Facing a diminished role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Richie Hall took on the challenge of becoming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator. Jackie Robinson Dodgers Jersey .Hall served as Saskatchewans defensive co-ordinator the last four seasons. Saskatchewans defence allowed the fewest touchdowns in the CFL while recording the most interceptions to anchor the Riders Grey Cup run in 2013.But after Saskatchewan posted a 10-8 record last season, head coach Corey Chamblin said in December that Hall wouldnt continue as the Riders defensive co-ordinator.Chamblin indicated Hall would be offered another role within the organization. Instead, Hall accepted the task of rebuilding a Winnipeg defence that allowed a CFL-worst 135.9 yards rushing per game.As a player, in all my years of coaching, the emphasis has always been weve got to stop the run, Hall told reporters during a conference call. If youre able to control the run, youre able to control the line of scrimmage and everything starts up in the trenches.You have to be able to counter everything they do. If a team is able to run the ball effectively against you, it can dictate the flow of the game. Defensively, we want to be able to dictate the flow of the game.Hall, 54, a native of San Antonio, has spent all but two of his 20 years coaching in the CFL with Saskatchewans defence.Hall was Edmontons head coach in 2009 and 2010 before returning to Regina, where hed also won Grey Cups in 89 as a player and 07 as the defensive co-ordinator.Hall replaces Gary Etcheverry, who was fired after just one season overseeing Winnipegs defence. The Blue Bombers missed the playoffs with a 7-11 record under rookie head coach Mike OShea.Richie has always had a good plan, OShea said. Theres no time that hes entered the game without a good plan.His players always feel solid about the plan. Hes also got the ability to adjust. His knowledge of our game and of the opposition, the various co-ordinators in our game, theres nothing Richie hasnt seen or dealt with.With former Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille returning as offensive co-ordinator, OShea feels well supported by the experience of his two assistants.I say this to the coaching staff when we first get together If you see me tripping, catch me, OShea said. There are mistakes that are going to be made and its up to all of us to make sure that we dont make those mistakes and they dont cost us games.First-year starter Drew Willy, the CFLs third-ranked passer with 3,769 yards, gave Winnipegs offence credibility and the defence did finish the season ranked second against the pass. But only expansion Ottawa (37) had fewer sacks than the Bombers (43), who also allowed a CFL-high 481 points.Chamblin told reporters in Regina last month he took over Saskatchewans defence for the West Division semifinal against Edmonton, a game the Riders lost 18-10 despite not allowing an offensive touchdown.OShea, a former all-star linebacker, insisted Hall would have freedom to implement his defensive packages with the Blue Bombers.One of the things I firmly believe in is you hire men youre going to trust and let them coach, he said. I wont be sticking my fingers in to upset the apple cart. Richie is going to have his systems. Hes going to put the time in to come up with a great plan.As head coach, he and I are going to talk about that plan before the game. Ill have input and there will be times I get on the headset and Ill talk about the flow of the game and what Id like to see. My preference is always to let the coaches coach. Thats what I hired him for.Hall was a CFL all-star as a defensive back in the 1980s with both Calgary and Saskatchewan. He says hell commute for now between Winnipeg and Regina, where his wife, Helen, is employed.After so many years of wearing green and white, Hall acknowledged it will be an adjustment wearing different colours on what was once an enemy football field.I think its going to be strange but you also understand its football, he said. You become committed to the jersey you put on.Thats the life of a coach, thats the life of a professional athlete. Mike Piazza Jersey .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. Fernando Valenzuela Jersey . Berkman almost left the game last off-season before signing with the Texas Rangers. He then had another injury-plagued season and was limited to 73 games. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-corey-seager-jersey/ .com) - Houston Texans interim head coach Wade Phillips confirmed Monday that starting quarterback Case Keenum sustained a sprained right thumb during Sundays 25-3 loss in Indianapolis.TORONTO - With No. 1 contender Alexander (The Mauler) Gustafsson sidelined by a knee injury, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones and new challenger Daniel (DC) Cormier have wasted little time talking trash ahead of their UFC 178 main event. The two will face off Sept. 27 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Cormier wasnt asked to replace Gustafsson until Wednesday morning, meaning the gamesmanship has gone into top gear quickly. Jones young daughter has even got into the act, via an Instagram video. "DC. My dads going to beat you up. Guaranteed," said the six-year-old. "I think its cute," Cormier told The Canadian Press in an interview Thursday. "Kudos to Jon Jones. Lets sell this fight, lets make people want to watch this fight." Dont mistakes Cormiers comments for friendship with Jones, however. The two have not got on since Cormier thought Jones disrespected him in 2010 when they met at UFC 121 in Anaheim where Cain Velasquez, Cormiers training partner, defeated heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. "It never stops," Cormier said. "Every time were around each other, theres something .. It could be a little dig here or a little dig there but theres always something." In the wake of their fight announcement, Jones sent Cormier a "I hope youre ready to come to daddy" message on social media. Cormier tweeted his response to his followers, saying "I am. Im going to (mess) you up" with an F-bomb thrown in for good measure. Cormier also was quick to talk up his "Break Bones" T-shirts. Tweeted Jones: "This is the fight I wanted in the first place. Nothing like fresh meat #Champion2014" Cormier, ranked No. 2 among 205-pound contenders, stepped up when offered the fight by UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, who sent him a 6:30 a.m. text Wednesday. Cormier, who had put off knee surgery to clear up a lateral medial ligament issue, said yes after consulting his coaches. Cormier (15-0) injured his knee in the leadup to his third-round submission of Dan Henderson in May at UFC 173. It was his second win as a light-heavyweight since moving down from heavyweight. Cormier called out Jones in his post-fight interview in the cage. "Jon Jones, you cant run away from me for ever, Im the kid at the wrestling tournament that is always in your bracket. No matter where you go boy, Im coming, You better hurry because I getting better." "If I decide to take Jon Jones down 100 times, Ill take him down 100 times. This is my Octagon, Im the man," he added. Now he has a little more than nine weeks to prepare for the title fight. "Hectic schedule but Im a very very happy man," said Cormier, while admitting he has work to do to get into fight shape. The withdrawal of Gustafsson is just the latest bump for UFC 178. The card was originally announced for Toronto but was shifted to Las Vegas in what UFC president Dana White called a business decision. Jones, who made seven successful title defences since winning the championship belt from Mauricio (Shogun) Rua aat UFC 128 in March 2011, won a narrow five-round decision over Gustafsson when they met last September in an epic encounter in Toronto. Maury Wills Jersey. Jones (20-1) went on to win a convincing decision over Brazils Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 in April while Cormier clamoured to meet the champion. "Ive wanted to fight Jon for a long time. Ive wanted to be a champion for a long time," Cormier said. The matchup pits the six-foot-four champion against the five-foot-11 challenger. At 84 inches, Jones has the longest reach in the UFC and will hold a significant advantage over Cormier (71 inches) in that regard. "I dont care if a guy has long arms," said Cormier. "Youve just got to move your head. Youve got to be going forward. You cant stand on the outside. Reach becomes important whenever you stay on the outside and you allow a person to use it. "Him being tall? OK. Josh Barnett was tall. Bigfoot Silva was tall. Soa Paleleis tall. Ive fought a ton of tall guys. When I go to the weigh-ins and I look at you in the face and I see your chin right there and if I can reach you with my hands, thats enough for me." Cormier beat all of those fighters. The 35-year-old is a two-time Olympian whose wrestling resume includes a fourth at the Olympics and third, fifth and ninth at world competitions. He took up MMA in 2009, making his pro debut in Strikeforce in September that year. He combines elite grappling with heavy hands, with wins over Roy (Big Country) Nelson and former heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Barnett. The 27-year-old Jones, a former junior college wrestling champion, and Cormier have similar grappling stats. Jones averages 2.37 takedowns per 15 minutes compared to 2.17 for Cormier, according to FightMetric. Jones takedown accuracy is 50 per cent, Cormier 48 per cent. Cormier has never been taken down, while Jones has successfully defended 96 per cent of takedowns. Their striking stats are also a wash. Jones lands 4.33 significant strikes a minute, Cormier 4.08. Jones striking accuracy is 54 per cent, compared to 50 per cent for Cormier. The challenger absorbs fewer significant strikes (1.30) per minute than Jones (1.92) and is successful in his striking defence 70 per cent of the time, compared to 66 per cent for Jones. Jones has already disposed of elite wrestlers in beating Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans. But Cormier believes he matches up well against Jones. And he is clearly watching Jones every move, including the champ posting a photo of his training partners with the message "These guys will lead me to victory September 27." Said Cormier: "Ive got some guys too. And Ive got a big old guy (heavyweight champion Velasquez) thats going to ensure that Im successful Sept. 27. If you need a training partner, you dont get one better than Cain Velasquez. And then Ive got a tall kid (in) Luke Rockhold thats just as athletic as Jon Jones thats going to ensure that Im ready come Sept. 27. "So hes got a team and Ive got two guys ... Those guys I trust with my life. Ill be ready come fight night." ' ' '