Dein erstes Forum » n to break an 0-for-15 skid. Nicasio then retired

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Ask the Arizona Cardinals how running back David Johnson looks at training camp, and youd think youd just asked somebody about their buried treasure.Man ... people dont know, tight end Darren Fells said. But theyre going to know.Im afraid to say it, coach Bruce Arians said, because then hell get hurt.I dont even want to talk about what Ive seen from David Johnson, because I dont want to jinx it, general manager Steve Keim said. Its scary.Johnson was plenty scary last year, when he had 13 touchdowns as a rookie -- eight rushing, four receiving and one kick return for good measure. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry, and over his final seven games -- five in the regular season and two in the playoffs -- he averaged 135 yards from scrimmage per game.But those arent the only reasons for the rattlesnake-caliber buzz swirling around Johnson in the Arizona desert. Something about the Cardinals 2015 third-round pick feels even more exciting this year.Hes got rare and unusual skills Ive never seen in a back, where hes got an erect running style, yet at the same time he has tremendous lower flexibility and lateral quickness, Keim said. So thats a weird combination, because usually those taller, upright guys are kind of straight-legged and stiff. This guys got an unusual knack of being able to pick and slide and do some things laterally. And then his receiving and ball skills are second to none.I mean, probably the best receiving back Ive seen.Like ... ever?A lot of people have compared him to Marshall Faulk, and our coaches had Marshall Faulk in Indy, Keim said. I think hes very similar in some ways athletically and in terms of ball-catching skills to Marshall.Pretty lofty stuff. Fortunately, its not the stuff that seems to be filtering its way to Johnsons own ears. A couple of weeks ago, Johnson stopped for an interview after a tough practice. Hed missed a blitz pickup and spent the rest of the practice with Arians screaming at him about it.Yeah, I just got yelled at, Johnson said. Just so mad at myself for doing it, because I thought I was getting better and learning a lot more, and I think it was just one of those things I might have just overlooked and just assumed. I always have to be ready for that.Good to keep em humble, obviously, and the way Johnson is ripping up practices and preseason games, its important to make sure he doesnt get too happy about all of his success too quickly. Fortunately for the Cardinals, Johnson seems to be the sort who gets the message when Arians sends it.Hes a tough coach to play for, because he wants it a certain way, Johnson said. Every play he makes is set for that certain defense. Theres always a route or theres always a play that we should be able to win with against that defense. And usually, most of the time, I was talking to the players, and they say its the players that mess up. So hes really tough on us, especially me, because he wants Carson Palmer protected. They dont care how good you are. If you cant protect this quarterback, you arent getting on this field. That was literally the first thing he ever said to me.So theres the thing that could potentially hold Johnson back. You cant score touchdowns if you cant get on the field. But if he can stay on that field, look out. Hes put on five pounds to get up to 229, which should help him run with more power between the tackles. Not even Keim thought the running back would be great at that when he drafted him. Go back a year, and Andre Ellington and Chris Johnson were ahead of Johnson on the depth chart.I thought he was a much more gifted pass-catcher than he was a runner, Keim said. And I see the thing hes probably improved on the most is his inside running skills -- being a taller guy and being able to run behind his pads and finish between the tackles. That was the concern with him being an upright runner -- can he run with his size or is he going to be a finesse perimeter guy? Hes shown us the ability to do both, and hes gotten better and better.So this might be the time for David Johnson. Maybe a year ago, he admits himself, he wouldnt have been ready for the opportunity to be the full-time starter. Missing a blitz pickup assignment in October has far more dire consequences than missing one on Aug. 4, when the defense isnt allowed to hit your quarterback. Maybe right out of Northern Iowa, before hed figured out how to deploy his unique and considerable skills against hyper-speedy NFL defenses, hed have had a rough time. Maybe now is the perfect time for David Johnson to happen.Me being able to play last year and knowing how the NFL is, the atmosphere of NFL games, its a lot easier, Johnson said. Im a lot more comfortable coming in and getting ready for my second season. And hopefully I can continue to get better and continue to improve.All this sounds very exciting to the Cardinals, their fans and anyone fortunate enough to have snagged Johnson early last year in a fantasy keeper league.Just, you know ... dont tell anyone. Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Nike NFL Jerseys China . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/ . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . LOUIS -- St.BALTIMORE -- The Colorado Rockies used the Orioles favourite weapon to hand Baltimore another painful defeat. Colorado hit four home runs, including a tiebreaking, two-run shot by Wilin Rosario in the seventh inning, and stretched Baltimores losing streak to four with a 6-3 victory Friday night. Charlie Culberson, Charlie Blackmon and Todd Helton also homered for the Rockies, who have won six of seven. It was Culbersons first major league home run in 55 at-bats. The Orioles got homers from Nate McLouth and Matt Wieters in extending their big league lead to 163. But Baltimore also has given up 156, most in the majors. After ending a 14-year run of losing seasons last year, the Orioles are seeking a return trip to the playoffs. Their current skid is not helping. "I think this is honestly something that we needed, kind of a kick in the pants to wake us up," centre fielder Adam Jones said. "Were in a unique position, in back-to-back years trying to do something special. Last year, everybody said we couldnt. This year, we created the expectation. This is something youve got to go through to get to it." Blackmons drive was the 73rd in the history of Camden Yards to land on Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall. Since Colorado hasnt played in Baltimore since 2007, the significance of the homer was lost on Blackmon. "I dont really know anything about it. They were telling me after the game that its cool if you can do it," he said. "Theyll give you a plaque out there with your name on it, and theres not a whole lot of plaques with my name on it going up anywhere." Juan Nicasio (7-6) allowed two runs, four hits and four walks over six innings to earn his first win in five starts since July 20. The right-hander yielded 15 runs over 14 innings in his previous three outings and was 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA in four interleague starts this season. Wei-Yin Chen (6-6) retired 12 of his first 13 batters but couldnt get out of the seventh inning. He gave up four runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings in losing his third straight start. It was only the second time in 15 starts this season that Chen allowed more than three runs. "Early innings I felt really good, but had some trouble in the late innings," Chen said through a translator. &"I feel bad because its my fault.dddddddddddd I couldnt keep the guys in the ballgame. But tomorrow is another day and we still have 41 games to go." The Orioles were coming off three straight one-run defeats in Arizona and hoping to get back on track at home against a sub-.500 team. But the Rockies bounced back from a 2-0 deficit by scoring in the fifth through ninth innings. "Its a cozy park, but youve still got to hit it," manager Walt Weiss said. "We put some good swings on it." With the score tied at 2 in the seventh, Chen walked leadoff hitter Michael Cuddyer and Rosario hit the left-handers next pitch over the 25-foot scoreboard in right field. Blackmon made it 5-2 in the eighth with a pinch-hit homer off Francisco Rodriguez. Helton connected in the ninth off struggling reliever Jim Johnson. The drive lifted him past Joe DiMaggio into sole possession of 76th place on the career home run list with 362. Wieters homered in the bottom half against Rex Brothers. The game started well for the Orioles. McLouth hit Nicasios third pitch into the bleachers, his 12th career leadoff homer and second this year. Baltimore went up 2-0 in the third when Jones singled in a run to break an 0-for-15 skid. Nicasio then retired Nick Markakis and Wieters with the bases loaded. Chen was in complete control early. After Troy Tulowitzki hit a one-out double in the first, the left-hander retired 10 straight batters before Rosario doubled leading off the fifth. One batter later, Nolan Arenado delivered an RBI single. Culberson connected in the sixth to tie it at 2. NOTES: After the game, the Orioles optioned OF Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk. They are expected to recall a reliever on Saturday. ... Rodriguez left in the eighth inning with a strained right groin. ... Blackmon is 5 for 13 as a pinch hitter. ... Baltimore pitching coach Rick Adair went on a leave of absence to resolve some personal issues and was replaced by bullpen coach Bill Castro. ... Bud Norris takes the mound for the Orioles on Saturday night in the second game of the series. Chad Bettis makes his fourth big league start for the Rockies. ... J.J. Hardys 11-game hitting streak ended, as did teammate Brian Roberts run of three straight multihit games for Baltimore. ' ' '