Friday Preseason Notes

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FRIDAY'S GAMES 8/10/07

Buffalo Bills - QB Rotation: J.P. Losman (12-15 plays), Craig Nall, rookie Trent Edwards, Kevin Eakin (see below).

HC Dick Jauron said J.P. Losman will start at quarterback and play "a little." He'll be followed by Craig Nall and Trent Edwards who is expected to get the bulk of the work Friday. NFL Europe QB Kevin Eakin may get a chance for a few reps at the end of the game.

The starters for the Bills however, won't be seeing much action Friday as is usually the case under head coach Dick Jauron.

"Our first group, both sides of the ball will probably play somewhere between 12 and 15 plays," Jauron said. "It just depends on how it goes. If it goes real well that may just be one drive and you'd love it to be that way. If it goes real poorly it may be three drives. You just don't know. Then we'll get everybody in that we'll can. I would say that most of the guys will play."

"We just want to go out there and be crisp," said Losman. "We know it's our first game, but we want to try to avoid any kind of complications. The plays he'll be giving us I'm sure will be pretty vanilla so we just want to be sharp on those and keep the chains moving and have a good drive of 12 or 15 plays and then they said we'll be out of there."

At running back Anthony Thomas is expected to get the start followed by Marshawn Lynch and the other candidates in the offensive backfield.

It's anticipated that Duke Preston will start at right guard with Jason Whittle rotating in quickly. Throughout training camp Preston has been the first one rotating in at right guard during that competition.

After two weeks of training camp the Bills are ready to get some live hitting in with another NFL team. "There's been some pushing and shoving, guys are frustrated and they want to let loose," said QB J.P. Losman. "These guys are pretty much animals when they step on this field and that's what this game is about. They'll be able to get their chance on Friday."

The offensive line is starting to get hit with some injuries. Second-year man Brad Butler, who was involved in the competition at right guard, has been out almost a week with a hamstring injury, and as he continues to limp, he doesn't look close to returning to practice. Now second-year man Aaron Merz is sitting out with a shoulder injury.

Starting safety Donte Whitner continues to be shelved by a stomach ailment, and there's a chance that he might not be able to play in Friday.

Cornerback depth a concern: They dealt Nate Clements in the offseason, and 8-year veteran CB Jason Webster has missed two practices with a leg injury. Other CB options are Kiwaukee Thomas, Ashton Youboty and Jabari Greer. "Webster is ahead of those guys, but we need depth at that position," Bills defensive backs coach George Catavolos said.

Rookie Paul Posluszny has been taking most of the reps with the first team at middle linebacker.

"I do believe we're a fast defense," Jauron said.

New Orleans Saints - QB Rotation: Drew Brees (1st Q), rookie Tyler Palko (2nd + 3rd Qs), Jamie Martin, Jason Fife.

HC Sean Payton expects his starters to play about a quarter in Friday. Rookie Tyler Palko will follow and play into the second half. He'll use the same plan he did in the first preseason game last year at Tennessee even though the Saints already have one game under their belts.

"Depending on the number of snaps, it might be a quarter or a little into the second quarter on one side of the ball or the other," Payton said.

RB Deuce McAllister will likely start after sitting out the exhibition opener Sunday. Strong safety Roman Harper, who was also held out last week, could also see his first action of the preseason.

Second game for the Saints, after opening in the Hall of Fame Game (8/5).

Offensive line woes: Saints starting left tackle Jammal Brown (knee) has a knee bruise and will be out a week.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said of the loss to the Steelers: "I thought we were sloppy, sluggish. I thought they were more physical than us." When asked what disappointed him most, Payton said, "All three phases of it."

The defense was stymied by the same problem that plagued it last season -- giving up too many big plays. In the first half, the Saints allowed eight plays of more than 10 yards. The Saints need to upgrade cornerback more than any other position on the roster.

Coach Sean Payton pushed his team a little harder Tuesday. Instead of following the schedule, which called for a morning walk-through, the Saints were in full pads for a full-length practice. "I just think we all felt as a whole that we needed a good week of practice this week," said Payton.

Lots of competition at wideout: There are 10 candidates for the receiver spots behind Marcus Colston. Running with the first unit has been Colston, Devery Henderson, Terrance Copper, David Patten and rookie Robert Meachem. WR Lance Moore is secure because he's the likely No. 1 kick returner.

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Atlanta Falcons - QB Rotation: Joey Harrington (10-12 plays), Chris Redman, D.J. Shockley, Lang Campbell.

Joey Harrington will start Friday. Then Petrino will likely hand the job to Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley, who are competing for the backup quarterback position. Redman has been working the No. 2 unit in practice. Lang Campbell may see late mop up duty.

Redman hasn't played since 2003, and Shockley hasn't played a down in a regular-season game.

TE Alge Crumpler, defensive tackle Rod Coleman and RB Warrick Dunn were declared "out" for the Jets game by Petrino.

Michael Koenen, who entered last season handling all three kicking duties, is punting. Billy Cundiff and Aaron Elling are competing for the kickoff and placekicking job.

Bobby Petrino is the new head coach, coming over from Louisville.

A Petrino camp is a more business-like place, almost corporate. "He's all about football," owner Arthur Blank said of Petrino.

Petrino has not been hesitant to put his stamp on this team, either by promoting or demoting players, opening competition, moving players or by kicking them to the curb. The release of WR Fred Gibson three days into training camp sent a warning that there is no tolerance for not doing things the right way.

NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, Marques Tuiasosopo.

Coach Eric Mangini refused to say how long the veterans would play against the Falcons, claiming it depends on the flow of the game.

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

Secondary thin: CB Justin Miller (hamstring) sat out both practices and might not playy. CB Andre Dyson, the Jets' top cornerback, has been slowed by an undisclosed right leg injury for much of training camp. He was limping visibly during the morning workout. The Jets haven't moved in negotiations with rookie CB Darrelle Revis. S Eric Smith hurt his hamstring Wednesday and was carted off the field.

Offensive line concerns: Guard Pete Kendall is still holding out and has ripped the organization almost daily since the start of training camp. Starting right guard Brandon Moore sat out Tuesday's workout protesting his contract.

New England Patriots - QB Rotation: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Vinnie Testaverde, rookie Matt Gutierrez.

Secondary thin. CB Chad Scott is out for the season (knee) and CB Asante Samuel is holding out.

The right tackle spot is one of the most competitive in training camp, with third-year player Nick Kaczur (20 starts) and second-year man Ryan O'Callaghan (6 starts) and 6-8 Wesley Britt.

Tampa Bay Bucs - QB Rotation: Jeff Garcia (1st Q), Luke McCown (2nd-3rd Qs), Bruce Gradkowski (mop up), Chris Simms (see below).

Garcia will start, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski will follow. McCown will see significant action Friday against New England. QB Chris Simms (elbow) won't play.

Despite RB Cadillac Williams' request for more snaps, Gruden will stick to same plan as the past two preseasons. "He's going to get a couple of carries and he's going to be an observer for a lot of the time," Gruden said.

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.

Offensive line thin. Gruden all but ruled out the possibility of projected starting LT Luke Petitgout playing a role.

LB Ryan Nece looks like he will get the start at middle linebacker against New England. While MLB Barrett Ruud continues to nurse a left knee bruise, Nece, the former starting strongside linebacker, has been working out in the middle.

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.

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."

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St. Louis Rams - QB Rotation: Marc Bulger, Gus Frerotte, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brock Berlin.

Linebackers thin.

The Rams plan to use more two-tight end sets this season.

WR/returner Dante Hall is nursing a sore hamstring. Linehan said Hall's availability for the preseason opener in Minnesota would be a "game-time decision." Meaning second-year man Marques Hagans and seventh-round draft pick Derek Stanley should get the bulk of the work on kickoff and punt returns.

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.

Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Tarvaris Jackson (8-15 plays), Brooks Bollinger (2nd Q+), Tyrus Thigpen, Drew Henson (mop up).

HC Brad Childress said he is not inclined to play QB Tarvaris Jackson longer than the typical eight to 15 plays Friday against the Rams. "You don't want any bad habits from him playing behind the third offensive line and getting happy feet," Childress said. "I would rather see him establish a rhythm with the guys that he is going to play with on the football field."

Tarvaris Jackson has worked almost exclusively with the first-team offense, while Brooks Bollinger has been getting snaps with the second unit.

QB Tavaris Jackson's downfield accuracy has been lacking as he learns the offense, and most of his best throws have been dropped.

Running backs thin: Rookie Adrian Peterson suffered a hip pointer last week, RB Chester Taylor (minor bruise) had his right arm wrapped and RB Wendell Mathis (muscle strain) has missed practice this week.

The Vikings have a new defensive coordinator in Leslie Frazier.