Offtopic/fun » second in the NFL with 14 interception

Adelaide will struggle to win another game after the death of Phil Walsh.Adelaide will struggle to make this years top eight without Patrick Dangerfield.Adelaide will struggle to contend for the 2016 premiership from outside the AFLs top four.The first two of these contentions were proven wrong. In a feat of extraordinary resilience, Adelaide made last years finals series and beat the Western Bulldogs before falling to Hawthorn - all the while grieving the loss of Walsh.?Next, the departure of Dangerfield was said to be a hammer blow to the Crows chances of progressing this year, but the team instead assembled a convincing season under the guidance of the new coach Don Pyke. The leagues most prolific attack compiled 16 home and away wins.Now, the Crows contemplate September from the problematic vantage point of fifth, where no team has won the premiership under the present structure of the finals series. Defeat at home in the final round to West Coast caused the club to be dismissed as contenders, amid suspicions the Pyke game-plan had been picked apart and the forward line stymied.Expectations of a home win over North Melbourne in week one are matched by predictions of doom to follow.But having been a central figure in both the strong finish to an emotionally draining 2015 and then the successful retooling of the team to cope without Dangerfield, midfield coach Scott Camporeale will not be surprised to see Adelaides players find a way to overturn expectations for a third time. Compared to the trials of last year, a difficult finals position seems much the happier problem to have.To the players credit that was an unbelievable effort to do what we did last year, Camporeale told ESPN. But that obviously gave them great self-belief going into this year, and self-belief, continuity and confidence is massive in the game. They always believed.?Losing Patrick wasnt ideal but it is what it is - hes not the first to leave and he wont be the last in the AFL system with the way free agency is. But what it did do is give guys opportunity and theyve taken that.Finals footy is a different ballgame once again. Some of these guys have only played in one or two finals. Each year on, more experience is only going to help us as a footy club, so I would like to think our guys can go to another level and continue to push forward.In the days and weeks after Walsh died, Camporeale was left with the arduous task of acting as head coach, helped by the assistance of John Worsfold as a senior assistant. When he returned to the ranks as midfield mentor under the studious figure of Pyke, he found himself dealing with a group of players now having to come to terms with Dangerfields departure.?There was the disappointment that we lost someone of Pattys ilk who youve spent a lot of time with and hes arguably one of the best players in the competition, Camporeale said. Its very difficult when you lose one of those out of your team makeup.For me personally, going back into the midfield role was no real issue. Dons done an outstanding job, really got the players to buy in and Ive just been there to give him a bit more of a resource having dealt with the players for a number of years before that. Going back to the midfield was something I love, theyre a good group to coach and Ive got really good relationships with those guys, so that was the easy part.The hard part was moving on from Patty not being in our midfield.Coming into the club with fresh eyes, Pyke wanted a better-rounded team, with skills by hand and foot to match the endeavour the Crows already possessed when contesting the ball. By any measure, that effort has proven successful, not only in covering for Dangerfield but growing the teams capabilities across the ground.?At once they were able to retain their rank as the teams second best contested ball team while lifting their effective disposals per game from 15th in the league last year to third this time around. This Camporeale attributed to the development of individual players who stepped up to fill Dangerfields boots, and also to the maturing of skills improved over summer, but also more gradually in the years before this one. These related as much to defensive discipline around the ground as it did to better disposal by hand and foot.As a midfield group we dont rely on one player, so we spoke about everyone going to another level in terms of their standards, their development and ownership of their own game, he said. I think weve done that really well. Matty Crouch has had a really consistent year, hes stepped up, Jarryd Lyons is playing a lot of footy this year, Rory [Sloane]s had another outstanding year, Rory Atkins has taken another step forward. So weve had some real development through that part of the ground.Weve always been a really decent contested ball side so thats never been questioned with the personnel we have here. Skill level is an ongoing thing - I dont think you really ever stop trying to improve that, because teams that turn the ball over through poor skill errors get punished. Weve been able to do that as a footy club this year, tip the ball over firstly but then go back at teams and score. Thats really improved, our overall team defence has improved as well. That makes a massive difference to wins and losses at the end of the year.Similarly, Camporeales own skills were grown by his stint as senior coach. In concert with Pyke, the forward coach David Teague, defensive coach James Podsiadly and ruck coach Matthew Clarke, he has helped forge a cohesive environment, where messages remain consistent across the lines. It is another reason the adversity wrought by Walshs death has left a powerful legacy.Definitely as a senior coach youve got to be rounded, Camporeale said. As a line coach, whether forward, back or midfield, you tend to work within your group and make sure theyre all ready to go. But most lines are interconnected now so its really important as an assistant that you can go talk to guys on different lines and still have continuity in those conversations. If all the coaches are doing that we have a really clear message about how we want to play.Definitely the groups galvanised through whats happened. Thats one good thing about footy clubs, in adversity you stick together and its the best place to be. But theyve got real self-belief and they want success, so we have those traits in the playing group, Dons done a great job in bringing them closer together in terms of our game plan, and were really excited about what the future holds.Of course, few are expecting a Crows premiership challenge this year. Fifth, it is said, is about their level given losses to Hawthorn, Geelong (twice) and West Coast. The great unknown is whether the pre-finals bye will make much of a difference to the teams now required to win four weeks in a row. Camporeale reckons a refreshed Adelaide is decently placed to confound yet again.Not having to play on the weekend has stretched the week out a bit and been able to have a really good, close look at what North have been doing, he said. It certainly has extended the preparation and the thought time, but its also given players the opportunity to freshen up and make sure theyre ready to go.If you look at the year in its entirety, to win 16 games, weve done a lot right. We didnt have our best night [against West Coast] all over the ground - our contests, the way we moved the ball and the way we defended. I dont think it was one particular area but a holistic view is that we need to make sure that in those three areas were well and truly above the line at AFL intensity.Adelaide in 2015 and 2016Effective disposals/disposal percentage 2015: 252.9 (15th), 70.3 (17th) 2016: 287.3 (third), 73 (12th)Contested possessions per game 2015:?142.7 (2nd) 2016: 153 (2nd)Uncontested possessions per game 2015:?214 (15th) 2016: 241.6 (5th)Adelaide inside 50s 2015:?55 (2nd) 2016: 57.5 (3rd)Inside 50s conceded 2015:?51.9 (12th) 2016: 50.3 (5th)Adelaide clearances 2015:?40.6 (4th) 2016 ?38.2 (5th) Authentic Yeezy Outlet . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Wholesale Yeezy Replica ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.wholesaleyeezy.com/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Discount Yeezy Shop . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Wholesale Yeezy Boost . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. CINCINNATI -- Vontaze Burfict anticipated a pass over the middle and got there first, grabbing his second interception of the game.The Bengals linebacker was making an impact again.Its been a while.Burfict was back to being a dominating linebacker during Cincinnatis 32-14 win over the Eagles on Sunday.He had two of the Bengals three interceptions, a season-high 15 tackles, and four passes knocked down -- his best all-around game since his famous playoff meltdown.Its like a test, Burfict said . You practice during the week, and on Sundays you have to pass the test. Thats my competitiveness.His marks have been merely above-average for most of the season.The volatile linebacker hadnt picked off a pass since an 18-16 playoff loss to Pittsburgh, when his late interception appeared to seal a Cincinnati victory. Burfict was so caught up in the moment that he ran all the way to the tunnel with the ball.But Jeremy Hill fumbled, and Burfict put the Steelers in range for the winning field goal by hitting Antonio Brown in the head after an incomplete pass, drawing a personal foul. The NFL suspended him for the first three games of this season because of that hit and others.He has so far avoided an egregious play this season. Hes also been less of a factor since returning from the suspension, getting eight or fewer tackles in three of his first four games as he worked his way back into shape. Hes been back in form the past few games, helping Cincinnatis defense find its form.The Bengals (4-7-1) have held each of the past three opponents to 19 points or fewer, with Burfict making game-changing plays.And hes finally heeded his coaches admonitions to avoid the personal fouls that have cost Cincinnati field position and a playoff game.Hes (going) 100,000 miles per hour, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. Youuve got to slow him down some.ddddddddddddBurficts first interception came on a short pass by Carson Wentz, ending Philadelphias opening drive in the second half. He had another interception on a pass over the middle in the fourth quarter and returned it 47 yards before Wentz and tight end Zach Ertz brought him down.That quarterback is fast, Burfict said.The defenses improvement -- with Burfict in the middle of everything -- has come too late to make a difference in the Bengals season.In order to win the division, they have to win their last four games, starting Sunday in Cleveland (0-12), and have both Pittsburgh (7-5) and Baltimore (7-5) collapse in December.But the defenses resurgence means that the Steelers and Ravens can expect a challenging game when they come to Paul Brown Stadium later this season.Pittsburgh visits on Dec. 18 and Baltimore on Jan. 1 in the final regular-season game.So long as Burfict keeps playing at the level he did on Sunday, the Bengals defense will be formidable.He thinks hes the best at everything, receiver Brandon LaFell said. He thinks hes the best running back, the best pass catcher. With these two INTs, Im going to hear about this for the rest of the season. He backs it up with his play, though.Game notes The Bengals are tied for second in the NFL with 14 interceptions, one behind San Diego. Baltimore and Kansas City also have picked off 14 passes. ... The club record for interceptions in a season is 34 in 1996, when Ashley Ambrose had eight. ... The Bengals beat the Browns 31-17 at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 23. They didnt win another game until Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '