Clan-Members » ening play of the second quarter.Tenness

Two months ago, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick raised eyebrows in some places -- and hearty guffaws in others -- when he suggested the Tigers current playing list was the best hed had at his disposal.At the time, Richmond had just scored encouraging wins over Sydney and Fremantle -- after their horror start to the season -- so perhaps the burst of over-excitement and optimism could be forgiven.But football analysts less emotionally invested in the Tigers were looking at their squad more objectively and wondering how on earth Hardwick could come to that conclusion.After the Big Five -- Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt -- the Tiges list falls away as sharply as the British pound after last months Brexit vote. In terms of talent, it has not much more depth than a sidewalk puddle.Now the Tigers sit in 13th place on the ladder with a 7-10 win-loss record, having won one game more than supposed basket-case, Gold Coast.And in a tough five-week stretch to end their campaign, contests against GWS, Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney await.The 2016 season, Hardwicks seventh at the helm, is shaping as another bust.The main complaint from supporters is not just the losses that keep piling up but the teams tedious, indirect style of play. They routinely switch play across half-back, going sideways and backwards. Theres little flair and cause for excitement and Riewoldt, one player capable of getting fans out of their seats, is seemingly encouraged to play up the ground rather than in the goalsquare.Richmonds BigFooty forum -- admittedly not always the repository of all that is rational and level-headed -- is running a poll on whether the club needs a new coach or not. At the moment, the movement for change is running at 82 percent; those supporting Hardwick at 18 percent.For many, the effort in the last quarter against Hawthorn on Sunday was the straw that broke the camels back, the Hawks piling on nine goals to two in the final 30 minutes. Richmonds final score of 5.14 (44) was their lowest in Hardwicks seven seasons in charge.Even the Tigers greatest spruiker, Kevin Bartlett, the games record holder and former coach, said he was dismayed by what he saw at the MCG. He told his SEN radio audience on Monday: The last quarter was like a training drill for Hawthorn: there was no pressure, very little effort, they were kicking sideways and backwards. I was taken aback by the lack of effort.On FoxFootys On the Couch program, another former coach, Robert Walls, was equally bemused by the clubs progress, saying the Big Five players were too sensitive to criticism and not great leaders.Of course, chief executive Brendon Gale and his team have done wonderful things off the field, turning around the clubs finances and getting the membership up beyond 72,000. Even if their decision in March to re-sign Hardwick for a further two years was an absurd misjudgment.But on the field, a state of confusion reigns.Thats evidenced by the muddled messaging coming out of Punt Rd this year.After the Round 3 loss to Adelaide, Hardwick suggested the club needed to take a half step backwards to take two steps forwards. To many that sounded like he was smoothing the way for a rebuild.Six weeks later, on May 27, he was hailing his squad as champions in the making.After Sundays Hawthorn defeat, he called the teams late defensive efforts as nothing short of shameful, and gave his best midfielder this year, Dusty Martin, a clip on the way through.Canning the Tigers has become something of a sport within the AFL commentarial. But, gee, they bring a lot of the ridicule on themselves.If this is indeed the best playing list Hardwick has had at his disposal, we hold grave fear for the clubs -- and his -- short-term future.Cheap Cavaliers Jerseys . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Youth Cavaliers Jerseys . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. http://www.cheapcavaliersjerseyschina.com/collin-sexton-jersey/ . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Cavaliers Jerseys Outlet . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Womens Cavaliers Jerseys . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday.KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee finally ended its pattern of slow starts.The Volunteers hope that sets the tone for a fast finish.Joshua Dobbs connected with Josh Malone on two of his three touchdown passes and John Kelly scored on a 73-yard run Saturday as Tennessee snapped a three-game skid in a 55-0 blowout of Football Championship Subdivision program Tennessee Tech. The Volunteers produced six touchdowns and one field goal in their first eight possessions and posted their largest margin of victory since a 63-7 triumph over Western Kentucky in 2009.Its something weve harped on all season, Dobbs said of the slow starts. So it was good to come out and play fast at the beginning of the game and then sustain that throughout the first half and throughout the entire game, really.The lopsided victory followed a tumultuous stretch for Tennessee (6-3). The Volunteers fell 24-21 at two-touchdown underdog South Carolina last week, and Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced Monday that leading rusher Jalen Hurd had left the team.Yet Jones insisted after the game that there was no drama inside our building this week even as the Vols bounced back from their lowest point of the season.Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they came in with a mental focus and mindset to get better and improve, Jones said. I thought our energy was outstanding.Dobbs completed his first 11 passes and ended up 12 of 13 for 183 yards before exiting with about five minutes left in the second quarter.The Vols had been outscored 83-24 in the opening quarter of their first eight games, but they led 21-0 after the first period. Tennessee extended the margin to 28-0 when Dobbs threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings on the opening play of the second quarter.Tennessees first two series ended with touchdown passes of 30 and 43 yards from Dobbs to Malone, who had five catches for a career-high 112 yards. Tennessee reached the end zone on each of its first four drives.They made those big plays early, Tennessee Tech coach Marcus Satterfield said. That really put us in a hole.Kelly made his first career start and ran for 104 yards on jjust seven carries against Tennessee Tech (3-6).dddddddddddd His 73-yard burst through the right side of the line in the first quarter was Tennessees longest run from scrimmage since LaMarcus Cokers 87-yarder against Vanderbilt in 2006.Carlin Fils-aime added two touchdown runs and Marquez Callaway scored on a 62-yard punt return for Tennessee.Tennessee had additional reason to celebrate Saturday because No. 10 Florida lost 31-10 at Arkansas. The Vols can capture their first SEC East title since 2007 if they win out and Florida loses at least one more conference game.Thats one of the most spirited celebrations weve had in our locker room, Jones said. I think thats a by-product and thats all relative to the investment of everybody in our football program this week.THE TAKEAWAYTennessee Tech: The Golden Eagles controlled the ball for over 41 minutes but still failed to score as they rushed for just 60 yards on 38 carries.Tennessee: Kellys productivity provided evidence that Tennessees rushing attack will withstand the loss of Hurd.Tennessee also finally protected the football. After throwing 11 interceptions and losing nine fumbles in its first eight games, Tennessee didnt commit a single turnover Saturday.UNFAMILIAR NEIGHBORSThe campuses of Tennessee and Tennessee Tech are separated by only about 100 miles, but this marked the first meeting between the two teams since 1951. Tennessee has won all six matchups with Tennessee Tech and has outscored the Golden Eagles 297-20.Tennessee Tech received $475,000 for making the trip from its Cookeville campus to Knoxville for Saturdays game.KEY NUMBERSTennessee Tech has never beaten an FBS team in 31 attempts. ... This was Tennessees largest margin of victory in a shutout since a 65-0 victory over Vanderbilt in 1994.UP NEXTTennessee Tech returns to FCS competition and visits Tennessee State next Saturday.Tennessee hosts Kentucky next Saturday.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '