His uncle Alvis Satele was a defensive lineman for the BC Lions in 1987.

The Lions have one change to their 46 man roster this week. Added to the roster is Offensive Lineman Lorne Plante. Removed from the roster is Receiver Chad Mock.

ROSTER 27-Jul-07

BC ADD IMP Gino GUIDUGLI (QB) Cincinnati

BC ADD IMP Chad MOCK (WR) Hawaii

ROSTER 15-Aug-07

BC DEL IMP Chad MOCK (WR) Hawaii

ROSTER 16-Aug-07

BC ADD NIP Lorne PLANTE (OL) Manitoba

NON-ACTIVE 16-Aug-07

BC ADD IMP Chad MOCK (WR) Hawaii

BC REM SGD NIP Lorne PLANTE (OL) Manitoba

Smith was acurate on virtually every pass he was not throwing away. I think the only exceptions were a deep ball to Darrell Jackson that got taken by the wind, and an intermediate toss to Lelie towards the end of the half. But the latter play looked more like miscommunication than inaccuracy — Lelie looked like he was supposed to stop on his route rather than continuing on to the post. Smith is clearly in sync with his first-string receivers, particularly Jackson and Vernon Davis.

Isaac Sopoaga simply cannot play nose tackle in the 3-4 defense. This is a guy who was touted three years ago as the strongest player coming out of the draft. Well, he wasn’t. He might have been able to bench press a lot, but his leg strength, his leverage and his technique are utterly lacking. And those are fare more important measures than the bench press. In the past two preseason games, Sopoaga has been getting blown of the line of scrimmage consistently, and not just when he’s double-teamed. Jeremy Newberry in particular had a field day with him. While the Raiders’ ability to move the ball on the ground is not necessarily cause for alarm since all three starting defensive linemen sat out the game, the 49ers better hope Aubrayo Franklin can hold the nose or they may find themselves reverting back to a 4-3 for the third year in a row. (It is difficult to tell whether Rookie Joe Cohen could do a better job than Sopoaga as backup NT, because he has only played against third-stringers.)

Today is the Dolphins’ final practice open to the media, so enjoy this live blog, ‘cause it’s the last one you’ll be getting for about 11 months.

Former Detroit Lions receiver Charles Rogers of Michigan State is likely to sign with a Canadian Football League team, ESPN.com is reporting.

"He wants to play again and it's the best opportunity for him to show he can play again," Rogers' agent, Jason Fletcher, is quoted as saying.

Rogers, the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, played for the Lions for three seasons before being released after training camp in 2006.

Rogers, 26, caught 36 passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns in his NFL career.

But just in case, Jones has begun tutoring Brennan not only on the run-and-shoot that he will need this season, but what he will need in the NFL next season and beyond. That is the double major in football.

"He's already teaching me [defensive] fronts, ways to break down fronts, stuff I just never needed to know to be in this offense," Brennan said of his head coach. "Instead of film [sessions with Jones] being 30 or 40 minutes, it's now an hour and five [minutes], where I'm getting a lesson on stuff I never knew before."

For those that been watching practices, how's our run defense looking? I'm guessing that most teams will try to shorten the game and keep our offense off the field by trying to establish the run against us.

A-House, wow, quite an impressive bio. I am continually amazed at the accomplishments and talent of the people on this blog. Good stuff.

Garret - okay, I'm sorry for commenting about your long URL the other day. Could you please post the URL for the SJMercury article on Lelie and Sopoaga? Maybe you could break it up into two or more lines. I'll cut and paste into my text editor, then paste it into my browser. Please...

Nolan was mostly pleased with his backups on the defensive line, who filled in while all three of his projected starters sat out against the Raiders. Defensive end Marques Douglas missed the game because his wife, Sparkle, gave birth to their second child around kickoff time.

Nolan said nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga played his best game in Nolan's tenure, while rookie end Ray McDonald showed a remarkable knack for being quick off the snap. The 49ers were painfully thin at defensive line in Nolan's first two seasons, but Sopoaga and McDonald should fill holes behind starters Douglas, Bryant Young and Aubrayo Franklin.

Taylor Jacobs, who barely played against the Raiders after his wife gave birth on Friday, also received another round of praise, with Nolan calling him the 49ers' No. 3 receiver. The veteran caught just four passes last season after arriving in a training-camp trade with Washington, but has wowed San Francisco's coaches in training camp.

The 49ers also have ample depth behind Jacobs and starters Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle - another remarkable development for a club with one of the NFL's worst receiving corps in each of the past four seasons.

"I'd like to keep six (receivers) if there's six that warrant being on the team," Nolan said.

Nolan said nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga played his best game in Nolan's tenure, while rookie end Ray McDonald showed a remarkable knack for being quick off the snap.

Why does everyone say Colt Brennan will throw for more yards this season?
UH is playing one fewer game.

I'm not labeling the guy a bust. I think every player needs up to three years to show whether or not they will live up to their advanced billing while some players show it earlier. Once a player has shown that ability, he gets another couple of years to take the next step. Steve Francis and David Carr "flashed" from time to time with Francis playing at a higher level than Carr, but neither was able to make the next step by five years in.

Mario is a physical freak and yet he doesn't physically dominate clearly inferior talent. He went up against Mike Gandy on Saturday and didn't even really muster much of a pass rush. Mike-freaking-Gandy? I had an NFL scout call me who I don't talk with all that often and he said "Mario looks like he's 'just a guy' out there." It isn't good to be called "just a guy" if you are a 5th round pick. It's really bad if you were the first pick of the draft.

Here is how I see it. Mario's motor is average. If his motor was great do you think average tackles in this league would be able to stick with him considering his quickness and strength? The answer is no. As for pass rushing skills, he's still stuck on bull rush and Kubiak even acknowledged in the press conference that to be a puss rusher in the NFL you have to have a variety of pass rushing moves.

The scariest thing that the Texans face right now (and I'm not sure if they are willing to even entertain the notion yet) is that there is a possibility that Mario Williams doesn't have a burning desire to be great. He hasn't shown that type of intensity and ability to impose his will yet and those are two things to look for. If he doesn't have a burning desire to be great, his ceiling will be much lower than the Texans and their fans have hoped for.

This morning talk show on ESPN 1420 w/ Phil Steele, the hosts think UH will score more than 100 points against N. Colorado and C. Southern.
I said on your blog on 5/19 that UH would score 100+ points in our first game.

"Them O-linemen, they're good! They know how to slap your hands down. I was like, 'This ain't college no more,'" said Soliai, selected in the fourth round of of April's draft. "The game speed is a lot different than what I'm used to, and I learned I was playing with zero [technique]. These are some big guys I'm going against, and I've got to move quicker."

Rookie Reagan Mauia practiced with a cast on his injured left hand.

Cameron said the 270-pound fullback would undergo surgery either today or Tuesday to repair a broken bone.

INJURY UPDATE

FB Reagan Mauia practiced Sunday with a cast on his broken left hand.

Cameron said Saturday he is using only 20 percent of his playbook during the pre-season and hasn't been calling games like he would in the regular season. If the Dolphins were concerned with scoring points, Cameron probably wouldn't have had his team go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3 against Kansas City on Thursday. Or maybe he wouldn't be so liberal with his substitutions among offensive linemen, receivers and running backs.

"We got a young offense, and I think that's a good thing," Carey said of limiting the playbook. "We're taking baby steps right now, but we're just trying to get ready for the first game."

"They can take it whatever speed they want," center Samson Satele said. "We'll catch up."

daveyboy808 (8/19/2007 at 10:28 PM)

Monkeyduck2008,

Watch these videos and tell me that Colt's "medium to long range passes were hardly ever completed". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy20GE3vEoI
http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/Candidates/Brennan/uh-cb-9.swf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJHJS3Oth5M

Also, did you watch the same game??
vs. Oregon St: 37-50, 401 Yds, 74.0%, 2 TD, 2 INT
vs. Arizona St: 33-42, 559 Yds, 78.6%, 5 TD, 1 INT

Don't you think you should ask Cat first? Is this a raffle? $1 per chance or 6 for $5?

Hey Jason:

Somebody called me OMNIPOTENT.

Without looking, do you know what that means.

I wuz neva taut that werd in da prehistoric day at MOHS.

For the Yankees fans out here in Tsaikoland, have you guys had a chance to see Joba Chamberlain pitch? Two words best describe his ability, "lights out". He's only 21, but has electrifying stuff.

How about a Win a Lunch Wtih Cat contest?
Proceeds go to the J.K. Tsai Tuition Fund.

ST, why can't I spell your name out on posts? I keep getting error messages.

ST, why can't I spell your name out on posts? I keep getting error messages.

Because of Ashley's size and stride is it more important for him and Alex (Smith) to work together more?

MN: "If he is going to throw to him yes, but if he isn't one of the primary guys, he (Alex) needs to work with the other guys first. He needs to work with the guys who know the best routes, know who to block on running plays, etc. There is a lot more to being a good wide receiver than catching balls. It is a lot more than being tall and fast. When the total picture puts you in the right of getting reps with the first group, you get to work with Alex more. If you don't, you get to work with Trent in the second group and Shaun with the third. If you are showing the ability to get in that next group, yes, we need to get you some more balls."

Purcell, who was picked by the Browns in the sixth round, played in the second half and recorded a third-quarter pass deflection.

USC receiver Jamere Holland was dismissed from the team, Coach Pete Carroll said late Sunday night.

Carroll declined to comment about why Holland was dismissed, but said it was not a violation of team rules.

"It was just the right thing to do," Carroll said.

Carroll said Holland, a redshirt freshman from Pacoima, would remain on scholarship this year, "but would weigh his options I'm sure."

Holland, who played at Woodland Hills Taft High, redshirted last season after breaking his collarbone. He reinjured his collarbone during spring practice and was counseled several times by coaches about a seeming lack of commitment to football.

Holland was the California state 100- and 200-meter champion in 2005 and competed for USC's track team last spring.

Running Backs (4): Westbrook, Buckhalter, Hunt, Tapeh (FB)

Running backs (4): Ryan Moats goes on Injured Reserve, Nate Ilaoa gets released and then added to the practice squad, and you have your 1-2-3 punch of Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter and rookie Tony Hunt.

Jason Davis got a good opportunity this summer to unseat fullback Thomas Tapeh, but it didn't happen for Davis. Tapeh did nothing notable and neither did Davis.

Little is said about it, but my biggest concern is the defensive line. It seems thin in terms of depth and inspires little confidence that the Browns will be able to control opponents' running games.

The struggling Hamilton Tiger-Cats have pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade, acquiring Saskatchewan star receiver Jason Armstead.

But the former 1,000-yard pass catcher didn't come cheap. Heading out of Steeltown is slotback Corey Holmes and rookie Canadian wide receiver Chris Getzlaf.

"We needed a difference-maker on special teams, and he (Armstead) is a former 1,000-yard receiver," Ticat GM Marcel Desjardins said last night.

"He (Armstead) is a big play waiting to happen when he gets the ball. I think he is one of the more dynamic guys in the league," the Cat GM added.

Kickoffs from the 30 resulted in 21.1% less touchbacks than kickoffs from the 35. That would average out to about two more returns a game this fall.
Kickoffs from the 30 resulted, on average, with the ball landing at the 8.78 yard line, which was 3.22 yards further into the field of play than kicks from the 35.
The average change in field position on a kick from the 30 was 5.13 yards and the rate of returns for touchdowns was about the same as a kick from the 35.

It has recently come to light that the University of Notre Dame freshman quarterback was cited for transporting alcohol as a minor in connection with a June 23 incident at a local liquor store.

Indiana State Excise Police cited the 19-year-old Clausen and a 23-year-old outside the Belmont Beverage store at 1621 South Bend Ave., near the Notre Dame campus, police said.


Excise police were in an unmarked car outside the store to catch minors attempting to get alcohol, said Lt. Tim Cleveland, a police spokesman.

Clausen, the nation's No. 1 recruit in the last recruiting cycle and currently battling for the starting quarterback job at Notre Dame, received a misdemeanor citation, police said. The 23-year-old, a recent Notre Dame graduate, was cited for inducing a minor to possess alcohol, an infraction.

It was spring game weekend 2006 at Notre Dame, and with one fell swoop, Clausen volunteered to be the permanent poster child for recruiting process excess and entitlement. A police escort led his Hummer Limo to the doorstep of the College Football Hall of Fame, entourage in tow. He flashed a handful of championship rings. A roomful of enablers decked out in their blue and gold roared as he announced his intentions to attend Notre Dame.