News » get New Yorks woeful power play going left him as an odd-m

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- On the hottest, most humid day of Chicago Bears training camp, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio wore a sweatshirt.I dont sweat that much, he said. Im not a sweater.In another sense, Fangio did have to sweat through a first year in Chicago with an inconsistent defense that improved, and looks to make greater strides in head coach John Foxs second season because of offseason changes.Before Fangio becomes more convinced of improvement, though, hell need to see the type of impact additions such as linebackers Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman and first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd will have for a defense that rose in rankings last season from 30th to 14th.I think we have a chance to be a better defense than we were last year, but the proof will be in the pudding, Fangio said Thursday at training camp. Practice is the quiz, the games are the final exam.The biggest change came in the front seven, with the addition of 336-pound free agent defensive end Akiem Hicks, backed by free agent inside linebacker acquisitions Freeman and Trevathan.The potential exists to stop the run more effectively than last season, when Chicago ranked 22nd.It could take a while.You know weve got veteran guys, but theyre not veteran in our system yet, Fangio said.Hicks put his talents on display Thursday when he helped the first-team defense make a goal-line stand in scrimmage.For a big guy hes got a lot of energy, Fangio said. Weve just got to get him honed up a little bit better in his techniques.Hicks, whose career started with New Orleans and New England, said he feels comfortable in the Bears defensive scheme. Teammates are noticing.I like to have a big D-lineman in front of me, a hungry guy whos just a mauler, Trevathan said about Hicks. The mans a mountain who is hard to move.Trevathan, who came over from the Super Bowl champion Broncos in free agency, also raved about Fangios defensive system.Hes a mastermind, Trevathan said. He likes to put you in the right situations to make plays.He has some experience with that with other linebackers and other teams. But here hes just doing a good job of feeling his players and knowing what theyre good at and putting you in certain situations to make plays.Despite overall statistical improvement last season, the Bears defense set a franchise record for fewest interceptions (eight) and allowed the second-most touchdown passes (31) in their history.For secondary coverage to improve, Fangio said the pass rush pressure must also increase. Not having outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who is on the preseason PUP list after knee surgery, is slowing progress.Its a concern for sure, but until I see him out on the field Im really not thinking about it as much, Fangio said.The more pressing concern is getting Floyd, an undersized, speedy pass rush linebacker, to a level where he contributes sacks.On draft day, Floyd drew comparisons to former 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, who flourished under Fangio as a pass rusher.Hes not like Aldon at all, Fangio said. The only thing that hes similar to Aldon is theyre both tall. Theyre both kind of long.But theyre two different body types. Aldon was 25-30 pounds heavier and Aldon wasnt the athlete that this guy is in open space. Theyre similar in height, but theyre very different in style.The only change Fangio has dealt with in the secondary is Harold Jones-Quartey as a starting safety alongside safety Adrian Amos. Jones-Quartey started three games last season after being claimed off waivers.Cornerback Tracy Porter said more turnovers will come with better pass rush pressure, but also from one simple coverage approach.To just go after the ball when its in the air, he said. Yeah, we want to knock passes down when you can. Ive been told some of the wisest words: You just try to catch every ball. Whether you miss it or you knock it down, its still a PBU (pass breakup).So why not just try to go and catch the ball?Game notesRight guard Kyle Long went through his first full padded practice after suffering a July 28 calf injury. ... Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who left Wednesdays practice, also missed Thursdays practice with what Fox called a slight hamstring injury. ... Offensive lineman Amini Silatolu, who started training camp on the physically unable to perform list, was moved to the active roster and began practicing.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFLWholesale NCAA Jerseys .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. College Jerseys Outlet . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.net/ . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Stitched NCAA Jerseys . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Clearance College Basketball Jerseys . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August.NEW YORK -- Struggling Rangers centre Brad Richards was a healthy scratch Thursday night when New York stayed alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins. Richards, a star player earning $12 million this season, stayed on the ice with the extras Thursday during the morning skate. He then confirmed that Rangers coach John Tortorella had called to tell him he would be sitting out. "Hes playing seven or eight minutes, and its not good for him," Tortorella said. "I also feel some other guys have played better, so thats where he is right now in our lineup." New York rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before Chris Kreider scored the winning goal in overtime to force Game 5 in Boston on Saturday. Kris Newbury and Micheal Haley replaced Richards and fellow fourth-line forward Arron Asham, who also sat out for the first time in the series that Boston now leads 3-1. "I dont know if surprised is the right word for it," Richards said. "Im disappointed." Haley, who hadnt played since March 19, made his NHL post-season debut. Newbury was in the lineup for New Yorks playoff opener against Washington in the first round, but was scratched for the next nine games. Newbury played six games during the regular season, and Haley dressed for nine. Defenceman Anton Stralman, who was injured in the second period of Tuesday nights loss, was also out of the Game 4 lineup. Veteran Roman Hamrlik, who hadnt played since April 1 -- a 23-game span -- replaced him. Boston used the same lineup from Game 3. The 33-year-old Richards, an alternate captain who has seven years left on the nine-year, $60 million deal he signed in July 2011, has been largely ineffective in 10 playoff games. He has one goal and no assists and has a minus-3 rating. "Dont put words in my mouth, because Im not blaming Brad, because he is a hell of a hockey player thats having a hell of a time," Tortorella said.dddddddddddd"I need to make decisions about what I feel is right for our team to win tonights game. Thats why I made that decision." Richards had already been dropped to the fourth line and had his ice time cut. Richards inability to get New Yorks woeful power play going left him as an odd-man out. He said being on the fourth line made it difficult for him to be effective. "It doesnt work for him," Tortorella said of Richards. "Im not playing him the proper way, but I cant put him in a situation on the other lines because I think the other lines stepped up. "I am looking to get some sort of identity on that fourth line, and thats where Brad comes out and I go with these guys. We got some fresh legs and enthusiasm." Richards, in his 12th NHL season, had only 10 shifts and a career playoff-low 8:10 of ice time Tuesday in New Yorks 2-1 loss that put the Rangers on the brink of elimination. Richards is a prime candidate to have his contract bought out after this season. After this years lockout, each team was given the option of two amnesty buyouts that could be used to terminate contracts before next season or the 2014-15 season. The buyouts will cost two-thirds of the remaining amount on a deal -- paid evenly over twice its remaining length -- and will count against the players overall share in revenues, but not the individual teams salary cap. A buyout for Richards would cost the Rangers $24 million over 14 years. "Nothings over," Richards said. "Work harder and try my best to never let it happen again." Richards, who had 11 goals and 23 assists in 46 games during the regular season, was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP when he and the Tampa Bay Lightning captured the Stanley Cup under Tortorella in 2004. "This is a guy that Ive grown up with, a guy that I love as a person and a player," Tortorella said, "but I have to make that decision regarding (the benching). Its not about blaming that guy." ' ' '