Dein erstes Forum » to Washington and acquired versatile agitatin

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota has quite the 1-2-3 punch in its running game this season.The Gophers hit Colorado State with two of them all afternoon and completed nonconference play unbeaten.Rodney Smith rushed 17 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Shannon Brooks returned from injury to net 85 yards and a score on 13 carries, helping Minnesota wear down the Rams on the way to a 31-24 victory on Saturday.Theyre both awfully good, coach Tracy Claeys said of his sophomore tailback tandem, so it doesnt matter which way it ends up.Brooks, the teams leading rusher last season, missed the first two games because of a broken foot. Kobe McCrary, who piled up 176 yards rushing two weeks ago against Indiana State, rushed for 13 yards on four carries.They had fresh legs coming in all the time, Rams safety Jake Schlager said, adding, They definitely used it to their advantage.Factor in quarterback Mitch Leidner, who took off 10 times for 50 yards and a touchdown, and the Gophers (3-0) have their running game going just the way they want it entering Big Ten play.Leidner is looking as spry as ever after suffering foot injuries in each of the last two Septembers that hampered his sophomore and junior years. He made some cuts and jukes for extra yardage that made Brooks and Smith proud.Ive never been healthy coming out of the nonconference so it feels really good, said Leidner, who completed 16 of 20 passes for 174 yards .Freshman Collin Hill, making his second start at quarterback for the Rams (2-2), cut Colorado States deficit to seven points with a 15-yard toss to Michael Gallup with 6:24 remaining. The Gophers followed with a three-and-out, but Hills fourth-down pass at the Minnesota 45 around the 2-minute mark was broken up by Adekunle Ayinde to quash the comeback.The Rams, who started three different quarterbacks over the first three games, have come a long way since a 44-7 loss to Colorado in their opener.I believe were close to becoming a pretty good football team, coach Mike Bobo said.Leidners underthrow toward the sideline was intercepted near midfield by Braylin Scott in the final minute of the first half, but Wyatt Bryan missed a 46-yard field goal as the clock expired to preserve a 17-7 lead for the Gophers.THE TAKEAWAYMinnesota: The Gophers were far from flawless, particularly on defense while giving up 11 gains of 15-plus yards, but they did precisely what they needed to do by entering conference play unscathed.Colorado State: Hill finished 15 for 30 for 182 yards and one touchdown with an interception and a fumble that led to 14 points for Minnesota, after a sharp debut against FCS foe Northern Colorado. The experience playing at a Big Ten stadium ought to help his development.FINISHING STRONGEmmit Carpenter, who has not missed a kick this season, made a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. Thats the only time in 14 trips inside the 20-yard line the Gophers havent crossed the goal line.Once you get down there, its tough to stop Rodney, Shannon and Kobe, Leidner said. Thats a lot of horsepower coming at you.FEELING THE PRESSURESteven Richardson, who had four of Minnesotas 14 tackles for loss, sacked Hill on the first play from scrimmage. Hill absorbed several hard hits on the afternoon, none more jarring than the sack by Taiyon Devers that knocked the ball loose and his helmet off to give the Gophers possession at the Colorado State 33.Devers, one of four true freshmen who played on defense, has forced a fumble on all three of his sacks just 2 1/2 games into his college career.Collin hadnt played any speed like that, Bobo said.UP NEXTColorado State: The Rams host Wyoming in their Mountain West opener for the Bronze Boot, the trophy that has gone to CSU for three straight years. This game is the only trip for the Rams outside of Colorado for the first six weeks of the season.Minnesota: The Gophers play their first Big Ten game at Penn State. Minnesota is 2-4 there all time, having last visited in 2009 and last won in 2003. Fake China Jerseys . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. China Jerseys Wholesale . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. China Jerseys Cheap . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. China Jerseys Stitched . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. After making the trade that shook the hockey world over the summer, the Montreal Canadiens are glad to have rock-solid defenseman Shea Weber and goaltender Carey Price as they try to get back to the playoffs.In June, the Canadiens traded flashy, risk-reward defenseman P.K. Subban to the Nashville Predators straight up for Weber, a steady presence on the blue line who could fit better with coach Michel Therriens conservative style. Montreal is counting on Weber bringing his size, physicality, heavy shot and stability to bear in front of Price, arguably the best goalie in the world whos back after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury.General manager Marc Bergevin said having the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Weber around makes a difference on and off the ice.Hes a player that is very tough to play against -- hes responsible and makes the opposing forwards lives very difficult, Bergevin said. A team that brings in a player of Shea Webers caliber, with his leadership, his presence and the way he is a real pro, your young players are going to benefit from his presence.No one benefits more from Webers presence than Price, who won the Hart Trophy as MVP and Vezina Trophy as top goaltender in 2014-15 but injured his right knee Nov. 25 and hasnt played an NHL game since. While they were on the way to winning the World Cup of Hockey together for Canada, Price said of Weber: Hes a big body and definitely makes it easier on me to see the puck. Its always good to have a man mountain in front of you.Weber was a man mountain in Nashville for 11 seasons, serving as captain for the past six. If anyone knows how much Price will enjoy Weber playing in front of him its Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who thinks every GM would want someone like the 31-year-old defenseman on his team.Theres not a similar player in the league whos as physical, as good of a shot, a big guy who can skate, Rinne said. Im 100 percent sure that Careys going to like to play behind Weber. Hes a modern defenseman whos extremely tough in front of your net but also offensively he can do some damage.Weber and Subban are two drastically different players but had the same number of pointss last season.dddddddddddd The key for Montreal is getting enough offense from captain Max Pacioretty, center Tomas Plekanec and others without sacrificing the solid play around Price that led to trips to the playoffs in 2013, 2014 and 2015.Here are some other things to watch with the Canadiens this season:PATCHING THINGS UP: If there was any kind of rift in the locker room between players last season when Subban was around or between Pacioretty and Therrien, now is the time to fix it. Pacioretty has the C, with Weber brought in as an alternate to help out, and this is his team to lead.Ive spoken to players on the team and were all on the same page, Pacioretty said. Were going to show this year that were all on the same page -- coaches, management, players.RADULOV FACTOR: The Canadiens took a risk in signing Alexander Radulov to a $5.75 million, one-year deal in the hopes the Russian winger can recapture past scoring prowess after the last four-plus seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League. This isnt like signing Alexander Semin for cheap a year ago, as Montreal needs Radulov to produce with that kind of salary-cap hit.SANDPAPER SHAW: At the draft Montreal traded center Lars Eller to Washington and acquired versatile agitating forward Andrew Shaw from Chicago. Shaw is a pest who can hit, defend and also put up points, but most importantly he plays with the kind of edge the Canadiens have lacked in recent years.THERRIENS WARM SEAT: Bergevin has doubled down on Therrien, even though his coaching style is old-school and counter to the NHLs trend of going smaller, faster and more offensive. Therrien can feel safe in his job unless the Canadiens miss the playoffs again.BLUE LINE BLUES: After Weber, Montreals blue line includes Jeff Petry, Nathan Beaulieu, Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov and a handful of unheralded defensemen. Petry has the potential to get even better after an injury ended last season, but Montreal also needs more from Beaulieu and Emelin.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . ' ' '