ment is to win your division. It comes down to being efficient and executing in all three phases.There was concern prior to last weeks g

LINCOLN, Neb. -- For weeks, Nebraska coach Mike Riley has been lamenting his teams inability to consistently return punts. Hes not the only coach with that problem as the punting game undergoes a dramatic transformation, with different kinds of formations and Australian kickers seemingly everywhere.The number of punt returns per game in the Bowl Subdivision since the start of the 2015 season is the lowest on record, and average yards per return also have declined.I think thats the most interesting thing in the last less-than-a-decade in college football, really -- the change in punting, punt formations, how the punts come out, Riley said.Nationally, last years per-team average was 1.57 returns a game. This seasons average is 1.59. Prior to 2006, it had never been lower than 2.23. Also, the average punt return has been less than 9 yards for seven straight seasons.In the Big Ten this year, there have been 1.85 returns per game per team. The average runback has fallen to 7.87 yards, lowest among the Power Five conferences, and only Michigan and Iowa average better than 9.Michigan star Jabrill Peppers is the Big Ten leader at 17.5 yards per return. Iowas Desmond King is next at 8.74. There are only 33 players in the FBS averaging 9 yards or better; there were 68 in 2002.One of the reasons for the drop, Riley said, is that punt-return units are facing formations that spread the field, compromising their ability to hold up coverage people at the line of scrimmage and set up blockers for a return.The different punt formations, punt styles that have come up have really made the punt-return team almost more of a defensive unit, making sure you cover everybody, Riley said. Theyre spread over the field, they go in motion, and that never used to happen in a punt. Everybody would stand back there with a personal protector, a couple of wingbacks, a couple of gunners. You knew where everybody was. You could rush or you could hold up, so its a little more complicated now.Another factor is that the art of punting has evolved with the invasion of highly skilled Australian punters into the college game.In the Big Ten, Ohio States Cameron Johnston and Marylands Wade Lees are starting for their teams. Daniel Pasquariello is the backup at Penn State, and Rutgers has Tim Gleeson, who has been injured. Johnston is fifth in the FBS at 47.2 yards per punt. Ahead of him are two of his countrymen, national leader Mitch Wishnowsky of Utah and third-place Michael Dickson of Texas.The Aussie punters typically are older and come from rugby and Australian rules football backgrounds. They often kick while moving, taking a handful of steps to the right or left before letting it fly, a far cry from the relatively immobile punters American fans are so used to. Rugby-style punts arent pretty, but they are effective, rolling toward the boundary and giving the coverage unit enough time to get downfield to limit return opportunities.They also execute sky punts that fly high and roll out, low punch shots into the wind that hit the ground and go another 15 yards, feathery pooch punts that pin opponents deep and floating, hard-to-catch knuckleball punts.Dan Orner, a private coach from Charlotte, North Carolina, who works with NFL and college punters and kickers, said the directional punt with a hang time of 4.8 to 5.1 seconds is still in high demand. But Orner said the influence of the Australians is undeniable.While were throwing the ball around at tailgates, Orner said, theyre kicking it around.The Australian influence, Orner said, has pushed American punters to add to their repertoires.Marylands Lees is the oldest player in the FBS and one of the most recent Australians to arrive. Hes a 28-year-old freshman and a former professional Australian rules football player.The only way to pass to a teammate is to kick the ball, Lees said of his old sport. To pass to my teammate, I have to kick him the ball while Im being tackled or trying to evade my defender. Accuracy and precision have to be spot-on. Thats why we can get so accurate.Lees said he first kicked an American football less than two years ago. He worked with a coach in Melbourne who helps connect Australian punters with U.S. colleges. Most of his punts are rugby-style, but he is comfortable doing whatever special teams coordinator Pete Lembo calls for in different situations, based, among other things, on where the return man is lined up and where the ball is on the field.All I have to do is just execute the punt and hope to get a fair-caught ball, Lees said, and Ive done my job.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org Cornelius Lucas III Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Stan Jones Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. http://www.custombearsjersey.com/custom-bilal-nichols-jersey-large-2676t.html . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. Ed Healey Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Kevin Toliver II Jersey . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Through four weeks, the Tennessee Titans were tied for the fewest points in the NFL. Since then, coach Mike Mularkeys vision of exotic smashmouth has played out before everyones eyes.Last weeks 47-25 clobbering of the Green Bay Packers marked the most points for Tennessee in a single game since 2009 and also capped a six-week stretch in which it has averaged 34 points per contest. Whats more, the Titans have scored at least 35 points in each of the last three games.Were making less mistakes, Mularkey said. Weve been very good in the red zone and I think the biggest thing weve done is our third down. Weve been very good on third down which has allowed us to put some of these drives together.We feel like were very hard to defend based on all the things we do and when it comes time to put points up, were putting points up.Tennessee (5-5) will try to keep lighting up the scoreboard at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, when it will play the Colts in a key AFC South matchup. The winner will at least temporarily gain ground on first place Houston (6-3), which plays the Monday night game against Oakland in Mexico City.Indianapolis (4-5) had last week off after dumping Green Bay 31-26 two weeks ago at Lambeau Field, leading wire-to-wire in probably its best performance of the year. The Colts second-best outing this year might have been the first time they played the Titans.With three offensive starters sidelined, Indianapolis established a 17-6 second-quarter advantage, saw Tennessee rally to take a fourth-quarter lead and then scored two touchdowns in an eight-second span inside the last two minutes for a 34-26 win.It was the 10th consecutive victory for the Colts over the Titans, dating back to the 2011 season. And with everyone healthy after the bye week, Indianapolis is in theory fortified to keep its string of dominance going against its division rival.It still comes down to making plays against a good defense, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck said.Despite absorbing 33 sacks and being under siege at times behind a leaky offensive line, Luck is enjoying one of his best seasons, averaging 285 yards per game passing witth a 17-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.dddddddddddduck dominated the Tennessee back seven last month, piling up 353 yards on 27-of-39 passing. Tight end Jack Doyle and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton took turns whipping defensive backs and linebackers in coverage, combining for 16 grabs and 211 yards. Doyle had the go-ahead touchdown catch on the first play after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.It was one of the few games this year in which Luck hasnt been continually hassled by the opponents pass rush. The Titans sacked him only twice and on most plays, Luck could have counted to four Mississippi, five Mississippi before throwing.That was in stark contrast to last week, when Tennessee didnt have to worry about the threat of a run after roaring out to leads of 21-0 and 35-10 in the first half against Green Bay. It sacked Aaron Rodgers five times and hit him six others.Coach Mularkey has that team playing at a high, high level, Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano said. Just like we do, Tennessee knows the best way to get into the tournament is to win your division. It comes down to being efficient and executing in all three phases.There was concern prior to last weeks game that a turf toe was slowing down Titans running back DeMarco Murray, but he showed on the first carry that wasnt the case. His 75-yard touchdown run set the stage for another big game, as he rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries while adding the first touchdown pass of his career on a 10-yard halfback option toss to Delanie Walker.Making Tennessees offensive showing even better was that it occurred despite the ejection of left tackle Taylor Lewan less than five minutes into the game. Lewan was tossed for contacting an official during a scuffle after Green Bays Letroy Guion drilled quarterback Marcus Mariota.Mariota went on to throw for 295 yards and four touchdowns, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.A similar performance Sunday could enhance the Titans chances at their first division title in eight years. ' ' '