NFL Capsules - NFC: Redskins takeaway something with Haslett's defense
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — It's been a bit of a novelty watching the Washington Redskins' defense in preseason. The players are getting their hands on the ball — and they're actually holding on to it.
"We have eight turnovers in three games?" linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. "That's unheard-of around here, the last couple of years finishing last in turnovers."
Alexander isn't exaggerating much. The Redskins have trailed the entire league in takeaways twice in the last four seasons. They were 32nd in 2006, 25th in '07, tied for 28th in '08 and again at the bottom last year, recovering just six fumbles to go with a mere 11 interceptions.
When Jim Haslett was hired as defensive coordinator, he installed a 3-4 scheme that promised to rectify the problem that has hurt the Redskins immeasurably in recent seasons. If the defense isn't creating turnovers, the offense is seemingly always having to drive some 60, 70 or 80 yards to score a touchdown.
If the Redskins keep up this pace once the real games begin, they would finish the regular season with 42 or so takeaways. The Green Bay Packers led the NFL last year with 40.
"We hadn't really run the defense yet," said cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who has two interceptions playing the vanilla schemes used in preseason. "So it's going to be real exciting to see what happens when we do start scheming our opponents and game-planning for them."
As a former head coach with the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams, Haslett is rightfully seen as a major addition to the Redskins. But he's down on the recognition totem pole next to new head coach Mike Shanahan and new quarterback Donovan McNabb.
That's OK with Haslett, who has done just about all there is to do in the coaching world. Who else, for example, has a resume that includes both the World League of American Football (defensive coordinator, Sacramento Surge, 1991-92) and the United Football League (head coach, Florida Tuskers, 2009)?
Haslett, 54, hadn't planned to coach anywhere last year so that he could spend time watching his son play baseball and football. When the UFL called, he took the job because the condensed schedule made it possible for him to see all of his son's baseball games and half of the football games.
"I've kind of done it all now," Haslett said. "Somebody asked me the other day if I want to be a head coach again, I said, 'No, you know what I want to do, where I am in life? I just want to have a chance to win a Super Bowl.' So that's more important than anything. I've played, made All-Pro, I was coach of the year in 2000 — I don't think Mike has that."
That's right. Shanahan doesn't have a coach of the year award. But Shanahan does have two Super Bowl rings as head coach of the Denver Broncos.
"The reason I'm coaching is because of Mike," Haslett said. "I spent time with Mike in the offseason, and we were looking for some teams that might have an opportunity for jobs to come open. He told me he didn't want to go to a team that didn't have a chance to win, and this was one that did have a chance."
As an offensive-minded coach, Shanahan gives Haslett plenty of autonomy. It has been Haslett who in recent weeks has played the important role of peacemaker with Albert Haynesworth, acting as the good cop as opposed to Shanahan's bad cop approach to the malcontent defensive tackle.
"I spent time with Mike teaching him the defense this whole offseason," Haslett said. "We've watched film together, and I've coached him up like I was coaching a player. It was a blast. Sometimes I think he knows too much now."
Giants sense need to improve with season coming
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — For the past two preseason games, the New York Giants have looked very much like the team that embarrassed the organization at the end of last year, and that is causing some concern.
Blown assignments, mental errors and a little too much freelancing have raised a few eyebrows with the regular-season opener less than two weeks away.
Coming off an 8-8 season and their first non-playoff season since 2004, the Giants (1-2) know it's time to pick up the tempo.
"It's not like a light switch were you can turn it on and off," veteran guard Rich Seubert said. "We need to establish ourselves and get ourselves in the right direction before the season starts. It starts today. We need a good practice and to be flying around."
Giants coach Tom Coughlin actually liked what he saw Monday and rarely lifted his voice.
"Stop letting people loose," was his only outburst in the two-hour workout at the team's headquarters in the Meadowlands complex.
The Giants did a lot of that during their 24-10 loss to the Ravens on Saturday night.
The Ravens ran a no-huddle offense and seemed to catch the Giants off guard. Joe Flacco completed 20 of 32 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and the Ravens defense limited New York to 110 total yards, with the Giants' three points in the opening 30 minutes set up by a late Baltimore turnover.
Safety Deon Grant was upset with the performance, which was reminiscent of late last year when the Giants gave up 85 points in the final two games.
Grant said the mistakes were preventable, noting the defensive backs were not following the calls of coordinator Perry Fewell.
On one play, a defender was supposed to be in press coverage and played off the receiver. On another, a defender was supposed to have inside leverage on the receiver because he had help to the outside. He still let the receiver get inside.
Grant, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, said this year's defense won't be anything like last year.
"What happened last week is probably the most we are going to give up and we won't give up that any more if we go out there and do what we have to do," he said.
Grant said the Giants need to establish themselves at practice and let it roll into the final preseason game Thursday night against the New England Patriots at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Linebacker Keith Bulluck wasn't overly concerned about the lackluster results. He said there is talent on the defense and it just has to mesh.
"It's still preseason. It's still early. It's still August," Bulluck said. "I don't think that in August you don't really get too concerned about things. You just figure out and try to pinpoint the problems that you're having and the things you need to get better on and you come back and you work on them."
However, he admitted it's up to the players to hit the books and play better.
"This game, you can't just turn it on and just figure, 'OK, Carolina is coming this week so let's turn it on,'" Bulluck said. "You need to work out all the kinks that you have now. Go full-speed every opportunity you get to practice and hone your craft. So if guys are holding back, it's going to make for a tough start of the season for them and possibly for our team."
While the offense played as poorly as the defense in Baltimore, this is a unit that can score. A major part of the problem in the preseason has been injuries on the offensive line, with Seubert (hand), center Shaun O'Hara (ankle) and guard Chris Snee (knee) all missing time.
"We have things we have to fix," Seubert said. "Everybody as a player needs to improve."
NOTES: OT Kareem McKenzie (migraine) and Snee (wife in labor) missed practice unexpectedly. ... S Michael Johnson (back), DT Chris Canty (groin), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (groin), WR Ramses Barden (back) and RB Danny Ware (concussion) returned to practice. ... WR Sinorice Moss was in Philadelphia getting a second opinion on his groin-pelvic injury.
-- Tom Canavan
Saints have decisions on Sharper, Ingram coming up
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — All-Pro safety Darren Sharper and veteran linebacker Clint Ingram expected to play central roles on a turnover-causing, playmaking defense that helped the New Orleans Saints win their first Super Bowl last season.
As the Saints began the final week of the preseason, though, it looked unlikely that either would play against the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener on Sept. 9.
Both are rehabilitating from surgery on their left knees, and neither has practiced in pads since training camp opened in late July.
Currently, they are on the physically-unable-to-perform — or PUP — list. On Monday, coach Sean Payton could not even guarantee that either player would make it beyond Saturday's final cut.
"One of the scenarios is PUP, the other is active roster and the other is neither of those two, which isn't good," Payton said.
If both players remain on PUP beyond Saturday's deadline for teams to trim active rosters to the regular season maximum of 53, they won't be eligible to play for the first six weeks of the season.
"A drawback might be you might think in three weeks or two weeks they're ready to play," Payton said of leaving the players on the PUP list.
The problem is that Payton is not yet ready to estimate when Sharper or Ingram may be ready, although he did cite one reason for optimism.
"I would say in both cases last week, it was the first week where all of a sudden we felt like we started seeing, both with Clint and Darren, progress in their workouts," Payton said.
Throughout the preseason, Malcolm Jenkins, who was drafted in the first round last season as a cornerback, has started in free safety spot where last year Sharper had nine interceptions, returning three for TDs. Second-year pro Jonathan Casillas has been the new starter at linebacker, along with returning starters Jonathan Vilma and Scott Shanle.
If Sharper were to miss the regular season opener against Minnesota, it would undermine some of the hype he helped generate in a trash talking exchange with Vikings tight end Vinsanthe Shianco via each player's Twitter account. Sharper, who had microfracture surgery after the Super Bowl, has expressed optimism about his health throughout the preseason but did not speak with reporters on Monday.
Ingram, who signed as a free agent after spending his first four seasons with Jacksonville, was expected to compete for a starting role that opened up when Scott Fujita left in free agency for Cleveland. Ingram also had microfracture surgery, which regenerates cartilage that pads the knee joint and usually requires patient rehabilitation.
"I definitely thought that I'd be out there doing something faster than I am now," Ingram said. "Talking to the doctors, it's basically having patience and letting it heal the way it's supposed to heal instead of fighting it the whole season.
"It won't be all the way where I would like it to be, I don't feel at any point in this year," Ingram said. "But I mean, once it gets to where I can get out here and do something without hurting it, I'm all for it."
The Saints must get their roster down to 75 by Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, it stood at 77 after the club brought back free agent defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, who was with the club for the past three seasons, but missed most of 2009 with a nagging right knee injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. The 32-year-old Clancy had microfracture surgery as well and was seriously considering retirement when the Saints called.
"I had a nice career, can't complain," said Clancy, a former Mississippi standout who still lives in Oxford, Miss. "When (returning to the Saints) came up, I thought, let me go out here and give it a shot. I'm curious myself."
Clancy, who is 6-foot-1 and said he now weighs about 310 pounds, entered 2009 as a projected starter, but lost his job to Remi Ayodele after his injury.
He's had a solid reputation as a run defender throughout his career, and his return will place pressure on 2008 fifth-round draft pick DeMario Pressley and rookie fourth-round choice Al Woods.
"Stop the run — that's how I spent 10 years in the NFL. That's what I do," Clancy said. "When you ask me if I can stop the run, my answer is, 'No doubt.' I don't do anything else. That's what I do. That's my M.O."
NOTES: Payton says starting LB Jonathan Vilma, who hurt his right groin in last Friday's exhibition game against San Diego, won't need surgery and likely will be able to play in the regular season opener. However, Vilma will miss Thursday night's preseason finale at Tennessee. ... Rookie tight end and third-round draft choice Jimmy Graham practiced for the first time since injuring his right ankle on Aug. 12 at New England. ... Payton said right knee injuries to reserve safety Pierson Prioleau and reserve offensive tackle Zach Strief appear to be minor. Both were injured during Friday night's preseason game against San Diego. Payton said they are day-to-day.
-- Brett Martel
QB Ryan thinks Atlanta offense is in good shape
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Matt Ryan isn't concerned that the Atlanta Falcons' starting offense has scored one touchdown in 13 preseason possessions.
As Ryan sees it, why fret? Exhibition games are just glorified practice time.
"Our confidence is high," Ryan said Monday. "There's no doubt about that. We've been working really hard in practice and coming out and getting a good feel for it. So I don't think our confidence wavers."
The Falcons (2-1) play their final exhibition Thursday at Jacksonville (1-2).
Ryan and Atlanta's other top playmakers, running back Michael Turner, receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, likely will play no more than one series.
After that, the next stop is Sept. 12 for the season opener at Pittsburgh.
Maybe to the untrained eye the offense seems to have lagged the last couple of weeks, but Ryan is steadfast despite ranking 25th in completion percentage and passer rating. Both are statistical categories that declined last season after he was voted the NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2008.
Ryan disputes that he and the offense have made few gains over the last two weeks, a stretch that included a loss to New England and an inconsistent win at Miami.
"No, I don't agree with that," he said. "I think it's a gradual thing. We're working on different things at different points in training camp, and while we would've liked to have been a little more productive the other night, I still feel like we're moving at a high level. We're close."
Against the Dolphins last week, Ryan completed just 13 of 26 passes for 103 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The score came on an 18-yard pass to White on the second drive, but over the next three possessions, Atlanta converted two of five third-down snaps, one on a Dolphins penalty.
Turner lost a fumble on the fourth drive before Ryan ran six no-huddle formations on the next possession, a 13-play drive that sputtered at the Miami 8-yard line and ended with a field goal.
"We were good on third down," Ryan said in assessing the entire game. "If you're good on third down, you're going to be tough to beat. I think we need to be better at being aggressive and taking shots on first and second down, but also in having positive plays."
NOTES: Coach Mike Smith said RCB Brian Williams took about 29 snaps against the Dolphins. The work was Williams' first since his season-ending knee injury last October against Chicago. He might need a strong performance this week to make the 53-man roster. ... Rookie OLB Sean Weatherspoon, the No. 19 overall draft pick, said the coaches have yet to tell him if he will start against the Steelers. Weatherspoon has been taking more snaps recently at strongside than weakside.
-- George Henry
Smith not too impressed with Panthers' receivers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Steve Smith feels like a wise elder as he watches Carolina's young receivers drop passes, struggle to get open, run the wrong routes and fail to produce a touchdown in the preseason.
"It's kind of like the dad driving in the car and he hears the kids in the back talking about the things they're going to do," the Panthers' four-time Pro Bowl receiver said Monday. "Then on the field, you see the opportunity and they're kind of closing their eyes a little bit.
"It's a learning experience for me, being an older guy. And it's a learning experience for them as younger guys that it's not college anymore."
With the 31-year-old Smith sidelined for most of training camp and three preseason games while he recovers from a breaking his left forearm in a flag football game, the Panthers have tried numerous receiver combinations with no success.
With only one tuneup left Thursday at Pittsburgh, Carolina may be further away from identifying the No. 2 receiver than when camp began. Nobody from the inexperienced group of Dwayne Jarrett, Brandon LaFell, Kenny Moore, Wallace Wright, David Gettis, Armanti Edwards and Trent Guy seems like a sure bet to replace veteran Muhsin Muhammad, who wasn't re-signed.
Smith thinks the group, average age 23.4, may not have properly used all the resources available, including himself. Carolina's career leader with 58 touchdowns said he "kind of kept my mouth closed" in training camp because he wasn't playing and perhaps not getting proper respect as one of the NFL's top receivers.
"Then when we watched film and we went over plays, they were showing examples of the things that I did last year. It kind of helps get a little credibility with those guys," Smith said. "Whether they want to hear it or not, they get in the game and all of sudden things change and they're getting smashed up side the head.
"Then they'll come to me and I'll kind of give them their space and I'm like, 'What do I know?'"
With Matt Moore in his first year as starting quarterback, the Panthers have spent extra time on the passing game dating to April's minicamp. They've thrown 117 passes and had just 70 running plays in three preseason games, but are still looking for their first offensive touchdown.
Every receiver, it seems, has flaws.
Jarrett has good hands, but has trouble getting open and often runs wrong routes. LaFell's a rookie and his hands are suspect. Kenny Moore is inconsistent and prone to drops. Wright fumbled Saturday against Tennessee, hurt his shoulder, and missed practice Monday. Gettis, Edwards and Guy are erratic rookies.
"We are a very young team overall, particularly at the receiver position," coach John Fox said. "I think we still have a lot of work to do."
Receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said in training camp that he was sure the No. 2 receiver was on the current roster. While the Panthers appear unlikely to go after recently released veterans Antonio Bryant and Laveranues Coles, they need to find an answer quickly.
Smith's return from the second broken bone in his left arm in six months is crucial. He practiced in full pads last week for the first time, and is slowly getting his football conditioning back.
"The arm is fine. This Monday cardio-wise is a lot better than last Monday — significantly," Smith said. "So that's a relief mentally for me."
Smith said he wanted to play Saturday against Tennessee but wasn't mentally or physically prepared. He declined to answer if he'll play Thursday, but declared himself ready for Week 1 against the New York Giants.
"That's been kind of the focal point and where I think we're going to start," Smith said.
Who lines up opposite Smith in that game remains a mystery. LaFell may have a slight upper hand, but Smith thinks the entire group needs to mature — and listen to its elders.
"I'm not frustrated that nobody's grabbed the No. 2 spot. Ultimately, it's not my decision. I'm not the coach," Smith said. "I think I'm more frustrated as a wide receiver unit, as an offensive guy, there were plays out there that we left on the field.
"I'm also a guy that sits there every week and I hear them talk."
-- Mike Cranston
Coy Whisenhunt says QB decision yet to be made
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals are home after a week on the road, dragging a quarterback controversy that shows no sign of any quick resolution.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt, speaking after the team practiced on Monday, seemed happy to allow the issue to simmer. Asked if he would name his starter after Thursday night's final preseason game against Washington, the coach replied, "Who knows? Maybe we'll keep them guessing."
It's a situation Whisenhunt created with his surprising decision to start Derek Anderson in last Saturday night's game at Chicago ahead of Matt Leinart, who had been the No. 1 quarterback throughout training camp.
While Anderson expressed gratitude for the opportunity on Monday, Leinart said he believes he has outplayed his competition.
"I don't really know what else I could possibly do," Leinart said. "It probably goes beyond football, beyond the field actually. For me, I am not making excuses. I am not going to complain. For me, I just really want an explanation and I haven't been given one."
Asked if he had something specific in mind about an off-the-field problem, Leinart said, "No, I don't know."
Whisenhunt denied he had anything personally against Leinart, saying he has "great affection for Matt and the way he's worked and what he's gone through."
"I think we've been consistent with, and this is going into our fourth season, in trying to pick the best team and put the players that give us the best chance to win in there ... ," the coach said. "It's not about whether you like somebody or don't like somebody, it's about what you feel is right for the team."
Anderson and Leinart each threw a touchdown pass in the 14-9 victory over the Bears. Leinart nearly directed the team to another score, operating a two-minute offense in a drive that ended when Beanie Wells fumbled at the Chicago 6-yard line.
"Like I said, I've done all I can do to this point," Leinart said. "I feel like I've outplayed the competition — training camp, pre-season. I think my play speaks for that. For me, I can just move forward every day. I can't worry about anything that I can't control, like I have said all along. We will just keep grinding away and working."
Whisenhunt was asked what he sees in Anderson, the former Oregon State quarterback who has a strong arm but has had problems with accuracy.
"There's a lot of things he brings to the table other than just being his size and having a good arm," Whisenhunt said, "as far as his knowledge of the game, how he handles himself in the huddle, how he interacts with his teammates, their confidence level with him as a quarterback."
The coach would not say whether he believes the team has more confidence in Anderson than in Leinart.
"I'm not going to sit here and make assessments or judgments of our players right now," Whisenhunt said. "We're going to decide what we feel like is best with our team when we're finished with pre-season, and then we'll go from that point, like we've done in the past."
As for whether the team has confidence in him, Leinart said, "I don't know about my teammates."
"I feel like I have a good relationship with them," he said. "I've talked to a bunch of them, so I don't know what it is."
The Cardinals had been on the road for a week, staying in Tennessee to practice after a 24-10 Monday night loss to the Titans, then traveling to Chicago for the Saturday night game against the Bears.
Anderson has seen significantly more playing time than Leinart in the preseason. Anderson has completed 31 of 53 passes (59 percent) for 287 yards and two touchdown, with two interceptions.
Leinart has completed 83 percent (19 of 23), most of them short-range throws, for 161 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. He has been sacked four times to Anderson's one. Anderson's longest completion is 37 yards to Leinart's 18.
While Leinart has a self-proclaimed "pretty laid-back" demeanor, Anderson is hyperactive in practice and intense during games.
"I've always been a guy that plays with a lot of energy, a lot of emotion, sometimes maybe too much," Anderson said. "... I get excited and I want things done right. It's just kind of the way I am."
After losing his starting job to Brady Quinn in Cleveland last season, then being released by the team, Anderson is highly motivated to return to the form he had in leading the Browns to a 10-6 season in 2007.
"I know what level I can play at," he said. "It wasn't an aberration, it wasn't just a mirage, what happened that year."
Leinart, the former Heisman Trophy with one start since he went down with a broken collar bone and was replaced by Kurt Warner five games into the 2007 season, insisted he would be optimistic regardless of the outcome of the quarterback fight.
"I am not really worried about it because I know I am going to play at one point this year, whether it's week one or week six," he said. "I feel like my opportunity is going to come and the good thing is I am confident in my ability because I know what I can do.
-- Bob Baum
LaBoy beginning to make an impact
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have been bringing along newcomer Travis LaBoy slowly this summer, but the sixth-year veteran is now accelerating the process.
After missing more than two weeks of training camp with a concussion earlier this month, LaBoy has returned to the field and made his mark at outside linebacker during San Francisco's past two preseason games.
LaBoy recorded sacks in both games and leads the team in that statistic entering Thursday's exhibition finale against San Diego. And recording sacks is pretty much the reason the 49ers signed LaBoy to a one-year deal in April after he missed the entire 2009 season with a foot injury.
"As long as I get to the quarterback, I guess everybody's happy, right?" LaBoy said Monday as the 49ers returned to practice after an off day Sunday.
LaBoy collected a sack and three hits on Minnesota quarterbacks in his 49ers debut Aug. 22 during a 15-10 victory over the Vikings. But his second-quarter sack that knocked Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell out of the game during Saturday's 28-24 victory over the Raiders was his most impressive play yet in a San Francisco uniform.
The 250-pound LaBoy used his power to engage and push back Oakland left tackle Mario Henderson, then used his speed to beat Henderson around the edge and blast Campbell from the blind side. Campbell was down on the turf for more than five minutes with a shoulder stinger before leaving the field on a cart.
The 49ers are looking for that kind of effort this year from the edge rushers in their 3-4 system. With 23.5 career sacks, LaBoy is showing the skills to fit nicely into that scheme as a situational pass rusher.
"That's what they expect from me," LaBoy said. "It's still baby steps for me at this point. I'm just trying to improve from one day to the next and hopefully carry that over into the season."
LaBoy got a late start on his summer progress after suffering a concussion just days into training camp. He didn't return to full practice until Aug. 19, but has made up for lost time since getting back on the field.
LaBoy has an immediate opportunity for a prominent role in San Francisco's rotation on the edge because of an injury to Ahmad Brooks, who sustained a lacerated kidney Aug. 6 and has not practiced since. Brooks' condition is still being evaluated and he is unlikely to be ready for San Francisco's regular-season opener Sept. 12 at Seattle.
The 49ers were expecting Brooks to play a major role in their pass rush this year as a complement to starting outside linebackers Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson. Brooks had five sacks in San Francisco's final five games last year during a surge that saw the 49ers lead the NFL with 27 sacks over the final eight games of the season.
With Brooks out and his return uncertain, LaBoy and youngster Diyral Briggs are the top candidates for the role. Briggs, an undrafted free agent who played in four games for the 49ers last year as a rookie, had a sack against Minnesota and also has looked good this summer.
But LaBoy has looked better. Despite his steady progress, the 49ers appear inclined to gradually work LaBoy into their system.
"With Travis LaBoy, he's a work in progress," 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. "He was all banged up and beat up when he got here, and we're just trying to nurse him back and get him back to having fun being on the field. As he gets back to being himself, we'll try to create some places for him to be a part. The value that he does bring when he's on the field makes a big difference."
NOTES: Singletary said his starting units are unlikely to play more than one or two series Thursday against the Chargers. ... Singletary said rookie seventh-round draft pick Phillip Adams, who returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown against Oakland, has worked his way into the mix for the team's vacant role at punt returner. Rookie sixth-rounder Kyle Williams, the leading candidate for the job, has a sprained toe and might not be ready for the regular-season opener.
Nine carries in preseason plenty for Jackson
ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson says nine carries in the preseason is enough to get ready for the season.
The Pro Bowler said he didn't want to play Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Then came the long, rumbling guffaw that has become a Jackson trademark.
"If coach wants me to go out there, I'm fully prepared to go out there and play however long the ones are going to be out there," Jackson added. "But me, personally, no, I don't want to play."
The finale is a lot more important for Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya and Keith Toston, the trio vying to be Jackson's backup. All three are likely to get a lot of playing time.
"This game is always about competition," Darby said. "I love competition. It's what makes me great, makes me better as a player, makes me better as a person also."
Jackson understands, though, that a little playing time can aid in developing timing with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. The No. 1 pick will get his second start of the preseason ahead of A.J. Feeley, still recovering from a sprained right thumb, and could be under center for the opener Sept. 12 against Arizona.
"It would definitely be beneficial in letting us grow more chemistry, yes," Jackson said. "But the gentleman asked, 'Do I want to play?' I do think it's probably something what coach will probably want and I'm ready for it if it happens."
Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday he hadn't finalized the plan for the Ravens game, but anticipated the first-team offense and defense would get some playing time. How much time Jackson gets, if any, hadn't been decided.
"There's a chance he could go out there, but I don't know," Spagnuolo said. "Fifty-fifty on that one."
The Rams would have given Jackson a light workload in the preseason even if he had not been coming off surgery to repair a herniated disk in April. He's gained 42 yards on those nine carries for a 4.7-yard average, and the Rams have scored touchdowns on both possessions he's played.
Throughout training camp, Jackson has talked about how good he feels heading into the opener at home against the Arizona Cardinals.
"I'm really excited, I'm ready," Jackson said. "As the days go by I'm getting more anxious about it. A few more short weeks and we'll be there."
The offensive output last week at New England was a positive sign for a unit that was the NFL's worst last season. Bradford threw two touchdown passes in a 36-35 victory.
"It's definitely a confidence booster," Jackson said. "We know we're capable of putting up points."
Jackson said it's especially impressive considering the youth on the offense. Besides Bradford, there are two rookie tight ends, and the offensive line has one rookie and a second-year player.
"It's very encouraging," Jackson said. "We're going in the right direction."
None of the three backup candidates have put up scintillating numbers. Toston, an undrafted rookie, has 80 yards and a 2.8-yard average. Darby, the primary backup last year, has 60 yards and a 2.9-yard average. Ogbonnaya, a sixth-round pick last year, has 39 yards and a 2-yard average.
Toston is the only one who hasn't gotten a chance to go with the first-string offense. He's trying not to worry about upcoming roster cuts.
"It's going out just playing every game like it's my Super Bowl," Toston said. "Because it really is. I'm not promised the next game."
-- R.B. Fallstrom
Seattle still searching for running game solution
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — One week left in the preseason and Pete Carroll still doesn't have an answer for Seattle's stumbling run game.
Carroll doesn't need one back to emerge from his group of three competing for playing time. He just wants to see something more than a couple of yards at a time.
"I don't think we've had enough success running the football to allow the guys to distinguish themselves," Carroll said on Monday. "They've all run hard and I've looked at all of their runs in groups to make sure I can see them and styles of runs to see if there's anything going there and right now all these guys are battling."
The Seahawks' coach said all three of his running backs — Justin Forsett, Julius Jones and Leon Washington — will get playing time on Thursday night when Seattle closes out the preseason at Oakland.
So far, none of the three have shown enough in the preseason to claim the job outright. Carroll said the job won't revolve around just one back when the season starts, but he wants to see improvement from the paltry statistics posted so far.
In three games, the Seahawks are averaging 3.4 yards per carry. Only Washington is averaging more than 3 yards, but he has just 10 carries.
Forsett, the 5-foot-8 speedster, has received the most work of all three, getting 18 carries. Carroll said the dimension Forsett brings as a pass catcher, especially in third down situations, perhaps gives him a nudge ahead of the other two.
"He's a good player for us there and maybe he has a little bit more to offer there at this point from what we've seen. He has an edge on that aspect," Carroll said. "But that doesn't mean he's the third down back and the other two guys are the first and second down guys. I don't see it that way."
Last season, Forsett was Seattle's second-leading rusher with 545 yards. While the total wasn't very significant, it was his 5.2 yards per carry that grabbed attention.
Washington showed his speed in Seattle's second preseason game, bursting through the line for an 11-yard touchdown run that for the moment ended questions that lingered following his gruesome broken leg last year with the New York Jets.
Julius Jones, the Seahawks' leading rusher the past two seasons, might be the odd man out, based on opportunity so far. Jones has received just 12 carries this preseason and his longest run is 6 yards.
In Seattle's second preseason game against Green Bay, Jones didn't play until the second half. Against Minnesota on Saturday, Jones carried just twice, while Forsett and Washington both got a half-dozen attempts.
Even running back-fullback Quinton Ganther has gotten more carries than Jones.
"We're going to go with the guys who are giving us the most juice and making it happen and doing well," Carroll said. "It gets frustrating sometimes for those guys, I've been through that before, but I don't really worry about that. I want them hungry to get out there and fighting for their snaps."
Carroll said he's still hopeful injured left tackle Russell Okung will be back to help the run game for the season opener. Okung, the No. 6 pick in April's draft and the heir to Walter Jones at left tackle for the Seahawks, suffered a high right ankle sprain on the first play of Seattle's second preseason game.
Okung watched practice on Monday, but Carroll said it would be a "pretty special recovery" if he's ready to go against San Francisco on Sept. 12.
-- Tim Booth
Injuries cause concern for Packers' pass defense
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers are saving the most creative chapters of their defensive playbook for the regular season. And at least some of their key injured players should be healthy in time for the Sept. 12 opener at Philadelphia.
So maybe it's not a big deal that their defense is giving up big plays in the preseason, continuing a disturbing trend from the end of last season.
Charles Woodson isn't interested in excuses.
"I think we're as good as what we've shown, and I don't think it's all that great," Woodson said. "There's improvements for us to make. Hopefully, by the time the first game gets here, we'll have some things ironed out and know who's going to be in there and those sort of things and just take off running."
Still, going into Thursday night's final preseason game at Kansas City, Packers coach Mike McCarthy says he wants to see more from several young players who could be forced into important roles if the team's injury situation doesn't clear up soon.
"Thursday night is a big night for a number of players," McCarthy said. "It is our responsibility as coaches to make sure we give them the opportunities to show what they can do."
For all their offensive brilliance in last Thursday's 59-24 preseason rout of the Indianapolis Colts, the first-team defense had issues. They gave up two touchdowns and a field goal in a little more than a quarter and several big plays, including a 49-yard run on the Colts' first play from scrimmage and three pass plays of 24 yards or more.
The Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks — two teams not expected to rank among the league's most dynamic offenses this season — also moved the ball effectively in the Packers' first two preseason games.
"You can be better, you can be worse. It's up to us," said defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who is sitting out with a calf injury but expects to be ready for the regular season. "We decide how it is. And we definitely have the ability to be better, it's just up to us to go out there, prepare for it and then go out and do it."
For now, Green Bay's offense seems more than capable of winning its share of shootout games, but Woodson doesn't want the season to play out that way.
"I love to play on a team with a high-powered offense, but at some point during the season, they're going to need us to step up and play good football, get off the field, make plays or whatever," Woodson said. "I don't like going in with the mindset that we have to depend on the offense. We've got a lot of corrections we have to make. A lot of guys are going to have to step up and play this year."
And a lot of those guys are young.
Safety Atari Bigby had ankle surgery at the beginning of training camp and may begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he would miss the first six games. In his place is Morgan Burnett, a third-round rookie.
Cornerback Al Harris is recovering from last year's season-ending knee injury, and it's not clear if he'll be ready for the regular season, either.
The Packers still have Woodson and Tramon Williams, but are trying to find a nickel cornerback they can count on. Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood — who is nursing a shoulder injury — haven't done enough to win the job, so coaches now are giving undrafted free agent Sam Shields a chance.
"Once he really learns his game, I think he's going to be a pretty good corner," Woodson said. "Between now and then, he (doesn't) have much time but he'll be ready."
The Packers also were hoping for a healthy Will Blackmon to provide depth at safety and nickel cornerback. But Blackmon's surgically repaired left knee continues to cause trouble.
"Will's just going through a tough spot right now," McCarthy said. "He's coming off that knee surgery, and especially at his position, it's been tough. Will has put a lot of time into this. He had a very strong offseason, but it's probably not responding the way he would like right now."
At outside linebacker, the Packers are getting by for now without Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Brad Jones (shoulder). For now, veteran Brady Poppinga and undrafted free agent Frank Zombo are taking most of the repetitions with the first-team defense.
No matter who's playing outside linebacker for the Packers, they'll have to provide a better pass rush — or the Packers will be leaning heavily on their high-powered offense.
"We don't want to go into this season thinking we have an offense that can put up points so we can just go out there and whatever happens, happens," Woodson said. "That's not taking any pride in what you do as a professional. We won't go out there like that."
-- Chris Jenkins
Bears LB Briggs out for preseason finale
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns because of a sprained right ankle.
Coach Lovie Smith said Monday that he anticipates the five-time Pro Bowler will be available for the season-opener against Detroit next week.
Briggs was injured in Saturday's 14-9 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals. If a question exists about Briggs' availability, linebacker Nick Roach said most players are interchangeable at the position and there is good depth.
"We all can play each position, but I'm sure Lance will be good to go," said Roach, who also missed practice as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Both Briggs and linebacker Brian Urlacher declined comment on their health situations. Briggs quickly walked off the practice field with a noticeable limp.
Urlacher missed the Cardinals game and all of the previous week's practices with a left calf strain, but on Monday practiced for the first time since his Aug. 21 injury.
A few other players returned from injuries to practice. Backup quarterback Caleb Hanie returned from a shoulder sprain and safety Josh Bullocks (quad strain). Rookie safety Major Wright continued doing all non-contact work following surgery to repair a broken finger.
Back also for the first time since the first week of training camp was wide receiver Earl Bennett, who had been suffering from a pulled hamstring and has dropped down the depth chart to third string.
"My whole time in college I never really had an injury that held me out this long," said Bennett, who made 54 catches for 717 yards last year. "It's been very tough, but I've just got to stay mentally tough."
The Bears' offense looked like it could use an extra hand or two in Saturday's loss, when quarterback Jay Cutler took four sacks and threw two interceptions. Players stood up for blame Monday.
"We were messing up on simple things," tight end Desmond Clark said. "The play's going left and a guy goes right. Just simple things that were lack of focus, lack of concentration. Whatever it is, we'll be able to play through those things and be ready for Detroit."
Wide receiver Devin Aromashodu called the problems more the result of trying to learn a new offense.
"It's just that (with) it being a new offense, everyone is learning," Aromashodu said. "So there might be two people making a mistake on one play instead of there being one person."
The defense also failed escape scrutiny.
"It's the same thing every week: third down," cornerback Zack Bowman said. "That's one thing that really sticks out to us. It's not the third-and-shorts. It's the third-and-longs that we've got to get off the field on. So that's our focus."
The defense has allowed first downs on 21-of-46 preseason third downs (46 percent). It's been a problem area since last regular season when the Bears finished 27th at stopping third downs (41 percent).
"There's no quick fix or anything for it," Smith said. "In the preseason, you look at a lot of different things. In the preseason, we put guys in situations we won't normally do during the regular season.
"We've had a lot of third-and-longs. If we get (offenses) into those third-and-longs during the course of the regular season, we'll be in good shape."
With Sullivan still recovering, Vikes line in flux
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — With 10 days remaining before their much-anticipated regular-season opener, the Minnesota Vikings have a lot of work to do to get their offense in sync.
Because of injuries and acquisitions, the wide receivers aren't up to speed. The old quarterback, Brett Favre, is less than two weeks into his post-training-camp catch-up session for the second straight summer.
Probably the most pressing issue, however, is the interior of the offensive line. Starting center John Sullivan has been held out for most of the month because of a lingering right-calf injury, and was absent from practice again on Monday.
"We're just trying not to load it up too much," coach Brad Childress said, referring to Sullivan's leg. "We're still trying to get some of the soreness out."
Regular right guard Anthony Herrera spent some time at center during each of the last two preseason games, though Childress said he might not have Herrera play there at all in Thursday's exhibition against the Denver Broncos and focus instead on backups Jon Cooper and Ryan Cook. When Herrera moved to the middle, rookie Chris DeGeare got time at right guard.
As for whether Sullivan will be ready in time to face the Super Bowl champion Saints on Sept. 9, well, that's a mystery. Even though Childress has acknowledged the possibility of Herrera making a long-term move to center, he hasn't committed to Herrera as Sullivan's replacement if that becomes necessary. Cooper and, perhaps, Cook remain possibilities.
"It's just like everything on offense: We are still in a state of change," Childress said.
Sullivan's grasp of the complexity of the position isn't a concern for the Vikings. Rather, he's fallen behind with his conditioning with all the missed practice time.
"Sully's a smart guy," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "He'll be able to pick up whatever we're doing. He knows the calls. He knows our offense, so that's not the issue. The issue would probably be his stamina, his strength and some of those things from not being in there."
The Vikings have not revealed the exact nature of Sullivan's injury. When asked how many full practices the third-year player would need before he's cleared to go to New Orleans, Childress chose the vague route for his answer.
"As many as you can get. Let's put it that way. Then you make a decision if we are better off to go with someone else or put him in there," Childress said.
In last week's preseason game against Seattle, Favre was hit hard a few times and the protection up front was shaky. Aside from a 24-yard carry, Adrian Peterson had no room to run. Left guard Steve Hutchinson blamed mental errors for some of the line's problems.
"We've probably got a number of things to work on," Hutchinson said. "With offense it's always timing and things like that."
Hutchinson has been helping Herrera with the pre-snap calls at the line, considered the most important part of playing center next to hiking the ball cleanly.
One of the team's most aggressive and rugged players, Herrera acknowledged after Saturday's game against the Seahawks it's hard for him to slow down his pace — which is a must at the center position.
"You can't be out of your box. You have to stay calm," he said.
Herrera stopped short of complaining about the challenge, however.
"I get paid to play. I get paid to get better at my craft, and at the end of the day everything will take care of itself," he said.
-- Dave Campbell
Childress says he's seen 'evolution' in Jackson
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Tarvaris Jackson is entrenched as Minnesota's backup to quarterback Brett Favre, despite sharp play in exhibition games this month by Sage Rosenfels.
Coach Brad Childress confirmed Monday that Jackson remains No. 2 and Rosenfels is still No. 3. Childress said he's seen "an evolution" and "a growth" in Jackson since the beginning of training camp.
Asked if the depth chart could change, Childress said "it would probably be hard for it to change."
The Vikings face a difficult decision about how many quarterbacks to keep with the roster cutdown looming this weekend. Rosenfels's $2.6 million salary this season is high for a third-stringer. And in order to put rookie Joe Webb on the practice squad, the Vikings would have to first expose him to waivers.
Packers' Chery gets another chance against Chiefs
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jason Chery had to lobby his way into the Green Bay Packers' return game, begging coaches on the sideline to let him field a punt in last week's preseason game against Indianapolis.
They gave in at the last second, Chery ran on the field — and immediately returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. Chery now will handle both punts and kickoffs in Thursday night's preseason finale at Kansas City, giving him a chance to earn a roster spot.
Chery, who played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette and spent time on the practice squad with Carolina and Pittsburgh last season, said he hopes his big play opened the coaches' eyes.
