Clan-Members » de learned that the hard way.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It seems that nobody is quite certain of the etymology of the term red zone, though many give credit to former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs for coining the term for the area inside an opponents 20-yard line.The Chiefs probably have their own choice words for it.Many of them unsuitable for print.For all the warts that dot their inconsistent offense, their baffling inability to score touchdowns when they get into the red zone may be the ugliest. And it is even more pronounced when stacked up next to Tennessee, which visits Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, and just happens to be one of the best teams in the league at converting those opportunities into seven points.Everyone from Chiefs coach Andy Reid to quarterback Alex Smith has tried to pinpoint the trouble, and they generally agree that its a combination of play-calling, execution and simple unluckiness.Weve been very good in the red zone at times, too, Reid insisted, almost as if he was trying to convince himself along with everyone else. Theyre all different. Everything is different down there, from the defenses that are played to each situation where you havent had success.So you go back and evaluate it, Reid said, and you come back again and give it your best shot.There are inherent difficulties in scoring touchdowns in the red zone.For one thing, everything gets compressed inside the 20. The field cant be stretched vertically, and that makes it easier to cover pass routes underneath, or stack up the line of scrimmage against the run.Defenses also tend to sharpen their focus, knowing their backs are against the wall. Or at least the goal line. And that makes everything from blocking to catching require just a bit more precision.Everything has to be on point, Reid said, and its got to be a little faster in there. We need to do a better job there, and I need to do a better job of putting guys in position.The Chiefs are scoring touchdowns on just 46.3 percent of trips inside the 20, which is tied for 27th in the NFL. By comparison, the Titans lead the league with a 71.4 percent conversion rate.While Reid seemingly has been trying in vain to find the source of the Chiefs red-zone ills, Titans coach Mike Mularkey knows exactly where to give credit for Tennessees success.I think it starts with Marcus, Mularkey said, referring to second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has thrown 32 touchdown passes without a red-zone interception in his career.I think a lot of it is because of his thought process, how quickly he thinks down there, Mularkey continued. He has a very quick release and theres not a lot of room for error down there, a lot of tight windows, and I think hes been very good with that.Mularkey also credited offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and his other assistants for dreaming up a set of plays that always seem to work in those high-pressure, razor-thin confines.Theyve taken a lot of time and spent a lot of energy on those areas, he said.Now, it would be foolish to think the Chiefs dont put similar emphasis on those scoring situations, especially given their struggles early in the season. During one two-week stretch, which included a brutal 19-17 loss to Tampa Bay, they managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the 20.The low point may have come when Smith tossed an interception in the end zone against the Buccaneers, and Jameis Winston and Co. marched the length of the field for a touchdown that sealed the outcome.Especially down the stretch, I think those things only become more magnified, Smith said. They become more important as the games get bigger and bigger. No question.Hard for games to get any bigger these days.The Chiefs are 10-3 and tied atop the AFC West with Oakland, but have the tiebreaker thanks to their two wins over the Raiders. Winning out would ensure Kansas City a first-round bye in the playoffs, and at least some level of homefield advantage for the playoffs.You know, its always tough though too this late in the season with the work week and stuff, Smith said. You only get so many opportunities. Obviously, youre trying to take care of guys bodies and get guys back out there, but no question. Its a huge priority.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLVapormax Schwarz Herren Schweiz . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Nike Vapormax Herren Günstig . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. http://www.vapormaxkaufenschweiz.com/vapormax-herren-schweiz.html . 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. Air Max 200 Outlet .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Air Max 200 Schweiz .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St.MIAMI -- Heat forward Udonis Haslem played through much of the second half of Miamis season with a torn right meniscus, and told The Associated Press that surgery will be required to repair the previously undisclosed injury. Haslem made the revelation Saturday after a promotional appearance where hundreds of Heat fans began lining up to see the Miami native five hours before he arrived. Surgery will occur soon, he said, and Haslem expects to be ready for training camp this fall. "It forces me to be smart and take my time with recovery this summer," said Haslem, who just completed his 10th NBA season, all with Miami. "Obviously, I dont heal like I used to so Ive got to be a lot smarter and this forces me to be smart. My bodys a little weary right now, a lot more weary than it was after last year." Haslem averaged 3.9 points in 75 regular-season games this past season for the Heat, who captured their second straight NBA title. Haslem and Dwyane Wade are the only players who have been part of all three of Miamis NBA championship clubs. He only missed three games before the final week of the regular season, sitting out Dec. 10 against Atlanta with flu-like symptoms, Dec. 29 against Milwaukee with a neck contusion and Feb. 14 against Oklahoma City after remaining back in Miami with what the team called a bruised right leg. Haslem got hurt two nights earlier, leaving a Feb. 12 home game against Portland after only nine minutes. Haslem played 50 games after that injury, including Miamis playoff run. "Im already thinking about recovery," Haslem said. Its already been a hectic off-season for Miami, which made the decision to use a team option and keep starting point guard Mario Chalmers and had three other players -- Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and James Jones -- all exercise their player-option rights to return next season. Just about everyone in the organization, including Heat President Pat Riley and stars LeBron James and Wade, said they wanted those players to stick around for another year. TThe next decision that should affect the Heat is the one that will be made by forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen, who becomes a free agent on Monday.ddddddddddddMiami wants him back badly, and the Heat were 54-8 in games where Andersen played this season. "I expected everybody that had the opportunity to come back to make the choice to come back," Haslem said. "Hopefully everything will work out with Bird and well have him back again at it as well. I have no idea what hell do, but he fit in great with us. He was what we needed in that role. To me, its almost a no-brainer." Haslem was on the 2006-07 Heat team that came back virtually intact after winning a title, and remembers how many issues plagued that team, starting with several veterans showing up for training camp out of shape. With it now virtually certain that next seasons Heat team will be pretty close to the one that beat San Antonio in seven games for this seasons championship, Haslem is sure that the same issues wont be a problem again. "Everybody will be in shape," Haslem said. "Me and D-Wade learned that the hard way. And LeBron sets the standard so high, man, everybodys got to keep up with him so nobody wants to come back out of shape." Haslem signed hundreds of autographs for 90 minutes, then scribbled his name on many more items thrust toward him by people still waiting in line when his appearance Saturday was completed. Many of those on line at a Sports Authority store wore shirts and jerseys with Haslems name on the back, which he still finds mindboggling. He left $14 million on the negotiating table three summers ago just so he could remain with the Heat and not go elsewhere as a free agent. "Its amazing," Haslem said. "Its amazing. You start to think that people are used to you and they dont appreciate you anymore, but every time they get an opportunity they come out and show me love. Theres a lot of support and thats what its all about. Thats why I stayed here." ' ' '