Lions offensive linemen prepare to protect Daunte Culpepper
They say it could be a snap
BY JO-ANN BARNAS • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • November 5, 2008
*
*
* Print this page
* E-mail this article
* Share this article:
o Del.icio.us
o Facebook
o Digg
o Reddit
o Newsvine
o Buzz up!
* What’s this?
There are layers of information that quarterback Daunte Culpepper must start assimilating today in his first practice with the Lions.
Advertisement
His teammates on the offensive line, meanwhile, face challenges of their own.
Some issues they have no control over, such as the questions that accompanied the Lions' announcement Tuesday that they had officially signed Culpepper to a two-year deal.
• Will Culpepper, a former three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Minnesota Vikings, play in Sunday's home game against Jacksonville?
• If the answer is yes, then in what capacity?
• Are the 0-8 Lions preparing Culpepper to unseat Dan Orlovsky -- who replaced Jon Kitna four games ago -- as their starter?
Members of the offensive line say they expect the quarterback situation to resolve itself in practice this week, assuming Orlovsky -- who suffered a sprained thumb on his first play of Sunday's 27-23 loss at Chicago -- is good to go.
Orlovsky said Monday he could play against the Jaguars, but Lions coach Rod Marinelli has not named a starter.
Culpepper would be the Lions' third starting quarterback in nine games if the Lions choose to start him Sunday. But without the benefit of training camp, how successful can the Lions be in adapting to a new quarterback in so short a period of time?
For backup center Damion Cook, the biggest adjustment for the offensive line won't be seen as much as heard.
"Just getting used to the sound of his voice," said Cook, referring to a quarterback's speed and inflection in delivering the snap count. "That's why you practice -- you don't want to anticipate a snap count too quick and then be offsides or have a false start."
Cook smiled and added: "That's hardly an issue, though. I mean, as a team we have bigger fish to fry than that."
Cook is a candidate to replace Dominic Raiola at center if Raiola can't go against the Jaguars because of an injury to his snapping hand.
Culpepper, 31, was one of the league's most prolific passers until he tore three knee ligaments in 2005. In seven seasons with the Vikings he passed for more than 20,000 yards. After undergoing knee surgery, Culpepper tried to make a comeback but struggled. He started four games in Miami in 2006 and six in Oakland last season.
When he couldn't land a job this summer, Culpepper retired. But he recently came out of retirement when teams began expressing interest in him.
"I'll tell you what," Cook said. "I played against Daunte back when he was lighting scoreboards up in Minnesota, when I was with Chicago. So I know what he can do. When he's healthy and feeling good, he was a great quarterback -- that's not a secret. It's unfortunate that he's been hurt the last couple of years. But he was once among the best.
"Daunte is a smart veteran. I would expect for him to come in and just be ready."
Lions right guard Stephen Peterman said he thinks it would take the offensive line "about a day" to get used to having Culpepper under center.
"There will be a little bit of a transition to begin with -- getting used to his snap count, his voice, his checks and stuff," Peterman said. "But once the coaches get with him, it comes pretty quick."
Drew Henson, a Lions backup at quarterback, said developing consistency and rhythm between the quarterback and his receivers is imperative.
"To be really efficient, there's different throws for different guys," Henson said. "We have tall guys, smaller guys, medium guys -- and everyone has different speed. Everyone runs routes essentially the same depth and things, but every guy's body language is a little bit different. Calvin has long strides; Shaun (McDonald) has smaller strides.
"That's something you're constantly working on. And there's different target areas for different-sized guys -- like with Calvin, you can throw a ball at his face or above his head.
"But to me, the biggest thing for the line and a quarterback is that consistency with the center. For the most part it's easy, but you still have to rep it before you get into the scheme and terminology. But it's always the first thing to take care of because you can't get anything done if you don't get that snap right."
Contact JO-ANN BARNAS at 313-222-2037 or
jbarnas@freepress.com.
