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May 8 '19
MADISON, Wis. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Fourteen months ago, T.J. Watt reported to Wisconsins fall camp without any real grasp of how to play the position he was assigned. He was a talented, athletic project who had been moved from tight end to outside linebacker, and the entry-level instruction he received seemed to barrel toward him at warp speed.This is how you stand. This is how you load your weight on the proper foot. This is where your hands go. Heres how to maintain pad level and gain leverage on a lineman.We started at ground zero, Badgers outside linebackers coach Tim Tibesar recalled. At that time, even though he was in his third fall at Wisconsin, it was kind of like having a freshman come in. Youre trying to teach him for the first time how to play outside backer in our system.Those who witnessed Watts performance last Saturday against Michigan State might find it difficult to believe he hasnt spent a lifetime mastering the skills required of an outside linebacker. During Wisconsins 30-6 romp of Michigan State, Watt recorded a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He finished with six tackles, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. For his efforts, he was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week, becoming the first Badgers player to earn the honor since 2004. He also claimed Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.Watt could again be a major factor when No. 8 Wisconsin visits No. 4 Michigan on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Through four games this season, he leads the Big Ten with 4.5 sacks and ranks tied for seventh nationally in that category.Given where Watt started, thats pretty amazing, right?I think itd be amazing if it was anyone but T.J., Badgers linebacker Jack Cichy said. You see it with his brothers. He comes from a football family, and hes a football player. At first, there was a learning curve, but hes blown that out of the water. Hes matured drastically from the time he first came on the defensive side of the ball. And hes just really exponentially getting better every week.The Watt name is one that carries significant weight in the football world, as many likely already know. T.J., a 6-foot-5, 244-pound redshirt junior, is the youngest of three brothers, and the other two excelled at Wisconsin before becoming NFL draft picks. Defensive end J.J. Watt was a first-round draft pick of the Houston Texans in 2011 and has earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. Fullback Derek Watt was a sixth-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers this spring.Of course, none of their successes guaranteed anything for T.J., who has had to earn his own keep. He did not play in each of his first two seasons at Wisconsin after suffering debilitating knee injuries. By the time Badgers coach Paul Chryst approached Watt during a team meeting about a position switch in July 2015, he hadnt been on a football field in three falls and was desperate to play.Initially, Watt wasnt sure whether to take the defensive plunge. But J.J. partly inspired T.J.s decision-making. He encouraged T.J. by telling him he possessed the skill set to be a linebacker. That night, T.J. pulled up YouTube videos of some of the NFLs best pass-rushers, including plays from his brother, Von Miller and Lawrence Taylor. The next day, he told Chryst he was ready.I just fell in love with the mentality, T.J. Watt said.The biggest selling point, Watt noted, was the potential to make an impact on every defensive snap. As a tight end, he was forced to wait for a play call directed toward his side, and even then, there wasnt any assurance the ball would be thrown at him. At outside linebacker, Watts stamina and natural instincts allow him to tackle ball carriers anywhere on the field.Hes an unbelievable worker, and hes smart, Chryst said. I think he loves the game.How do you put a timetable on that development? I appreciate it, and its been fun to see him grow and develop. I still think he could be an unbelievably good tight end, too.Last year, Wisconsins coaching staff opted to give Watt a small early-season role as a third-down pass-rusher. By the end of the season, however, he had progressed so much that he was routinely in the game on first- and second-down plays. Coaches believed in him enough that they named Watt a starting outside linebacker to open spring ball, replacing Big Ten Linebacker of the Year Joe Schobert, who is now with the Cleveland Browns.That decision allowed Wisconsin to move Cichy to inside linebacker and strengthen the entire group. Watt and senior Vince Biegel quickly formed a frightening pass-rushing duo on a unit that ranks 12th nationally in total defense. Biegel, however, underwent surgery Thursday night to have a screw inserted into a cracked foot, will miss the Michigan game and could be out two to four weeks, his father told ESPN.com. The injury likely will make Watts presence even more valuable on Saturday.Hes a big, physical guy and hes a hard-working guy, Biegel said earlier in the week of Watt. Offseason, you guys dont see it, but in the weight room, in spring practices, in the grind season, hes right at the top. Thats what you want. Thats why you come to Wisconsin. You want to be able to work out and be teammates with guys like that.Watt said one of his biggest challenges remained understanding how quickly decisions must be made while pass rushing. He is still learning many of the same concepts taught to him 14 months ago, including slowing his mind down and focusing on pad level and leverage. Occasionally, he will send his oldest brother videos of a pass rush and wait for critiques from J.J. on hand placement and footwork.?Sometimes, hes his own toughest critic. He watched film of his performance against Michigan State and noticed several plays he didnt make.Its definitely encouraging to know that there were a lot of plays left out there, Watt said. But at the same time, its also a little bit like, Dang it, I couldve had a couple more tackles. I think defensively as a whole, were still improving, were still scratching the surface and the skys the limit.The same can certainly be said of Watt. Cheap Blank Jerseys . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Cheap NFL Blank Jerseys . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. http://www.wholesaleblankjerseys.com/ . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. CHICAGO -- The Latest on Chicagos parade and rally honoring the Chicago Cubs first World Series championship in 108 years (all times local):2:50 p.m.Chicago officials say the crowd estimate for the Chicago Cubs championship celebration is about 5 million people.The number comes Friday afternoon from Melissa Stratton, the spokeswoman for the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. It includes everyone who lined the parade route and the crowd who attended a rally at Grant Park.Among those in the crowd at Grant Park were four generations of Laura Lewis family, including her 70-year-old grandma, her mother and her son. All three women told stories of going to games as young girls and continuing the tradition with their families.The family gathered pieces of the red and blue parade confetti to send to Lewis sister in Japan. Grandma Mary Blevins called the experience priceless.---2:15 p.m.Second baseman Ben Zobrist greeted fans at the Chicago Cubs championship rally with his World Series MVP trophy.Zobrist told fans that it was definitely a team award. He said that the Cubs are a team full of MVPs and Chicago is a city of MVPs. Zobrist said the players were confident until the Cubs fell back three games to one in the World Series to Cleveland. He says, It was silent in that clubhouse.But Zobrist says thats when catcher David Ross said, `Dont hang your heads. Were going to do it. Zobrist said first baseman Anthony Rizzo started playing Rocky movies in the clubhouse. He told fans this ball club pulled through for all of you.Fridays rally ended with a rendition of Go Cubs Go and more blue and red confetti.---1:50 p.m.Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo got teary-eyed while speaking at the teams World Series championship rally.Rizzo singled out retiring Cubs catcher David Ross, saying Ross taught him a lot in life both on and off the field. Rizzo said hes forever grateful to him. The younger Cubs players affectionately call the 39-year-old Ross Grandpa. Rizzo says Ross is going out a champion forever.Ross spoke after Rizzo, coming to the microphone at the Grant Park rally and yelling Chicago! loudly. He then picked up the championship trophy and shouted, Look what the boys got me!Rizzo finished his speech by giving Cubs owner Tom Ricketts the ball from the last out of Game 7 that gave the Cubs the win over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.---1:20 p.m.Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon carried the World Series championship trophy onto the stage at a rally honoring the team in Grant Park.Maddon started by talking to the fans, saying You guys are the best. Congratulations!Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein also spoke, telling fans that they are really what carried our guys through October. He said the players felt how badly the Chicago Cubs fans wanted a World Series win.Cubs owner Tom Ricketts told the crowd that the players on the World Series team are going to be Chicago baseball legends.Ricketts said he was used to fans coming up to him, asking when the Cubs were going to win a World Series. He said, For the thousands of people who have said that to me, `There you go.---12:40 p.m.The Chicago Cubs are being welcomed by thousands of fans and red and blue confetti at Grant Park for the teams World Series championship rally.Players, coaches, their families and team executives arrived in a motorcade of open-roof buses just after noon on Friday, following a parade from Wrigley Field through city streets packed with cheering fans.While they waited to take the stage for a victory rally, Cubs manager Joe Maddon talked with former Cubs player and Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Williams.During the parade, third baseman Kris Bryant wore a wrestling-style championship belt with a Cubs logo.Tens of thousands of fans waited at Grant Park for the rally. Many waved white and blue W for win Cubs flags and held signs saying World Champs.---11:55 a.m.Chicago Cubs players are waving at fans and shooting them victory gestures as their open-roof buses move down Chicagos famed Michigan Avenue, which was shut down for the teams World Series championship parade.Tens of thousands of fans lined city streets Friday, waving Cubs W victory flags and shouting, Lets go Cubs, as the buses went past.Players hoisted the Commissioners Trophy as a large replica of the trophy went past on the back of a pickup truck. And as Cubs President Theo Epsteins bus drove by, fans yelled Theo, Theo, Theo.Nearby, construction workers watched the parade and cheered from the top of a crane.The parade will end a few miles south at Grant Park along Lake Michigan, where thousands more fans are waiting for a championship rally.---10:50 a.m.The Chicago Cubs championship parade is underway.Players boarded open-roof buses outside Wrigley Field and began moving just before 11 a.m. with a police escort. Players, each wearing their Cubs jerseys, waved at fans from atop the busesThe motorcade will drive down the citys famed Michigan Avenue before making its way to a rally scheduled at noon in Grant Park. The sprawling park is already packed with tens of thousands of fans standing shoulder-to-shoulder.Some players posed for photos together before the buses departed. Others held their infant children and sat with their families. Wholesale Jerseys. The Cubs mascot, Clark, cheered at the beginning of the parade from the back of a pickup truck. Center fielder Dexter Fowler had a cigar.The Cubs havent won a championship since 1908, and some were calling Fridays rally and parade the celebration of a century.---10:10 a.m.Theyre not old enough to appreciate decades of disappointment, but lots of children and teenagers are among the Cubs fans gathering in Chicago for the teams first World Series celebration since 1908.Nine-year-old Juliza Hernandez of Chicago was wearing a Cubs jersey outside Wrigley Field on Friday morning. She made a sign with her father and 6-year-old sister Emily that said, Winners and Go Cubs Go!Ten-year-old Chase Anderson of Chicago was also outside the ballpark. He says his favorite Cub is pitcher Jake Arrietta. His dad, 51-year-old private equity investor Dean Anderson, says the new generation of Cubs fans will be expecting more Cubs championships.Steve Angelo of Chicago was carrying his 4-year-old son Nicholas on his shoulders. The pair wore matching jerseys for first baseman Anthony Rizzo.Friday was already a scheduled day off for Chicago Public Schools.---9:55 a.m.Before the hours-long parade even steps off, tens of thousands of people are making their way into the site of the celebration-capping rally to honor the World Series champion Chicago Cubs.Aerial video from Chicago television stations shows large crowds of people waiting to get into Grant Park along Lake Michigan and inside barricades set up for the noon Friday rally. Other fans lined the parade route, in places many people deep.The city has set up security screenings at two entrances to the park and is restricting beverages to closed water bottles, saying alcohol wont be tolerated.The parade scheduled to start at about 10 a.m. at Wrigley Field will make its way downtown before ending up in Grant Park.---9:10 a.m.Chicago Cubs fans have packed the streets outside Wrigley Field hours before the start of the parade to honor the World Series champions.Laurie Winter, of South Elgin, woke up at 4 a.m. Friday to bring her 2-year-old son Cooper to the stadium to see the players. The 34-year-old says she spotted a man carrying a sign that said Tickets wanted for World Series 2017 and that everyone is excited about the teams future.The parade is scheduled to start at about 10 a.m. from Wrigley Field, where it will head a few blocks east toward Lake Michigan and then south toward downtown for a rally at Grant Park.Earlier Friday, motor boats moved up and down the Chicago River, dying it a shade of bright blue to match the teams color.---8 a.m.Cubs fans are packing downtown Chicago to celebrate the teams first World Series title in 108 years, but one infamous fan wont be among them.Steve Bartman has confirmed through a spokesman that he wont be at the victory parade or rally.Frank Murtha tells USA Today (http://usat.ly/2f8eNW9 ) that Bartman was overjoyed that the Cubs won on Wednesday night to clinch the Series, but that he doesnt want to be a distraction to the teams accomplishments.Bartman vanished from public view after interfering with a foul ball during the National League Championship Series in 2003.The Cubs were five outs away from reaching the World Series at the time. Bartman became a pariah in Chicago after the Cubs went on to lose the game and the series to the Marlins.---8:30 a.m.Commuter trains running into downtown Chicago are already packed, hours ahead of the victory parade for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs.The Chicago Transit Authority had announced Thursday it was adding extra service and capacity to accommodate people attending a noon rally in the city.But trains were already skipping stops Thursday morning because they were packed with fans, some draped with the teams blue and white W flags before 7 a.m.Metra trains, which travel farther to the suburbs, was sending out alerts just after 6 a.m. Friday saying some of its trains also were running express because of passenger capacity.Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said the rail line is using every piece of equipment available to accommodate the huge demand.The Cubs parade is scheduled to start about 10 a.m. at Wrigley Field before winding south into downtown along the famed Michigan Avenue to Grant Park for a rally.---6:40 a.m.The celebration hasnt stopped in Chicago, where throngs of Chicago Cubs fans are expected at a parade honoring the World Series champions.Events get underway Friday morning at Wrigley Field. The parade will leave the historic ballpark at 10 a.m. The parade downtown starts an hour later and ends in Grant Park for a noon rally.The city also plans to dye the Chicago River blue to honor the team, similar to how the river goes green annually for St. Patricks Day.Chicago estimated that 2 million people attended a parade and rally in 2015 after the Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup in six years.But the Cubs Game 7 victory in Cleveland on Wednesday broke a 108-year drought, so fans have a lot of pent-up celebrating to do. ' ' '
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