heir best lineman, left tackle Trent Williams, suspended four games after violating the NFLs substance abuse policy.Williams replacement, 6-foot-8, 335-pound Ty Nsekhe, has

Joc Pederson has spent his second season in the Los Angeles Dodgers outfield rediscovering the form that made him a National League All-Star in 2015, before opposing pitchers began preying upon his weaknesses and his numbers took a massive turn south. In the course of his revival, he has attained a status that transcends statistical production.He has earned the coveted Chase Utley seal of approval.Utley, a connoisseur of hitting and one of the most respected players in the game, remembers during a disabled-list stint last summer watching video and being thoroughly impressed by the backspin Pederson generated and the way the ball jumped off his bat with authority. Now that theyre in the same lineup, Utley sees Pederson adding some subtle touches that bode well for his staying power.Something is definitely clicking, Utley said. I think hes kind of turned the corner. Hes got better pitch recognition now, and when he hits the ball, its scary. It takes off, big time.You cant teach that at all. Its just something he naturally has.Pederson, a former hot prospect, has been a major contributor to a potent offense that has vaulted the Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants into first place in the National League West. Over his last 22 games, Pederson is hitting .364 (24-for-66) with 15 runs scored, eight doubles, five homers and 16 RBIs. In the process, he has helped turn what could have been a problem area into a team strength.The Dodgers outfield had all the makings of a portrait in chaos this season. Yasiel Puig hit .260 with seven homers in 277 at-bats to earn a trip to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he annoyed the brass with some embarrassing Snapchat party videos last week. In June, the Dodgers released Carl Crawford and assumed the $35 million left on his contract, and Andre Ethier has yet to play a game after suffering a fracture right tibia in spring training.Pedersons turnaround, coupled with?Howie Kendricks successful transition to left field, has brought stability to the Dodgers?outfield and fortified the batting order. His positive strides are a reflection of some soul-searching forced upon him by a difficult learning curve. After logging a .178/.317/.300 post-All-Star Game slash line last season, Pederson knew he couldnt survive without some adjustments.Im really big on mechanics and hitting position, Pederson said. When I get to a good position, I feel more comfortable. It definitely helps having some time in the big leagues and understanding you dont need to do everything in one day.I made some mechanical changes to get my body in good hitting position. Im on plane a lot better now, and Im able to maintain some good posture and have a good bat path. Its huge. I sucked last year, and I had to change it and work hard and put in a lot of time to figure it out. Im not where I want to be, but its encouraging to see the improvement.A big part of Pedersons success is simply putting the ball in play. He has reduced his swinging-strike percentage from 14 to 9.6 and raised his contact rate from 66.7 to 77.8 percent this season. As Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs points out, that ranks among the biggest improvements in contact rate in the past 15 MLB seasons.We all understand that when Joc puts the bat on the baseball, it comes out hot, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. To me, it boils down to taking balls and swinging at strikes. Thats what hes doing.Pederson, an inveterate tinkerer, needs to work to harness his energy and stick to a consistent game plan. One Dodger watcher counts at least six different approaches and/or batters box placements for Pederson this season. In addition, discerning fans who watch Pederson in the outfield will notice that he never stands still. After each pitch, Pederson will turn his head and take a few steps toward the center-field fence. Then hell turn back to the plate and slowly walk in as the pitcher is in middelivery. He might want to invest in a fitness tracker to calculate his steps.Nolan Arenado is the same way in Colorado, said a National League scout. He makes you nervous just watching him before the ball is pitched. Yet hes very enjoyable once the ball is pitched.The same scout categorizes talk of bat paths and swing planes as jargon and attributes Pedersons resurgence to factors in and out of his control. Pederson has four hits in a mere 38 at-bats against left-handers this season, and he typically sits in favor of?Enrique Hernandez?against tough lefties. He has also spent most of this?season batting sixth, seventh or eighth in the order after logging 311 plate appearances in the leadoff spot as a rookie.Beyond the usage patterns, Pederson has done a better job of using the entire field and refraining from trying to jack every pitch into the seats.I saw it this year in spring training, the scout said. Hes showing more discipline at the plate, and hes not just trying to turn and burn on balls. Its a natural progression. People saw it in the past, but the question was, How much is he going to stick with it? Hes locked in right now. He looks good.In the clubhouse before games, Pederson is a perpetual motion machine. When hes not walking from his locker to the lounge to the trainers room in a pair of shorts and a No. 24 Los Angeles Lakers jersey, or taking early swings in the cage, Pederson might camp out with teammates Adrian Gonzalez, Rob Segedin and Justin Turner for a friendly game of cards. If only the results were as impressive as his hitting.He needs some work on his pluck, Turner said, laughing. Its great for me, because all his money goes right into my pocket.The stakes will be considerably higher as Pederson and his teammates gear up for the final six weeks of the regular season. If Pederson can cash in on his potential and help lead the Dodgers to a postseason share, everyone will have reason to celebrate.Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Authentic .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Fake Soccer Jerseys . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. https://www.fakesoccerjerseys.com/ .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Soccer Jerseys Black Friday . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Cyber Monday Soccer Jerseys . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kirk Cousins was rolling going into his previous visit to Dallas with Tony Romo sidelined, just as the Washington quarterback is this season.The Cowboys have an answer this time in rookie Dak Prescott, whos been so good that Romo didnt get his job back when the 36-year-old completed his recovery from a preseason back injury.Dallas, at an NFL-best 9-1, is looking for its first 10-game winning streak in the same regular season in another Cowboys-Redskins matchup on Thanksgiving. The run started with Prescotts first career victory at Washington in Week 2.Cousins and the Redskins (6-3-1) are trying to keep up in the surprisingly strong NFC East, a year after visiting the Cowboys in the regular-season finale when they had already wrapped up the division title at 8-7.Cousins had three touchdown passes in the first quarter and was on the bench before halftime of that playoff tuneup.The look was similar in last weekends 42-24 win over Green Bay, with Cousins tossing three TDs in Washingtons sixth win in eight games since starting 0-2.Hes playing great, Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. They were able to move the ball up and down the field and they were also able to make a lot of big plays in the passing game at critical times. That goes to the weapons he has, how they use the weapons and his ability to distribute the football.Prescott led a fourth-quarter comeback in a 27-23 win over the Redskins after fellow rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott was benched because of two fumbles.Now Prescott is the leading rookie passer in the NFL, and Elliott is the leagues top rusher at 1,102 yards.Hes been bottled up from time to time in the first quarter, but as the game goes on, that offensive line can wear you down and he gets chunks of yardage, Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. And Dak has just done a great job. Hes just been very poised under pressure.Elliott hasnt had fewer than 92 yards since getting 83 before the benching at Washington.I think were a different team, but I mean theyre in the same case, the 21-year-old former Ohio State star said. As the season goes on, youre going to get better, youre going to play more together, youre going to get more chemistry. Its going to be a good matchup.Things to consider in the eighth Thanksgiving meeting with the most frequent holiday rival for the Cowboys, who have won six of the first seven:NO ROMO: Its the first time a healthy Romo wont start on Thanksgiving for Dallas since 2005, the year before he was a midseason replacement foor Drew Bledsoe.dddddddddddd Romo was a Thanksgiving whiz early in his career, winning his first five.Most of those were when Prescott was a young Cowboys fan in Louisiana. It was always, `get up, eat some good food and then watch the Cowboys play, the 23-year-old Prescott said. Now Im kinda excited to be playing in it.FAT ROB RUNNING: Undrafted rookie running back Robert Kelley -- nicknamed Fat Rob -- appears to have solved Washingtons need in the backfield, producing 137 yards and three TDs on 24 carries in Week 11. It was his first 100-yard game since high school.He just keeps moving the pile, keeps moving his feet and does a great job, Gruden said. Hes a physical runner and obviously his ball security has been outstanding, knock on wood. Kelley took over after Matt Jones had fumbling problems.SLOWING COUSINS: The Cowboys offered little resistance to Cousins on their home field last season, when he was 12 of 15 for 176 yards in less than a half to clinch the NFLs best completion percentage.Dallas is without safety Barry Church (broken arm) and cornerback Morris Claiborne, who was having the best season of his career before a groin injury.Theyre hot right now, cornerback Brandon Carr said. They have a lot of confidence in their team. Thats great. We have the same confidence over here.TY FOR TRENT: So much for the Redskins being in trouble with their best lineman, left tackle Trent Williams, suspended four games after violating the NFLs substance abuse policy.Williams replacement, 6-foot-8, 335-pound Ty Nsekhe, has been terrific in two starts, victories against Minnesota and Green Bay.Hed only started two NFL games previously. I have no complaints over Ty, Gruden said. Like I said before, hes a starting tackle in the National Football League, without a doubt.DANCING SNYDER: Washington cornerback Josh Norman, who figures to draw the Dez Bryant assignment more than he did during Bryants 102-yard day in the first meeting, wasnt sure what to make of owner Dan Snyders modest dance moves caught on national TV against the Packers.What in the world is he doing up there? Norman joked. I was like, `Man, if hes having a good time, Im all for it. Its a good feeling to know that the owner is having a good time.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler ' ' '