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1B Sports Weekend Nov. 23-24, 2013 Slumping QBs: Kaepernick, Griffin WASHINGTON (AP) — The "What's up with Colin Kaepernick?" talk becomes all relative when compared to the trials and tribulations of his counterpart in the nation's capital. Neither Kaepernick nor Robert Griffin III has recaptured the magic of their breakout 2012 seasons, when they were two of the young, agile, zone-read quarterback supposedly about to transform the game. Defenses have adjusted. Their weaknesses have been diagnosed. The difference is Kaepernick's slide has lasted all of two games as the San Francisco 49ers have dropped to 6-4 after a five-game winning streak. That's enough to raise alarm bells for a club that made the Super Bowl last season, but the team remains firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth. Griffin would take that scenario any day. He and the Washington Redskins (3-7) are all but written off in their quest to repeat as NFC East champions. He had to defend himself this week against a charge he doesn't adequately own up to his mistakes, with teammate Santana Moss suggesting Griffin say "I'' and "me" more often when things go awry. When the NFL's prime-time schedule was released in the spring, a late-November Kaepernick-Griffin matchup looked like can't-miss viewing. Now both will be trying to stay relevant when the 49ers visit the Redskins. "For us, there was a lot of expectations coming into this season," Griffin said, "and we just haven't lived up to them. And that's unfortunate." Here are five more things of note for Monday's game: OPPOSITE PLANS: To stop Kaepernick, play the run and dare him to throw. To stop Griffin, put more defenders into coverage and take away the easy routes. That's an oversimplification, but defenses this year have shown there are multiple ways to exploit inexperience. The zone-read can only take a quarterback so far: At some point, you have to drop back, scan the field and find the open man. "I think he feels very natural with the zone-read and some Tehama Tracker Saturday's schedule VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS DIVISION V CHAMPIONSHIP 2. Durham vs. 1. Los Molinos at Red Bluff High School, 1 p.m. NBA Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 12:30 p.m. Portland at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. NHL New Jersey at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Sunday's schedule NFL Tennessee at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. NBA Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 6:30 p.m. Monday's schedule NFL San Francisco at Washington, 5:40 p.m. Sports on TV Saturday's schedule AUTO RACING • 8 a.m., CNBC — Formula One, qualifying for Brazilian Grand Prix, at Sao Paulo • 10 p.m., NBCSN — Formula One, qualifying for Brazilian Grand Prix, at Sao Paulo (delayed tape) COLLEGE FOOTBALL • 9 a.m., BTN — Illinois at Purdue or Michigan at Iowa • 9 a.m., CSNC — Maine at New Hampshire • 9 a.m., ESPN — Michigan St. at Northwestern • 9 a.m., ESPN2 — Duke at Wake Forest • 9 a.m., ESPNEWS — Cincinnati at Houston • 9 a.m., ESPNU — Virginia at Miami • 9 a.m., FS1 — Oklahoma at Kansas St. • 9 a.m., NBCSN — Harvard at Yale • 11 a.m., ESPN CLASSIC — BethuneCookman vs. Florida A&M, at Orlando, Fla. • 12:30 p.m., ABC — Oregon at Arizona • 12:30 p.m., BTN — Nebraska at Penn State • 12:30 p.m., CBS — Texas A&M at LSU • 12:30 p.m., CBSSN — Colorado State at Utah State • 12:30 p.m., CSNB — Middle Tennessee State at Southern Mississippi • 12:30 p.m., ESPN — Wisconsin at Minnesota • 12:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Indiana at Ohio St. • 12:30 p.m., ESPNU — Idaho at Florida State • 12:30 p.m.NBC — BYU at Notre Dame • 12:30 p.m., NBCSN — James Madison at Towson • 12:30 p.m., PAC — Utah at Washington State • 1 p.m., ESPNEWS — New Mexico at Fresno State • 1 p.m., FS1 — California at Stanford • 3:30 p.m., CSNC — UC Davis at Sacramento State • 4 p.m., CBSSN — Tulsa at Louisiana Tech • 4 p.m., ESPN2 — Vanderbilt at Tennessee • 4 p.m., ESPNU — Kentucky at Georgia • 4 p.m., FOX — Arizona St. at UCLA • 4:45 p.m., ESPN — Missouri at Mississippi • 5 p.m., FS1 — Kansas at Iowa St. • 5:07 p.m., ABC — Baylor at Oklahoma St. • 6:30 p.m., PAC — USC at Colorado • 7:30 p.m., CBSSN — Boise State at San Diego State • 7:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Washington at Oregon St. GOLF • 2:30 a.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, South African Open Championship, third round, at Johannesburg • 10:30 a.m., TGC — LPGA, Titleholders, third round, at Naples, Fla. • 5 p.m., TGC — PGA Tour, World Cup, final round, at Cheltenham, Australia MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 12:30 p.m., FSN — Tulsa at Creighton • 4 p.m., PAC — Savannah State at Utah • 4 p.m., TRUTV — Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, doubleheader, third place and championship, teams TBD, at Brooklyn, N.Y. • 5:30 p.m., BTN — Oral Roberts at Wisconsin NBA • 12:30 p.m., CSNC — Sacramento at L.A. Clippers • 5 p.m., NBATV — Minnesota at Houston • 7:30 p.m., CSNB — Portland at Golden State NHL • 10 a.m., NHLN — Carolina at Boston • 4 p.m., NHLN — Washington at Toronto • 7 p.m., NHLN — Chicago at Vancouver • 7:30 p.m., CSNC — New Jersey at San Jose SOCCER • 4:40 a.m., NBCSN — Premier League, Liverpool at Everton • 6:55 a.m., NBCSN — Premier League, Southampton at Arsenal • 9:30 a.m., NBC — Premier League, Chelsea at West Ham • 4:30 p.m., NBCSN — MLS, playoffs, conference championships, leg 2, Houston at Kansas City WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 10:30 a.m., FSN — Stanford at Texas Sunday's schedule AUTO RACING • 8 a.m., NBC — Formula One, Brazilian Grand Prix, at Sao Paulo CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE • 3 p.m., NBCSN — Grey Cup, Hamilton vs. Saskatchewan, at Regina, Saskatchewan FIGURE SKATING • 11 a.m., NBC — ISU Grand Prix: Skate Russia, at Moscow (same-day tape) GOLF • 2:30 a.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, South African Open Championship, final round, at Johannesburg • 10:30 a.m., TGC — LPGA, Titleholders, final round, at Naples, Fla. MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 9 a.m., BTN — Siena at Purdue • 9 a.m., ESPNU — Charleston Classic, third-place, teams TBD, at Charleston, S.C. • 10 a.m., ESPN — Hall of Fame Tip-Off, championship, North Carolina-Richmond winner vs. Louisville-Fairfield winner, at Uncasville, Conn. • 11 a.m., ESPNU —Puerto Rico Tip-Off, fifth-place, teams TBD, at San Juan, Puerto Rico • 1:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Puerto Rico TipOff, third place, teams TBD, at San Juan, Puerto Rico • 1:30 p.m., ESPNU — Harvard at Colorado • 3 p.m., PAC — TCU at Washington State • 3:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Puerto Rico TipOff, championship, teams TBD, at San Juan, Puerto Rico • 3:30 p.m., ESPNU — Vermont at Duke • 4 p.m., CBSSN — Paradise Jam, semifinal, teams TBD, at U.S. Virgin Islands • 5 p.m., PAC — San Francisco at Oregon • 6 p.m., ESPN2 — Charleston Classic, championship, teams TBD, at Charleston, S.C. • 6:30 p.m., CBSSN — Paradise Jam, semifinal, teams TBD, at U.S. Virgin Islands • 7 p.m., PAC — Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational, Chattanooga at UCLA NBA • 3 p.m., NBATV — Phoenix at Orlando • 6:30 p.m., CSNC — Sacramento at L.A. Lakers NFL • 10 a.m., FOX — Minnesota at Green Bay • 1 p.m., CBS — Tennessee at Oakland • 1:25 p.m., FOX — Dallas at N.Y. Giants • 5 p.m., NBC — Denver at New England SOCCER • 5:25 a.m., NBCSN — Premier League, Tottenham at Manchester City • 7:55 a.m., NBCSN — Premier League, Manchester United at Cardiff • 6 p.m., ESPN — MLS, playoffs, conference championships, leg 2, Real Salt Lake at Portland WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL • 1 p.m., FS1 — Duke at Marquette Monday's schedule MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL • Noon, ESPN2 — Maui Invitational, first round, Arkansas vs. California, at Lahaina, Hawaii • 2:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Maui Invitational, first round, Minnesota vs. Syracuse, at Lahaina, Hawaii • 4 p.m., BTN — Wyoming at Ohio State • 4 p.m., ESPNEWS — Oklahoma St. at South Florida • 4 p.m., FS1 — Abilene Christian at Xavier • 4:30 p.m., CBSSN — Paradise Jam, third place, teams TBD, at U.S. Virgin • 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Legends Classic, first round, Pittsburgh vs. Texas Tech, at Brooklyn, N.Y. • 4:30 p.m., ESPNU — CBE Hall of Fame Classic, semifinal, BYU vs. Texas, at Kansas City, Mo. • 6 p.m., FS1 — Marquette at Arizona St. • 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 — Legends Classic, first round, Stanford vs. Houston, at Brooklyn, N.Y. • 6:30 p.m., ESPNU — Maui Invitational, first round, Baylor vs. Chaminade, at Lahaina, Hawaii • 7 p.m., CBSSN — Paradise Jam, championship, teams TBD, at U.S. Virgin • 9 p.m., ESPN2 — Maui Invitational, first round, Dayton vs. Gonzaga, at Lahaina, Hawaii NBA • 6 p.m., NBATV — Chicago at Utah NFL • 5:25 p.m., ESPN — San Francisco at Washington NHL • 5 p.m., NBCSN — Minnesota at St. Louis SOCCER • 11:55 a.m., NBCSN — Premier League, Aston Villa at West Bromwich AP photo San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) slides as he is stopped by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans on Nov. 17. of the play-actions off of it," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "Some of the drop-back passing attack will take a little time." Shanahan was talking about Griffin, but he might as well have been referring to Kaepernick. Both teams' strong running attacks are struggling to compensate for tumbling QB ratings: Kaepernick is down from 98.3 in 2012 to 81.8, while Griffin has dropped from 102.4 to 83.6 — and Griffin has already doubled his interception total from five to 10. HOLD UP YOUR END: Maybe it's not open revolt, but the 49ers' offensive struggles are starting to test the patience of a defense that's one of the best in the league. San Francisco scored 31 or more points during the five-game winning streak, but has put up just 29 in the last two weeks combined. "When you're on the sideline, of course there's frustration," cornerback Carlos Rogers said. "You're sitting back there asking what's going on. You know, 'Move the ball, put some points on the board,' especially if you're playing real good on defense." HOLDING IT TOGETHER: Again, such 49ers angst doesn't hold a candle to the drama that is the Redskins. They're on pace for their fifth last-place finish in six years. The homestretch could determine whether Shanahan returns for the final year of his contract. If the team is going to splinter, this is when the fissures would start to show. That said, with the notable exception of Griffin, the locker room actually appeared loose this week, as if the burden of expectations had been lifted. "From here on out, you miss 100 percent of the shots you never take," fullback Darrel Young said. "So at this point we have nothing to lose. Just go out there and have fun." 49ERS FILL-INS: San Francisco could have at least one new starter on each side of the ball. Cornerback Tarell Brown took a blow to the ribs last week, which means Tramaine Brock could move into the lineup and Eric Wright would take on a bigger role as the No. 3 cornerback. Meanwhile, left guard Mike Iupati, who has started every game since being drafted 17th overall in 2010, will sit out with a sprained left knee. Adam Snyder will take Iupati's place. "He'll be fine," running back Frank Gore said. "But we will miss Mike." Also, 2012 leading receiver Michael Crabtree could be back. He returned to practice Nov. 5 for the first time since tearing his right Achilles tendon in May. THANKS FOR DROPPING BY: Two years ago this month, Rogers returned to Washington to face his former team for the first time after joining the 49ers. Rogers was a No. 9 overall pick who had eight interceptions over six seasons in the nation's capital, but he was best known for the ones that went through his hands, including a certain pick-6 in a playoff loss at Seattle. Redskins fans are still befuddled that the player with hands of stone was able to intercept six passes in his first season in San Francisco. He has one this year. "It's still my old team, my old players, my old coaching staff, same ownership," Rogers said. "I look it as it ain't about me. It's about this team trying to find a way to win no matter who we play." Titans-Raiders game plays big in Scranton OAKLAND (AP) — A game between two teams struggling to stay on the fringe of the playoff race rarely generates much interest outside the home markets. That's not quite the case in one football-crazed Pennsylvania city when the Tennessee Titans visit the Oakland Raiders. Titans coach Mike Munchak and Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin both hail from Scranton, Pa., a tough town both credit for their football success. "That area is really big on following their players," Munchak said. "People get to know athletes really well in all sports. ... I'm sure there's lot of Raiders fans and Titans fans in Scranton." Despite being a Hall of Fame player as an offensive lineman in the NFL and a college star at Penn State, Munchak has no illusions about who he believes will have more support in his hometown on Sunday when the Raiders (4-6) host the Titans (4-6). "I think he's taken over," Munchak said. "You always go with the player rather than the coach, I think. I'm really happy for him." McGloin's father, Paul, said a local trophy maker has made a special victory bell like the one given to the winner of the annual game between Scranton High School and West Scranton High to be presented to the winner Sunday. McGloin's oldest brother, Paul Jr., is planning to bring the trophy to the game, while most of the rest of McGloin's family will be watching back home. "The support is great," McGloin said. "Obviously back home in Scranton with coach Munchak being the head guy there and us playing them this week there will be a lot of eyes on the TV, a lot of calls and texts and a lot of support back home. I'm excited about it." Here are four things to watch when the Titans visit the Raiders: SECOND START: McGloin, an undrafted rookie out of Penn State, made quite the first impression on the Raiders when he threw three touchdowns and no interceptions in place of the injured Terrelle Pryor in a 28-23 win at Houston. McGloin joined Jim Kelly, Todd Marinovich and Marc Bulger as the only quarterbacks since the 1970 merger to throw at least three TDs and no interceptions in their first start. "I thought he was poised," Raiders safety Charles Woodson said. "For a young guy coming in undrafted getting his first start, I thought he handled himself very well, probably above expectations for a lot of people. I know everyone here was very pleased with his performance." PLAYOFF PUSH: Despite both having losing records, the Raiders and Titans find themselves still in the race for the sixth and final seed in the AFC playoffs. Miami and the New York Jets are tied for that spot at 5-5, with seven teams close behind with four wins. With so many teams in the race, there is little margin of error for Oakland or Tennessee. "This is basically our playoffs," Titans safety Michael Griffin said. "It's make or break. I don't think we can go out there and lose another one." FITZPATRICK IN RHYTHM: Ryan Fitzpatrick was intercepted twice in each of his first two starts for Tennessee last month the first time Jake Locker was out injured. Since replacing Locker Nov. 10 against the Jaguars and starting against the Colts, Fitzpatrick has thrown for three touchdowns and 486 yards with no interceptions. He was sacked six times in those first two starts combined and only three times in his latest replacement stint. He's using his legs, too, running seven times for 39 yards with another TD. But Fitzpatrick said the Titans lost both of the last two games and what matters now is trying to win a game. RUNNING RASHAD: McGloin is not the only backup thriving in Oakland. Running back Rashad Jennings leads the NFL with 431 yards from scrimmage the past three weeks with starter Darren McFadden out with a hamstring injury. Jennings was at his best last week when he ran for 150 yards against the Texans. The highlight was an 80-yard run out of the wildcat formation that featured Jennings bowling over Texans safety D.J. Swearinger. "He is a powerful back," coach Dennis Allen said. "He is kind of a thudder-type of back and he gives us kind of a little more element of power." TEHAMA CROSS TRAINING is coming to Tehama Family Fitness Center! Tehama Cross Training is a full body strength and conditioning program taught by strength and conditioning specialists, as well as Physical Therapists and CrossFit certified instructors. These evidence based workouts are designed to be motivating and will give you results faster than traditional workout programs. By using functional mobility exercises scaled to your fitness level, TEHAMA CROSS TRAINING will prepare you for the physical demands of everyday life. This exclusive form of strength and conditioning will be available for members and nonmembers beginning in mid to late December. We anticipate the completion of our functional fitness court by Christmas. What a great gift, The gift of Health! Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498 South Main St. Red Bluff 530 528-8656 www.tehamafamilyfitness.com