least seven almost spot-on, to ensure Pakistan - mainly I

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Three times in the past five years, the Detroit Lions have drafted an offensive lineman in the first round.Now its time for that young group to show some real progress.One of the things youre going to notice is that were bigger and stronger. Its going to be more competitive, coach Jim Caldwell said recently.We have a couple spots were going to be fairly young, but I think in the grand scheme of things if we can keep them all healthy, keep them battled and fighting, were going to come out of there with a really big unit up front. Im certainly convinced of that.With Calvin Johnson lost to retirement, the Lions still have their share of skilled offensive players in Matthew Stafford, Golden Tate and Ameer Abdullah.The big question is whether Detroit can build on its encouraging finish in 2015 -- or whether the offense will look as it did when the team lost seven of its first eight games.A lot will depend on the offensive line.The Lions have had to reshuffle their line quite a bit over the past few seasons, with Jeff Backus, Rob Sims and Dominic Raiola having moved on into retirement.Detroit used valuable first-round draft picks on tackle Riley Reiff (2012), guard Laken Tomlinson (2015) and tackle Taylor Decker (2016) -- and the Lions also took guard Larry Warford (2013) and center Travis Swanson (2014) in the third round.Those five players all figure to play significant roles this season as Detroit tries to recover from its disappointing 2015. Stafford was sacked 44 times last season, bringing his total to 89 over the past two years. The Lions also averaged only 83.4 yards rushing per game, the worst mark in the NFL.Both those stats were a bit of an indictment of the offensive line.We learned from the mistakes we made, and weve moved on, Warford said. Weve got to focus on what were doing now as a group.Reiff has started every game hes played for the past three years, and Tomlinson was a starter for most of last season. The Lions have high hopes for Decker -- Caldwell said he could play either left or right tackle.Reiff now seems like the veteran of the bunch, and Caldwell said he expects plenty of intensity from the 27-year-old tackle no matter which side of the line hes on.Riley is a warrior. Riley does not care about anything other than wanting to play his position and play it well and he doesnt care where he plays, Caldwell said.Hes a talented guy thats tough and hard-nosed, the exact kind of guy that youre looking for to lead your group.Much of Detroits resurgence toward the end of last season could be attributed to a schedule that eased up down the stretch, but the Lions hope that improvement was a sign of things to come.In late October, Detroit fired its offensive coordinator and two line coaches. Tight ends coach Ron Prince took over the offensive line.Now the offensive linemen have had a chance to work with Prince for a while and become comfortable with Jim Bob Cooter, who was promoted to offensive coordinator during last years shakeup.That familiarity -- and the natural maturation process with top draft picks -- could pay dividends at the line of scrimmage this season.With offensive line play -- in all of football -- theres two aspects, theres mental and physical, Warford said. When you start getting the plays down, it enables you to play faster.Game notes The Lions removed S Don Carey from the active/non-football injury list, and they put WR Ryan Spadola on injured reserve because of a torn pectoralis. Spadola was waived/injured on Tuesday.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Tony Snell Pistons Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Jerry Stackhouse Pistons Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Tim-Frazier-City-Edition-Jersey/ . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Thon Maker Pistons Jersey .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Allen Iverson Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. The steepler A batsman hits the ball in the air towards Ben Stokes at their peril - just ask Adam Voges. He twice showed his calmness under the pressure of a catch during the early stages of this match. For the first chance he had to turn, run and take the ball over his shoulder, but while the second chance to come his way was technically easier - he was already on the boundary at deep square when Sami Aslam top edged - it went so far in the air that Stokes almost had too much time to ponder it. When he did hold on, he gave a little pat of his chest as if to indicate the heart had been racing.The shackle breaker With Sharjeel Khan having gone early there was a Test-match feel to how Pakistan built their innings with Aslam and Azhar Ali together. It was like being transported back to the second day at Edgbaston. Aslam couldnt kick on, but Azhar was at least able to put a little pressure back on the bowlers when he struck the first six of his innings - flicking Liam Plunkett over square leg - and in the next over he added another when he slog-swept Adil Rashid over the ropes.The beamer A curious aspect of Moeen Alis bowling this season has been the almost match-by-match occurrence of a huge, head-high, beamer which flies directly to the keeper. His aim was even more off in this match when, in his fourth over, he sent one over both Azhars head and that of Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps. Then the free hit on offer was swung to deep square-leg where Stokes took a catch to out-do his first two. It didnt count, but saved three runs.The yorkers Its unfair to call Chris Jordan a one-trick pony, but he appears far more certain of himself as a bowler at the end of an innings.dddddddddddd His four-over spell to close out the innings, albeit with Pakistan already seven down, was outstanding - and especially the final two overs of it. He produced a textbook display of yorkers, getting at least seven almost spot-on, to ensure Pakistan - mainly Imad Wasim - could only score freely at one end.The pleadMohammad Irfan had removed Englands openers, despite being warned for running on the pitch, and set about making life tough for Eoin Morgan. He beat him with a short ball, which brought a huge appeal for a glove behind only for Marias Erasmus to signal wide, then next delivery there was an even bigger shout for caught behind - Irfan ended up appealing on his knees. Pakistan reviewed, although Sarfraz Ahmed wasnt actually sure, and the replays showed it had brushed Morgans back pocket. A very fine umpiring decision.The drives It has been a stop-start season for Stokes due to injury and when he has got to the crease his stays have not been long - but he has not looked out of form. With England under some pressure, having just lost Morgan to be 72 for 4, he unfurled a brace of the most sweetly struck drives you could wish to see. He barely moved an inch after each of the shots off Hasan Ali, holding his pose briefly for the cameras. No one in this power-packed England line-up hits the ball more crisply. ' ' '