Die Macht » new challenge at Royal Sydney, abutting Sydney

HOUSTON -- Jadeveon Clowney is ready to shine in prime time.The No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft failed to make an impact in his first two injury-plagued seasons . But now hes healthy, playing well and ready for a national audience Thursday when the Houston Texans visit a New England Patriots team that will likely start rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett.It will be just the second time Clowney has played in a nationally televised game after he sat out three of Houstons four night games in his first two years because of various injuries.When asked if hes ready to show what he can do, a big smile crept across his face and he let out a small laugh before gathering himself to provide an answer.Im very excited, he said. Im looking forward to it. Its going to be big for the team.A win would give the Texans a 3-0 start for the first time since they opened the 2012 season 5-0. Houston has been helped by an improved offense led by new quarterback Brock Osweiler and rookie receiver Will Fuller, but through the first two games the defense has been the strength of this team .Clowney has been a key to the units early success with seven tackles, including three for losses, a sack, five quarterback hits and a batted down pass. Hes doing a little bit of everything these days and the word coaches and teammates use most often to describe him is disruptive.In his first two seasons, Clowney lined up as an outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Romeo Crennels 3-4 scheme. Since Clowney was healthy throughout training camp, it has given the Texans more freedom to use the 6-foot-5, 266-pound player in different ways, and hes mostly played defensive end in the first two games.Regardless of where they put him, the Texans have been impressed with Clowneys hustle this year.I think hes playing really hard, coach Bill OBrien said. There are a few clips on there where he is rushing the passer, the pass gets off and hes chasing the ball carrier down. I think the guy is playing with tremendous effort and Ill say that about all the guys on defense.Clowney, who earned a reputation as a fierce pass rusher in a standout career at South Carolina, did not have a sack as a rookie but finished with 4+ last year. His first two seasons were full of disappointment for both him and the team as he played just four games in 2014 before having microfracture surgery, and missed three games and Houstons wild-card playoff loss to Kansas City last season due to a variety of other ailments.As he started to pile up more injuries than sacks, criticism that he wasnt living up to his draft status continued to grow. Clowney heard it all, but said he chose to ignore it. He knows that the injuries couldnt be helped and believes theres only one way to quiet his detractors.Im not saying nothing, he said. Im just going to keep letting my game speak and just keep getting better and better week by week.Clowneys improvement has added another dimension to a pass rush led by last years NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and one that also features Whitney Mercilus, who had two sacks in Houstons opener. Watt is excited about the possibilities for this defense full of playmakers.You never know where the play is going to come from, it could be a linebacker, it could be a (defensive back), it could be a guy up front getting a sack, he said. Its a lot of fun when you play like that. I think it makes it difficult for other teams and thats the goal.As Clowney continues to progress, Watt is slowly returning to form after missing all of training camp and the preseason after July surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back. He started to feel good on the field again last week after struggling in Houstons opener. And it showed as he finished with 1 + sacks and recovered a fumble.But he has a message those who think hes back to full strength.I say partially, he said. Im still working on some things and I think it may be some things that only I see. But there are definitely some things that I want to continue to improve upon. But I have to admit it did feel good on Sunday to ... have some glimpses of my old self back. So I just want to continue that.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap MLB Jerseys .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. http://www.cheaptexasrangersjerseys.com/ . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. Cheap Rangers Jerseys Authentic . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Cheap Nolan Ryan Jersey . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. SYDNEY -- Jordan Spieth feels fresh and healthy after a six-week break, and is ready to add another Australian Open crown to his collection of titles.The No. 5-ranked Spieth won the Australian Open by six shots in 2014, becoming the first American in 20 years to win the tournament, and finished tied for second with Adam Scott last year.Spieth hasnt played a competitive round since helping the United States regain the Ryder Cup Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club on the first weekend of October.I feel very fresh. I feel as strong and healthy as Ive felt ... probably ever to be honest, he told the Australian Associated Press during a practice round at Royal. Sydney on Monday. It was really nice taking a few weeks off, just training and only start getting back into golf the last couple weeks. Really trying to make it an off season.Having played at The Australian Golf Club the past two years, Spieth will face a new challenge at Royal Sydney, abutting Sydney Harbour.Tree-lined, different green stylles and types of grass but what a cool piece of property this is! he said of the Royal Sydney course at Rose Bay in the citys east.dddddddddddd The scores are just going to be dependent on weather, I think -- how hard the wind blows. If it doesnt blow you can tear this place up and if it does then you can get into some trouble quickly.Spieth said his game plan wouldnt change much, although he may have to think a little bit more.Nothing really changes, other than less drivers most likely, Spieth said. I still plan on being pretty aggressive, so Ive just got to try and figure out where all these slopes are, so when the pins are in their locations for the tournament you understand which sides to miss it on.The Australian Open starts Thursday. Matt Jones is not defending the title he won in 2015, but Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Aaron Baddeley will be leading the local charge. ' ' '