In Bronco Mendenhalls first season as coach at Virginia, the Cavaliers week-to-week focus remains more on what they are supposed to do in his defensive system than on what the opponent does.Thats true this week, too, even with Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson and No. 5 Louisville coming to Scott Stadium.The Cardinals (6-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) are ahead of five unbeaten teams in the Top 25.Mendenhall, though, is still in a teaching mode more than a reacting mode.Were so focused on just our own execution, which theres significant lapses in consistency right now, Mendenhall said. My point simply to the team is we have plenty to work on just within our own organization, and so my intent is to keep their focus on us, on us, knowing the external environment will be talking about Louisville and their quarterback.Ive got to work to make sure that the voices that are the listened-to voices and the trusted voices and the ones they want to, are the ones that are most compelling are coming from inside.Jackson has accounted for 34 touchdowns (18 passing, 16 rushing), while Virginia has scored just 26 TDs.Being impressed by an opponent, though, can lead to intimidation.Hes a great player like everyone can see, nose tackle and tri-captain Donte Wilkins said. Might probably win the Heisman this year, but I think its going to be fun to play against him and see what we can do.The Cavaliers spend more time working on how they play than working on how they play an opponent.Just worry about what we can control and run the defense how he wants us to run it, Wilkins said of Mendenhall. Its not necessarily studying (Jackson). Hes a great player. Everyone knows that. Its just doing what we do and doing it right.Offensively, the same applies even if the Cavaliers offense will never be on the field with Jackson.Were more so focused on what we have to do to pick up our performance, offensive lineman Eric Smith said. ... Were not necessarily focused on what theyre going to bring, but focused on the little things to tighten up on.The Cardinals lead the nation in scoring, averaging 52.6 points, and are second in total offense, averaging nearly 617 yards per game. The Cavaliers, still learning Mendenhalls 3-4 defense, allow 392 yards per game.But Louisville has also been stout on defense, ranking 16th by allowing less than 18 points per game.I think our defensive players understand and I tell them every day that we score points because our defense gets turnovers and gets short fields and scores and our special teams, Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said.Its all about the team and, when you score points, its the team that scores points. Denver Nuggets Jerseys . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Jamal Murray Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Allen-Iverson-Nuggets-Jersey/ . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Jamal Murray Nuggets Jersey . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Jarred Vanderbilt Nuggets Jersey . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers believes that Green Bay Packers teammates Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews will ultimately be exonerated in the NFLs investigation into last Decembers allegations by Al-Jazeera America that they used performance-enhancing substances.But if the two star outside linebackers do miss time this season, the Packers quarterback believes itll be because the NFL Players Association gave NFL commissioner Roger Goodell too much power during the 2011 collective bargaining agreement negotiations.Speaking in a radio interview on The Jim Rome Show?Wednesday, Rodgers was asked by Rome whether Goodell has too much power in meting out punishment and being able to compel players like Matthews and Peppers to testify in a case Rodgers believes lacks the requisite credible evidence to move forward.If that is the case, we have nobody to blame but ourselves, Rodgers replied. Because we had the opportunity in the CBA to make some legitimate changes to that. I think there was probably too much pressure to come to a deal when we had all the power on our side.That was something we should have had negotiated into the CBA because there shouldnt be somebody who is the judge, jury and executioner, as they say.Matthews and Peppers both have maintained their innocence but have not addressed their options since Mondays development. Speaking Tuesday, Packers general manager Ted Thompson said the team would stand behind the two players but would not say whether Matthews and Peppers will meet with NFL officials on the matter to avoid the susspensions the league has threatened.ddddddddddddWhile Thompson chose his words carefully Tuesday, Rodgers did so as well on Wednesday -- except the thoughtful two-time NFL MVP chose a more aggressive tack.Rodgers believes the case should not be moving forward because retired quarterback Peyton Manning has already been cleared and Charlie Sly, who made the allegations about Peppers, Matthews and ex-Packers linebacker Mike Neal on a hidden camera, has recanted.I think its pretty typical of how things have been going with them lately, Rodgers said of the NFL pursuing the investigation. It sets a bad precedent, I think, that any wild accusation -- accredited [or not], legitimate or illegitimate -- theyre going to try and bully these guys into testifying.Now these guys, first of all, we stand behind them 100 percent, our guys. I think that it just looks bad for the league, especially after Peyton got cleared and theres been some holes shot [in] it. But Im confident that those guys have nothing to hide and theyll work something out.I just think as far as the league goes, theres been some negative things that have come their way and the way theyve responded has maybe not been the best way to handle it.Asked if hes concerned that Peppers and Matthews, two vital pieces of what the team hopes is a championship-caliber defense, will miss time, Rodgers replied, Theres no way its going to cost them, I think, in this case. ' ' '