Balzer and Snow on KFNS- by MJR8/6
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1. Marshall Faulk re: Tomorrow's Game. (Jack Snow) He's ready to see what happens with the team in this game. DV says he may get 1-2 carries. Snow's opinion is that he should dress Marshall for the game but don't put him in there.
Balzer says DV said Marshall might get in for 1-2 plays, not carry the ball, as Jack mentioned.
2. Yesterday's practice with Marshall and new items on his contract. It was a walk-through practice. No pads. Marshall got no touches. Details of the contract heretofore undisclosed: of course it's all about cap value, 7 years, $45 million. It's basically a four-year contract. $7M signing bonus. But the kicker is that the signing bonus is prorated only over four years due to the fact that the last three years of the contract are voidable/cancellable solely at the player's option. The fifth year includes the $5M roster bonus with $7M salary. That's $12M against the cap.
The signing bonus gets prorated as follows:
1999: $1.5M already, $2 more this year
2000: $1.5M
2001: $1.5M
2002: $500K
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Total: $7M
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3. Question for Jack: How do the players prepare for pre-season games? As a rookie you concentrate on making no mental mistakes. Veterans want to play less and less and the preseason games go on. Want to take a few reps and get the he11 out.
4. Raiders. They'll be looking at their running back situation. They picked up Tyrone Wheatley from (Miami?), Rashaan Salaam from the Bears and they already had Napoleaon Kauffmann. Funny thing is, all three backs were taken relatively close in the same draft.
They'll give Gannon (FA from the KC Chiefs) a few reps. They'll take a very good look at Pat Barnes (also from the Chiefs). He played in NFLE. May beat out Wade Wilson for the no. 2 spot.
This will be a good test for the Rams' offense cause the Raiders' D is good.
5. DV glowed about Tony Horne on ESPN2 radio. Snow said Mac Cody has a good chance to make it.
6. New offense. How much do you show in the pre-season? You work on your drop plays. Work on timing which is a key to Martz' offense. The line should work on its traps and sweeps (MJR: did somebody say footwork?).
Game plan: look a certain guys. On the bubble guys.
7. How much will each of the quarterbacks play? (Howard). Green probably play the first quarter and some of the second. Warner and Germaine will split the remainder. Depends on how many reps Green gets in the first quarter.
Jack on Joe Germaine. The more he watches this kid the more impressed he is. He wouldn't be surprised to see Germaine step up to no. 2 on the depth chart.
Howard: You really want to get a good look at 2nd teamers playing against other second teamers. Might see Cameron Spikes in with the first unit.
8. Again on Tony Horne. He made three big plays on Wednesday night's practice. DV was absolutely giddly at practice yesterday. Ran up to Horne after a good catch and said to him, "how's it feel to be a star?"
Howard: DV's a little too gushy. After all, Horne beat guys named Cray and Clifton something. Point: not much competition.
9. Lacking depth at running back with Marshall out. Henley and Lee hurt. We'll probably see Hill and Holcombe to start. Holcombe will get a good hard look as a lead blocker. (Jack Snow). We'll see some of Derrick "The Diesel" Harris at fullback.
We'll see whatever Wilbert Montgomery wants to do. Starters will probably be Hill and Holcombe. We might see a backfield of Holcombe at RB and Harris at FB. Third backfield might be Justin Watson at RB and Chad Levitt at FB. And finally, might see some of Hodgins as a FB in 3rd down passing situations.
10. Major battles. Spikes and Nutten.
We'll see rookies and some second year guys bearing down. They're still learning. They're going to get after it.
11. Injuries. Pretty good shape actually. Need to be careful due to this being a 5-week preseason. Not a many reps during a game in order to spread things out. Last night was a players' night off. No meetings.
12. Second tight end. Good battles going with Jeff Robinson, Chad Lewis and Mitch Jacoby.
13. Wistrom: Has he bulked up? (Jack Snow) He's the same weight-wise. Last year he tried to succed on hustle alone. This year he's developing techniques. He had definitely improved. Plus, he really takes it up a notch on game day. He'll be great.
14. Howard's plug. Remember the pre and post game a Planet Hollywood on the landing. Lots of giveaways. Contest for the prediction of the score of the game. Winner will get a Planet Hollywood leather jacket during the post game party. Must not be present to win. They'll probably be outside on the patio for both the pre and post game parties, weather permitting.
15. Good luck with the play-by-play call of the game, Jack Snow.
MJR