August 5, 2008 Camp Notes: Quarterbacks step up A few observations from today?s single practice session at Hofstra: The most ominous sight of the afternoon was DE Shaun Ellis on the injury bike, with a giant cast/wrap on his right hand. Presumably, Ellis was injured in yesterday?s late practice. Even if it?s a broken hand (just speculating, folks), it wouldn?t keep him out an extended period. Linemen have been known to play with broken hands, but it definitely restricts their ability to use their hands - and, for defensive linemen, hand use is paramount in the trenches. LB David Harris (leg) and WR Marcus Henry (calf) also remained in the sideline. As expected, QB Chad Pennington took the first-team reps. Normally, when one quarterback takes the starting reps in the final full practice before a game, it means he?s very likely to start. But you never know with Eric Mangini. He could turn around and give Thursday?s start to Kellen Clemens based on it being his ?turn? in the rotation. After practice, Pennington told us he didn?t know and probably wouldn?t find out until tomorrow night in the QB meeting. ?We?re on a need-to-know basis, and we don?t need to know right now,? said Pennington, describing Mangini?s covert ways. In terms of the actual practice, neither quarterback was intercepted. For those scoring at home, it?s eight picks for Clemens, two for Pennington in camp. Today, they did a lot of goal-line and red-zone work. Most of the passes, it seemed, were intended for the tight end. Chris Baker scored on a nice pass from Pennington and Jason Pociask made a nifty grab in the back of the end zone on a pass from Clemens. Once they got into their regular offense, Pennington spread the ball around, hitting Jerricho Cotchery, Laveranues Coles, Brad Smith and Dustin Keller on consecutive throws. Later on, Pennington tried to hook up again with Keller, but he was banged around by a couple of defenders and he hit the ground hard. Incomplete. He got up slowly and walked off with a slight limp, but he appeared fine a little later. Keller did have the best catch of the day, extending his arms like an outfielder ? a lunging grab on the run. That was on a frozen rope by Clemens, who hit Keller on a deep seam. One more thing on the tight ends: I can see them keeping four on the roster ? Keller, Baker, Pociask and Bubba Franks. Each one has a different skill set and I can easily see them becoming a tight end-oriented offense. They?re constantly in and out of the lineup, deployed in a seemingly endless array of packages and formations. They?re much deeper at tight end than wide receiver, and it makes sense to play to your strengths. That insight could come back to haunt me. The deadline for the annual media roster pool is 7:30 p.m. Thursday (kickoff in Cleveland), and so the writers are formulating their projected 53-man rosters. This is a longstanding tradition that goes back at least 20 years. There?s some cash on the line, but it?s mostly about pride. We all had our pride crushed last year, as a relative neophyte, free lancer Lisa Zimmerman, split the dough with the rookie from AP, Dennis Waszak. By Rich Cimini on August 5, 2008 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
I could see room for Pennington to Pull away from Chad in the sense that he would run the offense more consistently, and with better LOS's improving our running game, pass protection, field position, time of possession etc....(yeah I'm looking for big things this year) Chad could be the one! I do think Mangini is going to play the "It was his turn" Its so Belicheckian!
