NFL Team Capsules: Coughlin not satisfied 2 weeks before NFL season
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tom Coughlin wants to seen more from the New York Giants, and soon.
A day after the Giants (1-2) were soundly beaten for the second straight week in the preseason, Coughlin left no doubt that he was disappointed with his team's intensity and execution with two weeks to go before the season opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Coughlin was particularly upset with the lack of effort by some players.
"I expected more, you know, I did," Coughlin said. "I can give you page after page about effort, but what I am going to say is there is effort, and then, there is the kind of intensity a guy brings to the table when you are playing the game to solidify your team, your circumstance and your individual position."
Coughlin said there were a lot of young players who had a chance to make a major impression and earn spots on the roster. However, many failed to take advantage in the 24-10 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore.
"I am not going to say it (the intensity) wasn't there, but I am going to say it can be better, said Coughlin, who hopes to stimulate the intensity level heading into Thursday night's preseason finale against the New England Patriots.
What he doesn't get across, he hopes will be passed down by the players themselves.
"When you enter into that category you are talking about leadership and the ability of the players to demand a level of performance from one another that equates to the game, or the importance of being in the National Football League," Coughlin said. "I think that that certainly has to happen if you are going to have the kind of team you want to have."
The Giants have a player leadership council, but the group has lost some key members in recent years with the retirements of Michael Strahan and Jeff Feagles and the release and then retirement of Antonio Pierce.
"That is always something that is an interesting dynamic of the locker room, that positive leadership comes forward," Coughlin said. "We're still in a position where that is evolving."
Coughlin said his starters will play in the preseason finale. He said the team's performance against the Ravens will not influence how much they play.
"I don't think there is anything wrong with playing a starter for a quarter or for at least some length of time," Coughlin said.
Looking at the Ravens' game, Coughlin said free agents cornerbacks Courtney Brown, D.J. Johnson and Seth Williams got a lot of playing time because of injuries to Aaron Ross (foot) and Terrell Thomas (calf). The coach added that they were left in a lot of man-to-man situations just to see what they could do.
The Giants suffered a couple of injuries in the game. Rookie linebacker Adrian Tracy dislocated an elbow and is expected to be sidelined 2-to-3 weeks. Veteran linebacker Gerris Wilkinson strained a groin.
Coughlin said that backup quarterback Jim Sorgi, who has been sidelined since hurting his right shoulder against the Jets on Aug. 16 in the preseason opener, will not practice on Monday.
Sorgi, who backed up Peyton Manning in Indianapolis the past six years, had said on Wednesday he hoped to return Monday. His concern is that his injury might cost him his roster spot behind Eli Manning.
"We're going to go by the medical circumstance," Coughlin said. "The closer we get to the (season opener) we'll have to make some calls."
Starting center Shaun O'Hara (ankle) and cornerback Aaron Ross (foot) will not play this week. Defensive ends Chris Canty and Jason Pierre-Paul are expected to return from minor injuries.
Veteran receiver Sinorice Moss, who has been sidelined most of training camp, will get a second opinion on the injury to his groin and pelvis.
NOTES: Rutgers free agent receiver Tim Brown showed some flashes handling punt and kickoff returns, but the areas need improvement, Coughlin said, adding the Giants might be looking at the waiver wires for answers. ... Rookie P Matt Dodge showed a little more consistency. ... The Giants did not make any roster moves on Sunday. They have to get to the 75-man limit by Tuesday.
One week left for Redskins' WR Kelly to make roster
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Malcolm Kelly figured he'd be getting a good head start when he flew to Arizona to work out with Donovan McNabb and other receivers the week before the Washington Redskins opened training camp.
It turned out to be a trip that could cost Kelly his spot on the team.
After two long flights — from his native Texas to D.C., then on to Arizona — Kelly didn't stretch enough and pulled his left hamstring at McNabb's workout. Kelly was able to practice only one day during the entire three weeks of camp, and only now is he physically ready to return to the field — with only a few days remaining before the final roster is set.
"I'm real eager to get out there," Kelly said. "And see how it holds up and get my hands on a few footballs."
Kelly participated in Sunday's light practice, but the real test comes when he returns for Monday's full workout. If all goes well, he'll have Thursday's preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals to show a new coaching regime that he shouldn't be among the final cuts two days later.
"Go out there and get a few grabs, more than anything show them that you know the play book," Kelly said. "That's the thing they want to see — if you've been studying. 'Has my head still been in the game?' That's the biggest thing. I know when the ball comes to me, I'll catch the ball, but it's about being in the right place at the right time and giving the offense a chance to be successful."
Kelly was a prized draft pick just two years ago, chosen in the second round along with fellow receiver Devin Thomas. Neither player has produced as hoped, but Kelly's rookie season was a wash because of knee and ankle injuries. Last year he played in all 16 games, making nine starts and catching 25 passes for a sputtering offense.
This year, his ailing hamstring has caused him to lose ground among a group of receivers that includes Santana Moss, Joey Galloway, Roydell Williams and up-and-comers Anthony Armstrong and Brandon Banks.
Kelly knows there are those who wonder if he was a wasted draft pick.
"I really could care less about, well, 'We made a mistake, we made a mistake.' I'm here now, so I really could care less about that," Kelly said.
But will he stay? Coach Mike Shanahan was asked if one week is enough time for Kelly to make a case.
"Hopefully it is," Shanahan said. "Because that's what we've got left."
Kelly figures the coaching staff has already made up its mind whether to keep him, but he said he doesn't have a good read on where he stands. One thing for sure: He's learned his lesson about stretching before a workout.
"When I feel like I've stretched, I need to stretch that much more after that," he said. "Just to get everything flowing."
-- Joseph White
Redskins' Shanahan responds to Haynesworth jokes
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Mike Shanahan is happy to be hearing jokes, rather than disrespectful comments, from Albert Haynesworth.
Shanahan gave his much-delayed response Sunday to the defensive lineman's biting postgame comments from earlier this month, when Haynesworth essentially said his medical condition had been underplayed by the coach in order to make the Redskins look good and Haynesworth look bad.
"I think everybody would like to be liked, that's part of being a head football coach," Shanahan said. "But you want to be respected as well. I've got a job to do, and Albert's got a job to do, and his job is to be the best football player he can possibly be, and it's my job to see to it."
With that out of the way, it was time for levity. Haynesworth finally played nice after the Friday night's game against the New York Jets, joking that he was heading to Shanahan's house for dinner and a cigar and that he didn't even remember his searing remarks from the week before.
Shanahan's comeback on Sunday: "Well, he made me buy the drinks and the cigars."
Haynesworth also said he saved Shanahan's life "from getting hit in the head with a ball" during the game.
Shanahan's version of the story?
"He did. He did. He yelled 'Look out!' at the last second," Shanahan said. "It landed about two feet from me, and I looked over and I said, 'Hey, I didn't know you cared.' I actually got him to smile a little bit."
Eagles settle on Jackson as PR, Hobbs as KR
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — With just one preseason game remaining in which his starters will not play, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid has some decisions to make.
Reid settled on a couple after putting his team through a 1-hour, 45-minute practice Sunday.
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who sat out with an upper back strain, will be the Eagles' punt returner this season and starting cornerback Ellis Hobbs will be the kickoff return man.
In the past, Reid has shied away from using starters on returns. Jackson and Hobbs might just be too good not to use.
"Well, he loves that part of it," Reid said of Jackson. "Both he and (Ellis) Hobbs enjoy doing the return stuff. I've kind of held Hobbs out and given Quintin Demps an opportunity back there to do something, and Chad (Hall) an opportunity. But, both of them enjoy that part of the game, so I'll probably end up letting both of them do that. "
Jackson, who was named to the Pro bowl last season as both a return man and a receiver, averaged a league-leading 15.2 yards per punt last year and returned two for touchdowns.
"You know what, he does a good job of playing angles on guys," Reid said. "He got caught in a tight spot, there and he just has to be careful about putting his head down. Normally when he puts his head down, he gets down and out of the way and this doesn't happen to him. I don't presume it will happen again. But, no, to answer your question, he'll continue to return punts. He would have returned the other night if he hadnt gotten hurt."
Hobbs averaged 24.1 on kickoff returns, 10th in the NFC and 18th overall, before a neck injury ended his season after eight weeks. The injury concern does not seem to be on Reid's mind for either Hobbs or Jackson.
While the return game is settled, Reid's offensive line is still in flux. Left guard Todd Herremans, bothered by a foot injury throughout camp, played for the first time in Friday night's win over Kansas City. He left practice early on Sunday when he twisted his good ankle.
"Todd went off with a slight ankle sprain," Reid said. "It was a basketball ankle. He just stepped on someone's foot. It was on his off-surgical foot, there, not on his surgical foot."
Center Jamaal Jackson, who has not played at all this preseason as he tried to come back from a torm ACL and will not play against the New York Jets on Thursday night did practice with the first team Sunday.
Nick Cole, who can play center and guard, but has been out with a leg injury, was also back in at right guard.
In Reid's ideal world, he would open the season against Green Bay on Sept. 12 with Jason Peters at left tackle, Herremans at left guard, Jackson at center, Cole at right guard and Winston Justice at right tackle.
"Whether that happens, remains to be seen. We're easing them both back in there," Reid said. "The nice thing is I can wait until the last day to decide (if they will play). I just have to make sure I feel comfortable that (Jackson) can play. It's just that. We'll put him in situations where we give him all of those looks over the next couple of weeks and see how he does.
NOTES: Rookie fifth-round draft pick Ricky Sapp injured his knee at practice Sunday and left the field. ... Defensive end Trent Cole (ankle), cornerback Dimitri Patterson (groin) and linebacker Ernie Sims (forearm) all sat out Sunday. ... Second-year man Victor Harris was back at the No. 3 free safety spot after spending most of his time at cornerback through training camp.
Falcons' defense looking better on third down
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Peria Jerry is back, Dunta Robinson seems ready to return and the Atlanta Falcons are feeling better about their defense.
Though third-down efficiency and penalties are still a concern, but coach Mike Smith is more confident with the season opener at Pittsburgh only two weeks away.
In Atlanta's 16-6 victory two days ago at Miami, the Dolphins were 2 for 12 on third down. Losing to New England the week before, the Falcons looked helpless as quarterback Tom Brady led conversions on five of his seven third-down snaps in the first half.
"We missed some things on the defensive side of the ball even though we played more efficiently than the week before," Smith said Sunday. "There's still a lot of things that we can correct."
The return of Jerry, a starting nose tackle who missed all but two games as a rookie last year, should help. The former first-round pick looked healthy in disrupting a third-down play with a clean hit of Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington early in the fourth quarter.
Jerry was relieved to play in game conditions for the first time since a knee injury ended his 2009 season last September. He did not start but spent most of the night in line coach Ray Hamilton's 10-man rotation.
"I'm very excited, very excited to be back out with the guys," Jerry said. "Just to get out and compete, I'm looking forward this week to getting more snaps, and we'll go from there. I just know when they're calling my number, I'm running out there. Everything feels good."
Smith liked what he saw of Jerry after watching the film.
"It was good for Peria, and it was really good for us," Smith said. "It's really the first time he's played football (in 11 months). You could see the rust on him on some of the plays, but I thought he did things we know he's capable of doing in regards to rushing the passer."
Robinson, the high-priced cornerback who is practicing despite what he described as a partially torn hamstring, missed his third straight preseason game — but the Falcons believe he will be ready to face the Steelers.
Adding two potential marquee players, along with rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon — a first-round pick — boosts the confidence of a defense that was the NFL's worst on third down last year.
"This third preseason game was the one that we really wanted to set the tone for getting off the field on third down," middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said. "We played as a team and did a good job of that."
It's unclear if rookie tackle Corey Peters, a third-round pick, will be able to play in the opener, but the Falcons are unlikely to risk further injury to his knee in the preseason finale this week at Jacksonville.
Another bright spot has been fewer defensive penalties. The Falcons ranked fourth-worst with 110 in 2009, but they had just one against Miami and none against the Patriots.
Second-string safety William Moore had the lone miscue on an illegal contact penalty that led to a third-quarter field goal.
The Falcons also need kicker Matt Bryant to steady his leg immediately. Bryant is 3 for 5 on field goal attempts this preseason, missing wide right from 47 against Kansas City and from 50 against New England. He also failed to convert an extra point against the Dolphins.
"We can't miss extra points, that's for sure," Smith said. "A 50-yard field goal, that's more acceptable. When you miss extra points, those things usually come back to haunt you."
-- George Henry
McCarthy picks Colledge to start for Packers
GREEN BAY (AP) — Daryn Colledge will begin the 2010 season in the same spot where he ended 2009: starting at left guard for the Packers.
Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy made the announcement Sunday. The decision follows a 59-24 preseason victory over Indianapolis on Thursday night, when Colledge took all the snaps with the No. 1 offensive line while first-round pick Bryan Bulaga was sidelined by a hip injury.
"We haven't announced it (to the team) or anything, but I think it is accurate that Daryn Colledge will be the starting left guard in Philadelphia," McCarthy said during his daily sideline press briefing following Sunday's practice. "I like the production of the first line. I thought Bryan was improving with his opportunities there, but when you are injured you are not part of the equation anymore. Daryn Colledge will be our left guard in Philadelphia."
Bulaga took part only in the jog-through portion of Sunday's practice, leaving him out of the running to start after being inserted into the competition Aug. 9. Earlier in camp, Jason Spitz and Allen Barbre had challenged for Colledge's starting job and came up short, as well. T.J. Lang and rookie Marshall Newhouse never seriously were considered.
McCarthy's decision to go with Colledge was made easier because of Bulaga's injury, which had been bothering him for about a week before he dropped out of practice Aug. 23, but it was more of an endorsement of Colledge's play.
McCarthy said that head athletic trainer Pepper Burruss told him that Bulaga, who missed the victory over Indianapolis, may practice on Monday.
"We'll see how he does," McCarthy said.
Colledge has started 60 career regular season games since the Packers drafted him in the second round in 2006 out of Boise State, with 55 of those starts coming at left guard.
Told of McCarthy's announcement, Colledge wasn't surprised.
"Awesome. I didn't know I wasn't the starter originally," he said. "I think I played well last season, I played well during the preseason, so I'm excited to have another opportunity to start for the Packers.
"I did what I always do: I focused on my own game. I knew there was going to be competition in the beginning ... That's the way it is. That's football."
Throughout camp, Colledge has taken the first repetition of virtually every drill with the No. 1 line. He has also started all three preseason games and will do so again on Thursday at Kansas City in the exhibition finale. He was brimming with confidence Sunday, emboldened by his strong play in practice and the three games so far.
"I think I stayed with the same mindset the whole camp. I knew I played well at the end of last year. I knew if I had the opportunity to stay at left guard and continue to compete, that I would continue to improve," Colledge said.
Bulaga, the team's left tackle of the future who is now penciled in as the top backup at both left tackle and left guard, didn't learn of the decision until approached by reporters after practice.
"He won the job and coach made a decision and that's what it is. Obviously I'm disappointed that I'm not the guy, but I've been nicked up a little bit and that's just the way it goes," Bulaga said. "Whatever position they throw me at, I'm just going to try to make the best out of it, take as many reps as I can at tackle and guard and if I get thrown in at both, just do my job and just go from there."
Notes: Two-time Pro Bowl CB Al Harris, who remains on the PUP list after reconstructive knee surgery last November, is doing "very well," McCarthy said, adding that he hasn't ruled out having Harris on the active 53-man roster when the season opens. Whether Harris will be ready to play Sept. 12 against the Eagles is unclear. ... Starting QB Aaron Rodgers did a lot of scout-team work during practice, with backups Matt Flynn and Graham Harrell slated to get most of the work in the exhibition finale. ... Rookie RB Quinn Porter sustained a "pretty significant" knee sprain against the Colts, McCarthy said.
No middle ground for Panthers in odd preseason
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have become a team of extremes.
The defense, with numerous questions after an offseason roster overhaul, has been stellar. Who needs Julius Peppers? The Panthers have a whopping 18 sacks in three preseason games and have nearly completely shut down the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans the last two weeks.
The offense, meanwhile, has been downright unwatchable. Bring back Jake Delhomme? The Panthers still haven't scored an offensive touchdown and appear further away from identifying a No. 2 receiver than when training camp started.
Maybe the return of injured receiver Steve Smith and running back Jonathan Stewart will be the cure. Or perhaps this speedy, no-name defense will have to carry the Panthers, a scenario few could've predicted.
"The beauty of it is, everyone said, 'The Panthers don't have any guys. Everyone's gone. They're going to struggle,'" linebacker Jon Beason said of a unit without six starters from last season, including the five-time Pro Bowl pick Peppers.
"I've seen everybody pick it up. It's been great. There are so many new faces, but we've really gelled."
The contrast of a proud Beason to the bewildered look of offensive players on the other side of the locker room was striking after Saturday's ugly 15-7 victory over Tennessee.
Quarterback Matt Moore, who replaced the released Delhomme, claimed there's been steady improvement on offense, but was hardly convincing. Left tackle Jordan Gross insisted they can get it turned around before the regular-season opener Sept. 12 at the New York Giants.
"There are a lot of excuses. It's preseason, we don't have all our starters, all that stuff. Bottom line is we've got to keep working," Gross said. "That's something I'm very optimistic about with this group. I don't think there's anywhere we're going to go but up."
While Carolina has skewed its normally run-oriented offense to work on the passing game in the preseason — 117 pass attempts to just 70 runs — the results have been dismal.
Moore completed 18 of 33 passes for 190 yards against Tennessee. It allowed him to boost his preseason passer rating from 34.9 to 56.1, but he's hardly taken control of an offense that's produced six field goals in three games.
Moore's accuracy has been suspect at times — he overthrew an open Dwayne Jarrett for what should've been a touchdown in the first quarter — and has been unable to sustain long drives.
Still, Moore remains the clear starter ahead of rookie Jimmy Clausen, who also hasn't led a touchdown drive.
"There are some throws that I missed that are unacceptable," said Moore, who was 4-1 as a starter to close last season. "You've got to hit those opportunities because they're big plays."
Moore is getting little help from a group of unheralded receivers that hasn't met even the low expectations it had coming into camp.
While Smith is being held out of preseason games as he recovers from a broken arm, it's becoming clear that again the Panthers don't have a clear No. 2 receiver, an issue that's been unresolved for years.
Jarrett has good hands but struggles to get open. Kenny Moore is inconsistent and prone to fumbling. Brandon LaFell has good moves but suspect hands. Wallace Wright lost a fumble Saturday and then hurt his shoulder. Rookie Armanti Edwards is still learning the position. And undrafted rookie Trent Guy is raw.
"We've got as young a group of receivers as you'll probably find in the league," Gross said. "You get in the huddle and there aren't a lot of familiar faces at the receiving end of things. They've got to get better. We've got to protect better. Matt will watch the tape and improve. Just a team effort, definitely nothing to throw up an alert over."
While the Panthers hope somebody can step up to start with Smith, and Stewart (heel) returns to join DeAngelo Williams for a potent 1-2 running back punch, the defense has exceeded anyone's expectations.
When Peppers took his 81 career sacks to Chicago in free agency, the Panthers were left with 13 defensive linemen with a combined 36½ career sacks. They have half that total in three preseason games, and Carolina has allowed just three touchdowns, none by the first team the last two weeks.
Charles Johnson, the fourth-year pro who replaced Peppers at left end, was dominant with two sacks and two quarterback hurries Saturday night. Everette Brown had another sack and has three in the preseason. Surprising sixth-round pick Greg Hardy had his third sack, too.
Nine players have at least one sack and Carolina has 45 tackles for a loss in three games.
"Everybody is getting sacks. I think that's the more surprising thing," Brown said. "We're playing fast."
But the offense sure isn't, an issue that must be resolved if Carolina is to have any shot in the difficult NFC South.
"We've got one more game to prepare for the regular season, but yeah, the tape is there," Gross said. "We've got work to do."
-- Mike Cranston
Tight ends have been go-to guys in Rams' preseason
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tight ends have been the go-to pass catchers for the St. Louis Rams this preseason.
Even the Rams' receivers can't match the numbers put up by rookie Michael Hoomanawanui, who caught two touchdown passes in a preseason victory at New England on Thursday.
Hoomanawanui (pronounced Oh-oh-mah-NAH-wah-NEW-ee), a fifth-round draft pick this year, leads the Rams with eight catches for 112 yards. He had only 10 catches for 114 yards in 2009 with Illinois.
The passes are being spread around to the other tight ends, as well.
Six-year veteran Billy Bajema has four receptions for 32 yards; Fendi Onobun, a seventh-round pick, has two catches for 41 yards; four-year veteran Daniel Fells has one catch for nine yards; and Darcy Johnson, a five-year veteran, has three catches for 15 yards.
Hoomanawanui is taking nothing for granted despite his early success.
"All I can do is come out and work hard and get my playbook and make sure I do everything I can," Hoomanawanui said Sunday after practice at Rams Park.
He certainly did everything against the Patriots.
On the Rams' first drive against New England, rookie quarterback Sam Bradford led the offense on a 72-yard touchdown drive. The No. 1 overall draft pick was a perfect 4-for-4 for 45 yards on the drive and capped it with a five-yard touchdown to Hoomanawanui.
Hoomanawanui said he could not remember the last time he caught a touchdown pass.
"In my junior year, I think," said Hoomanawanui, who added he had more than 60 text messages plus phone calls and emails after the game. "I don't even know."
Hoomanawanui got his second touchdown of the night when he hauled in a 12-yard pass from Bradford midway through the second quarter. For the game, Hoomanawanui caught four passes for 53 yards against the Patriots' first-string defense.
"Mike has had some great games for us," Bajema said. "He continues to be solid. Anytime a tight end scores some touchdowns, we all take a lot of pride in it. That was a lot of fun getting two from Mike and Fendi close to getting one."
"Fendi has great athletic ability and he's learning. We've got some promising young guys here."
His eye-popping catch was a one-handed grab on the final play of the first quarter. That 23-yard reception set up the first of four field goals by Josh Brown.
"I was running a corner route and I felt like I couldn't get my other hand on it so I just stuck the one paw out there and reeled it in," Hoomanawanui said. "It was cool. I've done it before — not in the NFL. I tried to act like I'd been there before."
He has definitely caught the eye of coach Steve Spagnuolo.
"No question. He's jumped out there, I think that's pretty obvious," Spagnuolo said. "He made a great catch with that one hand. I thought the catch and getting into the end zone for the first touchdown was a really good play, too. He made some blocks as a fullback. Mike's done some good things. He's what you see out there and we're happy he's doing it."
Fells didn't play against the Patriots and did not practice Sunday because of hyperextended knee.
"I don't know how much he'll practice this week," Spagnuolo said. "I'm not sure if he'll get to the Baltimore game. I think he's going to be fine, but we're kind of treading lightly there."
Bajema said the remaining tight ends just pick up the slack for the missing Fells — a necessity with the big role the tight end plays in the Rams' offensive scheme.
"This offense seems to be tight end friendly as far as where the ball goes so it makes it a lot of fun for all of us," Bajema said. "We're winding down camp and this is where the fun begins. Real games are just around the corner."
Spagnuolo says it's been a good competition among his tight ends.
"Mike played well the other night," Spagnuolo said. "Billy Bajema is such a steady guy. We've got to get Danny Fells back. He's been banged up. Fendi has been going through the growing pains. Darcy Johnson, you know, he's been in the league a long time. So, we've got five guys that have done some good things in our training camp."
Notes: The Rams announced Sunday they have released CB Marcus Brown, G Joe Gibbs and RB Jamie McCoy as the team approached the Tuesday roster cutdown to 75 from 80. Spagnuolo added WR Donnie Avery, who tore a knee ligament Thursday at New England, will be placed on injured reserve. That will leave the team with one more cut before the deadline. ... the Rams end their preseason schedule Thursday with a home game against Baltimore.
AFC
Titans focus on defense's play in Carolina loss
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vince Young was sacked four times in two quarters, All Pro Chris Johnson found himself stymied and left tackle Michael Roos banged his right knee in an ugly preseason loss.
At least the Tennessee Titans can console themselves with how well the defense played.
A unit so woeful in 2009 giving up an average of 25.1 points per game was the only bright spot in the Titans' 15-7 loss at Carolina on Saturday night. Top draft pick Derrick Morgan finally made his NFL debut, and the Titans kept a Carolina squad looking for its first touchdown this preseason out of the end zone despite the Panthers' first team playing three quarters.
"Defensively, we kept things basic and played hard and played well," coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday. "We tackled well, we rushed well, we covered well, so I thought we had a pretty good day defensively against an offense that was trying to score points."
The Titans (1-2) were playing their second game in six days, not counting a joint practice with Arizona midweek. They also played without starting tackle Tony Brown, who remains on the physically unable to perform list, or cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who has missed the first three preseason games because of a strained groin.
Tennessee limited Carolina to 241 yards through three quarters and 51 yards rushing. DeAngelo Williams had a meager 13 yards on nine carries. Carolina had to settle for two field goals, the last in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter with the Titans already having subbed into their third-team defensive players.
Morgan was the highlight, playing 15 snaps after having missed all but the final day of training camp because of a strained calf. The 16th pick out of Georgia Tech strung together four straight plays in which he barely missed his first sack, enough in his debut to excite defensive line coach Jim Washburn.
"Needless to say, he was quite impressive with his first four considering the fact that this was the first time he had full pads on since last January against Iowa," Fisher said. "I thought his first outing was pretty impressive, if you take into consideration he is rushing against a starting NFL tackle as well."
Morgan got out on the field during the Titans' opening defensive series, and Fisher said they saw the strength, power and good hands that convinced the team to draft him.
"He had two hits on the quarterback and had an assist and a tackle for loss in the first four plays and was equally as effective in the other 11," Fisher said.
The Titans also have yet to decide who starts opposite Finnegan. Jason McCourty and rookie Alterraun Verner are in a tight battle, and Fisher isn't giving any hints.
"Nothing says I can't play them both in the regular season," the coach said.
Fisher expects Brown back this Thursday night when the Titans host the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints (2-1) to wrap up the preseason. It's another short week with little time to work on an offense that looked very inept in Carolina.
Tennessee managed only 50 yards in the first half on 25 plays. Johnson ran eight times for only 10 yards. Young was 6 of 9 for 48 yards. But the Titans got only four first downs, just as many times as the Panthers sacked Young, as they went through their first preseason game without scoring at least one touchdown.
Young, sacked all of nine times in his 12 appearances in 2009, already has been sacked five times this preseason. The Panthers took him down four times Saturday night, keeping offensive line coach Mike Munchak busy on the sideline reacting to fronts they hadn't practiced against.
Fisher insisted he wasn't concerned about his offense, especially not after seeing all the Panthers did defensively on tape.
"We kept things basic and simple, and we just wanted to let players play. We didn't scheme or come into the game with much of a game plan," he said.
NOTES: Fisher said Roos will not need any examinations on his knee. He has started 80 straight games in the regular season, third among all tackles. ... Rookie Damian Williams dislocated his right shoulder when he was hit and fumbled on a punt return. But he returned and played wide receiver in the second half.
-- Teresa M. Walker
Ravens' new-look pass attack features 2 old hand
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens will rely on a couple of old hands to play key roles in an aerial attack that almost certainly will be much more than a passing fancy.
The offseason trade for sure-handed Anquan Boldin and the signing of free agent wide receiver Donte' Stallworth were designed to enhance an offense that last season relied heavily on the run.
Boldin has done his part. Unfortunately for the Ravens, it will be at least two months before Stallworth can contribute after he broke his foot in Saturday's 24-10 victory over the New York Giants.
But Baltimore still has 13-year veteran Derrick Mason and nine-year pro Todd Heap, both of whom were featured prominently in a dazzling passing show that amassed 17 points and 220 yards in the first half against the stunned Giants.
Mason was targeted 10 times and finished with five catches for 35 yards. Heap had six receptions for 69 yards, including an important fourth-down catch and a touchdown.
Boldin had four catches for 52 yards and a score, Mark Clayton had a reception before leaving with a mild concussion, and running back Ray Rice — who led the team in catches last season — chipped in with four receptions for 44 yards.
So who should opposing defenses cover? It's a tough question to answer, which explains in part why third-year quarterback Joe Flacco went 20 for 32 in the first half.
"When everybody is involved on offense, it makes it very difficult on a defense," Mason said. "One week it might be me. One week, it might be Quan. One week it might be Todd or Ray. It's going to vary from week to week. That's what you want as an offense."
The 36-year-old Mason was expected to play a secondary role behind Boldin, and that still may be the case. But he's still got to be accounted for, and on Saturday night he was Flacco's main target.
"I'm just going to go out there and do what I do — prove that I can get open," Mason said. "It's good to have Anquan. It's good to have a lot of these other guys. It takes pressure off you."
And Heap? Well, the Ravens drafted not one, but two tight ends in the 2010 draft. If that was supposed to serve as a challenge to Heap, the two-time Pro Bowl participant responded by playing his best football in years.
"I feel really good physically. My body feels good generally," he said. "I'm in a good place right now. I'm excited."
For years, the Ravens have been a team that played offense without a sense of urgency. They had no problem with milking the clock in the huddle and running two off tackle plays before passing on third down.
Against the Giants, Baltimore ran the no-huddle offense and had a passing play called on each of its nine first downs in the first quarter.
"They surprised us a little bit with the no-huddle there, and it took us a couple series just to get used to what they were trying to do," New York defensive end Justin Tuck said.
The Ravens passed on 32 of 43 plays in the first half. By the end of the game, nine different players had receptions.
"You can never have enough weapons," center Matt Birk said. "That just makes it harder for defenses to defend you. It gives the coaches a lot of options. If that means scoring points, it makes it a lot more fun being an offensive lineman."
So, will the Ravens continue to be pass-happy in the regular season? Or will they go back to giving the ball to running backs Rice, Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee?
It depends on how the opposing defense lines up.
"There's still a lot to come from this offense because there are so many guys that can make plays," Mason said. "When you've got more than two or three guys that can catch the ball, you're allowed to open up and expand your playbook. You still have to factor in the running game with Ray, and Le'Ron and Willis. So once we get that going along with our passing game, it's going to be very hard for defenses to game plan against us."
-- David Ginsburg
Another comeback begins for Pennington
MIAMI (AP) — The quip dates to the end of the 2008 season, when injury-prone Chad Pennington was selected the NFL comeback player of the year for a second time.
Pennington was asked the secret to winning such an award twice.
"Get hurt," the Miami Dolphins quarterback said with a laugh, "and then come back."
The cycle continues. Pennington sustained a season-ending injury last September, necessitating surgery on his right shoulder for the third time. Now, at age 34, he's trying to revive his career in what could also set some sort of NFL record for resilience.
"I don't think anybody has tried to come back from three shoulder surgeries," he said.
The latest injury cost Pennington a starting job. Second-year pro Chad Henne moved into the lineup and threw for 2,878 yards last season, and the Dolphins believe they're set at the position for years to come.
Pennington opted to re-sign with Miami this year as a backup rather than join another team where he might compete for a starting job.
"I felt like this was the place for me to be," he said. "Part of it was I wanted to help finish what we started in 2008."
Pennington came to the Dolphins that season and had the best year of his career. He earned the affectionate nickname "Coach Pennington" from teammates because of his take-charge personality, and threw for 3,653 yards to help transform the Dolphins into AFC East champions one year after a 1-15 season.
Last year, the Dolphins backslid to 7-9, and they haven't won a playoff game since 2000. But expectations for the Bill Parcells regime remain high, and Pennington's job this year will be to provide leadership as a backup QB.
It's a tricky role when a young starting quarterback is trying to assert himself. But coach Tony Sparano says Henne's authority won't be diminished by Pennington's presence, and both quarterbacks agree.
"Chad understands that he has my full support," Pennington said. "The last thing that I want to do is undermine him. He knows that. I've talked in front of the offense about that, to make sure they understand he's our quarterback, period."
Sparano says Pennington can be a team leader even from the sideline.
"Leadership comes a lot of different ways," Sparano said. "I'm not out there playing, and I guess the players consider me a little bit of a leader. I would say that they would be very wise to pay attention to some of the things that people like Chad Pennington have to say."
Henne does. He says he learned plenty as a rookie understudy to Pennington in 2008, and while they've swapped spots on the depth chart, their friendship remains strong.
"It's just a great relationship," Henne said. "I'm learning so much from him just having him by my side.
"We share leadership. I enjoy when he gets in there and has something to say, because I'm learning just like everybody else. He has been around a lot longer than I have. We're here to win as an offense collectively, and to have two quarterbacks in there saying stuff, it's good."
The Dolphins also have Tyler Thigpen, a fourth-year pro and former starter with Kansas City. He provides insurance should Pennington hit a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery.
While arm strength has never been Pennington's forte, he has thrown well in the two exhibition games in which he has played, completing 10 of 18 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. He said his throwing improves every day, but he's not 100 percent and probably won't be this season.
Pennington speaks from experience. He underwent shoulder surgery twice in 2005, then won the comeback honor when he led the New York Jets to the playoffs in 2006.
But his recovery actually took longer.
"Finally in '07 I no longer felt like I had had shoulder surgery," Pennington said. "You really don't feel totally out of the woods until about 18 months. But that doesn't mean you can't go out and compete and do well."
Eighteen months from his most recent operation will be April 2011. By then, Pennington might be in the market for another team and a No. 1 job.
It could be next season before his latest comeback is complete.
-- Steven Wine
Chiefs winless in last 7 preseason games
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The last time the Kansas City Chiefs won a preseason game, their coach was Herm Edwards and their president was George W. Bush.
The Chiefs are, in fact, the only team in the NFL without a single preseason win since 2008. A loss on Thursday night to Green Bay will have them dragging an 0-4 exhibition mark into the regular season for the second straight year — not exactly a confidence-builder for a franchise trying to gain traction after winning a paltry 10 regular-season games the past three seasons.
Nevertheless, second-year coach Todd Haley said he plans to stick to his long-range plan and take a good, long look at plenty of players in the final tuneup game before the Sept. 13 season opener against San Diego.
"If we were 3-0 in the preseason right now, I would probably be up here saying, 'These games don't matter. We're 3-0. This doesn't mean anything,'" Haley said Sunday. "And I'm still saying Sept. 13 is what's going to count."
The Chiefs dropped to 0-7 in exhibition games under Haley with a 20-17 loss to Philadelphia on Friday night, though it was somewhat encouraging. After a dreadful start that put them in a 10-0 hole, the Chiefs starters actually outscored the Eagles starters. KC was up 17-13 before its backups let the Eagles reserves march 80 yards for the go-ahead score in the final minute.
Along the way, the first-team defense played its finest game in the preseason, recording five sacks, including four of Eagles starter Kevin Kolb.
After taking a close look at game film all weekend, Haley and his coaches came away feeling good, the loss notwithstanding.
"That was the most positive sign to date of this football team and the direction we're going," Haley said. "I know it's a preseason game, but the things we've been talking about from day one — being smart, tough, physical — the physical nature of that game was evident.
"If we play with that amount of effort and that physical on a down-in and down-out basis on both sides of the ball, that we're going to be able to make good things happen."
Taking their first three practice games as a whole, the Chiefs do not have to look far to see encouraging stats. They've outrushed their opponents by a total of 140 yards, had a better pass completion average and rung up 60 first downs to the opponents' 48.
Most negative has been the turnovers. They've had five passes intercepted while picking off only one enemy throw and fumbled seven times, losing three.
"We know that part of being a smart football team is not turning the football over," Haley said. "We're not going to have many chances to win when we do that."
Against Green Bay, the starters may not get much time.
"Winning is why you play the game. Winning is the reward of a lot of hard work and sacrifice by a lot of people. Any time you can win, that's a good thing," Haley said.
But what matters most is when you win.
The Sept. 13 game will be the Chiefs' first Monday night appearance in years and will be the national unveiling of Arrowhead Stadium since its $375 million makeover.
"In the preseason, there are a lot of different guys playing. You're playing with some guys who could be here, are here, moving up the ranks. There's a lot of different variables," Haley said. "But the bottom line goal is still to play better than the other team. Don't take bad penalties. Play smarter. All those things.
"When it comes to Sept. 13, if we play better we have a great chance of winning the game. And that's all we're trying to do here. We're trying to do everything we can do to be ready to play that game. If we're 2-1, 1-2, 3-0 (preseason), it's not going to matter. It's just not. What's going to matter is Sept. 13."
-- Doug Tucker
