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123 Jun 19 '19
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have taken their share of punches over the past two seasons. Anthony Rendon Jersey .On Sunday, they again showed they can throw a few, too.One day after the struggling Colts pulled off a shocking victory at Green Bay, they returned home with a punchers chance of getting back into the playoff race.We have a bunch of fighters on this team, defensive tackle David Parry said Monday. When you get backed into a corner, youre either going to fight or youre going to quit, and were not going to quit.The Colts (4-5) certainly have shown their ability to counterpunch time after time.They didnt go down when coach Chuck Pagano missed 11 games while battling leukemia in 2012. They won the AFC South in 2013 after Reggie Wayne incurred a season-ending knee injury in Week 7. They repeated as division champs in 2014 despite an 0-2 start, and last season Indy went 8-8 though Andrew Luck missed nine games.Its no different this year.Four times, Indys season appeared on the verge of collapse and each time the Colts fought back.The run started in Week 3, when the winless Colts used a fourth-quarter rally to get past San Diego. Two weeks later, against the reeling Chicago Bears, Indy found itself on the ropes again -- until another Andrew Lucks rally saved the day. Two weeks after that, the Colts were staring at a possible 0-3 start in division play until scoring two touchdowns in the final two minutes to win at Tennessee.So when the Colts headed to Green Bay on Sunday, following a loss to Kansas City and amid questions about coach Chuck Paganos job security heading into the bye week, the Colts delivered again. This time, Indy strung together its most complete game of the season and walked with away with its first win at Lambeau Field since 1988.We needed it. We needed it for ourselves, I think, Luck said after the game. We know we can be a good team. There are things we have to clean up and we have to stack these together. We needed this in a bad way.Last season, Pagano went through a similar scenario, with the Colts cranking out victories in every must-win game except one, a stretch that included another improbable early November victory over eventual Super Bowl champion Denver. The lone loss, at home to Houston, wound up costing the Colts their third straight division crown and their fourth consecutive playoff appearance.So why does Indianapolis save its best for the high-stakes games? Even Pagano cant really explain it.When our backs are against the wall, I dont think theres anyone thats better, he said. We dont need to be there, thats of our own doing. But weve learned from everything weve been through to this point, and I think you have to fight through some stuff to get to where you want to get to.Now he needs to see improved play over the crucial final seven games.A loss to Tennessee on Nov. 20 could throw a monkey wrench into their division hopes. Four days later, theyll host a Thanksgiving night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then Indy hits the road for three of the next four: at the New York Jets, at Minnesota and at Oakland, with only home games against Houston and Jacksonville left.All seven could be considered must-win games.But the good news is thats typically when the Colts come out swinging.Weve got to stay hungry and weve got to understand and remember this feeling. This is why you do what you do, Pagano said. Im excited about where we are right now.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Gio Gonzalez Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Kevin Long Jersey . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. http://www.cheapnationalsjerseyschina.com/michael-taylor-jersey/ . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Simpler has meant better so far at Texas and Notre Dame, with both head coaches taking more hands-on roles to fix bad defenses.The two traditional powers showed improvement after making changes at defensive coordinator, although both are stills works in progress. The Fighting Irish (2-5) have made major changes since firing Brian VanGorder on Sept. 24, using more players and switching their defensive alignment, philosophy and attitude. The adjustments at Texas (3-3) after demoting Vance Bedford on Oct. 3 have been more subtle.Both coaches say the biggest change has been in confidence.I think we have just allowed them to play without worrying about mistakes. Just play, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said.The Irish have gone from giving up 33.5 points, 201 yards rushing and 253 yards passing in four games this season under VanGorder to 20 points, 153 yards rushing and 174 yards passing since. The statistics are skewed by one game being played in the remnants of a hurricane that made moving the ball almost impossible.Still, the defense has allowed one touchdown the past two games and only two in the past 10 quarters after struggling in the first half against Syracuse.The thing I wanted to do when we made the change was keep the points down and limit the big plays, Kelly said.The Irish have gone from surrendering an average of four plays of 20 yards or more the first four games to one the past two games. The Irish defense is playing faster, getting a better pass rush with a three-man line and is tackling better.Kelly is spending more time with the defense, watching practice from a tower at times so he can oversee both offense and defense. He has the team meeting in position units instead of as a whole, with him sitting in with defensive backs. Players say it helps put the focus on little things. The Irish also have changed practices to emphasize third-down defense and other critical situations throughout the week.So guys have to come ready for practice starting day one, and early in the practice as well, linebacker James Onwualu said.New defensive coordinator Greg Hudson has brought more enthusiasm, showing videos of wrestler Ric Flair and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air for inspiraation. Joaquin Benoit Jersey. You come into a meetings hes got videos playing, hes got music playing, so he just brings a different energy, lineman Issac Rochell said.Texas got off to a shaky start after making the switch, giving up 672 total yards in a 45-40 loss to rival Oklahoma, stoking speculation coach Charlie Strong could be fired after this season.Safety Dylan Haines said first-week changes under Strong included developing new coverages in the secondary and blitzes. Haines got Texas first two interceptions of the season in the first half but the Longhorns still gave up 390 yards passing and didnt get a sack until late.Haines also joked about changes in practice. When Strong demoted Bedford, he sent Bedford to help defensive backs coach Clay Jennings.I wondered, what was going to be the dynamic? Now we have two coaches yelling at me, he said.The biggest change for the second game was the wristbands with the defensive signals in last weeks 27-6 win over Iowa State. Texas players had talked earlier in the season about a lack of communication on calls and Strong called for the wristbands to simplify things.Strong, who won two national titles as a defensive coordinator at Florida, said the improved communication allows quicker changes.That helped us a lot out there . because now theres no excuses going across the board. Everybody knows the play. Theres no, `I didnt get the call or whatever it was for that play, linebacker Naashon Hughes said.Texas played its best defensive game last week, not giving up a touchdown and piling up eight sacks.Strong insists there hasnt been many changes the players would notice. He said he hasnt had to sacrifice time away from coaching others areas, but he is taking a bigger role in developing defensive strategy week to week and keeping closer tabs on practice.Hughes did notice Strong brings a vocal element to the practice field.Its louder. Theres more yelling, Hughes said. Coach Bedford wasnt that loud.---AP Sports Writer Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.---Online:APs college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' ' 
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