Pirate Galaxy » erative to have a consistent operation

RIO DE JANEIRO -- As coach Ben Ryan savored Fijis wildly popular gold-medal rugby success at the Rio Olympics, a smidgen of doubt disrupted his celebration.Could he just walk away from this? Really?Three years after being hired by Fiji to get its sevens team in shipshape condition and coach it to Olympic gold, Ryan fulfilled his contract in spades after his team blew away Britain 43-7 in the final Thursday at Deodoro Stadium.Its been always our plan for three years; get them back to No. 1, win world titles, and then claim this first (Olympic) gold medal, he said. The boys were on another scale of phenomenal.So whats he doing for an encore? Seriously considering going back to coaching 15s.About a year ago, I knew I wanted to leave, and wanted to go back into 15s, but the more this sevens train has carried on and the more Ive enjoyed it, its almost jumping off at the wrong time now, Ryan said.His contract ends Sept. 3, and hes told the Fiji Rugby Union hes taking a break for a few weeks to consider his options and make sure he picks the right decision. He added that he may or may not return, but they should keep the door open. And because he didnt want to leave anyone in the lurch, he said hes Ive drawn up a calendar for the next two years for them.In terms of 15s jobs, he said he didnt expect to be pigeon-holed like he used to be, when being a sevens coach was a black mark on a resume.A coach is a coach is a coach, he said. The way he wanted to play was more akin to Super Rugby than the Premiership in his native England.The English Rugby Union fired Ryan after seven years in charge of its sevens side and straight after leading it to the 2013 Sevens World Cup final in Moscow. Ryan said he had already become disillusioned with his employer before that and was grateful to receive a quick offer from Fiji to take over its sevens team and program.He was happy even though he wasnt paid for the first few months and resources were very limited. Fiji helped him find my fire again.Discovering an unfit team with a poor diet, he made the players buy into his rules by threatening not to select people who couldnt follow them. When they won their second tournament under Ryan in Dubai, crushing New Zealand 44-0 in the semifinals -- an effort Ryan never saw again until the Rio final -- the players were convinced Ryan knew what he was doing.Hes introduced his team to lean meats and salads, dropped carbohydrates, worked hard on their fitness, banned cellphones -- including his own -- before and during tournaments, and cut down on their drinking.Along the way, he has faced surreal moments, like the time an 80-year-old man walked eight hours just to shake his hand at training.He was telling the truth, Ryan said. I saw his shoes.He was close to being the most popular man in Fiji even before the gold medal win. Now hes shattered that ceiling.Easily recognized by his ginger hair, stubble and skin not made for the tropics, Ryan cant walk anywhere without being mobbed for photos. His car is so well known that villagers stop and wave. Hes had babies named after him.Yet, here he was, downplaying his role in Fijis first Olympic medal, let alone the countrys first gold medal.I feel very lucky that Im in charge of such an unbelievable group of athletes with a country behind us thats so passionate about rugby sevens, he said. Im a small part of all of this. Its the team really. The coach just sort of points and blows his whistle.The whistleblower had a feeling in the changing room that his team was up for the Olympic final, but even he was amazed at how well they executed the game plan: Contesting kickoffs, staying on their feet in tackles and offloading.We showcased Fijian rugby, and everybody who was watching, maybe even the British supporters, can have a smile, he said.He expected Fiji to be going crazy in celebration, and contemplated what epic welcome is in store for the team when they return home.When they won the sevens world series last year for the first time in nine years, their bus took nine hours on the normally three-hour drive from Nadi airport to the capital Suva, because kids and babies were thrust in front, forcing them to stop and get out for photos.If his players got a vote, theres no way they would let their beloved chief leave.Our performances speak of how good coach is, and weve been blessed he chose to come and coach Fiji, and set things straight with the boys, and bring out the real Fiji, captain Osea Kolinisau said.For years, weve been trying to get back the Fijian flair, and what Ben did is bring that out, and a lot of consistency that was lacking in our game, he said. 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OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Justin Tucker has a knack for putting the exclamation point on drives that come up short of the goal line.Tucker has kicked nine field goals this season for the Baltimore Ravens, who are unbeaten after three games primarily because of his unfailing accuracy -- especially with the outcome hanging in the balance.Since landing a four-year, $6.8 million contract during the offseason, Tucker has scored in a big way for Baltimore. He hasnt missed a kick and accounted for all 12 of the teams fourth-quarter points, including a game-winning, 53-yard field goal last Sunday in a 19-17 win at Jacksonville.The kick -- changed officially from 54 yards by the NFL on Wednesday -- concluded a desperate drive by Joe Flacco that fizzled at the Jaguars 35.When games come down to the final possession, Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said, you want a quarterback with ice in his veins, and you (darn) sure want a kicker with ice in his veins as well.Although the Ravens have thus far reached the end zone only four times, Tucker has rescued the offense by scoring 31 of the teams 57 points.I dont think of it as any added pressure, Tucker said Wednesday. If the game dictates that we need to kick four field goals, then wed better make four field goals. If the game dictates that I just need to make a few PATs while were beating up somebody, thats exactly what I will do. I just need to make kicks, regardless of the situation.The opposition has taken notice. The Ravens face Oakland (2-1) on Sunday, and Raiders coach Jack Del Rio knows Tucker rarely misfires in the first quarter or the last.Hes been phenomenal, Del Rio said. Tucker is second all-time in terms of field goal kicks, and theyre not all short ones. Hes pretty amazing.Indeed, Tucker ranks second behind Dallas Dan Bailey in career field percentage. Bailey is at 90.4 percent, and Tucker is moving up the chart at 88.5 percent.Tucker made the Pro Bowl in 2013 annd has won 12 games with field goals, most notably three years ago when he beat Detroit with a career-best 61-yarder.ddddddddddddThats why the Ravens slapped the franchise tag on him during the offseason before handing him a $6 million signing bonus in July to go with his four-year deal.Justin has become a cornerstone for our team, general manager Ozzie Newsome said at the time.Instead of pressing to prove his worth, Tucker merely went back to work.My approach to how I kick a ball is unaffected by what happens on the business side of football, he said. If I looked at it any other way, Id be doing a disservice to everybody in here.Tuckers job is made easier by his familiarity with long snapper Morgan Cox and holder Sam Koch. Since 2012, when Tucker arrived as a rookie, the trio has worked to make sure the kick is headed toward the goalposts in 1.3 seconds.Its imperative to have a consistent operation, Tucker said. Its definitely a big part of the reason why Im able to be confident kicking the ball.Koch believes Tuckers success can be attributed to hard work in practice and the ability to stay loose under pressure.As a kicker, you have to be able to get over your last kick -- whether its bad or good -- and be able to move on, Koch said. He has the character that allows him to do that. He has fun at it.While playing high school ball in Texas, Tucker performed on both sides of the ball, kicked field goals and punted. During that time, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder realized his best hope of becoming a pro was as a placekicker.I looked up to Adam Vinatieri, Matt Stover, Phil Dawson, Robbie Gould, Tucker said. Now that Im playing in the same league as these guys, I still have to pinch myself every day. Its a dream come true.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '