An die SV » Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., will need a strong showi

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Ground it down to any statistic, and the Tennessee Titans havent been able to run the ball well at all this season.They are assured of finishing without a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since 2005. They rank 28th in the NFL, averaging only 87 yards a game, and are 23rd averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Nobody has run for 100 yards in a single game with the season finale coming up Sunday against the Colts.Perhaps worst of all, the Titans three longest runs this season have come from a pair of quarterbacks and a wide receiver.Would we have like to have had some longer runs by a running back? Sure, you would, but we havent, coach Ken Whisenhunt said Tuesday.The Titans (2-13) certainly have not had the year they wanted offensively after cutting veteran Chris Johnson in April. Theyre using a handful of running backs to replace the man who ran for at least 1,000 yards in each of his six seasons in Tennessee.Before he arrived, LenDale White ran for 1,110 yards in 2007, while Travis Henry ran for 1,211 yards in 2006.Having a 1,000-yard rusher doesnt guarantee a team can run the ball well. Whisenhunt said he was on teams that went to the Super Bowl without a 1,000-yard rusher.Some of its an injury thing, Whisenhunt said. Some of its just where your team is. We do want to run the ball better, no question about that.The biggest measure of how well a team can run comes when the defence knows its coming. The Titans have failed there as well, with the best example a fourth-and-1 against Cleveland on Oct. 5 when the Browns stuffed Charlie Whitehurst.They have topped 100 yards rushing in only three games this season.Rookie Bishop Sankey has the fourth-longest run for the Titans at 22 yards, but the second-round draft pick out of Washington has rushed for only 551 yards on 148 carries with two touchdowns.Its one of those things weve worked on all year. Weve wanted more explosive runs all year from our running backs, Sankey said. Unfortunately, those havent come.Shonn Greene had the best game by a Titans running back this season with a season-high 71 yards in their opening win at Kansas City. Sankey has run for as much as 61 in two games. Leon Washington is averaging a team-high 5 yards per carry but has had only 11 rushes all season.The Titans will have to decide about bringing Greene back for the third year of his contract and whether Sankey can be their main running back in 2015. Rookie Antonio Andrews also may get a chance at more work against the Colts as the Titans gauge their run game.Whisenhunt said success running depends on how the games go. Scoring a lot of points early can allow a team to run the ball and wear out a defence. The Titans simply havent been as consistent running.A lot of times your scheme, how you attack opponents, are important, Whisenhunt said. A lot of times backs, you see guys make guys miss all the time and get extra yards. I think it all ties in together.NOTES: The Titans practiced Tuesday with only LT Taylor Lewan (left ankle) not working. Rookie QB Zach Mettenberger was at practice, but Whisenhunt said Whitehurst will start Sunday.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Thomas Hickey Islanders Jersey .J. -- Jaromir Jagr has hit so many NHL milestones this season for the New Jersey Devils that he is starting to downplay them. Jordan Eberle Islanders Jersey . LOUIS - The St. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-anders-lee-islanders-jersey/ . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted that its believed the Flames are working towards a new contract with the defenceman. Denis Potvin Islanders Jersey . The Extreme Heat Policy was enacted at Melbourne Park just before 2 p.m. Thursday, suspending all matches on outer courts until the early evening and requiring the closure of the retractable roofs at Rod Laver and Hisense arenas before play could continue on the show courts. Andrew Ladd Jersey . The Tiger-Cats announced on Friday the linebacker has signed a new contract with the team through the 2016 season.BASEL, Switzerland - David Goffin kept up his remarkable form as he beat fourth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 Friday to reach the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors.It was Goffins 42nd victory in 44 matches since his straight-sets loss to Andy Murray at Wimbledon, and the first time the 23-year-old Belgian has beaten a top-10 player.Its one of my nicest victories, if not the nicest, the seventh-seeded Goffin said. Its really pleasing. I cant really comprehend what Ive achieved since Wimbledon: more than 40 victories, two titles ... I think Ill only realize what Ive achieved when Im on holiday.Later Friday, teenager Borna Coric upset second-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (4) to announce himself as one of the rising stars of tennis.Nadal announced after the match he will have season-ending appendicitis surgery. He was playing just his third tournament since Wimbledon due to a wrist injury and looked nowhere near his best.It was difficult in the whole match, in the whole tournament, Nadal said. Every day I felt more tired, I tried to practice, to get fit but it was not possible. The past four, five months have been very tough for me. Its been difficult to play and compete.Coric, meanwhile, was in sparkling form.Its an unbelievable feeling, Coric said. Im so proud of myself and I hope I can play the same game tomorrow.There was pressure but I didnt have anything to lose, because if I lose I lost to the No. 1 in the world. I never played against him so I didnt know what would happen, whether he would kill me or not.There was no such slip-up for Roger Federer as the top-seeded Swiss remained on course for his sixth title in Basel after beating fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (4), 6-2.In the Goffin-Raonic match, the Belgian broke early on but was broken back when serving for the opening set, shortly after some lights went out and halted the match for approximately 20 minutes.The seventh-seeded Goffin saved another break point at thee start of the second set before breaking in the penultimate game before serving to level the match.dddddddddddd Goffin took a decisive lead in the seventh game of the final set and he threatened to break again but Raonic saved two match points — one with his 21st ace.The Belgian finally converted his fourth match point when Raonic returned a powerful serve long. Goffin has won four Challenger and two ATP titles this year and played with confidence against the Canadian.I tried to make the most of my game after the lights went out, Raonic said. I came back trying to serve harder. and hoping to find rhythm that way. I created some opportunities in the start of both sets, but I didnt make the most of them.Hes been playing well. He has confidence in the tight moments due to how hes played the last four five months.Also Friday, Ivo Karlovic defeated Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-4.The loss hurts Raonics chances of earning a qualifying spot for the season-ending ATP event in London. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., will need a strong showing next week in Paris as he battles Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Kei Nishikori and Dimitrov for the last three spots in the eight-man field.Raonic, who is 45-17 on the season and currently ninth in the points race, knows he needs to take advantage of his last chance at the Bercy arena starting Monday.Im hoping in these next few days I can pick up my physicality by working in the gym, Raonic said. All I can do is fight to the last point, whenever that might be. Hopefully it is later rather than earlier in Paris.Canadas Vasek Pospisil will play in the mens doubles semifinals in Basel with temporary partner Nenad Zimonjic — the former partner of Torontos Daniel Nestor — on Saturday.Pospisil, from Vancouver, teamed up with American Jack Sock to win the Wimbledon title this season. They will play next week in Paris in hopes of qualifying for the year-end event in doubles.———With files from The Associated Press. ' ' '