TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) -Forgive Jim Caldwell if his stomach churns a little more than usual Friday night. It’s understandable.
After 28 seasons coaching college teams and nine more as a pro assistant, the Colts’ new coach will finally fulfill his lifelong dream and lead an NFL team onto the field for a game.
“I’m certain there will be some butterflies. I think anybody involved in competition feels that way,” the new Colts coach said. “But, honestly, I really haven’t thought about what it will be like out there.”
He’s been too busy to reflect on the new expectations, such as another 12-win season, another playoff appearance and another Super Bowl run.
an Institute of Technology to break down Minnesota, a team with a quarterback competition now that the Brett Favre circus isn’t coming to town.
And after a yearlong apprenticeship as the Colts’ head coach-in-waiting, Caldwell realizes all eyes will be on him.
“I think everybody is trying to get to know him as a head coach and I’m no different,” three-time league MVP Peyton Manning said. “I certainly know him as my quarterbacks coach. But when he’s in a new role as a head coach there is always a transition there and some things that are new. I think we’ll get to know more of his leadership style throughout training camp and then as the season unfolds.”
Also Friday night, it’s Cincinnati at New Orleans, Denver at San Francisco, and St. Louis at the New York Jets.
Caldwell’s debut has turned a usually meaningless preseason opener into something more significant.
Manning and most of the established starters are expected to leave before the end of the first quarter. Eleven players, including five Colts starters, will sit out with injuries. Bob Sanders, the NFL’s 2007 defensive player of the year, remains on the physically unable to perform list and also will miss the game.
But fans will get their first chance to see the Colts’ new defense and their first look at Caldwell running the team since December 2005, when he replaced the grieving Dungy for one game after Dungy’s son died.
think it is going to be slightly different Friday,” said linebacker Gary Brackett, Indy’s defensive captain. “But I think Coach Caldwell is really coming into his own.”
The Vikings have questions, too. For one, how will they handle the quarterback situation?
Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels have battled throughout training camp for the starting job. Jackson held it part of last season when Minnesota won the NFC North.
But Jackson injured his left knee early in camp and Rosenfels, an offseason acquisition, is still getting acclimated to the playbook.
Things haven’t gone as smoothly as hoped, so both could see extended playing time at Indianapolis.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better. I’ve tried to improve every day,” Rosenfels said. “I feel like I have done that, and I feel like I still have a lot of room for improvement, as does every single guy on our offense.”
Rosenfels may have one advantage. He faced the Colts’ old defense twice last season.
The problem? Indy forced Rosenfels into three turnovers in the final five minutes, helping the Colts rally from a 17-point deficit to a 31-27 victory in October.
Rosenfels isn’t the only one eager to get started.
that fun.”
The Colts would agree. Despite holding the NFL record with six straight 12-win seasons, they have gone just 8-18 in the preseason during that span and are 3-15 over the last four years in preseason action.
Still, Caldwell wants to win his first game.
“It is something that would be a little bit different for us,” Caldwell said, laughing. “But nevertheless, our objective is still to win.”
Bengals at Saints
Carson Palmer hasn’t played since the Bengals’ fifth game of 2008 because of a partially torn ligament in his throwing arm. Cincinnati has been encouraged by Palmer’s performance in training camp. Now he’ll test his arm strength and durability against a Saints defense hungry to demonstrate it will be more fearsome under new coordinator Gregg Williams.
The Saints gave up nearly 340 yards per game last season, 23rd in the NFL. In came Williams and an overhaul of the secondary, featuring the additions of veteran safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Jabari Greer. New Orleans’ new defensive scheme is expected to feature lots of blitzing.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he expects to play Palmer 12 to 15 snaps. The offensive line may need more work than that.
s been getting intermittent days off as he comes back from surgery last December to repair cartilage in his left knee.
Broncos at 49ers
Shaun Hill gets the first start at quarterback for the Niners, and he’ll face a defense led by his former coach in San Francisco, Mike Nolan.
Nolan works for first-year Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, who has told his starters and draft picks to expect to play deep into the game.
“I feel like they’re taking it real serious because, basically, this is a whole new team,” nose tackle Ronald Fields said. “You’ve got new coaches, a lot of new players and everybody is eager to see what everybody is going to get out and do. So, it’s a serious game. We’re preparing for it like a regular- season game.”
Rams at Jets
The Rams also seem more in a regular-season mindset for their meeting at the Meadowlands with the Jets. Both teams also have new head coaches, but while St. Louis’ Steve Spagnuolo plans to use many first-teamers, the Jets’ Rex Ryan does not.
Of course, the Jets are somewhat banged up, with five starters sidelined: guard Alan Faneca, center Nick Mangold, tackle Damien Woody, cornerback Darrelle Revis, and nose tackle Kris Jenkins.
Meanwhile, Rams quarterback Marc Bulger sees plenty of action on the horizon.
to get a feel for each other. Hopefully, we’ll get a couple of good drives and see how it goes.”
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