es include linebacker Tyler Drake, the 2015 Ivy defensive player of the yeat

MIAMI -- For the Miami Dolphins, the usual optimism of training camp lasted only until the first scrimmage, when a dismal showing by the offense prompted all kinds of dire commentary about how 2016 was going to be more of the same.Tackle Branden Albert, not one to overreact after nine years in the NFL, suggested waiting a few more weeks before drawing conclusions.I dont know why everybody is getting their panties in a bunch, Albert said. We will see when the time is right.While Albert preaches patience, long-suffering Miami fans are anxious to know whether things will be different under Adam Gase, the teams ninth coach since 2004.Gase won raves for his work with Jay Cutler, Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow, and now hell try to help Ryan Tannehill become a winner.Hes an expert in pushing guys to reach their potential, Tannehill said, and Im excited to have him.Gase has given Tannehill broader flexibility to change plays, and urged the easygoing Texan to assume more of a leadership role as he begins his fifth NFL season. Tannehills resume includes 15,460 yards passing and 87 touchdowns while starting every game, but he has yet to lead Miami to a finish above .500, much less a playoff berth.The biggest thing Gase could to do to help Tannehill is provide him with better protection. Tannehill has been sacked 184 times since 2012, most in the NFL.Here are the other key issues that will help determine whether the Dolphins earn their first playoff berth in eight years:BLOCKING: The offensive line has been the biggest culprit during Miamis postseason drought, but the unit could be much improved thanks to the addition of first-round pick Laremy Tunsil, touted by some as the best player in the draft.The Dolphins novel solution to their blocking woes will likely be to start four left tackles, although Albert will be the only one lining up at that position. The others with experience at left tackle are Tunsil at left guard, veteran newcomer Jermon Bushrod at right guard and JaWuan James at right tackle. Center Mike Pouncey will anchor the unit when he returns from a preseason hip injury.COMEBACK BIDS: The Dolphins have two worrisome Achilles heels, belonging to running back Arian Foster and defensive end Cameron Wake. The pair of four-time Pro Bowlers are trying to come back from Achilles tendon surgery last year.Newcomer Foster could provide a big boost because the Dolphins have no other established running back. Jay Ajayi began training camp with the No. 1 unit after rushing for 187 yards as a rookie, but was unimpressive during the exhibition season.Wake, who has 70 career sacks, might assume a new, career-extending role as a pass-rush specialist on the Dolphins deep defensive line.DEFENSIVE WORRIES: Wake, newcomer Mario Williams and Ndamukong Suh give Miami a trio of four-time Pro Bowlers in the front four.We have great potential, new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. Those guys have a history of being great pass rushers, but thats on paper. Until we do it, nothing is solid.And the rest of the defense could cause Joseph headaches. Miami swung a trade to acquire middle linebacker Kiko Alonso and cornerback Byron Maxwell, but there were reasons (injury and underperformance) the Eagles let them go. And the Dolphins must count on a rookie, second-round draft pick Xavien Howard, at the other cornerback spot.TOUGH SCHEDULE: Perhaps the toughest early schedule of any team includes games at Seattle and at New England to start the season, so the Dolphins will likely find out quickly how Gase handles losing.The home opener is Sept. 25 against Cleveland, which will showcase the results of a $500 million stadium renovation that includes a flashy canopy and new video boards. All the stadium needs now is a winning team.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine Kendall Sheffield Falcons Jersey . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Deion Sanders Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.thefaclonsshoponline.com/Kendall-sheffield-falcons-jersey/ . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Julio Jones Womens Jersey . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Steve Bartkowski Jersey . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Justin Grimm joined the Texas rotation as a stopgap. The rookie right-hander pitched more like an ace Thursday. Mitch Moreland hit a two-run homer and Grimm took a shutout into the sixth inning to help the Rangers snap their first three-game losing streak of the season with a 9-5 interleague victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Grimm (5-3) allowed four hits through five innings while Texas cooled off Arizona starter Brandon McCarthy on the way to a 9-0 lead. The AL rookie leader in wins and strikeouts was replaced after Arizonas three-run sixth, and trails only ace Yu Darvish in victories on the Texas staff. The 24-year-old Grimm, who made his debut last year, came up from the minors in April when opening day starter Matt Harrison went on the disabled list with back trouble. He figured to stick around awhile with Harrison out until at least August, and was the AL rookie of the month for April. He gave up eight hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts in his third straight May win after starting the month with all three of his losses. "Hes gotten better as far as confidence-wise, believing and knowing that belongs here," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "It just a progression with young guys. He continues to get better. You can see it in his face. You can see it when he takes the mound in his mannerisms." McCarthy (2-4) had allowed one run in 25 innings when the Rangers scored six in a span of four outs in the second and third. The outburst started when centre fielder A.J. Pollock misplayed a line drive by Nelson Cruz into a double. Pierzynski brought Cruz home with a double and scored on a two-out single from Leonys Martin. The Rangers went up 6-0 in the third on three straight run-scoring hits -- a double from Adrian Beltre, a single by Cruz and a two-run homer from Moreland that hit near the top of the foul pole in right. McCarthy lost for the first time since April 26 in his shortest outing of the season. He gave up nine hits and six runs in just 2 2-3 innings. "I didnt have any life on my stuff," said McCarthy, whose ERA at Rangers Ballpark is 7.65 in four starts since he left Texas in 2009. "It was a fight for me. A good lineup hits those pitches. Its not an easy lineup to get out.&qquot; Grimm lost his shutout when he gave up four straight hits in the sixth, starting with a double from Paul Goldschmidt, who tied a career high with four hits.dddddddddddd An error by Martin in centre on a single by Miguel Montero led to an unearned run. "Its just all about battling and competing against these guys," Grimm said. "Be aggressive with them, but not overly aggressive obviously." The Rangers beat the Diamondbacks after they were swept in a doubleheader in Arizona on Monday and had the first of two games in Texas rained out Wednesday night. Moreland was hit by a pitch on the shoulder by reliever Josh Collmenter the next time he came up after his 11th home run and scored on a two-run single from Elvis Andrus that made it 9-0. "Honestly, I hadnt even thought about us losing three games," Moreland said. "Were going to go out and play our style of ball. We got out of it for a couple of games, but came back out today and made it work and it was a good win for us." The Diamondbacks got within 9-5 in the seventh on RBI singles from Goldschmidt and Martin Prado off Texas reliever Michael Kirkman. Neal Cotts replaced Kirkman with two outs and struck out Montero with the tying run on deck. Arizona had the tying run on deck again in the ninth when Robbie Ross got a game-ending double play from Cliff Pennington, who replaced Eric Chavez in the first inning after Chavez strained his right oblique on a swing. "The guys came back," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. Texas prospect Jurickson Profar had a career-high three hits a day after learning that his stay with the Rangers would be at least two weeks longer because second baseman Ian Kinslers rib injury has been slow to heal. Moreland and David Murphy, who hit his fifth homer, were among four Rangers with two hits. Notes: Gibson said Chavez was on his way back to Arizona for an MRI. If Chavez is headed for the disabled list, the Diamondbacks might bring up Willie Bloomquist from a weeklong rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno. ... The Texas grounds crew stayed until 2 a.m. after a high winds from a thunderstorm prevented the crew from getting the tarp down before heavy rainfall. Both baselines were swamped and had to be rebuilt. ' ' '