Dein erstes Forum » teammates trust them.Improvement on defense

CHASKA, Minn. -- The method will undoubtedly be questioned, as it was two years ago at a Gleneagles news conference where you couldnt thaw the ice with a blow torch. Another chill filled the air as Phil Mickelson spoke Wednesday at Hazeltine National.The World Golf Hall of Famer has been blunt about the U.S. Ryder Cup shortfalls, making clear in the aftermath of the 2014 defeat that changes were needed to promote success. Mickelson also took the controversial step of criticizing then-captain Tom Watson in front of the world.On Wednesday, Mickelson took Hal Sutton to task for a 12-year-old simmering annoyance of being paired with Tiger Woods for two sessions at Oakland Hills in 2004, using it to illustrate his point.Thats an example of starting with the captain that put us in a position to fail, and we failed monumentally, absolutely, Mickelson said. But to say you just need to play better; that is so misinformed because you will play how you prepare.Mickelson, 46, seemingly has a lot at stake when the 41st Ryder Cup begins Friday at Hazeltine.He put himself front and center as the man who pushed for and got significant change in the U.S. Ryder Cup structure, with his critical comments at Gleneagles followed by the launch of a task force that chose Davis Love III as the captain and set forth a plan that will be in place for years to come.If that is putting any extra pressure on Mickelson to perform, he isnt showing it.In my 20 years, this is the first time that we are actually involved in the decision-making process, Mickelson said. And the decisions we are accountable for every single year, we now have involvement in those decisions, and that gives us a whole platform to work forward.This is the foundation week for us. This is the week where all the past captains, past vice captains, PGA of America officials have had involvement in the decision-making process. And from this, well work forward and keep continuity into 2018 and from that well build on in 2020.Mickelson made no secret of his distaste for the old process in the aftermath of his eighth Ryder Cup defeat in 10 tries two years ago, when the U.S. lost 16? to 11? and he butted heads with Watson.Afterward, Mickelson wondered why the U.S. had strayed from the winning formula it had used in 2008, when captain Paul Azinger implemented a pods system with heavy input from the players.Watson ruled in a heavy-handed manner, which might have worked for him in 1993 but failed miserably two years ago -- when he got his second crack at the captains job after having not been part of any Ryder Cup in the intervening years. And he was picked by former PGA president Ted Bishop with no input from the players.And while it seemed in bad form to be so openly harsh -- even indirectly -- toward Watson, the prevailing wisdom has been that Mickelson made a bold move and was willing to take the heat to bring change.I think he knew the only way it would get the attention that it needed was to say it then and there, said a source who was privy to the inner workings of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team. In 08, there was a plan and I think everybody knew exactly what [was happening] for the entire week. Other times its been more fly by the seat of your pants.You can boil it down to play better or make more putts. But what Phil was getting at was its easier to prepare and spend all your energy on your golf game. I think Phil and others felt they spent a lot of energy trying to figure out what youre going to do. That uncertainty takes energy away from you.That is exactly what Mickelson referenced Wednesday as it applied to the 2004 Ryder Cup and his pairing with Woods. Mickelson and Woods were not told about the plan for them to play together until two days prior. Mickelson said he had difficulty hitting the golf ball Woods uses, hence he spent considerable time figuring that out, neglecting other parts of his game.Two years ago, there were instances of pairings by Watson in which the players had not practiced together.Those are just a few of the examples over the years that rankled Mickelson.I think it took a lot of guts for Phil to do that, and he took a bit of a hit for it, the source said. That was Phil saying, I really care about the Ryder Cup and Im tired of us losing. Mickelson was part of the 11-member task force that set out to change the losing ways and build toward the future.But he has long admitted that, ultimately, playing better will be the key. Although Mickelson has gone 5-2 in the past two Ryder Cups -- in losing efforts -- his overall record of 16-19-6 has often been cited as a reason the Americans have underperformed.Mickelson, however, is not alone. Most of the top players on the American side have losing records, including Jim Furyk and Woods. All have had numerous partners in the team matches, a factor cited in the failure to build consistency or continuity.Phil is going to tell you how it is, Jordan Spieth said. Hes going to come up to each and every person and tell them something that he really appreciates and likes about their game and how confident he is in how they are going to play that week. Its a great feeling, and it does give you an extra level of confidence. He sets high expectations for this team, just like our captains do, and they should.Almost to a man, the players enjoy Mickelsons company. They love his stories, appreciate his needling, appreciate how he attempts to bring out the best in them. Even Woods, who has become friendlier with Mickelson over time, has been in constant communication with his longtime rival over the past few weeks in his role as a vice captain, strategizing over pairings.When Phil gets up to speak, he obviously has a purpose when he says something, Love said. Hes not winging it. Hes been a team leader Id say the last six or eight teams Ive been around. Hes been a leader on the golf course or in the locker room or in the team room.Mickelson took the unusual step last week at the Tour Championship of switching driver shafts so he could hit the ball farther this week at Hazeltine. The move hurt him in the short term during the lucrative Tour Championship, causing him to struggle as he adjusted.Lefty didnt care. He noted that he had already won two Tour Championships, that the Ryder Cup was his main goal. He spent a good bit of time trying to make the situation better.Perhaps the biggest thing he can do now? Set an example by playing well.Yeezy 350 v2 Static Fake .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Wholesale Yeezy 350 V2 . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy-350-v3-wholesale.html . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Yeezy Boost 350 V3 Replica For Sale . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Yeezy 350 Mens Wholesale . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Coach Dan Quinn appreciates how the Atlanta Falcons are positioned atop the NFC South, holding a one-game lead over Tampa Bay with two games left in the regular season.Now if the Falcons could just stop getting key players hurt, but Quinn is hardly despondent. Inexperienced players are stepping into big roles and impressing the coaching staff.I know were judged by what happens on Sundays, but honestly I thought the game from yesterday was won during the week, Quinn said Monday. It was the preparation that the guys put in and having that mindset to go for it.When Atlanta (9-5) visits Carolina (5-8) this weekend, linebacker DeVondre Campbell will not play after sustaining a concussion in Sundays blowout win over San Francisco.Quinn isnt sure of the status of tight end Austin Hooper, who left the game late with a knee injury. Campbells status, however, is a bigger concern for a defense that has already lost cornerback Desmond Trufant, safety Kemal Ishmael, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and defensive end Derrick Shebly to season-ending surgeries. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn is likely inactive for a fourth straight week with a sore knee.Its rough and a bummer for those guys, Quinn said. We have a number of guys who are ready if called upon, so well take it through the week as we get ready to play.The Falcons hope that All-Pro receiver Julio Jones, out the last two games with a sprained toe, and cornerback Jalen Collins, sidelined against the 49ers with a knee injury, will be ready to play against Carolina.Despite Jones absence, Quinn was delighted how well Aldrick Robinson filled in with a team-high 111 yards receiving on four catches. The coach also praised C.J. Goodwin, a receiver-turned-cornerback, and Deji Olaltoye, promoted from the practice squad three weeks ago.All the gguys have been in the system long enough to know how we play, Quinn said.dddddddddddd. This is the technique we do.Without Hooper, the Falcons took another hit at tight end. Starter Jacob Tammes season ended in Week 8, which leaves only Levine Toilolo and undrafted rookie free agent Joshua Perkins as the lone players at their position.Without Trufant, the teams best defender, and Collins, a second-round draft pick last year, the Falcons used a four-man rotation at cornerback. Brian Poole, an undrafted rookie free agent who has started seven of his 14 games at nickel, played on every snap. Robert Alford, a full-time starter the last three years, took all but two snaps.Goodwin and Olatoye subbed in for each other all afternoon at the outside spot opposite Alford.Those guys have good length, Quinn said. The times we played them in man-to-man, they really showed up. We thought theyd play well. They were ready to go. Their coaches trust them, their teammates trust them.Improvement on defense has been a season-long quest. The Falcons allowed between 28 and 33 points over the first four weeks, but over the last four games, theyve forced more turnovers and opponents are scoring less.The emergence of second-year end-outside linebacker Vic Beasley, the NFL sacks leader with 14.5, and inside linebacker Deion Jones, one of the leagues most productive rookies, has been timely.Even when (the 49ers) got a few first downs, we made sure that we stopped them, safety Ricardo Allen said. Even though they got a touchdown or two, we kept playing the whole game and got our ball back to our offense and you see what they did.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '