Dein erstes Forum » Fun.COUNTING ON CHEATHAMEllensons NBA potential

HOUSTON -- When J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans last faced the Kansas City Chiefs the defensive end was so badly hurt he only made it a little more than halfway through the demoralizing 30-0 wild-card playoff loss.Watt was healthy again Sunday and Houstons defense was dominant, setting a franchise record by recovering three fumbles in the first half and sacking Alex Smith four times in a 19-12 win .For us to go out there and have the performance that we did it definitely helps build your confidence because thats a very strong football team in your conference so you want to go out there and start 2-0, Watt said. Its more about beating a good football team now than it is about (avenging) an old loss.Watt started that playoff game despite having several torn muscles in his core. He remained on his hands and knees for a couple of excruciating minutes after being thrown to the ground early in the third quarter and didnt return, relegated to a spectator as the Chiefs romped to their first playoff win since 1994.This time it was clear from the start that Watt was back to form after not quite looking like himself in Houstons opener. Watt had back surgery in July that kept him out of camp and all four preseason games.When a high snap sailed over Alex Smiths head early in the first quarter Watt went to work. He shoved him out of the way with one hand and pounced on the ball.The Texans (2-0) cashed in on that turnover on the next play when Brock Osweiler connected with DeAndre Hopkins on a 27-yard pass for the games only touchdown.Our defense really stood up there and when they had to in critical situations played well, coach Bill OBrien said.Watt continued to shine later in the first quarter when he took Smith down for his first sack this season, forcing the Chiefs (1-1) to kick a field goal that made it 7-3.Houston was leading by seven in the second quarter when Spencer Ware fumbled, Kevin Johnson scooped it up for his first career recovery and returned it 52 yards. The Texans couldnt get their offense going after that and settled for a 24-yard field goal to make it 13-3.John Simon forced the last fumble of the half on his strip-sack of Smith. It was recovered by Whitney Mercilus.Watt and Simon finished with 1 1/2 sacks each and the pair combined for five quarterback hits. Jadeveon Clowney, the top overall pick in 2014, continued to be disruptive and had three tackles, including one for a loss, two quarterback hits and batted down one of Smiths passes.Were hungry. Were trying to do better than we did last year. Thats the whole goal, Clowney said. We had to beat the Chiefs. They beat us twice last year. We had that chip on our shoulders like: `We cant let this team beat us again.Watt, who had surgery in January to repair his core muscles before undergoing the back surgery in July, doesnt feel like hes quite back to normal yet despite his big performance.I dont think Im all the way there yet, he said. But I definitely felt a little bit better today than I did last week and I think its going to continue that way.Some of the Texans tried to downplay the revenge-factor in this game. Team owner Bob McNair was not among them. McNair was asked if this win was more satisfying after what happened last year.It was for me, he said. I dont know about the others. They beat us twice last year so we needed to step up and our guys did.For Mercilus the victory was a sign of how much has changed for this team in less than a year.It shows the progress weve made ... coming from the playoffs and everything, he said. Two different teams. We came in and definitely showed out.---www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Moritz Wagner Jersey . LOUIS -- St. Rasheed Wallace Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. https://www.cheapwizardsonline.com/ .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Courtney Alexander Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Jeff Ruland Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. MILWAUKEE -- Coach Steve Wojciechowski looks at his deep roster at Marquette and sees strength in numbers.Depth and up-tempo basketball will have to make up for a lack of height for the Golden Eagles this season.One-and-done forward Henry Ellenson is now in the NBA. The rebounding and defensive slack must be picked up by a rotation that could go 11 players deep.Were going to have to try to do some things defensively in terms of maybe extending the floor, being disruptive on the defensive end of the ball, Wojciechowski said. In order to do that ... we need to have fresh bodies out there to maintain a certain pace of play, a certain energy level from your group.The 6-foot-11 Ellenson averaged team-highs of 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds a game. He was a focal point of the offense, and combined with 6-11 center Luke Fischer to give Marquette two rim-protectors.Ellenson is now with the Detroit Pistons, but Fischer is back for his senior season, ready to anchor the middle.After 6-10 sophomore Matt Heldt, a backup center, the roster is filled with guards and swingmen. Six-foot-7 freshman Sam Hauser is the next tallest player on the roster.Marquette finished 20-13 (8-10 Big East) last season but missed the NCAA Tournament. Theyll miss Ellenson, but can compensate in other areas.It goes both ways. Were going to miss him for his rebounding, senior guard Jajuan Johnson said. But now the ball is going to get moved a little bit more. He will be missed, surely.Marquette was picked to finish in the Big East in the preseason coaches poll. Other notes on the Golden Eagles, who open their season on Friday against Vanderbilt in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Maryland:BIG LUKEFischer (12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds) is getting ready to run more with all the guards on the roster. Hell need to play more than the 28.2 minutes a game that he averaged last season and stay out of foul trouble.Obviously, we have to be in good shape, running-wise, Fischer said.ddddddddddddWell be able to push the ball up really fast. I think that plays to our advantage, being smaller than most teams.LITTLE GUYSAfter Fischer, the rest of the starting lineup in the preseason game against Rockhurst last week featured Johnson, along with guards Markus Howard, Katin Reinhardt and Haanif Cheatham. Howard, 5-foot-11 freshman, played on the under-17 team for USA Basketball this summer.Six players off the bench played at least 16 minutes against Rockhurst.Were going to have a lot of lineups that mix four perimeter guys with one post guy, Wojciechowski said. In todays day and age in college basketball, when you can do that, it can work to your advantage.THE `NOVA WAYTheres a model in the Big East for winning with a small lineup after Villanova won the NCAA title. The Golden Eagles hope to be able to get to that level one day, though the Wildcats at least provide a blueprint.The great thing we will be able to do is pressure guard Traci Carter said. Were going to be able to pressure a lot. Fun.COUNTING ON CHEATHAMEllensons NBA potential overshadowed Cheathams solid freshman campaign last season. The 6-foot-5 guard (11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists) started all 33 games, with turnovers being his biggest problem. Wojciechowski hopes Cheatham can continue to play aggressively while taking better care of the ball.STEADY REINHARDTThe 6-6 guard will provide experience and outside shooting after coming to Marquette as a graduate transfer. As a junior, Reinhardt averaged 11.4 points at Southern California last season. He is a career 36.9 percent shooter from the 3-point arc.---For more college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP ' ' '