Clanregeln » doing the best to be me.Beckham hasnt r

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessees Mercedes Russell wants to build on the momentum she established in the NCAA Tournament and meet the considerable expectations that surrounded the 6-foot-6 junior since her arrival on campus.Russell averaged a double-double in the tournament and had a 25-point, 15-rebound performance in a regional semifinal victory over Ohio State. She delivered the production many Lady Volunteers fans anticipated from Russell when multiple recruiting services rated her the nations No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2013.It definitely helped my confidence, I would say, in a lot of ways, said Russell, of Springfield, Oregon.Her development is critical as the Lady Vols deal with a lack of frontcourt depth following the graduation of Bashaara Graves, one of only five players in school history to combine 1,000 career rebounds and 1,500 points.Overall depth is a concern for Tennessee, which opens the season Nov. 11 at James Madison. Tennessees roster includes 11 players, but only nine of them are available this season because of injuries to sophomore guard Tea Cooper and junior forward Cheridene Green.But the lack of proven performers is particularly evident in the frontcourt.I definitely have a lot of responsibility just because Im the only returning post, Russell said. As an upperclassman, I know I have to step up and help the other posts. I know the responsibility I have in the frontcourt is huge.Tennessees coaches have made that clear.Assistant coach Dean Lockwood says the staff hasnt set particular numbers for Russell to target but adds that she needs to be a pretty consistent double-double performer. Coaches say Russell is stronger and gained confidence and assertiveness.We need to get Mercedes the ball more, coach Holly Warlick said. Thats difficult when people are keying in on her, running a zone and packing it in on her. Thats hard because Mercedes shoots a great percentage, so weve got to find ways to try to get her the ball a little bit more, and she has to work a little harder (to get the ball). I think shes doing that right now. Its a compliment to her, but it also forces her to take her game to another level.Russell has been accustomed to dealing with high expectations. She was Tennessees highest-ranked recruit since Candace Parker signed with the Lady Vols in 2004.Injuries and inconsistency have made it tough for Russell to live up to that ranking, although she has been productive.Russell spent her entire freshman season dealing with foot problems that limited her effectiveness. She eventually underwent surgeries on both of her feet and sat out the entire 2014-15 season to recover.Last year was really truly Mercedes freshman year, Warlick said. Her (actual) freshman year, her feet were bad. She couldnt even run up and down the floor.She returned to action last season and averaged 9.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, although her real breakthrough came in the postseason. She had 13 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and shot 68.6 percent from the floor in the NCAA Tournament.Russells emergence helped Tennessee make a surprising run to a regional final as a No. 7 seed during a season in which the Lady Vols went 22-14 and set a school record for losses. The Lady Vols need her to make even more strides as they chase their first Final Four appearance since their 2008 championship season.Her being a high school player of the year, people say, `Oh gosh, we expect to see Breanna Stewart or Tina Charles, Lockwood said. She hasnt been that yet, but at the same time, shes been very consistent. Last year she was very consistent for us in terms of productivity, field-goal percentage and rebounding.We want more -- and I think she knows shes capable of more. 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It happened on Monday when he overstepped the boundary and earned a costly taunting penalty against cornerback Xavier Rhodes in Monday nights 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan questioned the approach teams are employing to throw Beckham off his game. He didnt think it was the proper competitive spirit.In terms of defenders, you really have to ask yourself, why are they trying to get in his head, why are they trying to rattle him? Sullivan said. If a guy is very confident -- Im talking about a defender -- if hes confident, if he has complete belief in his own abilities and hes a true competitor, why would you want to tip the scales? Doesnt he want Odell to be at his best?Beckham at his best is a scary proposition. He scored 25 touchdown in his first 26 career games. He set the NFL receiving record in his first two professional seasons.Teams are trying to reduce his effectiveness, even if it means getting into his head.The only reason the guy tries to get him off his game is theyre not confident enough in their abilities, Sullivan said. Theyre afraid to match up against him 1-on-1, mano-y-mano if you will. So if that is going to be the approach ... say, You know what, obviously the guy is not courageous enough, brave enough, man enough or whatever you want to say, to go ahead and play it straight up. If you need those type of tricks, OK, then so be it.Rhodes helped limit Beckham to a career-low three receptions for 23 yards on Monday night. The Giants star receiver also had a drop, a penalty and was bumped off his route on a ball that Rhodes intercepted.Rhodes and Beckham tangled and/or exchanged words on multiple occasions Monday night. Its something Beckham is gettinng accustomed to.ddddddddddddHes trying to avoid a similar result this week on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers.I think its gotten to a point where I just want to compete, Beckham said. None of the extra stuff. I just want to compete. That never seems to be the case. You just keep smiling. Itll be straight. Itll all work itself out. Well start winning some games and help pick up this offense.The thing that kills me is that I remember when I was a kid. I remember when I looked up to someone and watched them, emulated them, he said. What Im doing is not something I would want a 6-year-old boy to be out there and learn from. Honestly, as funny as it sounds, thats really all I care about.Just being able to have that ability to be a blessing to someone else. To be an inspiration. Thats a lot of power. Thats very powerful to me. It feeds my soul. I would never, again, want to set a bad example for any kids or anything like that. Im just doing the best to be me.Beckham hasnt reached the end zone yet this season and has been involved in incidents each of the past two weeks.Hes a young man who is very emotional but hes basically a very good young man who does a lot of good things off the field. But he plays the game with a lot of passion and sometimes he goes a little too far, Giants co-owner John Mara told The Associated Press on Thursday during a conference on faith and sport at the Vatican.But thats true with a lot of players, Mara added. Unfortunately for him it seems like everybodys focused on him right now.Beckham said repeatedly Thursday he can only control what he can control. Hes thinking about the Packers.You just keep going. Keep it moving, he said. Theres always going to be bumps in the road. Theres always going to be this and that, adversity. You just overcome it. Its what Ive done all my life. ' ' '