are plays that have an opportunity to be successful versus multiple defensive fronts and multiple

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Things just keep getting better for rookie Malcolm Mitchell.The rookie receiver the past two games has suddenly become an important part of the New England offense. Now comes a big Monday night stage.I know (theres) a lot of excitement around it, Mitchell said Thursday as the Patriots prepared for their home game against the Baltimore Ravens in a matchup of AFC division leaders. Its the only game on Monday night so Im looking forward to it.Tom Brady clearly has developed trust with the young player, who set Georgias receptions record in college with 174. Mitchell was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round.After accumulating just seven catches in the first nine games, Mitchell has 13 catches and three touchdowns in the past two weeks. His progression is now even more important with tight end Rob Gronkowski gone for the rest of the season with a back injury, Danny Amendola gone for the regular season with a high ankle sprain, and Martellus Bennett banged up, causing him to be used mostly as a blocker last week.I feel blessed to have an opportunity to be part of this organization, from the time they drafted me to now, he said.Asked if he feels added pressure in light of the injuries to teammates, Mitchell said: I just do what they tell me. Thats how I like to keep it, keep it that simple.He says being around veterans has been a big help.It just takes time to get used to any organization that youre new in, he said. Im still learning.Game notes Griff Whalen, the receiver/returner signed as a free agent with Amendola hurt, reported for his first workout. We havent seen much of anything from him. Well see how it goes, said coach Bill Belichick. Well see how he works into our receiver situation. Whelan, released by San Diego Nov. 22, caught two passes for 22 yards and returned four kicks for 56 in eight games for the Chargers this season.---For more NFL coverage: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Stitched China Jerseys . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. China Jerseys 2020 . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. https://www.chinajerseysreview.com/ ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. China Jerseys Online .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. China Jerseys Outlet . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. PITTSBURGH -- The history of the 123-year-old rivalry between Pittsburgh and Penn State is undeniable. Trying to convey decades of antagonism to players who were in preschool the last time the Nittany Lions and Panthers shared a football field is another matter.Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi made it a point in the run-up to Saturdays renewal after a 15-year hiatus to give his kids a crash course, one that happened to coincide with a rare media blackout that Narduzzi described as necessary to make sure the Panthers didnt get caught up in any distractions before arguably the programs most notable nonconference game since Sept. 16, 2000, when Pitt handed Penn State and coach Joe Paterno a 12-0 loss.I know when I first got into a major rivalry, I didnt get it the first year, Narduzzi said. I got it the second year. I want to make sure they dont do the same. Its my job to make sure they embrace it and understand what its all about.Penn State coach James Franklin took a slightly different tack. While it may take some convincing for some of the Nittany Lions to get just how big a deal this is within the state, there are sizable number of players on both sides who call Pennsylvania home -- some of whom were wooed by both schools -- that wont need a reminder.So we just want to make sure we have our composure and we have our poise and we go out and play as hard as we can and execute, Franklin said. I want them to play with passion, with emotion, but right up to the edge without having any issues.While its unclear just how heated things will get on the turf at Heinz Field, city officials and the top administrators at each school took precautions to make sure the action stays between the lines.University of Pittsburgh police planned to scour residential neighborhoods around the campus in search of upholstered furniture left outside -- the kind that can sometimes turn into kindling in celebration (or defeat) -- and have anything that could serve as fuel for a pretty good bonfire removed. Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Penn State president Eric Barron issued a joint statement encouraging what could be a record crowd at Heinz Field to make wise choices.Both teams come in 1-0 after less than spectacular debuts against lesser opponents, perhaps because they were looking ahead.dddddddddddd That wont be an issue this time around. The winner gets in-state bragging rights for a least 52 weeks and a very sizable chip to play in the living rooms of in-state recruits.Some things to look for as one of college footballs longest-standing showdowns begins an intriguing renewal:UP TO SPEEDThe Nittany Lions are looking to push the pace behind mobile sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley. That didnt exactly happen last Saturday against Kent State. Penn State managed just 354 yards of total offense and ran just 54 plays, numbers that Franklin expects to go up as the season progresses.I think whenever you can speed up the tempo, thats a good thing, Franklin said. We want to be able to do both of those things. We want to be able to check with me on the sideline to get in the right play and we want to have plays where we can get up and just snap the ball that are plays that have an opportunity to be successful versus multiple defensive fronts and multiple coverages.JAMES BEING JAMESPitt junior running back James Conners return from a bout with cancer included a pair of touchdowns against Villanova but also a pedestrian 3.1 yards per carry, something Narduzzi attributed to the 2014 ACC Player of the Year too often searching for a big play when getting a handful of yards at a time will do. Expect that to change as Conner brushes the rust off.CLUTCH KICKERIf things are close late, the Nittany Lions have an advantage in the kicking game. Tyler Davis is 24 for 24 on field goals in his career while Pitts Chris Blewitt missed a pair of kicks in a 28-7 victory over Villanova last week. Davis understands the usually tricky conditions at Heinz Field -- where the wind can swirl unpredictably -- but pointed to his time kicking over the summer in his hometown of Chicago as pretty good practice for what awaits on Saturday.---Freelance writer Travis Johnson in State College, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.---AP college football site: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '