Sonstiges » hat allowed at least 33 points four consecu

Will Broncos persist with touch footy approach?The Broncos are back in form after they totally threw the shackles off last week in terms of the style of football theyre playing. But Im interested to see if they persist with that touch-football style theyre using.What they did last week in beating the Storm was avoid the wrestle and Im led to believe theyve been training this touch football style for about a month now. What it does is encourage players to stay in an active support role because they know theyve got to be prepared to take a pass at any time. The Broncos style is really difficult to defend against because it allows both Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford to hit multiple ball-runners.There were a couple of instances against the Storm when Broncos players controlled the ball in one hand, with superb skill, and showed a real willingness to keep the ball alive. Sam Thaiday threw an unbelievable pass at one stage that led to a try, and thats just great to see because I think coaches in the NRL can get overly conservative and too obsessed with completion rates.Thaidays pass showed the reward teams can get when they have a little more creative licence. But its all about recognising the right time to attempt those passes, too.So Im really looking forward to seeing if they continue this approach against the Roosters on Thursday night or whether they go back to more of a Wayne Bennett style, and play a more conservative, boring brand of football.Storms big chance to wow MelbourneObviously there are a couple of huge games to round out the season, and Im particularly excited to watch the Storm and Sharks face off for the minor premiership. The fact that the minor premiership will be decided in the final round is a great sign for our game.The Sharks finally returned to some form against the Roosters last weekend while the Storm, who had been the benchmark for the last 12 weeks or so, got blown off the park by the Broncos.And the big kicker here is that there is no AFL this weekend, which should hopefully result in a near full-house for the Storm. Its a great opportunity for the Storm to showcase rugby league, and a big crowd would certainly help get them over the line against the Sharks.Paul Gallen was huge for the Sharks on his return last week and Cronulla will need another big game from him this week, too. Whatever the result, were going to get a really good idea if one or both of these sides can go on and lift the trophy in a few weeks time.All roads lead to Leichhardt OvalThe other game Im really looking forward to watching is the Tigers vs. Raiders. Obviously the game between the Cowboys and Titans will decide whether the Tigers are still a chance come Sunday. But if youre to go by the form guide, it looks like the Tigers will have everything to play for when they run out onto Leichhardt Oval.There will be a big crowd at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon, too. The Tigers have had a tough couple of years for a variety of reasons, and its been pretty amazing how theyve managed to turn what has been a pretty horrendous year into something special.As for Jason Taylor being justified in his decision not to play Robbie Farah, I think it has proven to be the right call even if they dont make the finals. The way the Tigers have played over the last four weeks; weve seen the development of Mitchell Moses and we know these young halves are the future. The extra responsibility seems to agree with Moses in particular, and he already seems to be a more confident player.Robbie was going to be on $900,000 next year and while that is a great deal for him, the club had to make a business decision and if the coach and player didnt get on then the coach had to take action.Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Germaine Pratt Bengals Jersey . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Jessie-Bates-Iii-Jersey/ . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Anthony Munoz Bengals Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Ryan Finley Womens Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home.MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, an era Kansas State fans reverentially refer to as their decade of dominance, the Wildcats routinely competed for Big 12 titles thanks to their defense.They were tough. They were talented. They were stingy.They were a lot like this years bunch.Through the first three weeks of the season, the Wildcats (2-1) rank at or near the top of just about every defensive statistical category in major college football. They have allowed just seven points to their last two opponents -- though in fairness, Saturday nights game against Missouri State was called at halftime due to lightning -- and have held all three opponents to 300 yards or less.In the points-a-plenty Big 12, the Wildcats are a rarity.A lot of guys are hungry, explained Kansas State linebacker Elijah Lee, one of the veteran leaders of the defense. Were trying to race each other to the tackle and see who can get there. Just playing with that chip on us makes us a lot faster.Its hardly a surprise the Wildcats have a chip on their shoulder.Just last year, they allowed more than 30 points a game, tied with Texas for 90th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They gave up 159.4 yards on the ground and 283.1 through the air.Injuries did not help: Top safety Dante Barnett missed almost the entire year , and several other key contributors were forced to watch big chunks of the season from the sideline.Theyre almost all back, and youngsters pressed into service have a year of experience now. And the results were better from the start, when Kansas State held high-powered Stanford in check in a Week 1 road game against Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffery and Co.McCaffery managed 126 yards rushing, but he had to work for it. And the unbeaten Cardinal only had 167 yards passing and mustered nine points in the second half of their 26-13 victory.Florida Atlantic gained 216 yards against Kansas State two weeks ago, turning the ball over four times and converting 1 of 13 third downs in a 63-7 romp. And in the half played against Missouri State on Saturdayy night, the Bears completed three passes and gained 54 yards.ddddddddddddI do not look at the statistics, only when the season is over, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said recently, but just based on the assessment and evaluation of where we are right now, I would say yes, we are an improved defensive football team from last year.Well, here are the statistics: Kansas State has allowed 537 yards through three games, best in major college football. They are first in yards passing at 106.7 per game, fourth in points allowed with 33, and tied for sixth with Boise State in yards rushing at 72.3 per game.But leave it to Snyder to put even the most glowing of marks in perspective.That would speak very negatively of us as coaches if we were not (better), he said, considering the fact we have a good deal of experience coming back as well. Ive said so many times, experience is a major factor, whether it is good experience or not, and some of it last year was not.Remember, that was a team that allowed at least 33 points four consecutive weeks, beginning with a triple-overtime win over Louisiana Tech. Its also a team that lost 55-0 to Oklahoma at home and surrendered a dizzying amount of offense in a 59-44 loss at Texas Tech.We have been doing a pretty good job at this point, Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis said, but its a matter of my teammates and I keeping it up going forward. Once our attitude is set and we get ready to go, it will be tough to play against us.The Wildcats get their first real test since Stanford on Saturday, when they open Big 12 play at West Virginia. Mountaineers quarterback Skylar Howard has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns while helping his team to a 3-0 start.Then again, perhaps the Wildcats will be the first real test of the season for him.We still have little things to iron out before we get in to league play, Lee said, and that is something we are going to take day-by-day this week. ' ' '