The Bears are no more excited about their defense than the Washington Redskins are about theirs.
For the first time since 1999, the Redskins go into a season with the same defensive coaches and system they had the previous year.
The annual changes under coordinators Mike Nolan (1999), Ray Rhodes (2000), Kurt Schottenheimer (2001), Marvin Lewis (2002) and George Edwards (2003) have turned into fine-tuning under Gregg Williams, whose defense ranked No. 1 in the NFC last season and behind only AFC teams Pittsburgh and Buffalo.
Linebacker LaVar Arrington is the only Redskin to have played under all six coaches.
“It’s complicated learning a scheme,” Arrington said. “I used to get upset that I was never far enough ahead in terms of knowing the defense to have discussions with the coaches in the meeting rooms. I can do that now.”
Now, the Redskins can concentrate more on learning about opponents than learning terminology and assignments.
“Instead of putting all the emphasis on what you’re supposed to do, you can pay attention to what the other team wants to do,” Arrington said. “The coaches have done a great job. . . . It’s up to us to take it to another level.”
The Bears’ offense–under coordinators John Shoop and Terry Shea the last two years and Ron Turner this season–might be able to say the same thing–next year.
Prices up
Surprise, surprise, NFL ticket prices are up. According to Team Marketing Report, this year’s increases are the biggest since 2001.
Fans will pay on average $58.95 per ticket, a 7.9 percent increase from last season. Fan Cost Index is up 5.6 percent. That’s based on what a family of four can be expected to pay and includes two adult average-price tickets, two child average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two of the least-expensive adult-size caps.
For the fourth consecutive year, the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium and the Redskins’ FedEx Field are the most expensive venues to watch a game. The Meadowlands, home to both the Giants and Jets, is the third priciest stadium. Next is Soldier Field, where a family of four can expect to pay $387.04.
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Ditka event
Diana and Mike Ditka will host a “Night for New Orleans” from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 4 at Ditka’s restaurant with all proceeds donated to the American Red Cross. Tickets are $500. For reservations, call 312-587-8989.
“Diana and I want to do as much as we can for the utter destruction, loss of life and the incredible loss of property and income,” said Ditka, the Saints’ coach from 1997 to 1999.
Take stock in Bears
If you think the Bears are going to the Super Bowl, now is the time to reserve your ticket. You can buy a “Fan Forward” at www.ticketreserve.com that guarantees the bearer the right to purchase face-value tickets to the conference championship games and/or the Super Bowl, if the Bears make it. Or, the fan can attempt to sell those rights, stock-market style, at a price determined by the market. “Fan Forward” is available for all NFL teams.
Little Ben
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, 13-0 as a rookie in the regular season, had a rough preseason. He completed only 44.4 percent of his passes, threw two interceptions, had a miserable 32.8 passer rating and the first-team offense did not produce a touchdown. His top three receivers caught 10 passes for only 91 yards and dropped at least half that many.
“We didn’t throw the ball, I think, as efficiently as I’d like to see us throw it,” coach Bill Cowher said.
Unhappy homecoming
That forlorn look on Raiders defensive end Bobby Hamilton from the bench during Thursday night’s 30-20 loss to the Patriots indicated not much has changed. Hamilton played for New England from 2000 to 2003 and didn’t want to leave. After going 5-11 in Oakland last season, he knew why.
“You think you’re going to have all these different people come in and we’re just going to show up, and you find out it doesn’t work like that,” Hamilton said. “We just thought we were going to show up and play. Like the Redskins that year when they brought in Bruce Smith and Deion [Sanders] and all those Pro Bowlers. They just felt they could show up and play, but you have to go out as a group. The Patriots have shown if you play as a team you can do a lot of things.”
Sophomore year
Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer becomes the first Bengals quarterback to start two openers in a row since Jeff Blake in 1996 and 1997. Palmer said there’s “no comparison” between the first and second years.
“Going into your first year playing, really the first time ever getting a snap, you don’t know what to expect. You’re not sure of yourself because you haven’t done it against an NFL defense. I have a year under my belt,” Palmer said.
King of nicknames
Jared Lorenzen beat out Jesse Palmer for the Giants’ third quarterback spot behind Eli Manning and Tim Hasselbeck.
Lorenzen, out of Kentucky, signed as a free agent last year but left the team, fearing he wouldn’t make it because of his weight–288 pounds on a 6-foot-3 inch body. Or did he just fear the nicknames? He’s called “Hefty Lefty,” the “Pillsbury Throw Boy,” “J-Load” and “Lord of the Ring Dings.”
Youth movement
Last year, three-time NFC North champion Green Bay fielded the oldest team in the NFC North. This year, the Packers and Bears are tied for having the youngest teams. The Packers went from an average age of 27.0 on the opening-day roster to 26.19.
Green Bay has 11 rookies on its roster, compared to eight for Minnesota, seven for the Bears and five for Detroit.
Strange strategy
The San Francisco 49ers were 2-14 last year and they had 11 picks in the 2005 draft, including No. 1 overall. Yet they are set to start this season without a single rookie in the starting lineup.
Time out
Philadelphia receiver Terrell Owens on his feud with Eagles management and quarterback Donovan McNabb: “Things’ll get worked out. You guys’ll see. Hey, the camera’s going to be on me [Monday night in Atlanta]. Believe that.”
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