|
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts know that no single player can replace wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Nike Air Max 90 Femme Pas Cher . Still, Indy will need to be more effective and balanced in its passing game since Wayne is out for the season with a torn right ACL. The Colts continued their winning ways with a 27-24 comeback victory against the Houston Texans last Sunday night. But they got off to a slow start in their first game without their 13-year veteran receiver who stabilized the offence and provided a veteran presence for Andrew Luck. T.Y. Hilton caught seven passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns against Houston, but Indy still is looking for more from the rest of the receiving group heading into Sundays home game against the St. Louis Rams. The Colts say the passing game has the talent to step forward with receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Griff Whalen, running back Trent Richardson and tight end Coby Fleener. "This team has always bought into the mentality and the mindset of next man up," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "We havent wavered from that. They havent wavered from that. Fortunately, weve been successful and weve been able to overcome. So, from a confidence standpoint, thats why these guys dont flinch." Offensive co-ordinator Pep Hamilton said Luck trusts his receivers, so his approach wont change. "I think Andrew has done a pretty good job of distributing the ball to different guys, and thats a big part of our system and our approach," he said. "Defensively, they cant zero in on one guy and scheme up a way to take that one guy away. Those guys (other receivers), I think theyre up to the challenge." Luck was one of the leagues most efficient passers in the first half of the season, but he completed just 18 of 40 passes against Houston in his first game as a pro without his favourite target. Hilton noticed things were much different without Wayne early. "It wasnt the same not having him out there in that first half," Hilton said. "So we went back in there the second half, adjusted -- we had to man up. Since 87 wasnt there, somebody had to make a play." Hilton already was starting to garner attention. Now, as Lucks No. 1 target, hell be an even bigger focus of defensive game plans. He enters 12th in the AFC with 533 yards receiving. "His numbers will certainly change because of the loss of Reggie, which is very unfortunate," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. "It appears that obviously hes able to do the same things. Theyre moving him around, asking a lot of different things of him. Hes got exceptional speed. He can make the tough catch. Hes got run-after-catch ability." There were bright spots on Sunday. Fleener had three catches for 64 yards, and he caught a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter that gave Indianapolis a 27-24 lead with four minutes left. Richardson, the Colts running back, caught two passes for 33 yards against Houston after catching just two passes in the previous five games combined. The Colts are trying to find ways to get him more opportunities in the passing game. "We know hes got that ability," Pagano said. "I think as he gets more comfortable with the scheme and terminology and all those types of things and the game, the situation, the score, all those things kind of line up -- if the stars all line up wed love to get him in space more and get the ball in his hands more." Not all the connections went well on Sunday. The Colts targeted Whalen nine times, and he caught just three passes. Heyward-Bey was targeted six times and caught just one pass. Luck said hes looking ahead. "I think you hopefully learn from your mistakes," he said. "We did some good things. Its nice to say, We can win without Reggie in the lineup. Its a mental sort of checklist thing thats nice. Hopefully, you learn from the mistakes more than anything from the past game. Were 100 per cent onto St. Louis now." air jordan 11 retro pas cher . "I cant say much, we agreed not to say much, but talks are ongoing and Andrei wants to stay in Montreal," agent and former NHL player Sergei Berezin told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com on Friday. "Well see where it goes. Hes played 13 seasons with Montreal. Nike Air Max 90 Camo France . This week, topics cover if and when the Blue Jays should start rebuilding, how good catchers handle a pitching staff and how best to develop young pitchers to best avoid arm problems.LONDON - IOC President Thomas Bach defended the choice of Sochi as host of the Winter Olympics on Monday and said hes "sleeping very well" despite the terror threat hanging over the games. Bach reiterated his confidence that Russia will provide "safe and secure" games without taking away from a festive Olympic atmosphere. Russia is mounting a massive security operation for the games, which open Feb. 7 amid threats of attacks from Muslim insurgents from the North Caucasus region. "We have full confidence in the host country and we also know that Russia and the Russian (security) services are working closely with different international services in order to ensure that all the participants and spectators in the games can feel safe and secure," Bach said in a conference call with reporters. On a separate issue, Bach repeated that Russia has promised that athletes and spectators will not face any discrimination based on sexual orientation. Russia enacted a law last year banning gay "propaganda" among minors. Bach said athletes are free to speak out on any political issues at news conferences at the games, but are prohibited from doing so on the medal podium or other Olympic sites. "Its very clear that the games cannot be used as a stage for political demonstrations," he said. "The IOC will take, if necessary, individual decisions based on the individual case. On the other hand, the athletes, of course, enjoy the freedom of speech. So, if in a press conference they want to make a political statement, then they are absolutely free to do so." More than 50,000 police and military personnel are being deployed to guard Russias first Winter Games. An Islamic militant group in Dagestan claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings that killed 34 people in late December in Volgograd and threatened to attack the games in Sochi. Russian security officials have been hunting for three potential female suicide bombers, one of whom is believed to be in Sochi itself. Bach said the International Olympic Committee remains in constant ccontact with Russia about the security measures. Nike Air Max 90 Pas Cher. Asked whether hes worried, he said, "Im sorry to tell you Im sleeping very well." "Im really looking forward to the first Winter Games under my presidency and Im very confident they will be successful," said the German, who was elected head of the IOC in September, succeeding Jacques Rogge after 12 years in office. Bach compared the security situation to that of the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the U.S. "In Salt Lake City there were thousands of security people around the place and people still felt fine and appreciated seeing that security was being taken seriously," he said. "I think the security forces can operate in a way that doesnt affect the atmosphere." Bach also defended Russias massive spending on the games. The $51 billion price tag — which includes the cost of roads, railways, hotels and other projects — is a record for any Olympics. Bach said Russia was using the Olympics as a "catalyst" to transform the region and create a winter sports complex for the entire country. Its up to host nations, he said, to decide how — and how much — they invest in long-term infrastructure projects. The spending on the Sochi Olympics has been engulfed in claims of kickbacks and other corruption. On Monday, anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny claimed that Russia spent twice as much as necessary to build at least 10 of the Olympic venues. Bach said the IOC stands "against any form of corruption," adding that he hopes people can differentiate "between just a general claim and concrete information." In general, Bach said, the Olympic atmosphere is building up in Sochi as the games approach. Referring to concerns about warm weather in the subtropical area, he said there was "plenty of snow" and more was forecast for later in the week. "I think overall we can say Sochi is ready to welcome the best winter athletes of the world," Bach said. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
