ERST LESEN! » positive entering the second half, Bochy

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Another week brought another series of moves for the ever-evolving Atlanta Falcons defense.The Falcons on Wednesday released safety Dashon Goldson and signed defensive lineman Cliff Matthews. The Falcons needed help on their defensive front after end Derrick Shelby was placed on injured reserve with a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season, on Tuesday.The moves are the latest attempts for the Falcons, who play San Diego on Sunday, to compensate for injuries.Atlanta lost veteran linebacker Sean Weatherspoon to an Achilles tendon injury earlier this month. Rookie linebackers DeVondre Campbell and Deion Jones were still limited by ankle injuries in last weeks 26-24 loss at Seattle. Veteran linebacker Paul Worrilow has missed most of the season with a groin injury that required surgery.Campbell missed four games before making his return in a backup role with three tackles at Seattle. Campbell and Jones, who also played as a backup last week, were expected to be key additions to the defense. A third rookie starter, safety Keanu Neal, missed the first two games following a preseason knee injury.The Falcons (4-2) have somehow kept the defense together through the constant changes. A big key the last two weeks was safety Kemal Ishmaels move to linebacker. Ishmael had 10 tackles in a win at Denver two weeks ago and had eight stops against Seattle.I think it really just shows the resiliency and the next man up mindset, Campbell said Wednesday. We have four of our primary players just out like that and to have players like Ish step up and learn the linebacker position in a week and play two really good games against Denver and Seattle, it just shows our resiliency as a team.Campbell and Jones are hoping to make only their second start together against the Chargers.The Falcons were counting on Campbell (6-5, 239) to add the size and athleticism needed for pass coverage on tight ends. That will be an especially important assignment against San Diego tight ends Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry.Campbell acknowledged he wasnt at full speed last week.After being out for about a month, I felt I was kind of slow, just trying to get back used to being in the game and at game speed, he said.Matthews, who played for the Falcons from 2011-14, was released by Tampa Bay on Sept. 3. He worked out for the team Wednesday morning and was in his first practice a few hours later. He was still with Atlanta for coach Dan Quinns minicamp and training camp in 2015, so he said he shouldnt need much time to be ready.Im extremely familiar with the defense, Matthews said. Im pretty familiar with everything. So whatever coach needs me to do, Im going to take advantage of it.Shelby, signed from Miami to help boost the pass rush, had eight tackles in six games, including four starts, this season. Quinn said outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw will work at defensive end.Quinn said the constant adjustments are not difficult because we do preach versatility.Thats why we play guys at different roles and at different spots, Quinn said. ... Knowing the next guy is up, we really dont talk a whole lot about it. Its knowing if youre here, youre counted on to play well.Goldson played as a backup in four games after signing with Atlanta on Aug. 28.Game notesQuinn said he talked with the NFL office this week about the play where no penalty was called on Seattle CB Richard Shermans apparent pass interference with Falcons WR Julio Jones late in last weeks game. I will keep that conversation private, Quinn said. ... The Falcons also signed LB Josh Keyes to their practice squad. ... WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion protocol) and CB C.J. Goodwin (hamstring) did not practice. ... The Falcons will wear their throwback black uniforms.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLOff White Air Max 90 Outlet . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Fake Air Max 90 Mens . 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And, perhaps, a glimpse into the Freaks immediate future in the Bay Area. General manager Brian Sabean said on his regular radio show Thursday that the Giants dont plan to trade the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner this season. "Thats definitely good. Ive always had a great time here in SF and I just hope to see that go further," Lincecum said after the Giants held a post-All-Star break workout at AT&T Park on Thursday night. Lincecum is in the final season of a $40.5 million, two year contract. "I expect Timmy to be in a Giant uniform," Sabean said on KNBR-680. "I find it hard to believe that hed pitch elsewhere this year." Now, the defending World Series champions must get back to work in a hurry if they want to hang around in an NL West that is still wide open. The first-place Arizona Diamondbacks are in town for a three-game series starting Friday night to kick off the second half. "We know where were at, and what has to happen in the second half, and thats us getting more consistent in all facets of the game," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said as the Giants held a light workout Thursday evening. "This things not going to happen right away as far as getting right back to where you want to be. Its a gradual thing, and that happens by playing good baseball." At 50-45, Arizona leads the fourth-place Giants (43-51) by 6 1/2 games -- so this series will be important for both clubs. Arizona will look to separate, while San Francisco hopes to gain ground in a tight division. The Giants are struggling in every phase, with a daunting August schedule on the horizon. First, theres an important nine-game homestand, which includes a 10th game at AT&T Park on Tuesday in a doubleheader with Cincinnati in which the first game features the Reds as home team to make up a July 4 rainout. Players and coaches held a team meeting Friday in San Diego. Nobody is counting out the Giants at this stage. "This is the team thats won two out of the last three World Series. Theyre still the king of the hill in this division," D-backs infielder Cliff Pennington said. "Just being ahead of them after the first half doesnt knock the team that won the World Series two out of the last three years out of it." Still, San Francisco has lost 14 of its last 20 games and is desperately seeking some momentum. Not to mention some good fortune. "They seem eager to get back. Thats great news," Bochy said. "I think its pretty simple, really: Early, our pitching wasnt what it normally is, and we went through a month really not hitting, not putting runs on the board. That was oour biggest issue.dddddddddddd It got contagious and we had a hard time getting out of it. ... Its going to be up to us to find a way to get some runs. We just got shut down too many times the last four or five weeks." Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson expects the Giants to fight their way back into the race despite all the challenges, saying, "I dont look at them as a fourth-place team." While centre fielder Angel Pagan hit an inside-the-park home run May 25, he hasnt played since and had surgery on his left hamstring that will sideline him perhaps for the rest of the year -- though the Giants and Pagan remain optimistic it wont be that long. It was a tough blow for the Giants after Pagan re-signed during the off-season for $40 million over four years. "He feels he will be back before the seasons over," Bochy said. The Giants hope to get right-hander Ryan Vogelsong back sometime next month after he heads out on a rehab assignment, perhaps soon. The 2011 All-Star broke two bones in his right pinkie area and also dislocated a knuckle in the hand on a swing May 20 and underwent surgery the next day. Vogelsongs return would be a boost to a rotation that, aside from All-Star lefty Madison Bumgarner, has been far from steady. Both Vogelsong and Pagan have been in Arizona working back from their injuries. Lincecum tossed a 148-pitch gem against the Padres last Saturday at Petco Park for his first career no-hitter. "Im just glad I dont see a cast on his arm," Bochy said. Lincecum said he feels "normal." Thursday would have been his turn to pitch without the break. He is set to start Monday night at home against the Reds. "I felt fine today throwing," he said. "I felt like if I had to throw, if today had been the would-be day, I would have been fine." If Lincecums outing provides a positive entering the second half, Bochy will take it. Hell take just about any advantage right now. Yet plenty of teams would like nothing more than to take down the franchise that has won two of the past three World Series championships. Gibson, for one. He is thinking big in mid-July, like October big. "I dont want a vacation. I want a short off-season," he said, referring to a long post-season run. "That goes without saying." Notes: The Giants All-Stars, Buster Posey, Bumgarner, Sergio Romo and Marco Scutaro, had the night off. So did Jeff Francoeur and Sandy Rosario, as both were waiting for the births of babies. ... Arizona RHP Ian Kennedy had his beard shaved off at a barber shop during the break. "I treated myself to an actual shave Monday," he said. "Its the first time in 26 months since my daughter, Nora, was born." Why the new look? At 3-6, "I needed a change." ' ' '