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SPORTSThursday 29 October 2015
Lions aim to end losing ways in London after week of changes
SHAWN POGATCHNIK Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, takes part in a training session as wide receiver London games, it looked
Associated Press Calvin Johnson stands in the background, right, at the Grove Hotel in Chandler’s Cross, England, like a matchup of playoff
WATFORD, England (AP) — Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. contenders. But the Chiefs
First a new offensive coor- have lost star running back
dinator, now a new conti- Associated Press Jamaal Charles to a sea-
nent. son-ending knee injury,
This week is full of changes mere 68 yards a game. The Ravens, when he was pro- He’s the second-youngest and the Lions — pegged
for the struggling Detroit Lions’ inability to run has left moted to the position mid- offensive coordinator in the by many to challenge the
Lions, one of the season’s Stafford under too much way through the team’s league next to Washing- Green Bay Packers for the
biggest disappointments. pressure, including in last Super Bowl run. And he said ton’s Sean McVay — and NFC North crown — find
The Lions (1-6) opened the Sunday’s 28-19 loss to the Cooter’s intelligence and younger than five players themselves sharing the
Jim Bob Cooter era on of- Minnesota Vikings, when detailed understanding on the Lions roster. league’s worst record with
fense Wednesday on new Stafford was sacked seven with Stafford was making “He’s a younger guy and the Ravens.
turf, four days ahead of times. Starting running back the sudden switch smooth. definitely has a lot of fire Few said they could see
their game against the Joique Bell returned from in- Caldwell said the players in him,” said Johnson, who the collapse coming after
Kansas City Chiefs (2-5) at jury, but ran just three times “know him, he’s worked called Lombardi’s firing “an a 2014 season that ended
Wembley Stadium. for 21 yards. with them, he certainly unfortunate business.” 11-5 and a bitterly disputed
Players said they weren’t “I had Jim (Bob Cooter) has a great grasp of all the Second-year tight end Eric first-round playoff loss at
shocked by Monday’s firing in my rookie year with the things that we need to get Ebron said Cooter was an Dallas.
of former OC Joe Lombar- Colts with Coach Caldwell. done. So it’s not like some- ideal figure to restructure “The NFL is a crazy league.
di and two offensive line He’s a brilliant guy and he one coming from a differ- Detroit’s passing attack A lot of things look good on
coaches following Detroit’s knows football. He can ent location where you because “he knows what paper, but until you get out
poor start to the NFL season. connect with the players have to totally get a feel for Matt likes to do. That’s re- there and start playing, it’s
All said they expected im- and we’re going to enjoy their personality. I think they ally how the offense works: a lot of shocks, a lot of sur-
mediate improvement with playing for him,” Bell said. understand how bright he You get the quarterback prises,” said defensive end
the promotion of 31-year- Caldwell said switching is and his knowledge and what he wants. He’s going Jason Jones. “Right now
old Cooter, a protege of coordinators in midseason grasp of offensive football to feed off Matt.” we’re in a tough spot, but
coach Jim Caldwell who was hardly ideal, but he as well.” When the NFL scheduled all that we can do is look
spent the past two years as pointed to his own 2012 Some players cited Coot- the Lions and Chiefs as forward and try to get a
quarterback Matthew Staf- history with the Baltimore er’s relative youth as a plus. the last of this year’s trio of win Sunday.”
ford’s position coach. The Lions are returning to
“He’s been great,” said the scene of their great-
Stafford, who noted that est comeback last season.
many offensive players They trailed the Atlanta Fal-
outside the quarterbacks cons by three touchdowns
room might never have at the half but won 22-21
heard Cooter talk before with a last-second field
this week. “But the more he goal.
starts talking football, you “We’ve shown we can
understand his intelligence play inspired ball in London
and his understanding of and we’re hoping for that
the game. That garners re- again,” said cornerback
spect from guys.” Rashean Mathis, who had
While many expect Cooter a big interception return
to unleash the long ball to at Wembley last year. “But
wide receivers Calvin John- we’d rather get on top of
son and Golden Tate, the the Chiefs early. No more
ground attack has been dramatic comebacks. We
the Lions’ weakest link, just want to dominate from
dead last in the NFL with a the first snap Sunday.”q
Rousey, coach decline to answer champ’s mother’s criticism
GREG BEACHAM interview with LatiNation to the sport and raised her UFC champion Ronda Rousey and her coach Edmond Tarve-
AP Sports Writer earlier this month. De Mars to be an Olympic medalist. rdyan are seen at a promotional appearance for Rousey’s next
GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) — claims Tarverdyan “hit the Rousey took up MMA after title defense in Glendale, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015.
UFC champion Ronda lottery” when Rousey de- the Beijing Olympics and
Rousey isn’t sharing her cided to study mixed mar- swiftly became the UFC’s Associated Press
opinion of her mother’s tial arts with him. first women’s bantam-
sharp criticism of her weight champion in late
coach, Edmond Tarverdy- “Any reaction or response 2012.
an. I have to my mother, she’s Rousey and Tarverdyan
Tarverdyan also declined going to hear it from me, have been working to-
to trade verbal shots with and not a media outlet,” gether for five years. Tarve-
AnnMaria De Mars on Tues- Rousey said, declining to rdyan, a veteran com-
day during a promotional indicate whether she had bat sportstrainer who also
appearance for Rousey’s confronted her mother has worked with boxer
next title defense. about it. Vic Darchinyan and other
De Mars called Tarverdy- Rousey’s mother is a former UFC fighters, declined to
an “a terrible coach” and judo world champion who say much about De Mars’
“a bad person” in a video introduced her daughter opinions.q
