony Beckham have been the starting cornerbacks since the beginning of training camp.

CB Pacman Jones is ruled out for Friday's preseason game.

Atlanta Falcons - QB Rotation: Michael Vick (1-2 series), Ty Detmer (2 Q+), Matt Schaub (3rd Q+), Bryan Randall.

Michael Vick is expected to play about two series. RB T.J. Duckett should get 7-10 carries, while Warrick Dunn should get 5-7.

The Falcons' starting linebacking unit will be completely shuffled for Friday's game with Tennessee because of minor injuries to two of the three regular members of the first unit. Demorrio Williams, who came off the bench behind Ike Reese last week, will make his second start at strong side linebacker. Reese, who is battling Williams for the starting strong side spot, will open at weak side linebacker. Rookie Jordan Beck will start in the middle. Pro Bowl weak side starter Keith Brooking "tweaked" his right quadriceps and MLB Ed Hartwell has not practiced this week because of a hyper-extended right knee.

Defense a concern: Without tailback Jamal Lewis, the Ravens still successfully ran the ball, especially against the first-team defense. MLB Ed Hartwell had an interception on the first series and weak side linebacker Keith Brooking looked like he's close to regular-season form, but poor tackling was an issue. "We missed a lot of tackles," Hartwell said.

Bryan Randall could benefit from the expanded practice squad. The Falcons want to develop the rookie from Virginia Tech. Because of his versatility, Randall could also be used on scout unit special teams and defense.

WR Roddy White likely will miss Friday's game with Tennessee after an MRI exam confirmed he sustained a mild high ankle sprain.

Free agent WRs Cole Magner and Kendrick Mosley will return punts this week. Magner returned two punts for an average of 21.5 yards in last weeks' 16-3 victory over Baltimore. Pro Bowl returner Allen Rossum has not been used for precautionary reasons. He likely will return punts against Jacksonville.

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Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Daunte Culpepper, Brad Johnson, Shaun Hill.

Moss-less offense: QB Daunte Culpepper has made it his personal mission to spread the ball throughout the offense. On Friday, Culpepper completed passes to a RB (Bennett), TE (Jermaine Wiggins) and three WRs (Nate Burleson, Marcus Robinson and Travis Taylor). Only Burleson saw multiple throws (two).

Offensive line thin, with Cs Matt Birk and Kyle Schmidt out and OL Anthony Herrera ailing. Starting right guard Chris Liwienski (sprained left shoulder) is out a week. Adam Goldberg has moved from left to right guard in Liwienski's absence, with rookie Marcus Johnson taking over at left guard. That is the way they will line up in Friday's exhibition game at the NY Jets.

The Vikings are expected to rotate kickers Aaron Elling and Paul Edinger for the second consecutive game Friday as they try to settle on a starter.

NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington (25-30 snaps), Jay Fiedler (late 2nd Q+), Brooks Bollinger (will mop up).

Pennington will be in uniform and play at least the first quarter, perhaps into the second quarter.

The Jets are expected to play their starters for about a half, and it will be interesting to see how well Pennington does with the new offense under new coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. Edwards has been increasing the work load of the starters this week in practice.

The Jets secondary, once a question mark, is suddenly looking like a team strength with the addition of Ty Law, rookie CB Justin Miller, rookie safeties Kerry Rhodes and Andre Maddox and the emergence of first-year S Oliver Celestin. Law and David Barrett will start at cornerback with Miller as the third cornerback. Second-year pro Derrick Strait replaces Ray Mickens at nickel. Second-year man Eric Coleman, a starter last season, and Celestin are the starters at safety. Celestin can also play some cornerback/nickel back. Ty Law has to work himself into playing shape.

Mike Heimerdinger, the former offensive coordinator with the Titans, is the new offensive coordinator.


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Cincinnati Bengals - QB Rotation: Carson Palmer, Jon Kitna, Casey Bramlet, Craig Krenzel.

Starters will play deeper into the first half of the Bengals' second preseason game tonight than they did a week ago in the opener.

Marvin Lewis says: "We are playing a good, physical football team, so I think it will be a good challenge for us in all three phases."

Bengals continue to be short on linebackers. Rookie LB Odell Thurman went down hard with an apparent injury to his right knee midway through practice Monday. It is unclear if Thurman will be able to practice or play in Friday's game at Washington. LBs Caleb Miller and Nate Webster won't play.

WR Peter Warrick expects to participate in 15-20 plays.

With Shayne Graham out for the second preseason game with a sore groin, Carter Warley will handle all kicking duties.

Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Patrick Ramsey (1st Q +), Mark Brunell, rookie Jason Campbell.

The Redskins are likely to have a host of unknowns on the defensive side of the ball given the rash of injuries that have hit in recent weeks. Last week, the understudies struggled, and the coaching staff will be looking for more production from those units.


Patrick Ramsey needs a better outing than his debut last week against Carolina. Instead of throwing an interception on what could have been a big play, Ramsey needs to make big plays. Backup Mark Brunell will be out to show last week's solid performance was no fluke.

The Redskins could be without two more starters as RB Clinton Portis missed Wednesday's practice with soreness in his elbow and safety Matt Bowen was carted off the practice field with a mild right knee sprain.

The three-time Pro Bowl LB LaVar Arrington is back at practice, but is unlikely to play much, if at all, this game.

Secondary thin: The team has continued to work out defensive backs because of injuries. Safeties Tony Dixon (hamstring) and Ryan Clark (knee sprain) remained out of practice. The Redskins are short on cornerbacks with Walt Harris and Artrell Hawkins out with minor injuries and Carlos Rogers (ankle) ailing. "We're definitely thin at corner," Joe Gibbs said.

The offense didn't move well under QB Patrick Ramsey in the opener, failing to muster any points in five drives. But the biggest negatives, Joe Gibbs said, were Washington's four turnovers -- two interceptions and two lost fumbles.