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HOUSTON TEXANS Reason for pessimism: You wonder if they will always be a playoff team and never a championship team. They do have individual great players in J.J. Watt, Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, and Brian Cushing, but something hard to identify is still missing. An indicator of that was late in the year when Houston had the division lead with a 12-2 record but failed to clinch it early by losing to Minnesota and Indianapolis. At quarterback its hard to criticize Matt Schaub. He made the Pro Bowl last year passing for 4,008 yards, and 22 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Yet, in his head-to-head competition with the best quarterbacks it isnt always Schaub that wins the battle. Reason for optimism: They have too many good players not to come together and have a great year. Wade Philips defence didnt dominate in 2012 as it did in 2011 but that will change this year for the better. Arian Foster is as good as any NFL running back with a top left tackle in Duane Brown. If the Texans can find a compliment to Andre Johnson the offence will take another step forward. Is it DeAndre Hopkins, the teams first-round draft pick? The Texans are a team that needs little to improve upon. Watt, Cushing, and hopefully a healthy Ed Reed down the middle is perhaps the best combo in the league. They just need all 22 starters to play 16 games. Reality: This is a playoff team that if the ball bounces the right way can be a championship team. The two key dates are November 3rd and December 16th; home and away against the Indianapolis Colts. A repeat of last years +22 take away/giveaway is also a top priority. Prediction: First in AFC South. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Reason for pessimism: Yes, the Colts had a year to remember. From 2-14 to 11-5, last years team was special. But this year it starts all over again. When you look at the Colts wins from last year it was remarkable how many were close scores that could have gone either way. Against Minnesota, they won by three points. Green Bay, same thing. They beat Cleveland by 4 and Tennessee by six in overtime. They got by Miami by three, Detroit by 2 and Tennessee again, this time by four. That is seven games that were dependent on Andrew Luck playing either come from behind football to win or "kill the clock" football to preserve the win. Remarkable! It is unrealistic however to think it can happen again. Also Luck took an immense amount of punishment last year: 41 quarterbacks sacks and an incalculable number of hits. That cant happen again this year or a 16-game experience from the sophomore QB is unrealistic. Reason for optimism: Luck threw 627 passes in his rookie year. He saw every possible coverage and combination of coverages there are in pro football. The organization threw him in and said you will be tested, and he passed. All the Colts have to do is protect Luck better by finding better players. Gosder Cherilus will be the new right tackle and the Colts third and fourth picks were interior lineman. Another 41 sack total for this year is unlikely. Also, in what can be classified as a logical yet brilliant move, the teams new offensive coordinator is Pep Hamilton, who coached Luck at Stanford. Excellent move! Former OC Bruce Arians was remarkable and will probably do remarkable things in Arizona, but the Colts can overcome that with head coach Chuck Pagano back fulltime. The Colts know trying to duplicate what they did last year will be difficult, but their schedule is pretty good and so is their quarterback. Reality: This year will be harder than last with two games against Houston and San Francisco right away, then Denver in late October and Cincinnati in early December. But the rest of the schedule has very winnable games. Prediction: 2nd in the AFC South. TENNESSEE TITANS Reason for pessimism: Nobody gave up more points than the Tennessee Titans did last year. They allowed 30 or more points eight times and allowed Chicago to score 51 on them and Green Bay 55. Realistically, it is going to take more than one football season to change that. At quarterback, Jake Locker will have to make a quantum leap forward to offset the logical point total opposition teams may score. Locker can make the spectacular play from time to time, but his completion percentage has been just 56 and 51 his first two years. As for talented but troubled receiver Kenny Britt it is now or never time to turn around his career. Reason for optimism: The Titans made some major moves in free agency, signing RB Shone Green, OG Andy Levitre, TE Delanie Walker, and a good strong safety in Bernard Pollard. Three of the four will start and the fourth, Green, will have a significant role filling in for Chris Johnson. Locker is the teams No. 1 guy and he knows it. Logic says he takes over the job and improves. With an improved offensive line and Johnson carrying the rock, it may be easier to improve than anticipated. Last year Johnson had touchdown runs of 80, 83, and 94 yards. Reality: With so many points allowed last year, how fast can the starting 12 on defence improve even with the addition of Pollard at safety? When you look at the starting defensive roster there are very few names that you recognize as impact players. Too think the Titans will go from most points allowed to top 10 in fewest is unrealistic. Prediction: Third in AFC South. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Reason for pessimism: When you look over the last five years of Jaguars football it has been difficult to accept. Win totals of five, seven, eight, five, and only two last year. And now in 2013 a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, and new defensive coordinator . They have not been to the playoffs since 2007 and since 1999 the Jaguars have only been to the playoffs three times. And what is even more significant is that there best player, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, does not seem satisfied playing in Jacksonville. Whether it is an injury issue or a contract issue, Jones -Drew is the reason the Jaguars can or cannot run the ball. I understand why Jacksonville drafted Luke Joeckel at tackle second overall. He was very consistent and played good competition at Texas A&M. But they need a quarterback. Now there are some good ones to come out in the 2O14 draft and perhaps getting one then is their plan. Still, Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne are in make or break years. If either does not improve in a big way, the Jaguars will have another difficult season. When you consider this team plays four of their first six games on the road and one in London, England against San Francisco in Week 8, they could hit "re-building mentality” by November. Reason for optimism: Gus Bradley, the new head coach for Jacksonville, was a main reason for the Seattle Seahawks defensive success last year. He know the type of player he needs and how to use him. It is more of duplication than re-creation for Jacksonville to be special without the ball. And they already have a solid middle linebacker in Paul Posluszny, so Step One is accomplished. At wide receiver, you would have to think first-round pick Justin Blackmon knows this is it for him. Hes a great player that cant seem to stay out of trouble . There is another Blackmon out there if the first one does not live up to expectations and new General Manager David Caldwell will find him. The Jaguars do have players and pieces to develop but it will take time. Reality: Another last place finish in the AFC South. The team is unknown at quarterback, offensive line, and pass rush. Last year Jacksonville had six games of 10 points or less. Theres a long way to go. Prediction: Fourth in the AFC South. http://www.superstarczonline.com/damske-cervene-ni...nisky.h tml . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. http://www.superstarczonline.com/originals-adidas-...63095.h tml . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.superstarczonline.com/svetle-ruzove-adi...41829.h tml . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Adidas Superstar Dámské .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Adidas Supercolor Koupit . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year.VANCOUVER -- Hunter Shinkaruk made his first game with seasoned NHL pros a memorable one. The 18-year-old Vancouver rookie scored a goal and helped set up another one, although he did not get an assist, as the Canucks dropped a 3-2 decision to the San Jose Sharks in the first pre-season game for both teams Monday night. "Obviously, with the goal, it was very exciting," said Shinkaruk, who was Vancouvers first choice (24th overall) in this years NHL draft. "It was definitely a moment I didnt forget, and it was a lot of fun." Shinkaruk helped the Canucks rally from a 2-1 deficit early in the third period before Tommy Wingels goal with 3:53 left in the game lifted the Sharks to victory. The Canucks rookie put in a high shot from a sharp angle as he feigned to pass from near the goal-line but fired the puck over San Jose goaltender Alex Stalocks back instead. "I saw a little bit of corner up there," said Shinkaruk. "Its not all the time I put it up there. Its every now and then and, luckily enough, it just worked out." Shinkaruk, a Calgary native who has spent the past three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, is trying to make the Canucks in his first pro season. Because of his age, he must return to Medicine Hat if he does not crack the NHL clubs roster. Hes also a candidate for Canadas world junior team. One of Vancouvers two first-round draft picks this year, he started the game on a line with Burrows and Kesler and looked reasonably comfortable while seeing some power-play time with them. The Canucks went with six NHL regulars from last season, including Burrows and Ryan Kesler. Frank Corrado, 20, who toiled for Vancouver late in the season after completing his junior campaign, also played. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were among veterans who received the night off. The Sharks used seven players who finished the season as regulars. After impressing new coach John Tortorella in on-ice testing just by skating in circles last Thursday, Shinkaruk also got a response out of assistant Mike Sullivan, who handled questions from the media after the game. "That was a goal-scorers goal, off the angle like that, that top shelf, short side," said Sullivan. "(Shinkaruk) is an easy guy to like. He plays with a lot of moxie. He loves hockey. Hes been a lot of fun to share the first few days with here." Wingels and Joe Pavelski both produced a goal and an assist for the Sharks while John McCarthy scored their other goal. Brendan Gaunce, Vancouvers top 2012 draft pick (26th overall), had Vancouvers other goal. Defenceman Henrik Tommernes recorded two assists. Gaunce created a 1-1 tie at 17:46 of the opening period as he put Dale Weises rebound in off a San Jose defencemans stick. Shinkkaruk factored into the net by charging up the middle to the net and creating a distraction for San Jose goalie Stalock while attempting to deflect the initial shot.dddddddddddd "I thought it was a great play all around," said Sullivan. "It was a real hard net drive. I thought Weiser, it was a real heads up play. Hes shooting for that rebound." Shinkaruk is one of two 2013 first-round draft choices trying to make the Canucks, along with 18-year-old centre Bo Horvat, who was chosen ninth overall with the pick Vancouver acquired from the New Jersey Devils for goaltender Cory Schneider. The two prospects, who share the same agent and have become fast friends, were reunited in the second period after playing together in a recent prospects tournament in Penticton, B.C., and during a Canucks summer camp for young players. Sullivan liked what he saw of Shinkaruk, Horvat and Nicklas Jensen, 20, Vancouvers top 2011 draft choice (29th overall) when they were put together in the second period. "I thought when we put that kid line together about halfway through the game, they brought us some energy," said Sullivan. Goaltender Eddie Lack, vying for Vancouvers backup job behind Roberto Luongo after the Schneider trade, also impressed as he stopped 25-of-27 shots in two periods of work. Lack showed no ill effects in his first game since undergoing season-ending hip surgery last November while a member of Vancouvers former Chicago Wolves farm club in the AHL. "I was a little bit rusty but, overall, I felt kind of good out there," said Lack, a 25-year-old Norrtalje, Sweden native, who has spent the past three seasons, including an abbreviated 2012-13 campaign, in the minors. Sullivan, who followed Tortorella to the Canucks after working alongside him with the New York Rangers, also praised the netminder despite being dissatisfied with some parts of Vancouvers game, especially in the second period. "He certainly got a fair amount of work," said Sullivan. "He got tested, so I thought he played a real solid game." Notes: Joe Cannata, who split his first full pro season between Vancouvers former Chicago Wolves farm club in the AHL and the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL, played the third period in goal for the Canucks. He recorded 13 saves as the Sharks outshot the Canucks 15-2 in the final period and 42-15 overall. ... Tortorella watched his club from the rafters at Rogers Arena while Sullivan and fellow new assistant Glen Gulutzan ran Vancouvers bench. ... Sharks coach Todd McLellan viewed the proceedings from his usual spot behind their bench. ... Vancouver killed a pair of San Jose two-man advantages. San Jose converted one of seven power plays while the Canucks were blanked on five. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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