Dein erstes Forum » the case.Such has been Woakes rise, th

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (STATS) -- Its being hailed as the season of the quarterback in the Northeast Conference.That has caught the attention of defenses across the league.Every team seems like they have a (quarterback) that can make plays, Wagner coach Jason Houghtaling said. Its an exciting thing for the conference, but its a real tough thing to game plan against.Its such a good season for signal-callers that Dillon Buechel, who leads defending champion Duquesne, was voted the NEC preseason quarterback even though Sacred Heart standout RJ Noel has been the All-NEC first-team selection each of the past three postseasons and is returning for his senior campaign. Add in the likes of Saint Francis Zack Drayer and Bryants Dalton Easton, who are third-year starters, and the defenses will have to raise their play.Duquesne was favored over Sacred Heart in the NEC preseason poll, gaining six of the seven first-place votes. Saint Francis was third followed by Bryant, Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris and Wagner.People arent necessarily focusing on the defenses leading up to preseason camp next month, but they will after realizing that will be a difference maker across the NEC. Saint Francis led the conference and Duquesne was second in scoring defense last season.And its not a coincidence those two teams met for the title on the final Saturday of the regular season. Duquesne won 30-20.I think year in and year out the defenses in this conference keep getting better and better, Saint Francis coach Chris Villarial said. I know from sitting back and watching, guys are getting bigger, the holes are closing much faster.The feeling among NEC coaches is the defenses will have to blitz and get pressure on the quarterbacks while also being disciplined on the back end. They dont want to let the QBs get a rhythm going.The NECs top two quarterbacks are fourth-year starters. Buechel has great timing from the pocket and terrific skills position players surrounding him. Noel, whos won 25 games and 2013 and 14 conference titles, is the more mobile QB, but he needs to overcome the loss of All-America wide receiver Tyler Dube.Buechel (7,455) and Noel (7,111) head into the season nearing the NECs all-time career passing mark of 8,803 yards, so it was realistic for the coaches to make Buechel the preseason quarterback. But, said Sacred Heart coach Mark Nofri, Knowing RJ, it might drive him. Hes a competitor.The other teams in the conference have an experienced quarterback as well. Central Connecticut State (Jake Dolegala) and Robert Morris (Matt Barr) can grow behind their sophomores, while Wagners Alex Thomson got nine starts after replacing an injured Chris Andrews. The junior must hold off Syracuse transfer A.J. Long.From top to bottom, Bryant linebacker Marquis Watson said, the quarterbacks that teams are putting out on the field are amazing. From a defensive perspective, we have to line up and go against these guys, youve got to bring your A game, your best game.Most of them can run, pass, so its a couple things you have to worry about, its not just one, said Duquesne linebacker Christian Kuntz, the 2015 NEC defensive player of the year. Its always fun going against everyone, especially talented guys because you want to go against the best competition. Its going to be a fun year.Duquesnes fun might only come with another conference title. The Dukes are the hunted after last years breakthrough season. While they lost good leadership in their graduated seniors, they return 13 starters from the 8-4 squad.And coach Jerry Schmitt senses they are hungry for more success.I think our guys do a great job of not just measuring ourselves on wins and losses, he said. They understand thats what is the final product, but I think they do a really good job on getting better, focusing on each and every week and each and every game. We were getting on the plane (to attend NEC media day), and one of my friends noticed Christian and said, Hey, we expect an undefeated season. The first thing he and Dillon said was, One at a time.NORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLHead Coaches Poll1. Duquesne (6 first-place votes)2. Sacred Heart (1)3. Saint Francis4. Bryant5. Central Connecticut State6. Robert Morris7. WagnerNORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAMOffenseQB -- Dillon Buechel, Duquesne, Sr.RB -- Marcus Bagley, Saint Francis, Jr.RB -- Cameron Nash, Central Connecticut State, Jr.WR -- Wayne Capers, Duquesne, Sr.WR -- Kyle Buss, Robert Morris, So.WR -- Moses Webb, Sacred Heart, Sr.TE/HB -- Ryan Owens, Wagner, GradOL -- Jimmy Marks, Saint Francis, Sr.OL -- Tyler Cardoze, Bryant, Sr.OL -- Matt Diaz, Wagner, Sr.OL -- Sean Merrill, Sacred Heart, Sr.OL -- Ben Huss Duquesne, Jr.DefenseDL -- Ryan Cottrell, Sacred Heart, Sr.DL -- Asia Bolling, Central Connecticut State, Sr.DL -- Wesley Nagaseu, Saint Francis, Sr.DL -- Jake Radziukinas, Duquesne, Sr.LB -- Christian Kuntz, Duquesne, Sr.LB -- James Rentz, Sacred Heart, Sr.LB -- Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Jr.LB -- Randall Laguerre, Central Connecticut State, Jr.DB -- Lorenzo Jerome, Saint Francis, Sr.DB -- Marcelis Branch, Robert Morris, Sr.DB -- Chuckie Wingate, Bryant, Sr.DB -- Andy Smigiera, Robert Morris, Sr.Special TeamsPK -- Lance Geesey, Saint Francis, Sr.P -- Bryan Rafano, Wagner, Sr.RS -- Lorenzo Jerome, Saint Francis, Sr. Cheap Jordans For Sale . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Cheap Jordan Shoes Free Shipping .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. http://www.realjordanshoescheap.com/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Discount Jordan Shoes . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Cheap Real Jordans . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Until this week, the closest Chris Woakes had come to a Test on his home ground was working with the groundstaff during the famous 2005 Ashes encounter, when the Warwickshire Academy players were asked to help with the covers.And if, six months ago, you had said that he would be the talk of Birmingham ahead of this Edgbaston Test there would have been some quizzical looks.Woakes finished the South Africa tour dispirited and frustrated: after Centurion, where he took 1 for 144, six Tests had brought eight wickets at an unflattering average of 63.75. When there was a spot for a spare pace bowler at the start of the summer it went to Jake Ball. Woakes knew he had slipped down the pecking order. It could have been a summer in the county game.Then Ben Stokes knee went in the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley, England wanted as close to like-for-like as they could find and Woakes took a career-best 9 for 36 against Durham.Now, four matches into his comeback, Woakes has taken 26 wickets at 13.84, 18 of them in the two Tests against Pakistan, 11 at Lords when he filled the hole left by James Andersons absence. He has shown he is far more than just injury cover for both Anderson and Stokes, his form with bat and ball securing a first-choice place in the XI.On Wednesday or Thursday, weather permitting, he will mark his batting guard or measure out his run in front of the stands that he used to sit in as a kid. Somewhere among the crowd will be friends (plenty of them, judging by the ticket requests he has received over recent days) and family - including his father, Roger, who is unable to watch his son overseas due to suffering from claustrophobia, which prevents him from flying - those he used to come down to the ground with when an England career was still a far-off dream.In a turn of fate, the opening day of the Test will come ten years and a day since Woakes first-class debut against West Indies A on this ground in a Warwickshire side that also included Moeen Ali. He took the wickets of Sylvester Joseph, Jason Mohammad and Sewnarine Chattergoon while making 4 batting at No. 9.Now, after 10 Tests, he sits with a batting average of 35.00 and bowling average of 25.58. The sample size remains small, but the turnaround has been remarkable.It will be a special week, he says, after Centurion it would be silly to think Id have the summer I have had. I had doubts that I may not play Test cricket again unless there were quite a few injuries, but Id have been disappointed if Centurion was my last game because I knew I had so much more to offer.I actually bowled well in the first Test in Durban and probably didnt get the rewards, had Hashim Amla dropped. Who knows if that had gone in, you end up getting a five-for. It just wasnt working for me. I then hhad four weeks off without playing and didnt bowl well in the nets leading into the last Test.dddddddddddd I just didnt feel as good as I could have been, so it wasnt a great position to be going into a Test match.I was scratching my head a little, especially after Centurion. I can do it at first-class level, why arent I showing it at the next level? But its amazing what six months can do for you.There hasnt been any magical formula to Woakes summer of success. However, the increase in pace has been noticeable and now he has been able to marry it with accuracy helped, he says, by not bowling day-in day-out at county level.I fell into a trap in my early years of just trying to pitch it up, swing it and conserve some energy because I knew Id have to bowl 25 overs a day. We all know the schedule is crazy. Now I bowl a little less but at full tilt, but the most important thing is I use my front arm more and my run up is a bit quicker.It sounds two simple things, but to put them into practice is actually quite difficult. Id put on the pace quite quickly but my accuracy suffered. It took a while, it didnt happen overnight, probably the last two years.Still, the margins between success and failure remain small. Woakes, himself, has barely noticed what others - notably assistant coach Paul Farbrace - believes has made a key difference.Farby feels Ive bowled a fraction fuller this summer. In previous years he felt I was a little bit safe, bowling a little bit short, worried about getting driven or attacking the stumps. I havent tried to do it on purpose but that might be the case.Such has been Woakes rise, that he is being seen as an integral part for England this week by his more senior team-mates. Stuart Broad has spoken about using his local knowledge but, in the slightly deferential manner that is reflective of Woakes character, he says there is not a massive amount of insider tips to be given out.Warwickshire have sometimes played two spinners here this season, but Woakes expects more grass to be left on than for county games, although the surface certainly looked less green than last years Ashes encounter.You generally want to bowl a bit fuller. Its all about conditions, I know people say that about Lords but its massive here. Sometimes you go through periods when the ball does nothing because the sun is out then in overcast conditions it can be completely different. It almost looks a different colour when the clouds come out.With or without cloud cover, Woakes is proving himself a Test bowler.Investec is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. For more on Investec private banking, visit investec.co.uk/banking ' ' '