Kritik und Lob » DZimmer is a defensive-minded coach,

AKRON, Ohio -- Dustin Johnson was on the range at Firestone for an hour and was lucky if he hit more than a dozen shots.This would not be described as an intense practice session, for all the right reasons.It was Johnsons first public appearance since he left Oakmont with the U.S. Open trophy for his first major. He flew home to Florida that night, set the trophy on the kitchen table so it would be the first thing he saw when he came down the stairs and then headed to The Bahamas for a double celebration -- winning a major and his birthday. He turned 32 last Wednesday.Johnson doesnt always have much to say, but his smile on the eve of the Bridgestone Invitational said it all.I felt like Ive been playing really well all year and just havent been able to get a W, he said. It definitely came at a good time a couple weeks ago.And now its back to work.This is the third World Golf Championship of the year (for every tour but Europe), and because of the Olympics, it comes at strange time. The Bridgestone Invitational is two weeks after the U.S. Open and two weeks before the British Open.Johnson tees off in the penultimate group Thursday in a U.S. Open-winning trio with Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose.THE FIELD: The Bridgestone Invitational features a 61-man field, the smallest since only 39 players competed in 2001 when this WGC event was exclusively for current Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team members.Blame that on the Olympics, and a clash between the PGA Tour and the European Tour.This week also is the 100th anniversary of the French Open, the oldest national championship in continental Europe. The European Tour, under new chief Keith Pelley, offered its members plenty of incentive to be in Paris -- and to not be in Ohio.Europe did not sanction this WGC. Prize money has been boosted slightly in the French Open, and Ryder Cup points have been boosted significantly. Plus, anyone playing the Bridgestone Invitational will not get any Ryder Cup points or credit for a start toward membership requirements.The result is no Rory McIlroy, Masters champion Danny Willett, Lee Westwood or Martin Kaymer.THE DEFENDING CHAMP: Shane Lowry made a bold decision to be at Firestone, where he got his first win in America last year.He is just outside the Ryder Cup standings in Europe, only 13 world ranking points away from Andy Sullivan for the ninth spot. It would help to take advantage of extra points available in France. But the Irishman chose to come to Firestone to defend his title.Coming off a tie for second in the U.S. Open, the Irishman is confident he can play well enough in the three remaining events on his schedule -- the Scottish Open, British Open and PGA Championship -- to make the team. If not, dont be surprised to see him add the Italian Open.THE ROOKIES: Of the 61-man field, 15 players are at the Bridgestone Invitational for the first time.Its an example of a growing list of young winners -- Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger, Emiliano Grillo and Smylie Kaufman to name a few -- and a few surprises.William McGirt had never been to a WGC event until he won the Memorial a month ago. Neither had Brian Stuard when he won in New Orleans. Kevin Chappell still hasnt won, but a pair of runner-up finishes to Jason Day in Florida (Bay Hill, The Players Championship) shot him up well into the top 50.The biggest surprise? Billy Hurley III, coming off his win at Congressional. He had never won on tour and was No. 607 in the world.GOING FOR THE DOUBLE: Adam Scott (Doral) and Day (Match Play) have a chance to win two World Golf Championships in the same year, a feat that has only been achieved by the best two players of this generation -- Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.Mickelson won at Doral and in Shanghai in 2009. Woods did six times.THE OLYMPIANS: Assuming there are no more dropouts because of Zika or any other concern in Rio -- and thats a big assumption -- only 13 players currently eligible for the Olympics are in the field at the Bridgestone Invitational. Air Force 270 China .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Air Force 1 Black Sale . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/fake-air-force-1-black-outlet.html . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Air Force 1 Red Fake . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Cheap Air Force 270 . LOUIS -- St. EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- In this day and age of high-flying passing attacks, the Minnesota Vikings have been a bit of a throwback in their run-first approach to offense.So now that the focal point of that offense is lost for the foreseeable future, the season is over, right?Not so fast.Adrian Peterson had surgery on Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, a procedure that is expected to keep him out for at least several months with a strong possibility that he misses the rest of the season.And the Vikings were ranked 28th in the league in offense with the best running back of his era on the field.I know everybody is all concerned about we dont have this or we dont have that but its a team, coach Mike Zimmer said.Thats why we have 53 guys here, so that we can try to win as a team. Thats all Ive ever done since Ive been here.The Vikings started the season with Super Bowl aspirations, even after quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down just over a week before the opener with a devastating knee injury.This week they lost Peterson and starting left tackle Matt Kalil (hip) to long-term injuries, but they remain confident that all is not lost heading into a Week 3 matchup at Carolina.So here is the formula the Vikings (2-0) will have to follow to survive life without Peterson carrying the offensive load:RUNNING BACK CREWPeterson was one of the few true workhorses left at running back in the league. He had 31 carries in the first two weeks, while the rest of the running backs on the roster combined for just 13.Now the offense will use a running back by committee, with shifty Jerick McKinnon getting the start, thumper Matt Asiata spelling him and the recently signed Ronnie Hillman there for insurance.While none of those three have anything close to the resume of Peterson, they all bring different things to the table that can help them be effective as a group.McKinnon is an accomplished receiver out of the backfield, an area that Peterson never mastered.Asiata hits the holes quick and never dances in the backfield like Peterson would do on occasion, taking some of the burden off the beleaguered offensive linemen to sustain their blocks.Theyre both capable of being good pass protectors. Theyre both good receivers, offensive coordinator Norv Turner said.We can mix them however we want, but Jerick with his eexplosiveness and his ability to come out of the backfield when appropriate we will try to take advantage of that.ddddddddddddBRADFORDS ARM, DIGGS HANDSSam Bradford surpassed all expectations on Sunday night when he took hold of the offense after two weeks of practice and was so sharp in a victory over the Green Bay Packers.Bradford completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, taking advantage of a defense that had loaded up to stop Peterson.He immediately clicked with second-year receiver Stefon Diggs, a budding star who had nine catches for 182 yards and a touchdown in the game.With Peterson gone, it would figure that the offense would evolve more to feature the passing game with Bradford, Diggs and tight end Kyle Rudolph. But Zimmer and Turner both said they were committed to a balanced offense.Thats our identity and thats how were built. Were going to continue to stay that way, Zimmer said.Hopefully we can play good defense and hopefully we can run the ball. Take our shots when we get a chance. Were not going to change and go to like five (receivers) every play.HEAVY DOSE OF DZimmer is a defensive-minded coach, and he has his unit playing at a high level early in the season. The Vikings rank fifth in total defense, scored two touchdowns in the season-opening 25-16 victory in Tennessee and kept Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense under wraps in the 17-14 win on Sunday night.The Vikings shouldnt need to get into many shootouts to win games this season, and they dont have to look back far for inspiration.The Broncos rode a dominant defense to the Super Bowl championship last season, with DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Aqib Talib and crew helping a weakened Peyton Manning win his second title.With Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks, the Vikings have a versatile, aggressive, playmaking unit that will take the pressure off the offense.Youre going to have guys go down throughout the year, defensive end Brian Robison said.And us as a defense, were going to put it on our shoulders and were going to make sure that we do whatever we can do to put the offense in a good position.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '