Pirate Galaxy » CUP19 June - Australia v Germany - Sochi22

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Marcus Mariota is showing he can take good care of the football after the Tennessee quarterback took some well-deserved criticism for too many turnovers in his young career.Mariota and his Titans teammates have not turned the ball over in back-to-back games and in three of the last four overall; they are 2-2 in those contests.The second-year signal caller shared the credit with all of the Tennessee offense Wednesday when asked about the improved ball security. Wide receiver Rishard Matthews pointed the finger back at the quarterback.Hes doing a good job making the calls, making the adjustments and getting the ball out when he needs to or taking off if he needs to, Matthews said. So its all on him controlling the ball and everything.That has allowed the Titans (5-6) to improve their turnover ratio to minus-2 in a season where theyve had eight interceptions and lost five fumbles. Mariota was intercepted five times through the Titans 1/3 start, and now he has been picked off just three times over the past seven games.Coach Mike Mularkey said ball security has been a top priority and that the Titans cant talk about it anymore than they do or practice it anymore. The coach believes experience is helping Mariota learn and improve with now 23 career starts.Its some of the bad experiences of what has happened because of those turnovers and the results of some of the turnovers, Mularkey said. Thats a tough lesson to learn for a player. I promise you thats part of the process of him learning how to take care of the football.Mariota also is benefiting from better protection. Hes only been sacked 18 times this season, and thats allowing him to throw the ball down the field more. He currently is tied with Andrew Luck for third in the NFL for the most completions of 20 yards or longer. Mariota has 41 such completions, seven of those for touchdowns, putting behind only Atlantas Matt Ryan (46) and Drew Brees (42).Chicago coach John Fox, who will look to force Mariota into a couple of turnovers when the Titans visit his Bears (2-8) on Sunday, has been impressed.I think Marcus is doing an outstanding job delivering the ball with still keeping emphasis in the run game, Fox said in a conference call.The second-year quarterback also has thrown two or more TDs while posting a passer rating of at least 100 in nine of his 23 games. If he does it again Sunday, Mariota would be just the fourth player in NFL history to do that 10 times in his first two seasons behind Dan Marino (14), Russell Wilson of Seattle (12) and Kurt Warner with St. Louis (11).In franchise history, only four quarterbacks have done that at least 10 times in their entire career led by Steve McNair (29), Warren Moon (26), George Blanda (17) and Dan Pastorini (10).Tennessee is trying to stay in the playoff chase with five games left, and Matthews said having Mariota helps.Weve been fortunate to have Marcus healthy, knock on wood, and hopefully he can continue to make plays for us, Matthews said.Game notes The Titans gave RB DeMarco Murray (toe) the day off Wednesday. LT Taylor Lewan (left knee), CB Brice McCain (knee) and TE Phillip Supernaw (concussion) also did not practice. Mularkey said Lewan is being evaluated daily and hope he can play Sunday. ... The Titans announced a $25,000 donation to The Woodmore Fund for the families of the victims in the Chattanooga bus crash that killed five children Monday. They also will wear a helmet sticker W.E.S. for Woodmore Elementary against the Bears.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL.---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Yeezy Boost 750 Kopen . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Yeezy Kopen . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.yeezysnederland.com/yeezy-boost-350-kopen.html . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Kopen . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Nederland . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. The tough matches keep coming for Ange Postecoglous Socceroos, pitted against world champions Germany and 2014 World Cup nemesis Chile in the draw for the 2017 Confederations Cup on Sunday morning (AEDT).The two strongest teams in the World Cup lead-in tournament await the Socceroos in Russia next year, with an as-yet-unknown African side making up Australias four-team group.With the possible exception of Mexico - which will play off in group A with hosts Russia, Portugal and New Zealand - its the toughest possible draw for Postecoglous men.Not that the national team coach is bothered.Its exciting, Postecoglou said from Russia, where he attended the draw in Kazan on Sunday morning (AEDT).Both Chile and Germany are at least as strong, if not stronger than they were three years ago.Both ranked inside the top five in the world. It gives you a great opportunity to measure yourself against that.Australia has recent experience with both of its confirmed opponents.The Socceroos earned a 2-2 draw with Germany in March last year in Kaiserslautern.The two nations will open their Confederations Cup campaign on June 19 in Sochi, the host city of the last Winter Olympics.Australia will then face the African champions - to be decided in February - on June 22 in Saint Petersburg, before finishing their group stage matches on June 25 in Moscow against Chile.The South Americans were one of the opponents in Australias last World Cup campaign, defeating the Socceroos 3-1.Australia was also beaten by eventual third-placed finishers the Netherlands and world champions Spain in the toughest group of the tournament.Postecoglou said history with world No.3 Germany and world No.4 Chile didnt make his task any easier, but would boost his players as they shoot for the 20188 World Cup.ddddddddddddIt gives you a measuring stick as to where youre at, he said.For a lot of these players weve had together these last three years they will have been through a World Cup, an Asian Cup and now a Confederations Cup.Its a great way to really get a strong foundation in terms of their international careers.Australia will play at least five games - and up to seven should they progress from the group - during a busy June.A home World Cup qualifier with Saudi Arabia on June 8 will provide a Confederations Cup sendoff with Postecoglou looking to add another friendly.Well have at least a couple weeks with the players (before the Germany game) which is great for us leading into a major tournament, he said.Well look to play at least one more preparation game after the Saudi game knowing weve got that 10-day window.Minnows New Zealand, the Oceania champions, will play off in the tournament opener against the hosts on June 17.THE SOCCEROOS DRAW AT THE 2017 CONFEDERATIONS CUP19 June - Australia v Germany - Sochi22 June - Australia v African champions - Saint Petersburg25 June - Australia v Chile - Moscow28/29 June - Possible semi-final - Kazan/Sochi2 July - Possible final/third-place playoff - Moscow/Saint Petersburg* All kick-off times are 6pm local (1am AEDT the following day).THE SOCCEROOS HISTORY IN THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP* 1997 Runners-up - defeated 6-0 by Brazil in the final* 2001 Third place - defeated 1-0 by Japan in the semi-final, then beat Brazil 1-0 in the third-place playoff* 2005 Group stage exit - defeated in all three group stage games, losing 4-3 to Germany, 4-2 to Argentina and 2-0 to Tunisia. 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