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HOUSTON - The Houston Texans have been concerned about their slow starts all season. After they fell behind 24-0 in the first quarter in a loss to Indianapolis, coach Bill OBrien is putting it on his team to change things.I think the players need to make up their minds that theyre going to start well, OBrien said.Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick isnt sure why theyve struggled so much early in games, but knows they have to figure out a way to turn it around.Just got to come out more focused I think, he said. More focused and ready to go. Just continue to make it a point of emphasis.Houston has scored just 14 points in the first quarter this season and all of those points came in a win over Oakland in Week 2. Since then theyve been incapable of doing anything on offence in the opening frame.OBrien said it might be as simple having one good thing happen early so theyll have something to build on.If we start the game with a positive play a€” first down, gain four, gain five; second-and-5, then gain three (and) then its a positive or manageable third down, OBrien said. We get that first first-down, were able to get into a good tempo, a good rhythm and were going.Many have blamed Houstons tough starts on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was 0 for 4 in a first quarter against the Colts where the team gained just two yards. But OBrien took up for his quarterback on Friday.When you look at the film, the film never lies, OBrien said. What the film shows us is that everybody on offence has to play better. Everybody. The line has to play better, the backs have to play better, the tight ends, the receivers and we have to coach better.Still, Fitzpatrick is quick to point out that he needs to do more early in games.There is still a lot of room for improvement, he said. Weve talked about getting off to better starts, but when we get in our groove you see what this offence can be. Its just a matter of doing it all the time.Perhaps more troubling than the slow start by the offence Thursday night was that the defence and special teams were also terrible in the first quarter. The defence allowed three touchdowns and a field goal in the first quarter and the special teams unit was surprised by an onside kick which the Colts recovered. OBrien said that when he watched the game film on Friday he saw that his team made an error on each of the games first 32 plays.Weve got to tackle better, he said. We gave up too many hit-and-yardage type plays because we didnt tackle, the first guy didnt make the tackle. Special teams, we just cant allow that to happen, that onside kick. Thats not good.The good news for the Texans is that theyve got a few extra days to prepare for their next game since they dont play again until a Monday night matchup at Pittsburgh on Oct. 20. Theres also a strong possibility they could get top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney back for that game, which would provide a boost to a defence that has been led by a stellar six games by defensive end J.J. Watt. Watt had two sacks on Thursday night and returned a fumble for a touchdown for his third score this season.Clowney has been out since having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after injuring it in Houstons opener on Sept. 7.Hes progressing, OBrien said. I would say thats still 50-50 whether he plays in that game or not, but hes getting better. Hes working at it.Clowney is eager to get back, but hes leaving it to the medical staff to decide when hes ready to play.I talked to the trainers the other day about how Im responding to the drills and everything theyve got me doing, he said. Just time will tell. Its the healing process right now.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Fake NCAA Jerseys . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. Cheap Fake Jerseys .com) - The Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors are back in the great white north for a brief moment and will host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night from Air Canada Centre. http://www.fakejersey.com/. No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. Fake MLB Jerseys . -- Jerome Verrier scored once and set up two more as the Drummondville Voltigeurs downed the visiting Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-1 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. Fake NBA Jerseys . Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres came to an agreement on a big trade that may only offer incremental improvement to the Blues in their quest for a Stanley Cup.3178 days. Thats how long its been between CFL football games in Ottawa. The Ottawa Renegades bid farewell to the CFL on November 5th, 2005 with a 27-17 victory over the Toronto Argonauts. Now the Argos provide the opposition again as the Redblacks hope to open up the new TD Place Stadium with their first win in franchise history. "Its a moment the fans and the city have been looking forward to for a long time," Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris said Thursday. "Emotions are going to be running wild. The people cant wait. I know we cant wait. But our focus is on making sure we do our jobs and execute the plays. Thats going to be the most important factor in determining if we get the victory or not." Over 100 Rough Riders and Renegades alumni are expected to be in attendance Friday, including the likes of Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel. Burris says hes thankful for the legacy they created. "We truly want to honour this city, the former Ottawa football players, and the people who helped bring football back to this city. We get to take that torch now and carry on thhe legacy of a proud franchise that won a lot of Grey Cup championships.dddddddddddd Now its time for us to get it out of the drought." That drought includes no playoff appearances since 1994, no playoff wins since 1982, no winning season since 1979, while the last of Ottawas nine Grey Cup titles came in 1976. But fans have turned the page, believing things will be different on and off the field. There is no sign of Horn Chen or Lonie Glieberman. No drafting dead people or Mardi Gras promotions. The local ownership group, spearheaded by Jeff Hunt, has inspired confidence to the tune of over 17,000 season tickets. Tickets on the secondary market for Fridays sold-out opener ranged from $167 to $2,000. Its the hottest ticket in the Capital, and Burris says it will be one of the highlights of his 18 year professional career. "I played in the first Monday night game following 9/11. Ive played in Grey Cups. Those are some pretty emotional times for me. I can only imagine just how emotional and how much energy is going to be in this stadium and this entire city." ' ' '
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