Termine » BBOCKBenford was a four-year letter winn

ASHBURN, Va. -- Sometime before the Washington Redskins open the season, coach Jay Gruden may pull out the tape of a first-round playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers to remind players new and old of what went wrong.Its something we all learned from, were all sick about still, Gruden said. If youre a competitor and you lose at home in the playoffs, its something that youll never forget.The Redskins dont forget the end, and skeptics remember that the team went winless against winning teams last season but still captured the NFC East. Washington isnt any less likely to win the division this season, especially after Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romos injury, yet players still believe they have plenty to prove.Weve got to show that it wasnt just a one-hit wonder thing last year, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. Weve got to show that we can be a consistent winning franchise.Back-to-back playoff appearances would go a long way toward illustrating that the Redskins are at least building toward consistency. But remaining atop the division will be more of a challenge facing a first-place schedule than it was last year with a last-place schedule.Still, the Redskins may be better on paper than in 2015 with Kirk Cousins in his second year as starting quarterback, many of the same receivers to throw to and a defense bolstered by the signing of All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. Continuity has replaced distractions and strong drafts have stockpiled usable talent.The job that the front office has done will continually add depth to this team and continually add playmakers and cornerstones to this team, four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams said. The confidence just comes along with it. We know were a talented bunch, but at the same time we know that you cant win a game on paper. Our plan is to go out and prove it on Sundays.Five Sundays -- and Thanksgiving -- against the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants could make the difference. Norman signed a $75 million, five-year deal to face the likes of Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr., after Washington ranked 25th in the NFL in pass defense last season.Cornerback-turned-safety DeAngelo Hall called this secondary the best group Ive ever been around, counting the Oakland Raiders 2008 group that featured Hall, Nnamdi Asomugha, Gibril Wilson, Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson. Cousins throwing targets of tight end Jordan Reed and receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are back, too.And theres certainly no shortage of motivation for Jackson and Garcon, each in the final year of his contract. Garcon was with the Indianapolis Colts when they were a perennial playoff team and went to a Super Bowl, so he knows it takes more than hunger and desire to win consistently and prove doubters wrong.Were putting the pieces together to head in that direction, but weve got a lot of things to work on, Garcon said. Indy wasnt Indy all in one year. It takes time, just like New England takes time. ... You just have to keep the pieces together and keep them working.Here are five things to watch for with the Redskins this season:TOUGH SKEDDING: After opening at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, the Redskins still have to visit the reigning NFC West-champion Arizona Cardinals and AFC North-champion Cincinnati Bengals and host the NFC-champion Carolina Panthers and NFC North-champion Minnesota Vikings. Six games against playoff teams, including a rematch against Green Bay, will test Washington all season.CHIP ON COUSINS SHOULDER: How does a quarterback who threw for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns with a league-best completion percentage of 69.8 get to feel underappreciated? When he doesnt have a long-term deal -- and Cousins will make $19.95 million on the franchise tag while trying to prove he deserves a major commitment.RUNNING OF THE JONES: With Alfred Morris in Dallas, Matt Jones will be relied on as the No. 1 running back, though undrafted rookie Robert Kelley could push for an increased workload after an impressive training camp. Jones missed much of the preseason with a shoulder injury that bears watching.RUSH HOUR: Linebacker Junior Galette will miss another season after tearing his other Achilles tendon, so its on Kerrigan, defensive end Chris Baker and others to improve the pass rush that was middle of the pack last year. Normans presence cant hurt in that department if hes as good as advertised.NORMAN THE TARGET: Normans performance will be watched closely because of his inflammatory offseason comments, his contract and huge expectations. No. 2 cornerback Bashaud Breeland may be just as good and has a chance to show it if quarterbacks avoid Norman at all costs.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Panthers Jerseys China . PAUL, Minn. DJ Moore Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. http://www.cheapcarolinapanthersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-luke-kuechly-jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Cheap Panthers Jerseys Authentic . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Taylor Moton Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. LUBBOCK, Texas -- After shooting 61 percent from the floor in its season opener, Texas Techs offense was tepid early against North Texas.On the strength of Zach Smiths double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds) and an advantage in points off turnovers, the Red Raiders defeated the Mean Green 70-43 on Tuesday night.I think (Texas Tech coach Chris Beard) has been pushing me all week and all offseason to crash every time, Smith said. And it worked out for me tonight.Aaron Ross had 13 points and graduate transfer Anthony Livingston added nine points and seven rebounds for Texas Tech (2-0). The Red Raiders outscored North Texas 24-2 in points off turnovers -- North Texas committed 16 turnovers while Texas Tech had seven.Ross has such a diverse game, Beard said. He can do so many different things. In our zone offense, Im comfortable with him on the perimeter or inside. Defensively, he can guard four positions. My thing with Ross is, `How good do you want to be?Deckie Johnson led the Mean Green (1-1) with 13 points. A.J. Lawson finished with 10 points and Jeremy Combs added nine points.I think theyre an NCAA Tournament team, North Texas head coach Tony Benford said of Texas Tech. I think theyre really deep. Well-coached. Balanced. With their depth, they can wear you down. They turned us over a lot early.The Red Raiders outrebounded North Texas 46-37.We couldnt score, Benford said. You got to score. You got to get stops. At the end of the day, you got to score some points. We didnt score enough of them early on.BIG PICTURENorth Texas: The Mean Green did not lead Tuesday and felll to 1-7 all-time against Texas Tech.dddddddddddd They have one more Power Five conference opponent this season when they visit Rutgers on Nov. 23.Texas Tech: Under first year head coach Chris Beard, the Red Raiders count versatility and depth among their strengths. Five Texas Tech players are first-year transfers, three of which are graduate students. Against North Texas, 10 players scored.Doing repetitions on certain plays or certain transition plays, Texas Techs Justin Gray said. I think every game and every single practice that weve had, our chemistry has gotten a lot stronger.BACK TO LUBBOCKBenford was a four-year letter winner for the Red Raiders from 1983-86. Benford was a part of Texas Techs 1986 Southwest Conference title team and earned tournament MVP honors.As a young coach, (Benford) went out of his way to be nice to me in my career, Beard said. I think he might have been an assistant at New Mexico when I was a young junior college coach. Hes just a first class guy. Red Raiders support Red Raiders.STAT OF THE NIGHTTexas Tech outscored North Texas in the paint 36-16.UP NEXTNorth Texas returns home to host Drexel on Saturday. The Mean Green face teams from five states this month: Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.Texas Tech has one more game -- Saturday at home against Eastern Kentucky -- before traveling to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge. At the tournament, it will face Auburn and then Purdue or Utah State. Cheap Jerseys Store Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '