Tuesday, August 24, 1999
TRAINING CAMP INSIDER
Braham focused on center
After Friday's game, the club is beginning to feel better about left guard Rich Braham's conversion to center. Braham admitted Monday he had an easier time making the line calls in Detroit than he did in the exhibition opener. The biggest thing for him is getting used to finding the key defensive players when he gets to the line.
“In (passing downs), the biggest thing is when they're spread out and you have to find them,” Braham said. “You may have to look all the way out to the receiver, then start counting, then you have to make the call accordingly.”
Braham is usually looking for the middle linebacker, but the Lions worked with three down linemen so he had to look for two defenders to make the call.
Chalk talk
Coach Bruce Coslet went back to the blackboard after Friday's meltdown and made changes. He canceled Monday's double sessions and went with a normal day of morning skills and afternoon practice.
“We need more skills time to fix what we did wrong,” Coslet said. “We need more meeting time to watch ourselves on film and teach these guys. Because we're doing things and we're not doing them properly. So you better fix that aspect of it before you go on and do more things.”
Coslet went with more “carded plays” Monday in which the offensive and defensive coordinators draw up plays they want to see against their units. Monday was “Tennessee Day,” when the offense got looks against the defense they expect in the regular-season opener in Tennessee.
“They won't change much. They kicked our (butts) twice last year,” Coslet said.
Calling around
The agent for veteran quarterback Scott Zolak called the Bengals Monday. Zolak, who won some games in place of the injured Drew Bledsoe in New England, was cut by the Jets. The Bengals have been concerned about the play of backup quarterbacks Eric Kresser and Scott Covington, although Covington looked better Friday.
Quote
Coslet on going back to the basics: “We've retro-ed ourselves. We're the retro Bengals this week and we're going to fix what we're doing wrong.”
Injury update
C Rod Payne (knees) worked, but was in pain afterward. He is questionable for Saturday.
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