Gästebuch » each Friday during the season.Several punch

While No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan are among the nations top five scoring teams, the Big Ten Conference is just as good on defense.After the first month of the season, the league has seven of the nations top 25 defensive teams in terms of scoring defense, led by No. 8 Wisconsin. The Badgers are seventh, giving up an average of 11.8 points.Ohio State (12.3 points) is ninth, Iowa (13.5) is tied for 11th, Michigan (13.8) is 13th, Maryland and Northwestern are tied for 22nd at 17 points and Nebraska (18.0) is tied for 25th.Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said the conference was in a similar position halfway through last season.The defensive coaches in this league are very sound, he said. You dont see typically a lot of guys running uncovered on plays that go for 60, 70 or 80 yards. Most of the defenses have become very sound, team orientated and very athletic, talented and physical.Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said that many coaches have long adhered to the practice of putting their best recruits on defense.Looking at Michigans defense for this weekend, Chryst said there isnt one player to stop. There are a lot of playmakers.You take those good players and you coach them up, so with a good scheme and good players who understand what they are doing, that makes for good defense, Chryst said.Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh sees the same thing on Wisconsin, which is giving up just 80.5 yards rushing and 277 yards in total.I had the pleasure of coaching (former Badger linebacker) Chris Borland in San Francisco, and I say this as the highest form of compliment, it looks like 11 Chris Borlands out there, the way they play, said Harbaugh, whose team is giving up an average 269.8 yards.If there is a common link between the better defenses, its their ability to force turnovers. All seven teams have a plus figure in the turnover differential, with Ohio State being plus-9.Surprisingly, the Buckeyes retooled their defense this season after seeing defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Eli Apple taken in the first 10 picks of the NFL draft.Rutgers coach Chris Ash, who was the Ohio State co-defensive coordinator last year, is not surprised the Buckeyes have made the transition.Ohio State recruits at a high level, its just really reload, the next man in, he said. When someone goes to the NFL or their career is over, there is another talented player waiting to burst on the scene and became another Ohio State legend.Other notes from around the Big Ten:PROMISING PURDUEPurdue (2-1) has its first winning record entering October since 2012.I think we are work in progress, said Purdue coach Darrell Hazell, who won six games in his first three seasons. I think they are starting to understand all the things it takes to win games. They are playing hard and fast and with confidence. I am sitting here feeling good about the team but we have a long way to go.HARBAUGH-CHRYST FRIENDSHIPMichigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst have been friends for almost three decades, when Chrysts father, George, was the head coach at Wisconsin-Platteville.Its been a family friendship, the Chrysts and the Harbaughs going back to 1987, said Harbaugh, whose No. 4 Wolverines host the No. 8 Badgers on Saturday. Our dads were friends, the sons were friends, and its been a 30-year friendship.Chryst was a San Diego Chargers tight ends coach when Harbaugh was finishing his NFL career. Chrysts brother, Geep, was the offensive teams offensive coordinator. Geep Chryst also served as an assistant coach under Harbaugh when he coached the San Francisco 49ers.BALL CONTROLMaryland (3-0) has not turned the ball over under new coach DJ Durkin. It is the only Power Five program and one of just three in the FBS that have not committed a turnover this season.FRUSTRATED FERENTZIowa coach Kirk Ferentz is a little frustrated with the inconsistency of the calls regarding cut blocks by offensive linemen.In four games, he said, he has seen four different interpretations. He lost a 75-yard touchdown run last weekend against Rutgers on a cut-block penalty and voiced his concern after the game.Once we start conference (play), I think there will be an effort made to get everyone on the same page, Ferentz said. Hopefully, thats coaches, players and the guys working the game. Clarity is always a good thing on any issue. Mariners Jerseys 2020 . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Mariners Jerseys 2019 . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. https://www.cheapmariners.com/ . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Stitched Mariners Jerseys . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Fake Mariners Jerseys . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Three Buffalo Bills defensive backs are paying a price for their involvement in a pre-game, on-field altercation with members of the New England Patriots last weekend.Safety Robert Blanton says the NFL fined him $21,000 and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman says he was fined $10,000. Safety Aaron Williams was also fined, but wouldnt reveal how much. Its up there, Williams said.The three spoke to The Associated Press after practice Thursday. Its unclear whether the NFL fined any of the Patriots players involved because the league releases that information each Friday during the season.Several punches were thrown during a shoving match between players and coaches that erupted about an hour before kickoff.Blanton said the altercation started once New England quarterback Jacoby Brissett and rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell jogged through Buffalos defensive backs drills for a second time.ddddddddddddBlanton ran at and shoved Brissett in the chest. While Brissett kept running, Mitchell retaliated by shoving Blanton.Blanton responded by punching Mitchell in the chest and head-butting him, which led to several players and assistant coaches getting involved.Williams shoved a Patriots assistant coach. Then, as the players began to separate, Robey-Coleman landed a punch on Mitchells facemask.Following Buffalos 16-0 win, Blanton said he warned Brissett after the quarterback ran through the drills the first time. Blanton said the Patriots were being disrespectful and could have caused an injury because defensive backs cant see whos behind them when theyre back-pedaling during their drills.---AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '