Wartezimmer » helsea. Its an advantage but we need to be ready, we

When Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware decided that Syracuses Dontae Strickland had gone far enough, his WWE-style takedown raised some eyebrows and lit up social media.Boulware just shrugged when questioned about the bone-jarring tackle during Saturdays game, which the Tigers won 54-0.Its football. Im trying to get him down, the senior said. The way I tackled him, people are going to freak out, but hes trying to get extra yards. Im trying to not let him get extra yards.Its one of many stout defensive plays that go largely unnoticed nationally in the high-powered Atlantic Coast Conference.Its understandable. The ACC has more than its fair share of topflight offensive players -- Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Clemsons Deshaun Watson, and Florida State tailback Dalvin Cook top that list. But the fiery Boulware is one of many NFL-caliber standouts on the other side of the ball in the league.Each ACC team has at least three great players on their defense, said former Clemson star Shaq Lawson, a first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2016 NFL draft. They always have like a first-round pick. Last year, we had two first-round ACC defensive players (Lawson and Louisvilles Sheldon Rankins). It was just crazy.Boulware, along with DT Dexter Lawrence and DL Christian Wilkins have combined for 171 tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss, and 9.5 sacks. That relentless sort of play has helped Clemson coach Dabo Swinney put a stamp on his own brand of football.Weve had some great players like Shaq, like Boulware, that are just blue-collar guys that buy in, provide great leadership, and, you know, are sold out to be the best they can be, Swinney said. I think thats critical when you have guys of that type of caliber, that type of talent, that lead and provide the type of leadership that you need for the rest of your team because thats how you establish your culture.Coach Steve Addazio has struggled to win games in the conference since taking over at Boston College three years ago. The Eagles were winless last year and are 1-5 this season. After spending five years as an assistant at Florida, Addazio appreciates more than most what hes seeing on a weekly basis.I think that the level of play is the highest its ever been. Thats without a doubt, Addazio said. And what youre seeing is some elite players playing at a high, high level.A look at some of the defensive stalwarts of the ACC:- DeMarcus Walker, Florida State: The 6-4, 280-pound DE leads the nation with 10.5 sacks to match his total from last year and has three forced fumbles. Hes the first Seminole since Peter Boulware (1995-96) to record double-digit sack seasons in consecutive years and the third to have two double-digit sack seasons (Reinard Wilson did it in 1994 and `96).People thought last year was a fluke and it just happened like a lottery thing. It was hard work, said Walker, projected to be drafted next year on the second or third round. They didnt see the vision or goal I had, so I had to do it again for the message to get through. Im hungry, I still have more to prove.- Ejuan Price, Pittsburgh: The 5-11, 250-pound sixth-year senior LB has nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and 14 solo TFLs for a national-best 91 yards lost. Hes projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft.- Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest: The 6-4, 270-pound junior DL has eight sacks and at least a half sack in every game this season. Against Duke in Week 2, he registered seven tackles, including four TFLs and three sacks, and forced two fumbles. His health is a big reason for his improved play. He missed the first five games of 2015 with a concussion suffered during preseason camp.- Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State: The 6-2, 198-pound sophomore leads the nation with seven interceptions, just ahead of Louisvilles Jaire Alexander and Jessie Bates of Wake Forest, who have five.- Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson: The 6-1, 200-pound cornerback has 40 tackles, five TFLs and eight pass breakups this season. The senior could become the first Tiger cornerback in the past decade to be picked before the third round of the NFL draft.- Marquez White, Florida State: The 6-foot, 184-pound senior made a name for himself last year after being targeted on only 7 percent of the throws by opposing quarterbacks. Hes projected as second- or third-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft.- Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech: The 6-1, 191-pound CB has 31 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, eight pass breakups, and two forced fumbles this season. Hes projected to be picked on the third or fourth rounds of the 2017 NFL draft.- Carlos Watkins, Clemson: The 6-3, 305-pound redshirt senior DT controls the middle of the field and is a plug on the run. His stand-your-ground play allows a quicker tackle like freshman Dexter Lawrence to get into the backfield. Watkins is projected to be picked on the second or third rounds of the 2017 NFL draft.- Harold Landry, Boston College: The 6-3, 250-pound junior defensive lineman has nine sacks and has forced five fumbles to tie for tops in the nation with James Hearns of Louisville and Jimmie Gilbert of Colorado.- LB Micah Kiser and CB Quin Blanding, Virginia: Kiser ranks third in the nation in tackles with 102 and Blanding is 12th with 90. Barring injury, the juniors are on pace to finish 1-2 in tackles in the ACC for the second straight year.---AP Sports Writers Pete Iacobelli in South Carolina, John Wawrow in New York, Joe Reedy in Florida, Hank Kurz in Virginia, Joedy McCreary in North Carolina,---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Kekis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Greek1947 Tyler Lydon Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.authenticnuggetsproshop.com/Gary-Harris-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Will Barton Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Michael Porter Nuggets Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Stamford Bridge hosts the biggest game of the Premier League this weekend.Its top of the table Chelsea (9-1-2) against London rivals Tottenham (6-6-0) -- the only team yet to taste defeat in the English top-flight.But its not just the context of this season that makes Saturdays derby such a tantalising fixture.The most recent meeting of these teams became known as the Battle of the Bridge and will go down in the folklore of both clubs. Chelseas recovery from two goals down to draw 2-2 mathematically ended Tottenhams dream of a title challenge that had long since been ended by Leicester Citys unstoppable march.But it wasnt just the loss of what would have been Spurs first title in over half a century that makes the encounter so memorable. Tottenham were shown nine yellow cards in that match -- the most by any team in Premier League history -- as they went down fighting, almost literally at times. The card tally could and should have seen reds along with those nine yellows, while Mousa Dembeles eye gouge on Diego Costa saw him hit with a lengthy six-game suspension.Thats the context going into Saturdays game, but Chelsea are a different prospect under Antonio Conte this season and it will take more than just physicality to contain them. It took the Italian a while to implement his style at the Bridge, but the teams switch to a 3-4-3 formation just under two months ago has transformed Chelsea. The back-three shape has impressed as the Blues have picked up six straight wins and six straight clean-sheets -- a run that has seen them soar to the summit of the Premier League and boost them into contention for the title.The new formation is very good for the team, its a great system for us, attacking midfielder Pedro said. We feel very good on the pitch, we are happy with our situation and we hope to continue in the right way. Now we must go game by game.Right wing-back Victor Moses has been a revelation in the system, providing attacking threat and defensive solidity in his position, but coach Conte hasnt bbeen surprised by his impact -- only that he has failed to make such a splash previously in his Chelsea career.dddddddddddd.I could see his potential from the first days of the summer training camp, Conte said. Moses has important qualities: technique, physical strength, the ability to cover 70 metres of the pitch. I find it incredible that someone like him has been underestimated.A lack of European competition is another advantage for Chelsea, with Conte able to train his team throughout the week without a distraction, while Saturdays opponents Spurs (in contrast) have been weighed down by their Champions League commitments so far this season.Tottenham crashed out of the competition with a 2-1 defeat away in Monaco on Tuesday evening, but manager Mauricio Pochettino was keen to move on and pick his players up after the loss.Now we need our heads up and to lift ourselves, the Argentine coach said. Chelsea have had a clear week to prepare for us, and now we can start to prepare for Chelsea. Its an advantage but we need to be ready, we need to be strong and like always, to show character and to be competitive.Chelsea have no reported injury concerns, but Tottenham have a problem at left-back with Danny Rose suspended and Ben Davies out injured. Erik Lamela and Toby Alderweireld are also out, with the pair highly likely to have started if fit.Tottenham have conceded only four goals away from home this season -- a league low -- but are coming up against the team with the second-best defensive record in the league and an attack that has sparked into life of late.Form, fitness and preparation would all point to a Chelsea win, which would continue a remarkable trend in this fixture. Spurs have not won at Stamford Bridge in any competition since 1990. Thats a run of 29 games without a win, and just six of Tottenhams 23 Premier League players used this season were even born then. ' ' '