Monday Night Football notes

[BangTheBook]

MONDAY'S GAME 8/22/05

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

QB Drew Henson has been written off by most in the backup quarterback derby, but coach Bill Parcells said he plans to have him follow Drew Bledsoe in Monday's preseason game. Henson will play some behind the starting line against Seattle, Parcells said.

Parcells plans to take a long look at RBs rookie Marion Barber and Anthony Thomas against the Seahawks on Monday. Thomas didn't play much against the Cardinals last week. He will work as Julius Jones' primary backup against the Seahawks.

Nose tackle Jason Ferguson has reinjured his right ankle and will miss this game.

No. 1 place-kicker, Billy Cundiff, is injured and could be out for four weeks. Jose Cortez will handle the kicking duties tonight.

Tyson Walter will start at right guard against Seattle, replacing the injured Marco Rivera (hamstring). Second-year lineman Ben Noll also is expected to receive significant playing time.

Issues in the secondary: Parcells said he's not even close to deciding who will start at free safety. For now, Lynn Scott and Keith Davis are rotating at the position. CB Lance Frazier (sprained left ankle) is also ailing.

The defense is still adjusting to their new 3-4 defense. The 3-4 defense fared pretty well against the run Saturday. Putting pressure on the quarterback, however, was a problem. Parcells blamed it partly on the inability of rookie defensive end Demarcus Ware and the outside linebackers to make the transition from run stopper to pass rusher.

One of the biggest disappointments for Parcells is they still do not have a firm grasp on how much 3-4 they want to run and how much 4-3. The decision is based on which scheme allows them to put more of their best defenders on the field. The problem is that some of their best defenders have not been able to be on the field. "The thing that is setting me back here is the Spears, Ferguson thing," Parcells said. "That's putting that a little on hold." Both DE Marcus Spears (ankle and knee) and DT Jason Ferguson (ankle) have missed a good amount of practice. Neither will play Monday.

Seattle Seahawks - QB Rotation: Matt Hasselbeck (1st Q+), Seneca Wallace, (2nd Q +), rookie David Greene, Gilbran Hamdan.

Seneca Wallace will continue to get a heavy dose of preseason playing time tonight.

Running backs thin. The Seahawks have been getting by with only two healthy running backs in practice, Kerry Carter and Marquis Weeks, an undrafted rookie free agent from Virginia. Shaun Alexander is back, but Maurice Morris is not, both from sore hamstrings, and Jesse Lumsden figures to be out for two weeks with a hip injury.

Injuries have complicated the competition in the defensive line and at linebacker. Tackles Rashad Moore and Cedric Woodard, starters last season, are out as they continue to recover from offseason surgeries.