SPAM und Nonsins ... » caneers without two starters in their secondary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rick Stockstill insists what happens Saturday wont determine how the rest of the season goes for his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.For the Vanderbilt Commodores, it certainly could.The Commodores blew a 10-point lead in losing their season opener to South Carolina, and now they host an in-state rival Saturday whose home is about 40 miles southeast of Nashville. Middle Tennessee rebounded from a loss to Vanderbilt last season to reach the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, while the Commodores finished 4-8.After opening the season with two straight home games, Vanderbilts schedule gets much tougher with road trips to Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky before diving back into the Southeastern Conference to host Florida.Our motivation is right in front of us, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. We need to play well.Vanderbilt leads this series 13-3 but needed two touchdowns in the final 6 minutes, 14 seconds to pull out a 17-13 win that ended a three-game skid to Middle Tennessee now in Conference USA. Now the Blue Raiders (1-0) are coming off a 55-0 rout of Alabama A&M with quarterback Brent Stockstill having thrown five touchdowns and trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 2001.Absolutely I think this is a big game, Vanderbilt linebacker and safety Oren Burks said. Anytime you have an in-state opponent where you have bragging rights ... Were ready to go out and compete.---Some things to watch Saturday afternoon:RUN DEFENSE: Middle Tennessee is very familiar with Vanderbilt junior running back Ralph Webb who beat the Blue Raiders by running 39 yards for a TD with 1:12 left. Webb ran for 97 yards in the opener for Vandy and now has a complement in converted linebacker Khari Blasingame as Vandy ran 42 times against South Carolina. Rick Stockstill notes Middle Tennessee played Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry at Alabama last season. Hes going to break arm tackles, so you cant do that, the Middle Tennessee coach said.PROTECT THE FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt has no turnovers, something the Commodores did only twice last season when they finished with 25 turnovers. Middle Tennessee was intercepted twice in its opener, something the Commodores are working on defensively after breaking up so many passes last season.WHOS CATCHING: Stockstill completed his first 22 passes, a nice accomplishment considering how injuries have decimated the Blue Raiders receiving corps. They lost three receivers to injuries this preseason with Demetrius Frazier was hurt in the first quarter of the opener. Richie James caught a team-high eight passes for 73 yards for a team that moved running back Desmond Anderson to receiver in August and freshman Tyshawn Brown from safety to a week before the opener.TACKLING MACHINE: Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham has picked up where he left off last season. He finished 2015 with at least 10 tackles in the final four games, and he had a game-high 12 against South Carolina. He will be tested by Middle Tennessee running back Itavius Mathers, whos playing after sitting out last year as a transfer from Ole Miss.QB RHYTHM: Mason says Kyle sophomore Shurmur remains Vandys starting quarterback after he was 8 of 22 for 73 yards in the opener. Shurmur could use some help from his receivers because C.J. Duncan is the only player at that position to catch more than one pass in the opener. Webb was the top target with three receptions.---Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and AP-Top 25 Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Vada Pinson . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Jack Flaherty . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/ . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Steve Carlton . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Rogers Hornsby . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. The Seattle Seahawks could go into their Week 12 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without two starters in their secondary: safety Earl Thomas and cornerback DeShawn Shead.Both players are dealing with first-degree hamstring strains, coach Pete Carroll said during his weekly appearance on the Brock and Salk show on 710 ESPN Seattle.Those are usually 10 to 14 days, so well see what happens, Carroll said.Thomas suffered the injury running downfield on a deep ball that ended up being intercepted by Seahawks cornerback?Richard Sherman in the third quarter versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Sheads injury occurred during practice over the weekend. He tried to play in Sundays game, but he was pulled after the first series.Thomas, a five-time Pro Bowler, has never missed a game in his NFL career. If he cant play Sunday, Steven Terrell will start in his plaace.dddddddddddd Shead has started every game this season. Jeremy Lane would replace him.Meanwhile, running back?Thomas Rawls is a little banged up after playing 40 snaps against the Eagles. Carroll said the Seahawks will take care of Rawls during the week, but hell be ready to start against the Bucs.And the Seahawks could get defensive end Michael Bennett back for Sundays game. Bennett has been sidelined since injuring his knee in Week 7.Hes trying. Hes going for it this week, Carroll said.Carroll said the Seahawks wont have a timetable on running back C.J. Prosise for a couple weeks, but he confirmed that Prosise fractured his scapula. Surgery is not required, but Prosise will be sidelined for an extended period of time. 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