Kopfgelt » Big 12. Odds are against NFL teams making the playoffs after

AUSTIN, Texas -- Charlie Strong promised changes on Monday. He put the blame for a 50-43 road loss to Cal on coaches, not players. He used the word accountability repeatedly.The message was clear, even if he wouldnt say it: Strong is going to take over Texas defense. Hes going to devote more of his time over the next two weeks to repairing that unit than anything else. The man was hired at Texas for his reputation as a defensive guru. Texas needs that defensive guru right now.Had Golden Bears running back?Vic Enwere not dropped the ball on his last-minute touchdown run, Cal wouldve dropped 57 points on the Longhorns. That wouldve been the most Strong had ever allowed in his 18 years as a head coach or defensive coordinator.Strong isnt blaming the players. He rarely does. He instead argues his coaches have to do a better job preparing those players.That was on us, Strong said. It was on us, big time.But lets be clear about Strongs best approach going forward: Demoting or firing defensive coordinator Vance Bedford wont accomplish much. Thats essentially just a public reprimand, and one that doesnt help his players much. No matter who holds the DC title, this is supposed to be Strongs defense.And he must know how that would look. A year ago, he responded to his first loss by demoting his offensive coordinators one game into the season. Making that same change a year later with the defense would be viewed by many as a panic move.The problem with Texas defense isnt the talent. Players say its not the scheme or plan, either. They know they executed that plan poorly with too much miscommunication, and Cal quarterback?Davis Webb made them pay for it with nearly 400 passing yards.We all watch film together. We just didnt show that, Texas cornerback?Sheroid Evans?said. We didnt show that we?put in the extra hours of studying our opponent, and we gotta get back to it next week.Strong stayed vague about his renovation plans on Monday, saying multiple times that hes going to use the bye week to evaluate everything. He acknowledged more young players will play. He pointed out that the defensive line isnt getting enough pressure. He said the busts on big plays need to stop.Hes right to be concerned about what Cal did to his defense, because most Big 12 offenses will do the same thing. Take the absence of a consistent pass rush, for example. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Webb was only pressured on seven of 40 attempts and faced just four blitzes. Texas defensive line could not get to him in time, and its secondary wasnt playing tight enough to permit risky pressures.That will be a familiar story in Big 12 play if Texas cant clean up its play on the back end, especially because Big 12 teams will run the ball the way Cal couldnt.Texas biggest problem now is the fact there are five more quarterbacks just as dangerous as Webb on the schedule.?Patrick Mahomes II, Baker Mayfield, Seth Russell, Mason Rudolph and Kenny Hill can do all the things Webb did -- and more.If Strong hopes to win eight games this year, hell have to come up with a way to beat two or three of those five passers. Texas defense only survived against one of them, Mayfield, a year ago.Youre going to play some outstanding offenses, Strong said. Theyre going to make some plays. The thing about it is, you just cant give up the plays we gave up and expect to go win, and especially on the road.Youd think by now Strong is starting to take these defensive lapses personally. He built his career and reputation on playing dominant defense. Hes a head coach today because of his dominant defenses.In his 92 games as defensive coordinator at Florida, his defense gave up 40 points three times. In 52 games at Louisville, his defense gave up 40 once.In 28 games at Texas, his defense has given up 40 points eight times.Sure, he finally has an offense at Texas that can score 40 points, as well. And the Big 12 is a different beast than what he used to face in the SEC and Big East/AAC. But the number of points that the Texas defense is yielding still has to bother Strong.As he put it Monday: If I can get 24 to 30 points on offense, I should go win the football game.Well find out soon enough whether hell put himself in charge of making that happen. He can tinker with his staff and his blueprint all he wants, but no matter what, this is Strongs defense and its Strongs responsibility. Kelly Oubre Jr. Suns Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Custom Phoenix Suns Jerseys . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. https://www.thesunslockerroom.com/Tyler-Johnson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Ray Spalding Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Marquese Chriss Suns Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Odds are against NFL teams making the playoffs after a 1-3 start.Only 14 percent of teams that started 1-3 made the playoffs since 1990, when the playoff format?was?changed.?Thats 26 out of 183. There is some recent success, however. The Texans and Chiefs did it last season.What makes it tough this year is the number of 1-3 teams -- 13 -- and the number of times they face each other. For example, this week, the 1-3 Titans play the 1-3 Dolphins, the 1-3?Bears play the 1-3?Colts and the 1-3 Buccaneers play the 1-3?Panthers.Heres?how I rank the 1-3 teams on their chances to rebound and how likely they are to make the playoffs, from best to worst:1.dddddddddddd Carolina PanthersUnless the Falcons run away with the NFC South, which will be tough because of their schedule, the Panthers have the best chance to bounce back and make a playoff run. While their pass rush has diminished from last season and they have major problems -- and inexperience -- in the secondary, the Panthers are the only team in the division with an accomplished defense. I still think theyll win the NFC South, and that might take only nine or 10 wins. ' ' '