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PITTSBURGH -- There are no limitations on James Conner. Bryan Bulaga Super Bowl Jersey . None.Nine months after being diagnosed with lymphoma, the Pitt running back is cancer-free and atop the depth chart as the Panthers prepare to host Villanova in the 2016 opener on Saturday.I think hes really enjoying the moment, coach Pat Narduzzi said on Monday.And while Narduzzi expects the sight of the 2014 ACC Player of the Years running out of the tunnel onto the Heinz Field turf to provide an emotional pregame high, Narduzzi understands the adrenaline will quickly wear off. Thats when the real work in determining just how far Pitt can go in Narduzzis second season will begin.Though a healthy Conner will play a vital role, so will the development of a wide receiver group tasked with trying fill the void left by Tyler Boyds departure to the NFL. Senior Dontez Ford isnt worried about trying to match Boyds production, mostly because its nearly impossible after Boyd needed just three years to turn the school record book into a dry erase board.I think its important for myself and all of our receivers to step up and produce, Ford said. Were not too concerned with replacing his production. At the same time we need to put out more.Especially if the Panthers want to exploit opposing defenses sure to cram as many men near the line of scrimmage as possible in hopes of stopping a running game that could be the best in the country. Ford gets the strategy. Heck hed do it too if he was facing an offense that features Conner and 2015 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year Qadree Ollison in the backfield.Teams are obviously going to have to defend against the run, Ford said. We have arguably the best line in the country, a loaded backfield and we have a quarterback able to make those plays. Were going to be able to go out there (and make plays.)For Pitt to take another step forward after Narduzzis promising 8-5 start last fall, Ford and the guys behind him on the depth chart -- including Jester Weah, Tre Tipton and Quadree Henderson -- dont really have a choice. It will be a collective effort. Trying to task one player with replicating Boyds success is unfair. Boyd, after all, had more than twice as many receptions last season (91) than the rest of the receivers on the roster combined. Yes, combined.Ford is the Panthers most experienced returning wideout and he offers one thing that Boyd -- for all his talent -- does not possess: game breaking speed. Ford averaged 19.4 yards per catch in 2015, nearly double Boyds average of 10.2. Part of that is by design -- Boyd would often take shuttle passes that were little more than extended handoffs -- but struggled at times with making the difficult grab, something that never seemed to bother Boyd.Thats not our job to emulate him, Ford said. Were just going to (try to) learn from him. We all have our own style of play, we all do different things.Starting the year with Nate Peterman firmly entrenched at quarterback wont hurt either. That wasnt the case last year as Peterman needed several weeks to finally unseat Chad Voytik. Peterman is clearly in charge now and new offensive Matt Canada wasted little time trying to diversify an offense that was predictable at times last season: either hand it off or throw it to Boyd no matter what. Ford expects Canada to allow Peterman to let loose more often.We have guys who can run, Ford said. Jester has crazy speed and if we can get him out there and get him 1-on-1 matchups, I expect him to make plays vertically.---AP College Football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org ;Rashan Gary Super Bowl Jersey . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Clay Matthews Super Bowl Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Corey-Linsley-Jersey/ . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. SAN FRANCISCO -- Pittsburgh Pirates closer Tony Watson didnt think twice when catcher Francisco Cervelli signaled for an intentional walk that would have loaded the bases in the ninth inning.It was a miscommunication that almost turned into a costly mistake for manager Clint Hurdles ballclub until pitching coach Ray Serage came charging out of the visitors dugout to clarify things.Watson threw ball one to Ehire Adrianza before getting corrected, then retired the final two batters on seven pitches to preserve Pittsburghs 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.I saw Cervy put the fingers up and threw the first one, then all of a sudden I saw papers flying out of the corner of my eye in the dugout, Watson said. I stepped off and knew something was up. Ray came out ... and wanted to go right at him.Watsons sixth save of the season helped the Pirates to their fifth win in six games and helped keep them one game behind the second NL wild card. It also knocked the Giants out of first place in the NL West.San Francisco had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth following an error by Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer and Joe Paniks double.Cervelli then called for an intentional walk to Adrianza and Watson complied by throwing a pitch well out of the strike zone. After Serage came out to stop the intentional walk, Watson got Adrianza to pop up to the infield before Angel Pagan grounded to second to end the game.(Cervelli) saw an infield defense that has a similar sign as an intentional walk, Hurdle explained. You cant get anybodys attention because the crowds so loud so were yelling and screaming at the top of our lungs and nobodys looking at us. Ray sprinted out ... and he was going to tackle somebody to stop the play.Jung Ho Kang hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning, Andrew McCutchen had two hits while Gregory Polanco drove in two runs without a hit for Pittsburgh.Kang homered off reliever Derek Law (4-2) one pitch after McCutchen was thrown out attempting to steal second base. It was Kangs 14th home run this season and third in four games.A 1-22 count is tough but I tried to stay on it and I tried to expand the zone, Kang said. Adrian Amos Super Bowl Jersey. Antonio Bastardo (1-0) retired three batters for his first win since Aug. 7, 2015. Neftali Feliz pitched the eighth to set up Watson.San Francisco dropped one-half game behind the Dodgers in the West. Los Angeles beat Philadelphia earlier in the day.The Giants, who had led the division since May 10, have the worst record in baseball since the All-Star break at 9-20.A lot of baseball left, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. We created this with our struggles. Now its up to us to find a way to get on a roll.Giants starter Jeff Samardzija, who took a no-decision against the Pirates on June 22, allowed three runs over six innings. He struck out five and walked one.Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon gave up three runs in six innings with five strikeouts and one walk.TAILLONS FIRST HITTaillon finally got his first major league hit but it didnt come easily after he had to hustle to beat the throw from right fielder Hunter Pence on a play that looked familiar to Pittsburgh fans. Taillon appeared to have a hit against Milwaukee on July 30 when he hit a liner to right but Brewers right fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis was playing in and made a strong throw to first for the out.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: C Buster Posey was back in the lineup after sitting out two games but doesnt look fully healed from the back soreness that sidelined him. Posey slowly jogged into second base in the first inning after hitting an RBI double into right-center field. ... San Francisco and 41-year-old right-hander Joe Nathan agreed to a minor league contract. Nathan, who has 377 career saves, will report to the Giants Double-A team in Richmond.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Ivan Nova (2-0) faces the Giants for the third time in his career Wednesday but the first since being acquired from the Yankees.Giants: RHP Matt Cain (4-7) pitches the finale for San Francisco. He has a career 3.04 ERA against Pittsburgh. ' ' '
- Created: Feb 19 '20
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