and that might have a big bearing on Thiems prospects

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The defensive line was the unquestioned strength for the Los Angeles Rams entering this season, and it showed in a variety of ways during their 37-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.Robert Quinn had a strip-sack that Ethan Westbrooks returned 77 yards for a touchdown, Aaron Donald had one tackle for loss and deflected two passes, and Will Hayes returned from an ankle injury to provide depth in hot and humid conditions.If they can keep it up against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Rams (2-1) can extend their early and unexpected lead in the NFC West.It was a tremendous effort there, coach Jeff Fisher said Monday. You look at the tape and go to the fourth quarter, youre watching the effort and the intensity. The intensity is there. The effort is not quite there just because of the fatigue factor on both sides, but they were there and they did what they needed to do.The Rams got an unexpected break when lightning caused a 69-minute delay at the two-minute warning, giving them a chance to return to their air-conditioned locker room.For the front four, the rest was especially beneficial as defensive end Eugene Sims had been ejected early in the second quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct. Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used a three-man defensive line at times. Westbrooks had to play more snaps and Donald moved from tackle to end.Former first-round pick Dominique Easley replaced Donald on the interior of the line and performed admirably, Fisher said.We needed him, Fisher said. He needed to step up because we needed to balance Aaron outside and he played really well inside.Quinn, who missed the second half of last season with a back injury, demonstrated the edge rushing skills that earned accolades in 2013 by knocking the ball from quarterback Jameis Winstons grip. Opponents recognize Quinn has regained his pre-injury form, Fisher said, and are using a tight end or running back to chip him and help offensive tackles. That puts the onus on other defensive linemen to take advantage of favorable matchups.But Fisher was most impressed by how Hayes gritted it out and played through injury after Sims was ejected.Thats why I have total respect for Will Hayes, Fisher said. There is no way he should have returned.Sims apologized to his teammates and Fisher, but the disqualification was the second for a Rams defensive lineman this season. Those unnecessary pre- and post-snap penalties could be the difference between winning and losing, Fisher said.I cant even remember in my career having a defensive player ejected, let alone weve had two in three weeks, so that stuff needs to stop, Fisher said.Assuming the ejections come to an end, the Rams could feast on a Cardinals offensive line that allowed five sacks in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. The nine sacks allowed by the Cardinals this season are tied for fourth-most in the NFL through three games, and the Rams had six sacks in the two-game series last season.A win against the Cardinals would take the Rams to 3-1 for the first time since 2006, with wins over two division foes that made the postseason last year. It would be a significant step forward, though Fisher isnt looking too far ahead.Do the playoffs start next week? Fisher asked. Everybody wants to start fast. We didnt start well three weeks ago, but we found a way the last couple weeks.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Jordan 19 For Sale . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Air Jordan Sale . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. https://www.wholesalejordanshoeschina.com/ . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Cheap Jordan From China . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Discount Air Jordan . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Dominic Thiem posted the following message on Facebook early in the morning of Nov. 3, following the second-round upset inflicted on him at the Paris Masters 1000 by Jack Sock:There is not much to say about that result, its just really bitter, he wrote. I am trying to find my old strength, I hope to find it in the off-season ... the season is pretty sure over for me, if I am going to London is not up to me anymore, I can only hope for the best.Before Thiem, an Austrian, even had a chance to unpack and plop down on the sofa to cue up his favorite ski-jumping videos on YouTube, the two men who could still qualify for the final berth in Londons ATP World Tour Finals went down in flames in Paris.Tomas Berdych needed to reach the semifinals, but Andy Murray stopped him one match short. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had his fate in his own hands. If he won Paris (as he had once before), he was in. But Tsonga was bombarded off the court by Milos Raonic.On Nov. 4, Thiem was back on Facebook with an entirely different message: Thanks Andy! Thanks Milos! London is calling!And although hell be making the somewhat unexpected voyage to the final ATP event of the season, the question with Thiem is his fitness. His rap is that he plays too much and becomes increasingly vulnerable to fatigue and injury as the year goes on. Thiem retired hurt from two matches during the late summer, including a set and change into his fourth-round clash with Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open. That was a costly pullout.But Thiem is a strapping 23-year-old, and not long thereafter, he made it to the final of Metz before slumping to a 2-4 record the rest of the way this fall.Still, Thiem strung together an auspicious season for much of 2016. Its nothing to dismiss with an eye-roll, either. Hes already bagged seven ATP Tour titles in 10 final-round appearances. Hes won titles on clay, grass and hard courts, although the achievement is a little deceptive. Thiem has never beaten a top-10 player on a hard court. Next week, hell be competing with seven who aree in that elite category.ddddddddddddhe one thing Thiem wont lack in London is match seasoning. He has played 27 tournaments this year, six more than anyone else in the top 10, and 11 more than either top-ranked Murray or No. 2 Novak Djokovic. The Austrian iron boys intent from the get-go has been to throw himself into the tour with the same abandon and ferocity that he pours into those roundhouse, atomic backhands. The attitude has roots in the sensibility of his coach, Gunter Brethe game of Boris Becker, is so old school thsnik.Bresnik, who also developed at he doesnt even have a Facebook page. Bresnik likes his players to work long and hard. He taught Thiem to swing for the fences, and if he missed to swing harder. He also counseled Thiem to keep the one-handed backhand, reasoning that at 6-foot-1, Thiem was tall and muscular enough to handle the high balls that were a challenge to other one-handers.Its unclear at this point how fast the court in Londons 02 Arena will be, and that might have a big bearing on Thiems prospects. One reason his game is most successful on clay is because he has a very long take-back on both wings. It allows him to generate teeth-rattling raw power, but those elaborate backswings also take longer. As a result, Thiem may find himself backing off the baseline to buy time, which will leave him vulnerable to ... you get the rest.Speculation about such tactical things are best left for the days ahead. Thiem probably isnt focusing on them just yet, either. Right now, hes probably just overwhelmed by his sense of good fortune. He also issued a statement when informed of his good fortune, declaring: Im so happy to have made it. In the past two years [the Finals] became a goal and to achieve it at such a young age is amazing.Eventually, nobody is going to remember or care how Thiem got into London. The only important thing will be what he did once he was there. ' ' '