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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Zach Sudfeld always figured hed be the guy avoiding tackles, not making them.But the New York Jets backup tight end has been consistently taking down kick returners this season, leading the team with 15 total special teams tackles. Not bad for a guy who, as far as he can remember, last regularly tackled someone in his high school days.Oh, man, it feels great, Sudfeld said Friday. When you make a good tackle, its like, Man, this is awesome. I can see why people love playing defence so much. Its a lot of fun.At 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, Sudfeld — nicknamed Sasquatch by coach Rex Ryan — isnt exactly the prototypical special teams player.You just dont see it from that body type too much, said linebacker and special teams standout Nick Bellore. Not from a guy that tall, that big.Sudfeld has a nose for the ball carrier, though, and he has become one of the biggest surprises this season for special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey.When I got here last spring and I saw him on tape, McGaughey said, if you would have told me that that guy would be our lead tackler this year, and if he was sitting right there, I would say the same thing — and Ive said this in the meetings — its unbelievable.Sudfeld is third on the depth chart at tight end behind Jeff Cumberland and rookie Jace Amaro and has just two catches for 35 yards this season. While he works for more snaps on offence, Sudfeld has made himself a valuable part of the special teams unit.Hes starting to become more of a leader, McGaughey said. Hes more vocal. He has more confidence because he has been making plays. The one guy that I would say that really shocked me is Zach.And, it came about almost by chance.Sudfeld didnt play special teams in high school and rarely did so in college at Nevada. He had some spot duty as a blocker on punts last season, his first with the Jets, but didnt see much time on special teams in the preseason this year. But in the season opener against Oakland, McGaughey needed someone to cover a kickoff and Sudfeld was sent in.He assisted on the tackle — his first since he played some linebacker at Modesto Christian High School in California.I kind of just jumped out there and no one blocked me, Sudfeld said. No one accounted for me, so I was in on the tackle. From then on, it was like, Hey, I could do this. I dont have much technique, though. I just try to grab them and wrap em up somehow.Its not pretty all the time, with some awkward-looking arm tackles and near-body slams, so it makes for some laughs among the other special teamers who tackle for a living. But, it gets the job done.We dont really mess with it because some of the ways he gets guys down is pretty creative, Bellore said. I mean, he had one last week where he kind of got his arm in between a guys feet and tripped him up. Its been working for him.Sudfeld has spent extra time with assistant defensive backs coach Brian Smith working on tackling techniques, and he also asks questions of teammates Bellore and rookie linebacker Trevor Reilly.I think they all know that its not just second nature for me, Sudfeld said. Its a credit to a lot of the other guys making plays in there, so the returners kind of bounce out to me and Im just kind of there to clean up.So, if the tight end stuff doesnt work out, perhaps Sudfeld could think about a position switch.I dont know, man, he said, laughing. You see guys like Calvin Pace and David Harris and Quinton Coples, and those guys are pretty spectacular at what they do. I dont think Id be a very good defensive end or something like that in this league.But, making 15 tackles — including eight solo — isnt too shabby.Really, 15? Wow, Sudfeld said, smiling. I didnt know that. Thats a lot, man. To really be contributing, you go into meetings and you feel like you can really provide a service to the team. Its just great.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Durham Smythe Dolphins Jersey . As for regular Olympic spectators, theyre being warned that most travel insurance policies wont cover acts of terrorism or war. The Games in southern Russia, which run from Feb. 7-23, are being staged amid unprecedented security and under global warnings of danger. Frank Gore Jersey . Jeter doubled high off the left-field wall and scored on Jacoby Ellsburys first hit in pinstripes in the fifth. Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) pitched 6 1-3 sharp innings in the Yankees 112th opener in New York. 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Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.DENVER -- Clayton Kershaw conquered Coors Field and the weather in one afternoon. Kershaw overcame his past struggles in Denver, striking out nine and going the distance as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1 Sunday in a game cut short by rain in the sixth inning. Hanley Ramirez homered as L.A. broke open the game with four runs in the top of the sixth. The game was then delayed 1 hour, 35 minutes before it was called. The shorter game was helpful to the scuffling Dodgers, who had lost six of eight before taking two out of three from the slumping Rockies. "It was one of those wins you kind of like because you dont have to end up using your pen," manager Don Mattingly said. "So it ends up being pretty good." Matt Kemp had a triple and two RBIs for the Dodgers, who played without outfielder Yasiel Puig and second baseman Dee Gordon, both of whom sustained hip injuries Saturday. Chone Figgins singled and also scored a run filling in for Gordon at the top of the lineup. Rain started falling in the second inning and was steady for the rest of the afternoon. The moisture appeared to affect Kershaw (5-2) when he faced Brandon Barnes in the bottom of the third. He threw one pitch high to the backstop and then bounced the next one in front of the plate. The two-time Cy Young Award winner said afterward the wet weather was helpful. "The rain sometimes helps here as far as getting some moisture on the ball and being a little more humid," Kershaw said. "It helps with the break." In the middle of the fifth, lightning flashed and a loud clap of thunder sent fans scurrying for cover while Kershaw calmly warmed up on the mound. He worked a perfect bottom of the inning. "Teams that Ive coached and played on, I dont think we had anybody quite like him," Mattingly said. "Ive seen some pretty good guys in (Mike) Mussina and (Andy) Pettitte, but not quite the same as Clayton." Kershaw struck out nine for the fourth consecutive game and fifth time this season. He was also able to leave Coors Field on a high note after having mixed results in the past. He pitched a four-hit shutout last July 2 but two months later was rocked for five runs and a season-high 11 hits in five innings and saw his ERA jump from 1.72 to 1.89. Entering Sunday he had a 5.24 ERA in 13 starts at Coors Field but he fanned six through the first two innings and didnt walk a batter. "I felt good today. Its a good lineup over there and its nno secret I havent pitched well here in the past so I wanted to come out and establish out there.dddddddddddd" He planned on going back out for the bottom of the sixth but after the delay reached an hour he was done for the day. The tarp came off the field a little more than an hour after the delay started but it quickly went back on. The umpires called the game at 5:52 p.m. Troy Tulowitzki homered and starter Jorge De La Rosa struggled through 5 1-3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits for the Rockies, who have lost nine of 10. He struck out a season-high eight but walked four, also a season high. His troubles started right away when he walked the first two batters of the game and Kemp followed with a triple to make it 2-0. De La Rosa struck out the side but needed 35 pitches to get out of the first inning. "He threw really well after that," manager Walt Weiss said. "Then two walks on the tail end of the outing scored also. He threw the ball really well but again, its always tough when youre playing from behind against a guy like Kershaw." He settled down and held the Dodgers to just a hit through five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Ramirez hit a 461-foot homer, his 10th, onto the concourse in left to make it 3-1, and then De La Rosa walked Adrian Gonzalez and Kemp. Matt Belisle came on and struck out Scott Van Slyke before giving up a two-run double to Jamie Romak and an RBI single to Miguel Rojas to make it 6-1. It was the first major league hits and RBIs for Romak and Rojas. "You feel good for both those guys to get big knocks like that, and they were big knocks with RBIs," Kershaw said. Tulowitzki jumped on a rare mistake by Kershaw, driving a 92 mph fastball 417 feet into the left field seats to make it 2-1 in the fourth. It was Tulowitzkis 17th home run and tied him with Miamis Giancarlo Stanton for the NL lead. NOTES: Mattingly said Puig (right hip flexor) and Gordon (sore right hip) were day to day but wouldnt say when they will return to the lineup. ... Rockies OF Michael Cuddyer (sore left shoulder) was out of the lineup for the third straight game. He could go on the 15-day DL on Monday when the Rockies recall RHP Christian Bergman to start the opener of a four-game series with Atlanta. It will be his major league debut. ... Dodgers RHP Dan Haren (5-4, 3.50) will face Reds LHP Tony Cingrani (2-6, 4.09) Monday in the first of four games in Cincinnati. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '