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26.09.2018 16:05
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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Case Keenum realized it was only a slip of the tongue when a reporter asked him how he felt about getting his first NFL start on Monday night.Keenum has actually started 15 games over the past three seasons for the Texans and Rams. Hell get his 16th when he opens the Rams season behind center after easily holding off a training camp challenge -- for now -- from No. 1 draft pick Jared Goff.But Keenum has grown accustomed to being overlooked, discounted and taken for granted during his NFL career. The most prolific passer in NCAA history went undrafted out of the University of Houston, and he has been waived twice and traded for a seventh-round pick.Scouts and analysts rip his arm strength and patronizingly label him as a game manager, yet Keenum keeps finding ways to contribute in the pro game. And now he gets the honor of starting the Los Angeles Rams first game of their homecoming season, becoming the answer to one more trivia question in a football life filled with interesting accomplishments.Keenum will start the first season opener of his five-year NFL career when the Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers.This is the first time for it to be my show starting out, and not just taking over, like, `Oh crap, send out Case now, Keenum said. Its something Ive been preparing for for a long time, so Im excited. Its the first time putting on a jersey with `Los Angeles on the front of it. I get to represent our city.Goff is the Rams quarterback of the future, but hes not presently ready to take over an offense that has made few roster changes since it finished last in the NFL last season. That job falls to Keenum, who will attempt to establish a passing game with the NFLs least productive group of receivers last year -- when he isnt fulfilling his primary job of handing off to running back Todd Gurley.Keenum has starting experience, but not much of it was good. He went 0-8 as the Houston Texans starter in 2013, and they waived him before he returned to win two games as a starter in 2014.In his second stint in St. Louis last year, he watched Nick Foles rapid rise and fall in the starting job. He moved into the top spot in mid-November when Foles, who became a close friend, was benched.Keenum incurred a concussion while losing his starting debut for the Rams, but returned with three consecutive victories before a season-ending overtime loss in Santa Clara. That stretch of wins included a 14-for-17 performance with two touchdown passes and a 158.0 quarterback rating against Tampa Bay -- the epitome of the game-managing passer performance that could be Keenums aspiration each week.We knew Case. We saw what he can do, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. We saw how he finished the year. We traded for Case. Hes done a great job this offseason, in the preseason games, and hes ready to go.After the Rams drafted Goff and Foles demanded a trade, Keenum was the Rams default starter. He never relinquished the job while assuming a leadership role along with his passing responsibilities, earning a team captaincy earlier this week.Every week, youre seeing more and more command of the offense, which is comforting, Fisher said. The position itself is hard to play, but hes going to give us a chance. Checking in and out of run stuff, changing protections, getting the ball down the field, making plays, extending plays with his legs.But Keenum admits that he still gets unreasonably hyped up before his every start. He doesnt expect it to be any different in a season opener, particularly when hes making a minor piece of history.If you look at any team, as the quarterback goes, the team goes, Keenum said. Thats why I love playing quarterback. I love having the ball in my hands.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Tj-Jones-Draft-Jersey/ . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Devon-Kennard-Draft-Jersey/ .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Luke-Willson-Draft-Jersey/ . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Miles-Killebrew-Draft-Jersey/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Ameer-Abdullah-Draft-Jersey/ . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Clemson and Florida State showdown this weekend marks the sixth straight year that both teams will be ranked when they square off.Only this time, Florida State will be playing a different role than it is used to.The third-ranked Tigers (7-0, 4-0 ACC) are looking for their first win at Doak Campbell Stadium since 2006 and another shot at a national title. They face a No. 12 Seminoles squad -- who are rarely an underdog at home -- looking to play spoiler to Clemsons hopes of making the College Football Playoff for the second straight season.Florida State (5-2, 2-2) saw its playoff hopes severely diminished with losses to Louisville and North Carolina. Its only fleeting hope would be winning its final five games and hoping for a three-way tie in the Atlantic Division with Clemson and Louisville.Clemson has won 21 straight regular-season games, including 13 straight in the ACC, but needed overtime two weeks ago to hold off North Carolina State. Quarterback Deshaun Watson said that game was just another example that the margin for error the remainder of the season is very small.We got some breaks in the early part of the season, he said. This game will be nothing different for us. We understand that each game is big.The Tigers have been in position to win in their last three trips to Tallahassee. In 2010, they lost on a Dustin Hopkins 55-yard field goal as time expired. Two years later, they held a 21-14 lead at halftime before the Seminoles rallied for a 12-point win.The 2014 game has been a frequent topic of conversation this week. A Watson 2-yard touchdown gave Clemson a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead before FSU tied and eventually won 23-17 in overtime.We have played well in spurts down there in the last few years, we just havent been able to finish, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.Florida State is considered a home underdog for the first time since facing Oklahoma in 2011. Running back Dalvin Cook said the focus isnt on what could have beeen but how it can finish the season.ddddddddddddWere right here, were 5-2, were 12 in the nation, were right where we want to be at, he said. Weve got to take that next step in the second half of the season. I think guys will realize that.---Some other things to watch as Clemson looks for its second ever win in Tallahassee:GALLMANS HEALTH: Count on tailback Wayne Gallman in Clemsons starting lineup. How effective he can be is still a question. Gallman, who came through the concussion protocol during the Tigers bye week, and Swinney believe the injury wont have any lingering affects against the Seminoles.COOKS HEISMAN HOPES: Cook remains a longshot for the Heisman but has been averaging 227.5 total yards in his past four games with six touchdowns. Cook also leads backs in Power 5 conferences in rushing yards with 900.UNDER PRESSURE: Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois has been sacked 22 times, which is among the most in college football. Clemsons defense is tied for fourth in the nation in sacks and will look to limit the Seminoles to short throws.WILSONS ABSENSE: Florida State wide receiver Jesus Bobo Wilson, who is third in the nation in punt returns, is out due to a foot injury he suffered in the Oct. 15 win over Wake Forest. Wilson is also second on the team in receptions (30) and yards (390). Sophomore Nyqwan Murray will take the seniors place on punt returns.KEEP AN EYE ON: The receivers. Clemsons Mike Williams and Florida States Travis Rudolph are coming off career highs in their last game. Williams had 12 catches for 146 yards and a TD against North Carolina State and Rudolph had 13 receptions for 238 yards against Wake.---AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli contributed to this report from Clemson, South Carolina.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgFollow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy. Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Jerseys From China Jerseys NFL Cheap Disocunt Football Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Wholesale Jerseys 2018 NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Jerseys 2019 NFL Jerseys Outlet ' ' ' |
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