Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9508010049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED HARDIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CLEVELAND LENGTH: Medium
The Carolina Panthers spent two weeks getting ready for their inaugural tuneup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This week, they have four days to get ready for the Chicago Bears.
And the road to Chicago goes through Cleveland.
The Panthers arrived on the shores of Lake Erie on Monday evening for a three-day workout with the Cleveland Browns. After Saturday's 20-14 win over Jacksonville in the Hall of Fame Game, the Panthers will now get a much better feel for what they're getting into this year.
``This will be a good test for our team,'' Coach Dom Capers said. ``It'll be good to see how our guys match up with a strong, physical team like the Cleveland Browns.''
The Panthers will practice against the Browns today and Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. at Cleveland's training camp in nearby Berea, then go through a light workout on Thursday night in Cleveland Stadium. The Thursday night walk-through will be Carolina's only preparation for the Bears game Friday night at Soldier Field.
In a sense, the whole week will be a tuneup for Chicago, a team certain to test the Panthers more than the expansion Jaguars did Saturday. Judging from Monday's evaluation, all of Carolina's players passed the first test. No one was cut, and all but several injured Panthers are in Cleveland this week.
Capers said that cuts later this week are possible.
``There could be some,'' Capers said. ``But they'll be minimal. We'll be watching the waiver wire.''
Should the Panthers pick up any players waived from other camps it would put them over the 90-player limit, forcing the Carolina coaches to make some tough choices.
Getting tougher will be the emphasis this week.
``This week will be good for us,'' rookie quarterback Kerry Collins said. ``I'm really looking forward to the practices with the Browns and then the game on Friday. I grew up watching Walter Payton run the ball and watching Jim McMahon winning all those games. This will be more like an NFL game.''
In other words, the Jacksonville game was a lot like another day of training camp.
The player with the biggest job this week is quarterback Jack Trudeau, who will start and play the first half against the Bears. That role went to Frank Reich in the Hall of Fame Game.
Collins, who played the third quarter and one series in the fourth on Saturday, will again start the second half. Reich will take Trudeau's Hall of Fame role and play the fourth quarter against Cleveland.
``It's not easy sitting there,'' Trudeau said. ``But that's part of being a quarterback in preseason. I'm looking forward to this week.''
Judging from Collins' performance Saturday, Reich and Trudeau might find themselves in a battle for only one opening once the season begins. The Panthers had originally slotted Collins into the No.3 quarterback position, believing the rookie needed more time to move into the backup spot. But Collins had a good game against the Jaguars.
``The rookie played well,'' Trudeau said. `` I thought he looked really good out there.''
Starting today, Collins and the Panthers will see how well they look with a veteran NFL team in their face. And if they survive the Browns, then they have to contend with the Bears.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB