penalty kick on a rather immobile looking Victor Bernardez. So

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans have been concerned about their slow starts all season. After they fell behind 24-0 in the first quarter in a loss to Indianapolis, coach Bill OBrien is putting it on his team to change things.I think the players need to make up their minds that theyre going to start well, OBrien said.Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick isnt sure why theyve struggled so much early in games, but knows they have to figure out a way to turn it around.Just got to come out more focused I think, he said. More focused and ready to go. Just continue to make it a point of emphasis.Houston has scored just 14 points in the first quarter this season and all of those points came in a win over Oakland in Week 2. Since then theyve been incapable of doing anything on offence in the opening frame.OBrien said it might be as simple having one good thing happen early so theyll have something to build on.If we start the game with a positive play a€” first down, gain four, gain five; second-and-5, then gain three (and) then its a positive or manageable third down, OBrien said. We get that first first-down, were able to get into a good tempo, a good rhythm and were going.Many have blamed Houstons tough starts on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was 0 for 4 in a first quarter against the Colts where the team gained just two yards. But OBrien took up for his quarterback on Friday.When you look at the film, the film never lies, OBrien said. What the film shows us is that everybody on offence has to play better. Everybody. The line has to play better, the backs have to play better, the tight ends, the receivers and we have to coach better.Still, Fitzpatrick is quick to point out that he needs to do more early in games.There is still a lot of room for improvement, he said. Weve talked about getting off to better starts, but when we get in our groove you see what this offence can be. Its just a matter of doing it all the time.Perhaps more troubling than the slow start by the offence Thursday night was that the defence and special teams were also terrible in the first quarter. The defence allowed three touchdowns and a field goal in the first quarter and the special teams unit was surprised by an onside kick which the Colts recovered. OBrien said that when he watched the game film on Friday he saw that his team made an error on each of the games first 32 plays.Weve got to tackle better, he said. We gave up too many hit-and-yardage type plays because we didnt tackle, the first guy didnt make the tackle. Special teams, we just cant allow that to happen, that onside kick. Thats not good.The good news for the Texans is that theyve got a few extra days to prepare for their next game since they dont play again until a Monday night matchup at Pittsburgh on Oct. 20. Theres also a strong possibility they could get top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney back for that game, which would provide a boost to a defence that has been led by a stellar six games by defensive end J.J. Watt. Watt had two sacks on Thursday night and returned a fumble for a touchdown for his third score this season.Clowney has been out since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after injuring it in Houstons opener on Sept. 7.Hes progressing, OBrien said. I would say thats still 50-50 whether he plays in that game or not, but hes getting better. Hes working at it.Clowney is eager to get back, but hes leaving it to the medical staff to decide when hes ready to play.I talked to the trainers the other day about how Im responding to the drills and everything theyve got me doing, he said. Just time will tell. Its the healing process right now.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Discount MLB Jerseys . - The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys .ca NBA Power Rankings. Winners of 15 straight, with a healthy roster, the Spurs have overtaken the Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the number one ranking. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/ .C. -- Lucy Li made two double bogeys, a triple bogey and finished her historic round at the U. MLB Jerseys China . The Canadian defensive tackle suffered the injury on Monday and had tests done on Tuesday. He was a potential starter on the defensive line but head coach Mike OShea said he wasnt even thinking about the ratio when he got the news. Fake Nike MLB Jerseys . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest.I like alliteration. Its very radio friendly, perhaps not so much in print. It was the Ms that dominated the story-lines on what was a memorable weekend for the Whitecaps. Marketing: The Whitecaps should win an award for one of the best sporting campaigns this city has ever seen. Sometimes, consumers buy in early, and drive an event which then takes on a life of its own. And sometimes, a gentle nudge from creative types can spark the consumers imagination. What happened on Saturday was a perfect combination of both, punctuated by a thrilling, talking point laden 3-2 win. The level of detail and commitment by everyone involved, made for a day most of us wont soon forget. Manneh: The youngster started, and rewarded his manager with a terrific opening goal just 10 minutes in, which got the crowd involved, and the adrenaline pumping. I cant remember seeing the same player hit one post, before coolly floating in the rebound off the other upright. It was exactly what the Whitecaps needed. Morales: The refreshed looking midfield maestro ran the show in the first 45, scored from the penalty spot, and then less than a minute later added his third MLS goal with a perfect blast. He might have had two others earlier. It was the unbridled passion with which he celebrated the 3-0 goal that Whitecaps supporters will remember. He likes it here. He wants to win. Hes worth the price of admission. Mattocks: The young Jamaican has been arguably the most important player for Vancouver this season, when itt seemed like six months ago, he would be run out of town after some bizarre comments made while he was home.dddddddddddd. Hes embraced the coaching, his level of understanding has improved and his ability to terrorize defenders was plainly evident, as he earned another penalty kick on a rather immobile looking Victor Bernardez. So it should worry everyone in the Village that Mattocks had to be replaced early with what was described as a hamstring strain. The timing couldnt be worse given the schedule congestion thats ahead, and with the departure of another "M". Miller: We knew divorce was imminent, but most didnt expect the news on Sunday morning, especially after the Mattocks injury. Carl Robinson is trying to shape a young and hungry club, and while there does need to be some veteran guidance, the money versus performance return gap was widening, and becoming more difficult to justify. I also get the sense that the club wants to conduct more business, and that will be easier to accomplish with the budget relief theyll now have. Miller was a great pro, looked up to by his teammates and likely to land at least one more contract before his storied career is over. And if you turn an "M" upside down, it becomes a "W" something the Whitecaps desperately needed. With their "hang-on-for-dear-life" 3-2 triumph over San Jose, Vancouver went from being winless in four, to undefeated in three. A great start to the month of "M"ay. ' ' '