(STATS) -- Last years best conference title race in the FCS might be anyones guess again this year.The Big Sky is so deep with talented teams that Northern Arizona was installed Tuesday as the preseason favorite even though it hasnt won the conference title in 13 years, and Southern Utah, last years champ, managed only seventh place.The 13-team Big Sky -- the largest FCS conference -- has two preseason polls, and the head coaches and media agreed Northern Arizona should hold the top spot. Portland State and Montana tied for second place in the coaches poll, while Montana was second and Eastern Washington third in the media poll.Its humbling and its an honor at the same, said Northern Arizona coach Jerome Souers, now in his 19th season with the Lumberjacks. To be considered among the elite of this conference … I have that much respect for our conferences and the coaches that are in it, the teams and the players. If one team has to wear it, maybe its our turn. But its always going to be defined in the outcome of competition through the fall.Over half the Big Sky teams were in contention for the conference title or an FCS playoff bid heading into the final weekend of the regular season last November. Northern Arizonas playoff bid was derailed by a 49-41 loss to Southern Utah, which captured its first Big Sky title after being picked eighth in the preseason poll.NAU, which finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the conference, returns four offensive players on the Big Sky preseason team. Sophomore quarterback Case Cookus, who was the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year after throwing 37 touchdowns, will have to manage the expectations after being a surprise on the national scene last year.Its execute -- thats the bottom line, he said, looking ahead to the season. Conference play begins Sept. 24. We watched the film, we watched all those games where we lost. It comes down to a few plays each game.I made a few mistakes in each of those games where it could have swayed the game each way. If we can cut down on those mistakes, were right there in playoff contention.And title contention. The Lumberjacks last tied for the Big Sky title in 2003, and although they have had four straight winning seasons, only their 2013 squad has advanced to the playoffs in the last 12 seasons.Portland State (9-3, 6-2), also a surprise last season, and Montana (8-6, 6-2) represented the parity-filled Big Sky in the playoffs along with Southern Utah (8-4, 7-1), the automatic qualifier.Perhaps there is another team that people dont see coming. But the same six teams precede Southern Utah in the two polls -- NAU, Portland State, Montana, Eastern Washington, North Dakota and Weber State. Each returns its starting quarterback, while SUU is replacing its starter, Ammon Olsen, as well as key players on defense.Big games, we want em, Montana second-year coach Bob Stitt said of his perennial power. Its the team chemistry and really caring about each other thats going to get us to the top.Said Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin, whose team fizzled last season after winning three straight titles: It probably shook out in the end a little bit different than people thought it would. But you have to be ready knowing each week in this league is going to be a battle, and embrace the fact you are in a tough conference. We face a challenge each and every week.---=BIG SKY FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLS=Head Coaches Poll1. Northern Arizona (8 first-place votes), 132 points2. (tie) Portland State (2), 1212. (tie) Montana, 1214. Eastern Washington (2), 1125. North Dakota (2), 1056. Weber State, 837. (tie) Southern Utah, 737. (tie) Montana State, 739. Cal Poly, 6610. Northern Colorado, 4311. Sacramento State, 3012. Idaho State, 2413. UC Davis, 23Media Poll1. Northern Arizona (8), 2872. Montana (7), 2833. Eastern Washington (5), 2694. North Dakota (2), 2625. Portland State (3), 2526. Weber State, 1747. Southern Utah, 1628. Montana State, 1579. Cal Poly, 15310. Northern Colorado, 11111. Idaho State, 5812. UC Davis, 5613. Sacramento State, 50---=BIG SKY CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAM=Offensive Player of the Year -- Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern WashingtonDefensive Player of the Year -- Caleb Kidder, DE, MontanaOffenseQB -- Case Cookus, Northern ArizonaRB -- *John Santiago, North DakotaRB -- Chad Newell, Montana StateFB -- *Joe Protheroe, Cal PolyTE -- Steven Wroblewski, Southern UtahOG -- Cameron Young, Weber StateOG -- J.P. Flynn, Montana StateC -- Blake Porter, Northern ArizonaOT -- Jacob Julian, Northern ArizonaOT -- Calvin Steyn, Weber StateWR -- *Cooper Kupp, Eastern WashingtonWR -- Mike Sharp, Southern UtahWR -- Emmanuel Butler, Northern ArizonaDefenseDE -- Caleb Kidder, MontanaDE -- Davond Dade, Portland StateDT -- Chance Bearnson, Southern UtahDT -- Chuntony Johnson, Northern ColoradoOLB -- Mike Needham, Southern UtahOLB -- Mac Bignell, Montana StateILB -- Emmett Tela, Weber StateILB -- Manoah Pearson, Sacramento StateCB -- Xavier Coleman, Portland StateCB -- Taron Johnson, Weber StateS -- Cole Reyes, North DakotaS -- Yamen Sanders, MontanaSpecial TeamsPK -- Jonathan Gonzales, Portland StateP -- Tate Lewis, Southern UtahRS -- Ellis Onic II, Northern ColoradoST -- Hakeem Diggs, Northern Colorado* -- unanimous selection http://www.cheapnikefreernuk.com/men-s-nike-free-4-0-v3-anti-fur-shoes-red-black.html . 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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants offense has struggled in the preseason, and no group more than the line.The only time Ben McAdoos team ran the ball was in the opener against Miami, which did not play its starting defensive line.Quarterbacks Eli Manning and backup Ryan Nassib have been under intense pressure, and have been sacked eight times. New York is ranked last in the preseason in average total yards, passing, first downs and third-down efficiency. It is next to last in average points.While some may be worrying, McAdoo seemingly isnt. He said the line of left tackle Ereck Flowers, left guard Justin Pugh, center Weston Richburg, right guard John Jerry and right tackle Marshall Newhouse were close to breaking some plays against the Jets in the 21-20 win Saturday night.McAdoo also insisted the line cant be judged when it enters a game without a regular-season game plan. The vanilla offense is basically simple blocking schemes used to evaluate the linemen.McAdoo is concerned about the blocking in general.The pocket integrity needs to improve in the pass game, and I think it has gotten better, he said. We took a step back on a few plays last week, but overall the pocket integrity has been better the last two games. Run blocking is something that we need to improve on. Its not just the offensive line, its the tight ends, its everybody.Pugh, who missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, returned to practice Monday.Pugh said the Giants have not audibled much in the preseason. For example, he said when a safety plays close to the line of scrimmage, the play will be changed. He added the line is the same as last season, and the running game picked up in the second half.On some plays, the offense had a tight end against a defensive end and that was a mismatch. He also noted that Manning did nnot play in the preseason opener.ddddddddddddThe No. 1 thing we have to do is keep 10 upright, we know it is going to make him feel good, Pugh said. It is something that we have to continue to get better at.Pugh believes things will work out. The guys on the O-Line work hard and he says there is chemistry.To overreact in the preseason is something that I would not urge you guys or the fan base to do, Pugh said. Obviously, you want to see successful runs, you want to see explosive plays and thats something that we have to get better at as well. Im not going to sugar coat it and say everything has been perfect, because it hasnt. I think were going to get this thing right. I know we are.Tight end Will Tye, the free agent who became the starter last season after Larry Donnell was injured, said film work can show whether your hand placement is too high or too low, and whether the footwork is correct.Game planning also helps. A lot.Theres a difference, thats for sure. You can definitely feel it, Tye said. Youre more zeroed in on that defensive end or linebacker thats going to guard you or try and hit you. You can focus in a little more instead of jumping around at different details.Game notes LB Jonathan Casillas bruised his ribs against the Jets. There were no breaks. He hopes to be ready for Dallas on Sept. 11. ...Jerry (ankle), CB Leon Hall (concussion), S Darian Thompson (shoulder), TE Will Johnson (burner), and linebackers Keenan Robinson (back), Jasper Brinkley (knee), and B.J. Goodson (concussion) did not practice. ..S Mykkele Thompson (concussion) returned to practice along with Pugh.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Nike NFL Jerseys China China NFL Hoodies Wholesale NFL T-shirts Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Hoodies NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Stitched Jerseys Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys ' ' '