Behind The Steel Curtain: On Location vs DET

Flash flood warnings and a one hour and thirteen minute downpour delayed the game at Heinz Field where the Pittsburgh Steelers where playing host the Detroit Lions, who have managed only two wins since the 2008 season.

Forrest Gump summed up the first half weather best: “Little bitty stringin’ rain and big ol’ fat rain, rain that flew sideways and sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.”

Detroit Lions first round pick Jahvid Best said, “It was crazy one second it was just fine next second it was raining. I’ve never been in a game where we had to go inside because of rain.”

This was a night where veterans joke and relax and the rookies playing have a different perception of what is going on like Hines Ward, who said of the young players, “They are wide-eyed nervous but

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Better Mechanics Help Jake Locker Improve

Washington quarterback Jake Locker has undergone several transformations. It started in his high school days leading a Wing-T offense. He then learned the nuances of the spread offense from former University of Washington coach Tyrone Willingham, and finally started mastering the pro-style offense under second-year UW coach Steve Sarkisian. Minor suggestions, such as keeping his elbow up in his throwing setup, were smaller lessons for Locker. The primary emphasis was his overall alignment. The mechanics are there now. So is Locker’s understanding of Sarkisian’s pro-style offense. All that is left is ironing out some of the wrinkles. Because Locker’s passing has started to catch up to his athleticism, he could become the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft. – The Bellingham Herald

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Boston College OT Has Allowed Just One Sack

Mostly unrecruited out of Fork Union Military Academy, the 6-foot-7, 306-pound Anthony Castonzo became the first true freshman in a decade to start on the offensive line for Boston College. After being moved to left tackle as a sophomore, Castonzo playing right tackle in 2007, earning All-Freshman and All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors during Matt Ryan’s final season at BC despite being undersized at 250 pounds. If it seems like the Illinois native is being hard on himself for allowing just one sack in 650 snaps last season, consider that the projected first-round 2011 NFL draft pick and Rhodes Scholar candidate who hopes to conduct cancer research one day also missed only nine blocks in 13 games last season. “I’d hang my hat on it more if it had been zero,” Castonzo said. “I’m upset with myself if I don’t give up zero sacks. My top goal is that nobody

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Foot Injury Keeps Mark Herzlich On Sidelines

After missing all of last season after being diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, linebacker Mark Herzlich is facing one more hang up before reaching his ultimate goal of returning to the gridiron. The 2008 ACC defensive player of the year is sidelined by a stress fracture in his right foot. “It’s frustrating,” Herzlich said. “But it’s just kind of another thing to hurdle.” Considered day-to-day, Herzlich still hopes to play in the Sept. 4 opener against Weber State. – ESPN

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Adversity Nothing New To Da’Rel Scott

While his time in College Park has included memorable success — Da’Rel Scott has take-your-breath-away acceleration in the open field — it has also been spent navigating around obstacles. There was the shoulder injury that limited him even as he rushed for 1,133 yards in 2008, becoming the first Maryland back to top 1,000 yards since Chris Downs in 2002. There was the suspension at the end of that season for violating curfew. There was a spate of fumbles early in 2009, followed by a broken forearm bone that sidelined him for nearly half the season. Long before that — when he was in third grade — there was his father’s split from the family, the ensuing feelings of anger and abandonment and, later, the slaying of an aunt with whom he was close. Scott, who competed as a sprinter during the indoor track and field season

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LaMichael James Tweaks Knee In Practice

Oregon running back LaMichael James tweaked his knee in Saturday’s practice after getting his foot caught in the turf. James had ice on his knee after practice, after getting his foot caught in the turf late in the day. “I feel OK, I feel OK,” James said. He was hoping he just got a scare. “I feel good,” he said. “We’ll just wait and see.” – Register Guard

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UK’s McCaskil Tears ACL; Out For 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. Junior wide receiver Gene McCaskill will miss the 2010 football season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips announced Sunday.  

McCaskill, a native of Chester, S.C., provides a veteran presence in the UK receiving corps. The junior, who has played in 25 games with 10 starts in his two years at Kentucky, sustained the injury during Saturday’s scrimmage. McCaskill has made 32 receptions for 344 yards in his UK career, posting his best game of his career at the 2009 AutoZone Liberty Bowl in which he caught three passes for 64 yards.

McCaskill will rest the knee for approximately two weeks, allowing the swelling to subside, before undergoing reconstructive surgery.  Having played in both of his first two seasons at UK, McCaskill will be able to use

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UK’s McCaskil Tears ACL; Out For 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. Junior wide receiver Gene McCaskill will miss the 2010 football season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips announced Sunday.  

McCaskill, a native of Chester, S.C., provides a veteran presence in the UK receiving corps. The junior, who has played in 25 games with 10 starts in his two years at Kentucky, sustained the injury during Saturday’s scrimmage. McCaskill has made 32 receptions for 344 yards in his UK career, posting his best game of his career at the 2009 AutoZone Liberty Bowl in which he caught three passes for 64 yards.

McCaskill will rest the knee for approximately two weeks, allowing the swelling to subside, before undergoing reconstructive surgery.  Having played in both of his first two seasons at UK, McCaskill will be able to use

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The Tim Tebow Era Begins in Cincinnati

Mancini’s take on Tim Tebow’s preseason performance in Denver’s preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals: Tebow’s debut as an NFL quarterback was altogether a positive one, as he displayed good mobility in the pocket and the strength to make throws with defenders trying to pull him down. On one of those plays, he rifled a sideline throw to Bruce Hall with his former college teammate Carlos Dunlap breathing down his neck. In the closing stages of the fourth quarter, the pious triggerman threw an impressive looking tight spiral on the move to Matt Willis. He later had a touchdown pass dropped by Marquez Branson and later ran in for a meaningless score with no time left on the clock. To be fair, though, Tebow also rushed a couple of his throws during the game and almost got intercepted both times. In addition, he showed poor awareness on

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The Tim Tebow Era Begins in Cincinnati

Mancini’s take on Tim Tebow’s preseason performance in Denver’s preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals: Tebow’s debut as an NFL quarterback was altogether a positive one, as he displayed good mobility in the pocket and the strength to make throws with defenders trying to pull him down. On one of those plays, he rifled a sideline throw to Bruce Hall with his former college teammate Carlos Dunlap breathing down his neck. In the closing stages of the fourth quarter, the pious triggerman threw an impressive looking tight spiral on the move to Matt Willis. He later had a touchdown pass dropped by Marquez Branson and later ran in for a meaningless score with no time left on the clock. To be fair, though, Tebow also rushed a couple of his throws during the game and almost got intercepted both times. In addition, he showed poor awareness on

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