Spiele » aying -- and Im sure they would say the same thing

Noah Syndergaard throws the fastest average fastball out of every starting pitcher we have on record. Granted, our record stretches back only to 2002, but thats 15 seasons, and pitchers are throwing harder than ever before. Unsurprisingly, in second place, theres rookie-year Stephen Strasburg, whose every start was a well-publicized event. This year, Syndergaard has averaged 98.0 miles per hour, and in 2010, Strasburg averaged 97.3.Continue down the list and theres the 2016 version of Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton in third place, at 97.2 miles per hour. His name might be relatively unfamiliar, but its a name worth keeping in mind as the Mariners try to make a charge for the playoffs. Paxton is coming into his own at the big league level, and he seems to be turning into a pitcher short on peers.Now, as anyone who has watched Yordano Ventura can tell you, theres more to pitching than just throwing hard. If you object to the Ventura reference, Nathan Eovaldi works well as a stand-in. Hitters can hit bad fast pitches, and they can hit good fast pitches if they dont have to worry about anything else. Paxton is taking a step forward, and its about more than simply letting it fly. Name an area where a pitcher could improve and Paxton has probably improved at it.This is a starter who has been around since 2013. However, lat and finger injuries limited him to just 13 big league starts in each of the past two years. Already thats one improvement: This year, Paxton has been durable, with 23 starts between Triple-A and the majors. But let me show you what this breakout looks like in table form. There are 168 starting pitchers who have thrown at least 20 innings in each of the past two seasons. (Paxton, for what its worth, has easily cleared those low marks.) 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TAMPA, Fla. -- Mike Smith is headed back to Atlanta, this time as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The ex-Falcons coach is excited about the trip, though not because hes facing his old team for the first time since being fired two seasons ago.The winningest coach in franchise history when he was let go in December 2014, Smith spent a year away from the NFL before joining one of his former Atlanta assistants, Dirk Koetter, in trying to transform the Bucs into playoff contenders.Koetter, in his first season as coach of the Bucs, and Smith, 66-46 in seven seasons with the Falcons, both reject the notion that returning to the Georgia Dome on Sunday will be special for any other reason than its the regular-season opener.The duo said so much has changed since they left that their familiarity with players remaining on the roster from the Smith regime is only a minimal advantage.Obviously for me and Mike, were both two years removed, so theres less and less guys that theyve kept, Koetter, who spent three seasons as Smiths offensive coordinator in Atlanta before moving into the same role with the Bucs in 2015, which means this weekend actually will be the third time hes gone against the Falcons since his departure.Theres some guys that are the same, but I think my emotional time with that is passed, Koetter added. We have to look at this as a football team. This is a divisional game on the road to open the season. ... Im just worried about what our team does.Smith led the Falcons to two NFC South titles and four playoff berths, including an appearance in the 2012 NFC championship game. He fell out of favor over his last two seasons in Atlanta, going 4-12 in 2013 and 6-10 in 2014.The 57-year-old jumped at the opportunity to join Koetter, who reached out to his old boss after Tampa Bay promoted him from offensive coordinator to first-time NFL head coach when Lovie Smith was fired after last season.The former coach sees a parallel in the challenge he faced in Atlanta, which drafted quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008, and the situation Koetter inherited with the Bucs, who have second-year quarterback Jameis Winston.This is a quarterback-driven league. Theres no doubt about it. And I think Jameis is an outstanding quarterback, Smith said Thursday. Hes got some great traits on the field, but hes also a great leader.And when you have that, I think it puts you a step ahead of the teams in the league. Werre all trying to have the best possible football team, and I think it starts with the quarterback position.dddddddddddd So I do see some similarities, definitely.Smith joked that hes had a lot of sleepless nights lately, preparing to face a Falcons offense led by Ryan, receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman.Theyre three really outstanding football players, and if they get going, they can make it be a long day for you. Weve had an opportunity to put in our preparation and now we have an opportunity to go in and play and see how we execute, said Smith, adding that the transition from head coach to defensive coordinator hasnt been as difficult as some might expect.I sleep better at night, thats the first thing. Its been enjoyable, Smith said. Its been refreshing to be a little bit more hands-on in a smaller group that youre dealing with. These guys have been great.Not only the players, but the coaches and our support staff. Its been fun to get back to just worry about Xs and Os and not having to worry about things outside of that.Like Smith and Koetter, the Falcons are playing down the significance of opening the season against familiar faces.Once youre out there playing -- and Im sure they would say the same thing -- youre competing. Its just like any other week, Ryan said. I know theyll be well coached. Thats probably the biggest thing going into it. I know theyll be well prepared on both sides of the ball.Coach Dan Quinn and defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux agreed that when the game begins, all that matters is how well the teams play.You always face former coaches and former teammates, week in and week out. Its the way the league is. Nobody ever really stays on the same team, Babineaux said.Im blessed to be here for 12 years now. But it really doesnt happen anymore these days, the tackle added. Ive got a lot of regard for Dirk and Smitty and what they did in the past here. I think theyre going to have a successful program over there.But Sunday is about the Atlanta Falcons. Theres a lot of new guys in this locker room who werent even here when they were here. So its really no rivalry. Its just a great divisional battle.---AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '