SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- James Onwualu has been through a lot of change in his four years at Notre Dame, going from being a blocking wide receiver starting four games as a freshman to a defensive stalwart who helped turn around a defense that was foundering to start the season.Coach Brian Kelly credits the 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker from St. Paul, Minnesota, and defensive end Isaac Rochell with anchoring the unit when coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired after a 1/3 start and lauds them for providing the leadership needed when the Irish (4-6) started depending more on freshmen.Those two guys in particular, Rochell and Onwualu were unbelievable, Kelly said. It was, I think, crucial when we made a change defensively, played all those freshmen, we needed guys to lead by example. We didnt need a guy yelling and screaming. And those two guys live by example.It was a challenge for Onwualu to stay positive when VanGorder was fired because the coach had helped him so much when he switched from offense, moving at first to safety and then to linebacker.Youre pretty much failing every single day. Like, Im coming in, never backpedaled in my life really, didnt know much about defense, maybe just normal coverages, but youre pretty much coming in and failing every single day, he said. So to have somebody like coach VanGorder who is working you through that process and continuing to give you confidence, and say youre learning this today and youve improved here, but also at the same time pushing you.Onwualu made the change after making two catches as a freshman. He saw other freshmen receivers such as Will Fuller and Corey Robinson with so much more talent, and he was excelling making tackles on special teams. He figures if he stayed at receiver he might have finished with 10 catches this season. Instead, hes been a three-year starter on defense and is third in tackles this season with 60 heading into his final game Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium against Virginia Tech (7-3). Hes also second on the team with five pass break-ups and has two sacks.I feel so much more comfortable on the defensive side. It kind of fits my mentality a little bit more, he said.Rochell believes Onwualu would be good at whatever he tries.Hes always going to be working hard, he said. If he was picking up trash from the Gug hed be great at it. It doesnt matter if hes crunching numbers in accounting, hes going to be great at it.Onwualu takes pride in that the defense has consistently improved and has a chance to show how good it is in its final two games against Virginia Tech and No. 15 USC (7-3).We knew that we were just working toward something and working toward being the best team that we could be, and I think its just starting to kind of shape around, he said. Guys are starting to realize how talented we can really be.Basket Adidas Nmd Femme Contrefaçon . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Yeezy Boost 350 Contrefaçon . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. http://www.basketnmdpascher.fr/ . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Adidas Human Race France . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Human Race Noir .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit.CHICAGO -- James Shields has never been driven by statistical superlatives. So after whats been a rocky season, his mission for the stretch run is simple.My main focus is to finish strong, Shields said Friday.Shields (5-17) is 3-10 since joining the Chicago White Sox and is 0-5 in his last seven outings heading into Saturdays start against the Kansas City Royals. Shields is coming off a tumultuous start Sept. 3 when he allowed five runs in just 2 1/3 innings against Minnesota.And after back pain caused manager Robin Ventura to consider putting Shields on the shelf before declaring him healthy enough to make Saturdays start, Shields is again ready to take his turn.Shields wont put any extra emphasis on the start or try to salvage a season with one start. But Shields acknowledged that he handles adversity differently than he did in the past, which allows him to keep his focus on whats ahead.I think when I was younger I was a little more of a hothead and didnt understand how to deal with adversity, Shields said. I think Ive just dealt with so much adversity in my career, being in the game for as long as I have, I know things are going to be thrown my way. I know what I need to do to deal with it.How the Royals deal with Shields remains a question mark simply because of this seasons unpredictability. Shields was 14-8 with the Royals in 2014 when he helped Kansas City reach the Worlld Series.dddddddddddd That familiarity may have come in handy in the past, but manager Ned Yost admitted Shields roller coaster season throws a wrench into how the Royals prepare to face him.Edinson Volquez (10-10) will start for the Royals.Its hard, but thats baseball -- you just dont know, Yost said Friday. You can come out one game and give up 10 runs in two innings and then come out the next game and throw eight innings of shutout baseball. Its hard to tell. We know what type of pitcher James Shields is and what type of competitor he is and that hes going to give you everything he has every time he takes that mound.Shields cant explain why he has again struggled the way he did when he first arrived in Chicago. But he hasnt allowed himself to get wrapped up in the criticism that has come his way, but is more concerned with how he pitches from here on out the rest of the season.Im not getting the job done and Im not doing my job out on the mound, Shields said. As a player, its frustrating -- theres no doubt about it. But I know what Im capable of doing. I know what Ive done in my career. But the fans here in Chicago only have one taste of me and thats what Ive done this year. Hopefully, I finish strong here and next year will be a different story. ' ' '