TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals led the NFL in yards gained last year. They averaged 38 points a game.All the skill people returned. What should be well-oiled familiarity instead is disjointed and stagnant.The Cardinals (1-2) are coughing and sputtering at the start of each game, taking precious time to get in gear.Every year is different, coach Bruce Arians said after what was described as a spirited practice Wednesday. When you get everybody back you expect to be as good (as last year) or better. But other things change. Again, our performance is not acceptable so far.Arizona has yet to score a point in the first quarter, not against New England, not in a blowout win over Tampa Bay, and not last Sunday in a 33-18 loss at Buffalo .Last Sunday was the worst. The Cardinals didnt get a first down in their first five possessions and were down 17-0 in a hurry.Whats wrong?We always strive to score that first possession. Thats something I take pride in, said Arians, who prefers to take the ball first if the Cardinals win the coin toss rather than deferring to the second half. The biggest thing is third-down conversions, third-down conversions and poor first-down plays. If we have a short play weve gone a good job of getting it in second-and-five or less, but the third downs are the key, like they are every week.The Cardinals are 17 of 41 (41.5 percent) in third-down conversions. Against Buffalo, they were 5 of 15.Like most of his teammates, Carson Palmer wasnt at his best against the Bills, completing 26 of 50 passes for 260 yards. He threw four interceptions -- all in the fourth quarter -- and didnt throw a touchdown pass.Arians said two of the interceptions were the receivers fault for running the wrong route. The other two came when Palmer threw a couple up for grabs in hopes of scoring quickly with the team so far behind.Palmer was 7 for 14 for 44 yards in the first half.I think it always comes down to execution, Palmer said about the slow starts. Theres never one reason that kind of covers them all. Its execution -- everybody, all 11 guys executing the right play at the right time.Arians has said things might have worked out differently if Michael Floyd hadnt dropped the first pass of the game. Maybe the momentum of a catch would lead to an early score and the whole mood of the day would be altered.Floyd, who has just nine catches for 134 yards in three games, said a few big plays could loosen the team up.I think our offense feeds off our room, our group (wide receivers) and making big plays , he said. I think that feeds on the offense. I think it feeds on the whole team, seeing us making big plays out there. With me to start out the game with an incomplete pass., you know, I take that seriously and Im making sure that doesnt happen again.Its just starting of fast, making big plays and getting back into the groove and having that confidence that we can just go downfield and score.Much easier said than done with the rough defense of the Los Angeles Rams coming to town. The NFC West foes meet Sunday afternoon in Glendale.Game notes The Cardinals signed three players -- long snapper Aaron Brewer, punter Ryan Quigley and inside linebacker Joplo Bartu. ... With regular punter Drew Butler still in a walking boot due to an ankle injury, the holders job on extra points and field goals probably will to Quigley, Arians said.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Custom Patriots Shirts . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. 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BLACKSBURG, Va. -- A year ago, Alabama State beat Virginia Tech in the season opener and maybe cost the Hokies an NCAA Tournament bid.But Virginia Tech took care of business this time.Zach LeDay scored 20 points off the bencVirginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said.h to lead the Hokies to an 80-67 win over Maine on Friday.LeDay led a balanced attack for the Hokies (1-0), who had four players in double figures. He hit 8 of 13 from the floor and grabbed 12 rebounds for his 13th career double-double.Ahmed Hill, who missed last season with a knee injury, scored 14 points in his return, while Justin Robinson had 13 and Chris Clarke finished with 12.I think, like any other coach would say after game 1, we did good things, and I think there are distinct ways we can improve, Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said. Theres a lot of room for growth, for sure.Wes Myers led Maine (0-1) with 18 points.Despite size and experience advantages, Virginia Tech didnt put away the Black Bears until midway through the second half. The Hokies led by eight with around 17 minutes remaining before going on a 15-2 run that was powered by LeDays six points. Maine got no closer than the final margin.It was a good effort, but we just couldnt sustain it for the full 40 minutes, Maine coach Bob Walsh said. To stand up against them the way we did, I think we can take some good things out of that.The Hokies, taller and stronger at virtually every position, finished with a 44-36 rebounding advantage.BIG PICTUREMainee: The Black Bears, picked to finish last in the America East, could be in for a long season after losing seven players off last seasons team -- five with eligibility remaining.dddddddddddd Seven newcomers joined the program for this season.Virginia Tech: The Hokies expect to be a deeper team with 85 percent of their scoring and rebounding returning. Their depth showed, as head coach Buzz Williams played 10 players -- and eight of them scored.RETURN TO ACTIONHill wasnt the only Hokie to miss last season. Ty Outlaw sat out the entire year with hypertensive cardiomyopathy, or a thickening of the heart muscle that makes it harder to pump blood. Cleared in mid-June, the junior-college transfer saw his first action as a Virginia Tech player and scored one point in 15 minutes.BUILDING BLOCKMyers transferred from Niagara to Maine and sat out last season and will be a key component for a young Black Bears squad. He hit 6 of 13 and grabbed eight rebounds and didnt look intimidated against the Hokies.He is a guy we can count, Walsh said.UP NEXTThe Black Bears will remain in Virginia, traveling to Farmville to face Longwood on Sunday in what will be the second of five straight road games to start the season.The Hokies play the second of three straight home games to open the season next Tuesday when they take on High Point. ' ' '
