ionals, who impressed and who to look out for in Toronto this

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bears never quite figured out how to best use the explosive Devin Hester in their offense. The Atlanta Falcons are making it work. Hester gets his first crack at his former team on Sunday as the Falcons host the Bears in a matchup of 2-3 teams at the Georgia Dome. Hester was a second round pick of Chicago in 2006 and set a number of records during his stay with the Bears. That includes 18 kick return touchdowns and 13 punt return touchdowns and he also set franchise marks with 3,241 punt return yards and 5,504 kickoff return yards. Of course, that doesnt include his 92-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI in an eventual loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Hester added 217 catches for 2,807 yards and 14 touchdowns with Chicago, but asked not to play offense last season under new head coach Marc Trestman. He then wasnt offered a contract this past offseason by the Bears and inked a three-year, $9 million deal with Atlanta in March. Its going to be fun, kind of exciting, Hester told the Falcons website of the matchup. Im so used to going against those guys in practice; itll be the first time for me to go against them live. (Ive) been around those guys for a long time; so, its kind of like playing against your brother. Hester was held to just two catches for 16 yards and ran once for another three yards in last Sundays 30-20 loss to the New York Giants. The Falcons led by 10 late in the third quarter before New York reeled off 20 straight points, 13 in the fourth frame. Matt Ryan threw for 316 yards and a touchdown with one interception, while Julio Jones caught 11 passes for 105 yards. Running back Antone Smith added a 74-yard touchdown catch as the Falcons fell to 0-3 on the road this season compared to 2-0 at home. We couldnt get anything going offensively there in the second half and we couldnt get the stops that we needed, Falcons head coach Mike Smith remarked. We are extremely disappointed in the way that the game finished. The same could be said for the Bears in their 31-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers last weekend. Turnovers doomed Chicago as it failed to hold three-point lead with six minutes with less than five minutes to play. Quarterback Jay Cutler was intercepted and the pick was returned 35 yards to the Chicago 32. That set up a game-tying field goal by the Panthers Graham Gano with 4:29 to go and Matt Forte fumbled on the first snap of the resulting possession. Carolina recovered at the Chicago 23, setting up a six-yard go-ahead TD pass for the Panthers with 2:18 to go. Ive got to take accountability for our failure to get things done in the second half, said Chicago head coach Marc Trestman. We didnt have any significant drives and failed to convert third downs. We just didnt get it done. Cutler passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, but was also picked off twice. Forte ran for 61 yards and added 105 receiving on 12 catches. Following their second straight setback, the Bears will play their fourth road game in five weeks. They have won four of six and nine of their last 12 against the Falcons, including a 30-12 win at home in the last meeting in 2011. Cutler threw for 312 yards and two scores, including a 56-yard touchdown pass to Forte, who ended with 158 yards from scrimmage. Ryan had 319 yards passing, but was sacked five times. Chicago remains one victory shy of becoming the first team in NFL history to reach 750 wins. WHAT TO WATCH FOR All eyes will be on Hester and how he torments his former team. He comes in as the only player in the league to post a rushing, receiving and return touchdown this season. While never fully breaking out on offense in Chicago, Hester is third on Atlanta with 14 catches behind only standouts Jones and Roddy White and is also averaging 24.2 yards per kickoff return and 14.4 yards on eight punt returns. I think everybody knows how great a player he is. I dont think theres any question about that. I think the biggest thing is we just have to have a good plan going in for him, said Bears special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. A lot of people say you cant punt it to him. ... There are a lot of things that go into that. Otherwise, everybody would do it. Hester did not practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, but expects to play in this game. Im sure itll be different for Dev this week, said Ryan. Obviously, played a long time in Chicago and has a lot of friends and former teammates that he played with up there, and Im sure thatll probably be on his mind a little bit, but Im think once the ball kicks off and you start playing I think hes such a competitor week-to-week hes going to give you his best regardless. Ryans counterpart, Cutler, will try to shake off another costly turnover. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes on the year, but has been picked off six times and lost a pair of fumbles. Cutler and Trestman know they need to get wide receiver Brandon Marshall involved along with Forte and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Marshall has five touchdown receptions, but only one in the past three games since hauling in three versus San Francisco in Week 2 despite an ankle injury. He has made just six catches in the past three games, three of those coming versus Carolina for 44 yards. Hes been targeted certainly. But were going to go back and do some work on that to make sure were doing all the right things in that regard, noted Trestman. We targeted him (Sunday). He had a lot of calls and they took it away and Jay did the right thing by going other places. But we want (Marshall) to have more productivity. When he touches the ball good things happen and over the last couple of weeks we havent been able to get that done. Its certainly something we have to continue to work on to get him back involved where he can get more touches that will result in bigger plays. The Falcons have countered a defense that ranks 29th in both total and scoring defense by posting the leagues third-ranked offense at 434.6 yards per game and 30.2 points. Antone Smith has become a big play threat with four touchdowns on the year. He has caught a 54-yard score in addition to his recent 74-yarder and has also found the end zone on the ground from 38 and 48 yards out. Now the back and the rest of the Falcons need to figure out how to translate their home success to road games, but that is a problem best saved for next Sunday in Baltimore. I wish we could figure it out to be more consistent week-to-week, but I think when youre at home, obviously from a communications standpoint its a little bit easier, noted Ryan. Its not quite as loud, and that helps us to a certain extent, but across the board I think home or away we need to be more consistent. OVERALL ANALYSIS The Bears will certainly need to be focused on an energized Hester, but he isnt the biggest concern on the Falcons offense. Smith and Jones have big- play potential and Chicago is giving up 26.2 points and 262.4 yards per game. Atlanta has had its own struggles playing defense, but the secondary needs to only sit back and wait for Cutler to make a mistake in a tough Georgia Dome environment. I think every week is important, certainly when we get back at home I think thats a good thing for us, said Ryan. (Coach Smith) talks about it all the time, we want to be tough and defend the dome every chance that we get. Dont be surprised to see Hester bring the crowd to its feet with some big plays and leave Cutler and company again searching for answers. Sports Network predicted outcome: Falcons 34, Bears 27 Art Monk Jersey . Onyshko, from Minnedosa, Man., will compete in artistic gymnastics while Hanet, from Kelowna, B.C., will compete in lawn bowling as a para-athlete. "It is exciting that our Canadian athletes are starting to arrive at the Games Village," said Chantal Petitclerc, Canadas Chef de Mission. Montez Sweat Redskins Jersey . I wondered how NHL coaches would feel about a playoff schedule that allowed them to open a best-of-seven series on the road, which many claim to favour, yet still gave them the precious home-ice edge for a seventh game. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redsk...Riggins-Jersey/. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the Houston Texans No. 1 pick in the draft, was on the field Tuesday for the first time with former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J. Sean Taylor Youth Jersey . Louis Cardinals continued their offensive tear with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series. Charles Mann Redskins Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday.This week, collegiate players from across Canada participated in three regional combines in Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto. Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto. TSNs Duane Forde gives his thoughts on this weeks regionals, who impressed and who to look out for in Toronto this weekend. EDMONTON - Twenty-one draft eligible players participated in Mondays Edmonton regional combine with five of them advancing to the national combine in Toronto. The most impressive among them was Simon Fraser receiver Tore Corrado. Having established himself more as a kick returner than as a receiver at the NCAA Division II-level, Corrados quickness is his greatest strength. His skill set gives him an opportunity to be an effective player on the bigger Canadian field. Corrados SFU teammate Dylan Roper turned scouts heads early in the day when he hoisted 225 lbs. 26 times. The defensive end clinched his trip to Toronto in the one-on-one drills, where his quickness off the edge and non-stop motor were evident. The Regina Rams also had two players promoted to the main combine in guard Kyle Paterson and defensive end Michael Dadzie. The latter hails from the athletic hotbed of Brampton, Ontario and, although he wasnt a full-time starter for the Rams, he possesses a combination of strength and speed that intrigues scouts. Paterson hopes to continue following in the footsteps of fellow Weyburn, Saskatchewan natives and U of R products Brendon LaBatte and Brett Jones. He topped the bench press test with 27 reps and was clearly the most athletic O-lineman in attendance. Rounding out the national combine invitees was rock solid Manitoba linebacker Thomas Miles, who tested well and brings an element of physical play to the table. My honourable mentions from the Edmonton regional go to scrappy Manitoba receiver Andrew Smith, who combines good leaping ability with a willingness to compete in the air for every ball, and Calgary kicker John Mark, who wasnt as accurate as usual, but hit the ball well on every field goal attempt. MONTREAL - There were twenty-seven draft eligible performers among the participants at Wednesdays Montreal regional combine, five of whom earned their way to the national event. Nigel Romick of Saint Marys distinguished himself in a very competitive defensive line group, testing very well across the board and showing great versatility by taking one-on-one reps at tackle, end and even linebacker. Sherbrooke receiver Francis Lapointe, one of the favourites among scouts entering the combine, lived up to his advance billing, running solid pass routes and tying for the fastest 40-yard dash of the day. Two running backs with very different skill sets will also be moving on to the national stage. Bruising fullback Alexandre Dupuis of the Montreal Carabins came back last fall from injuries to both knees that had wiped out his 2012 campaign and continued to impress with his work ethic and toughness.dddddddddddd Meanwhile, Lavals shifty Guillaume Bourassa, who has always had to share time in the crowded Rouge et Or backfield, shone as both a receiver and blocker. Performing on the Concordia University field that he has called home for the last four years, Stingers linebacker Travis Bent also punched his ticket to Toronto. The native of Ajax, Ontario was one of the most heavily recruited players in this class coming out of high school. A number of other players also caught my eye in Montreal, led by Mount Allisons Quinn Everett, who shows good potential as an O-lineman after spending the last four years on the defensive side. Defensive linemen Vincent Desloges (Laval), Shaquille Armstrong (Concordia) and Sanmi Adereti (St.FX) all had their moments, as did receivers Nathan Heather and Mike Harrington, while McGill DB Mattey Ossom and Bishops LB Omar Smith-Jackson displayed outstanding athleticism. TORONTO - On Thursday, Toronto was home to the third and final regional combine with 25 draft eligible prospects on hand. Four would ultimately earn promotions to this weekends national combine, led by former St.FX defensive back Raye Hartmann. An AUS All-Star in 2011, Hartmann had sat out the last two seasons, but showed absolutely no signs of rust as the 62" Mississauga, Ontario native was dominant in pass coverage and excelled in testing. Big Queens receiver Scott MacDonell was equally impressive, using his 65", 225 lbs. frame to his advantage in one-on-ones. He runs well for his size and could certainly contribute at the next leavel with most teams, at least occasionally, employing a tight end package. The day got off to a bit of a rough start for Toronto running back Aaron Milton, when he raised some eyebrows by declining to do the bench press test, later citing a shoulder injury. The big back more than made up for it on the field, showing both explosiveness as a ball carrier and receiver, as well as a willingness to get his nose dirty in blocking drills. High-energy defensive end James Tuck of the York Lions snagged the other invitation, combining an impressive level of athleticism with an even more impressive effort level. Winnipeg-born, Texas-raised offensive lineman Tchissakid Player of Northwestern State was a virtual lock to claim a spot at the main combine until a pulled hamstring ruled him out. S