PITTSBURGH, Pa.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Oilers Jersey . - Dick LeBeaus defence is not easy to grasp. For that, the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh
Steelers defensive co-ordinator is unapologetic.Yet for all the wrinkles the
ever-tinkering LeBeau adds on a weekly basis, there is an underlying simplicity.
Containment, not chaos, is the key to success.We always talk about having a lid
on the can, cornerback Ike Taylor said. Once that lid comes off man, anything
can happen. Anything can come out of that can.All too often this season, it
has.While the Steelers (8-5) remain in the midst of a claustrophobic race for
the AFC North, theyve done it on the power of an offence that is obliterating
the club record book, one thats done its best to overcome the alarming number of
momentum-shifting plays allowed by a defence that cant seem to find anything
resembling consistency.Pittsburgh has allowed 13 pass plays of more than 40
yards this season, including five in the last four games. Thats only three less
than the team allowed from 2011-13 combined. Not exactly the way to end a
two-year playoff drought with the erratic but explosive Falcons looming.Its a
little bit of everything, safety Troy Polamalu said. Were not executing right
and theyre making great plays too. Its definitely something that were going to
need to stop, thats for sure.And quickly.While coach Mike Tomlin is quick to
defend his secondary, hes well aware the breakdowns need to slow down.We
shouldnt be surprised that these guys are capable of getting deep, but at the
same time its our job to minimize it, he said.Quarterbacks have been targeting
every member of the Pittsburgh secondary deep.Last Sunday, Taylor couldnt get a
hand on Cincinnatis A.J. Green at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter.
Moments later, Green was racing across the goal line after an 81-yard
touchdown.The week prior, Taylor kept his eyes on New Orleans quarterback Drew
Brees instead of wide receiver Kenny Stills only to see Stills sneak behind him
for a game-breaking 69-yard score. In a victory over Tennessee, Nate Washington
darted by William Gay for an 80-yard touchdown. Even Michael Vick and the
offensively challenged New York Jets hit the Steelers for a 67-yard strike to
T.J. Graham in the first quarter of a 20-13 upset.And Julio Jones awaits in
Atlanta. All he did was torch the Green Bay Packers for 259 yards last week.He
is that offence, Taylor said.And this version of the Pittsburgh defence hardly
resembles the one that went 13 straight years ranked in the top 10, thanks in
part to injuries and inconsistent play.Taylor missed eight games with a broken
right forearm. Cortez Allen received a five-year deal on the eve of the opener
only to lose his confidence, his starting job and ultimately his season due to a
busted thumb. Safety Mike Mitchell has yet to make a significant impact and the
splash plays Polamalu provided regularly for years have all but disappeared.Now
guys like Brice McCain and Antwon Blake, both of whom began the season near the
bottom of the depth chart, are learning on the job. And while the Steelers point
to progress — namely the way they shut down the Bengals in the fourth quarter
last week — plenty of work remains to be done.Best to do it in the midst of a
playoff race. It hasnt been perfect — not even close — but thats unnecessary
when the offence is more than holding its own.I feel like the concrete is
settling with the secondary, Taylor said. I feel like everybody understands now
what we need to do.They just need to do it better. Now.NOTES: Quarterback Ben
Roethlisberger was given Wednesday off for the second straight week but it was
not injury related. ... Taylor (shoulder/forearm), Gay (quadriceps), linebacker
James Harrison (knee) did not practice. ... Right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who has
missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, did practice.___AP NFL website:
www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
Andrew Ference Oilers Jersey Authentic .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier
League season.
Bill Ranford Oilers Jersey Authentic . The Union looked to have grabbed a big win in the 88th minute when Amobi Okugo
finally put the hosts in front. But a terrible giveaway by Union goalkeeper Rais
Mbolhi handed Earnshaw the equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time,
keeping the Union two points back of fifth-place Red Bull New York for the final
playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. MINNEAPOLIS -- After Yasiel Puig carried
the Dodgers early, it was little-known Scott Van Slyke and Drew Butera who came
up big at the end of a long day. Van Slyke and Butera homered in the 12th inning
and Los Angeles held on to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 to earn a sweep of the
day-night doubleheader on Thursday. Adrian Gonzalez also homered for the
Dodgers, who stranded 16 runners in the 5-hour, 11-minute game. "At this time of
the night, when youve played all night and youve put a couple wins under your
belt, youre willing to take them, move forward and know that you got to play
better to get where you want to go," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. Puig
tied a career high with four hits in Los Angeles 9-4 Game 1 win and added two
more in the nightcap. Before grounding out in the fifth, Puig had reached base
in nine consecutive plate appearances. Joe Mauer had three hits for the Twins,
who walked 12 in the second game and 18 total. Van Slyke led off the 12th and
lined a 2-1 pitch from Brian Duensing (0-1) into the bullpen in left-centre
field. Butera hit his first homer since July 12, 2012, when he played for the
Twins. "It feels nice to hit a home run any time," said Butera, who caught all
12 innings and still had enough in the tank to hit the winning homer. "Its
mentally and physically taxing," he continued. "You dont want to make any
mistakes. You want to be in the game physically as much as you are mentally."
Jamey Wright (2-1) didnt allow a run in three innings of relief. Kenley Jansen
loaded the bases in the 12th and allowed Mauers sacrifice fly, but got
Chris Colabello to line out to first for his 11th save in 13 chances. "I didnt
know if it was going to take off," Colabello said. "It was pretty true. I didnt
really side-spin it at all, maybe hoping that it was going to get over his head
or get a deflection, or something like that." Juan Uribe had four hits and two
RBIs in the first game and another RBI in the second. When Puig wasnt getting
hits, he still grabbed the spotlight. The Cuban outfielder was tagged out when
he flinched toward second after beating out an infield single in his first
at-bat in Game 2. In the bottom of the first, Puig airmailed the cutoff man on a
sacrifice fly, allowing two Twins runners to advance. Home plate umpire Tim
Timmons missed a catchers interference call when Puig fouled off the first pitch
during a key at-bat in the sixth. But by the time Van Slyke homered, Puigs play
from earlier in the day seemed llike ancient history.
Justin Schultz Oilers Jersey Authentic. "Scottys a different cat. Hes hard to read from the outside," Mattingly said.
"You see a guy thats kind of laid back and kind of easy moving. Everything looks
like its in slow-mo. But hes a guy that sees pitching and knows what hes doing
at the plate." Los Angeles left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh, with
the threat in the seventh ending after second-baseman Brian Dozier dove to snare
a line drive from Dee Gordon. Neither teams inexperienced starter, both called
up to start under a provision that allows rosters to expand to 26 for a
doubleheader, finished the fifth inning. Minnesotas Kris Johnson lasted 4 1-3
innings in his Twins debut. Wearing his powder-blue socks high and a pink band
around his head to keep his glasses on, Red Patterson was removed after allowing
one run and walking three over 4 2-3 innings. Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in the
sixth when Trevor Plouffe reached second on Uribes throwing error and came home
on another throwing error when reliever Brandon League rushed to try and retire
Colabello on a dribbler to the mound. The Dodgers tied it when Van Slyke led off
the sixth with a triple and scored on Uribes single. Minnesota centre-fielder
Aaron Hicks banged his head on the wall leaping to try and catch Van Slykes
triple and left the game with concussion-like symptoms. The pitching wasnt great
in Game 1, but it was much better than the never-ending night game. Dan Haren
(4-0) struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings to win the first game. Mike Pelfrey
(0-3), who hasnt won at Target Field since April 16, 2013, gave up five runs and
seven hits and walked three in four innings for the Twins. If Pelfrey doesnt
pitch better soon, he could wind up in the bullpen. "Weve got to do something
about it, we have to fix it," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Were trying to
get him on the right path." Both teams combined to use 20 pitchers. NOTES:
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, on the disabled list since after his first start of
the season with strained shoulder, threw 86 pitches and allowed two runs in five
innings in a start for Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday night and appears in
line to rejoin the rotation early next week. ... Ricky Nolasco (2-2, 6.67 ERA)
starts for the Twins Friday against Baltimore and Ubaldo Jimenez (0-4, 6.59) in
the first game of a three-game series. ... The Dodgers continue their nine-game
road trip Friday in Miami as Josh Beckett (0-0, 2.45) faces Tom Koehler (2-2,
2.97).
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