[naught33]

I'm showing JETS -2.5 with O/U set at 37 as of right now. Some info on the game for tonight...

RB Derrick Blaylock: Curtis Martin's new caddie is not the bruiser LaMont Jordan was, but an elusive little slasher.

CB Justin Miller: The second second-round pick will open on the left side as Ty Law, like Pennington, targets the season opener. Miller will be most valuable, however, as a game-breaking return man to replace Santana Moss.

"He's got great vision and he's a 200-pound guy, so he can break some tackles, and he's got great acceleration; the guy can run now," Edwards said.

P Ben Graham: The affable Aussie is a crowd favorite at Hofstra thanks to his booming left-footed punts that torment returners with their reverse spin and pose a threat to Micah Knorr. "The idea of it being on television in front of a big crowd, it doesn't scare me at all," Graham said.

T Adrian Jones: The Jets are counting on him to replace Kareem McKenzie on the right side.

NT Siona Piohu: The third-round pick is a powerful run-stuffer who will be needed to help James Reed and Lance Legree replace Jason Ferguson.

Safeties Kerry Rhodes and Andre Maddox (questionable): If neither supplants Oliver Celestin, they ought to be excellent special teamers.

Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger: The shotgun will be the first clue that Paul Hackett is gone. The tight end going deep down the middle will be the second clue.

RB Cedric Houston: Rookie has a chance to be the short-yardage back.

WRs Harry Williams (Tuskegee) and Chas Gessner (Brown): Tall, young targets competing for the fifth wide receiver spot with Jonathan Carter.


OUT for JETS that I know for sure....Pennington, Law, Chrebet, Jonathan Cater, and Eric Barton. Dwayne Robertson not likely to play. Other starts only to see about 15-20 plays tonight.

[naught33]

The Lions' projected starting lineup for tonight's exhibition opener at the New York Jets:

Offense


WR Roy Williams


LT Jeff Backus


LG Rick DeMulling


C Dominic Raiola


RG Damien Woody


RT Kelly Butler


TE Marcus Pollard


WR Charles Rogers


QB Joey Harrington


FB Cory Schlesinger


HB Kevin Jones


Defense


LE Cory Redding


LT Shaun Rogers


RT Dan Wilkinson


RE James Hall


WLB James Davis


MLB Earl Holmes


SLB Boss Bailey


LCB Fernando Bryant


RCB Dre' Bly


FS Terrence Holt


SS Kenoy Kennedy


Specialists


K Jason Hanson


P Nick Harris


KR Eddie Drummond


LS Don Muhlbach

[naught33]

curious to see if anyone has any more useful info on this game or opinions on the side or total...im leaning twds taking the points and detroit. the jets starters won't be playing much at all, and they have some question marks on defense with depth as they are breaking in several young guys, especially in the secondary. harrington will start at qb for det but i expect garcia to get a lot of reps tonight as well and like the backup combo or garcia/orlovsky better than i do of bollinger and whoever else runs the show behind fiedler tonight for the jets

[Tommy]

Yep , Info coming on this game and others as well. I dont know if Ill bet any but I will definitely be here putting anything I can.

[Eaglesfan]

Good Info naught Im thinking over. Ya Im gonna bet it now.

[naught33]

nice guys! i won't be here until after kickoff so i have to put in my play early, but im betting det...id lean towards the over but dont have a play on it...if anyone has any other thoughts on this game or others please post...and oh yeah TGIF!

[TOMMY B]

HEMPSTEAD — Jets coach Herman Edwards is eager to see how his young and inexperienced defensive backfield handles the Detroit Lions' potentially potent but often maligned offense.

Edwards will get his chance when the Lions and Jets open their exhibition season tonight at 7 at the Meadowlands.

Things haven't gone well for the Lions since they made Joey Harrington their top draft choice in 2002. The team is still looking for its first winning season under the former Oregon quarterback. During a recent team practice session at Ford Field in Detroit he was booed by many in the crowd.

"I want to change the losing, obviously,'' Harrington told reporters in Detroit. "So there is some common ground there. The fans are not going to go away, and the only way to turn them around is go out and win some football games. And that is what we are going to do.''

It's understandable why expectations have steadily risen in Detroit since Harrington was drafted by a Lions team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999.

The Lions have been supplying Harrington with talented weapons since they drafted him. In 2003 they took receiver Charles Rogers out of Michigan State in the first round. They followed up that move by picking Roy Williams of Texas in the first round the next year. This year they drafted receiver Mike Williams in the first round even though he sat out a year after he was ruled too young for the draft after declaring his intention to turn pro following his junior year at Southern Cal.

Harrington's critics in Michigan have said he is an underachiever. The naysayers insist this is a make-or-break season for him because of the Lions' talented receivers and the emergence of running back Kevin Jones, who rushed for 1,133 yards as a rookie last season.

No wonder Edwards thinks his defense will be tested.

"Yes, it will be a good first step,'' the Jets' coach said. "Especially for the secondary. We'll have some young guys playing the corner. We'll have some young guys playing the safety. And we'll see how they react playing against a good, attacking offense.''

Edwards will be able to get a look at rookie cornerback Justin Miller and young safeties Oliver Celestin, Kerry Rhodes and Rashad Washington.

While Edwards views this as a good first challenge for his defense, fans in Detroit are apt to be screaming for veteran backup quarterback Jeff Garcia if Harrington doesn't get off to a fast start. Garcia went to the Pro Bowl three times while playing for Steve Mariucci, now the Lions' coach, when the two were with the San Francisco 49ers.

"I look at Jeff Garcia and I see success,'' Harrington said. "He's been where I want to be. Whether he's pushing me for a job, or pushing me to get better, he's still pushing me to get better.''

Harrington shouldn't take all the blame for the losing. But it seems as if it is time for him to step up. He has never had three receivers like he has now, and the Lions have added talented tight end Marcus Pollard, the former Colt, to the mix. Then there's Jones and a front line that should offer protection.

Harrington was encouraged to arrive in training camp and see everyone healthy for a change. Especially Rogers, who was limited to five games in his rookie season due to a clavicle injury and who was done after he broke his collarbone in the season opener last year.

"It makes me feel more comfortable,'' said Harrington, who is working in the West Coast offense with new Detroit offensive coordinator Ted Tollner. "We have guys like Kevin, who can put us into short-yardage situations, we have guys like Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams, when he gets in there, who can make plays when we need them.''

So the expectations are great.

"The sky is the limit,'' Roy Williams said. "We have so much firepower it is ridiculous — it's like weapons of mass destruction. We have receivers, running backs, tight ends, offensive linemen and quarterbacks.

"It's almost like a Pro Bowl team.''

Which is why there are no longer any excuses for Harrington.

Dispatches from camp

Eye-opener: Gretchen McGraw, the wife of Jon McGraw, the safety whom the Jets traded to Detroit on Wednesday, is a close friend of Lia Edwards, the wife of Jets coach Herman Edwards. "Gretchen was actually at the hospital with my wife,'' said Edwards, who was also with his wife when she gave birth to a baby girl shortly before 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Edwards said it was tough trading McGraw. "But at the end of the day, sometimes you need a fresh start,'' he said.

Training room: Third-year defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson got the same diagnosis from noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday that he received from Jets team doctors. He has arthritis in his right knee and is expected to be able to play with the condition.

Roster: The Jets signed rookie free-agent safety Atari Bigby and first-year cornerback Art Thomas.

Rookie watch: Australian punter Ben Graham, vying with veteran Micah Knorr for the starting job, is looking forward to his first NFL game when the Jets host Detroit tonight. "Tomorrow night gives me an opportunity to put into practice what I've been doing,'' said Graham, who left Australian Rules Football to give the NFL a try. "I've got the opportunity with the Jets, and I also look at it that there are probably 31 other clubs interested in how it goes.''

Competition: Veteran quarterback Jay Fiedler, who signed on as the Jets' No. 2 during the off-season, is scheduled to start tonight and may play the first quarter. The Long Island native, who spent the last five seasons with Miami, said he's eager to go. "I'm looking forward to being with a new team now and seeing how they react when we're out on the field,'' Fiedler said. "I'm just trying to get results first time out. I'm very comfortable.''

[Tommy]

I dont have time right now, but I will be around to give info for the last hour before game time

[ACEACE]

BEEN A BUSY DAY RUNNING AROUND


WAGER LINE REPORT

Visitor Wagers Line Home Wagers
Detroit 29 +2.5 Ny Jets 25
Detroit 100 +3 Ny Jets 95
Detroit 85 +3.5 Ny Jets 136
Consensus Detroit 214 Ny Jets 256


Over Wagers Total Under Wagers
87 36 64
25 37 25
56 37.5 44
Consensus 168 133

[ACEACE]

This From Roy Williams.....

"we've Got So Much Firepower,man,it's Ridliculous. It's Like
Weapons Of Mass Destruction."


NO BET FOR ME...THIS WILL BE FUN TO WATCH...AND SET UP MY PICK NEXT WEEK ON DET VS CLEVELAND.....I WANTED TO BET THAT ONE 4 WEEKS AGO
THIS GAME WILL TELL HOW MUCH I PUT DOWN

[naught33]

thx for the info guys....been a defensive struggle so far, jets up 7-0 w det driving....im curious to see how detroit plays, their offense should be very good this yr