Former Manchester United assistant coach, Mike Phelan, has made a significant move in his coaching career by joining the coaching staff at Plymouth Argyle, a League One club based in England. This new venture sees Phelan teaming up with former Manchester United teammate and now Plymouth Argyle manager, Wayne Rooney, to embark on a new chapter in their coaching journey.

The process of naturalizing foreign-born players has become a prevalent strategy for many national football teams seeking to enhance their competitiveness on the international stage. By assimilating talented players with dual nationality into their squads, countries aim to bolster their roster with a diverse array of skills and experiences.

Gandhinagar: As many as 50 multi-state cooperative societies (MSCS) are registered and operational in Gujarat, and these have operations in 12 other states. The areas of operations of these MSCSs include agriculture, industrial, urban cooperative banks (UCBs), marketing, women welfare, and the like. This data was provided by the Union cooperation ministry in response to a question by Gujarat RS MP Narhari Amin in the recently concluded winter session of Parliament. According to the Union govt's ministry of cooperation, there are 1,710 MSCSs in the country, and Gujarat has 3% of the country's total multi-state cooperative societies. According to data provided by the Union govt, of the MSCSs registered in Gujarat, 2 are national cooperatives, 13 are engaged in agriculture and allied activities, 12 are urban cooperative banks (UCBs), 6 are housing cooperatives, 6 are engaged in "credit and thrift" activities, 3 are federations, 2 are multi-purpose cooperatives, 2 are consumer cooperatives, 1 is an industrial cooperative, 1 is a miscellaneous and non-credit cooperative, 1 marketing, 1 social welfare and cultural cooperative, and 1 is a women's welfare cooperative society. In reply to a question by Amin, the Union govt said that MSCSs from Gujarat have operations in 12 states — Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. In response to any new schemes or projects that were implemented in Gujarat's cooperative sector, the written reply said that in Banaskantha and Panchmahal districts, a pilot project to promote ‘cooperation among cooperatives' was launched in May 2023, under which cooperative societies shifted their bank accounts to cooperative banks. More than 4 lakh deposit accounts were opened, and deposits of more than Rs 750 crore were received in cooperative banks, the Union govt said, adding that this project has now been launched in all districts of Gujarat. Cooperative societies registered under the provisions of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, function as autonomous cooperative organisations and are accountable to their members, spread over two or more states in the country. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat , Ox , Tiger , Rabbit , Dragon , Snake , Horse , Goat , Monkey , Rooster , Dog , and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes and messages .As part of the efforts to stabilize employment, the document emphasizes the importance of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. By encouraging individuals to start their own businesses and pursue innovative ideas, the government aims to create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth. The document outlines various initiatives to support entrepreneurship, including providing financial support, offering tax incentives, and facilitating access to resources and markets.ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic has a sweeping lead in Sunday’s election and could win the five-year presidency in the first round, according to an exit poll released immediately after the voting. The poll by the Ipsos polling agency and released by the state HRT television showed Milanovic winning over 50% of the votes, while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the conservative HDZ ruling party trailed far behind with 19%. Milanovic thanked voters in a post on social networks. The first official results are yet to be published. Pre-election polls predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of all 8 presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Left-leaning Milanovic is an outspoken critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communication with political opponents. The most popular politician in Croatia, 58-year-old Milanović has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, he has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and continuous sparring between the two has lately marked Croatia’s political scene. Plenković, the prime minister, has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO. He has labeled Milanović “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him and Milanović is quite simple: Milanović is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander. Milanović has criticized the NATO and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, though it is a member of both NATO and the EU. Milanović has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war.” His main rival in the election, Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East.” His presidency bid, however, has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and featured prominently in pre-election debates. During the election campaign, Primorac has sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanović as divisive. “Today is an extremely important day,” Primorac said after casting his ballot. "Croatia is going forward into the future. Croatia needs unity, Croatia needs its global positioning, and above all Croatia needs peaceful life.” Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudić, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.Nobleman, soldier, revolutionary, humanist – who was Tadeusz Kościuszko, the man behind the mountain?

In recent years, the Chinese Super League has been a hot topic in global football discussions, often raising eyebrows and sparking debates. The arrival of high-profile international players has brought both excitement and criticism to the league. Among these players, the Brazilian midfielder Oscar has been a prominent figure, known for his successful stint in the Chinese Super League despite facing backlash from critics who questioned his ambition and loyalty to the game.

Upon arriving at the salon, the woman was greeted by a friendly staff and a seemingly professional environment, which further convinced her that she was in good hands. However, as the treatment progressed, she began to experience excruciating pain and discomfort, signaling that something was amiss.BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's de facto leader said Sunday it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans to dissolve his Islamist group that led the country's insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview with Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad's decades-long rule, ending the country's uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. Al-Sharaa said it would take time to hold elections because of the need for Syria's different forces to hold political dialogue and rewrite the country's constitution following five decades of the Assad dynasty's dictatorial rule. Also, the war-torn country's battered infrastructure needs to be reconstructed, he said. “The chance we have today doesn’t come every 5 or 10 years,” said al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani. “We want the constitution to last for the longest time possible.” Al-Sharaa is Syria's de facto leader until March 1, when Syria's different factions are set to hold a political dialogue to determine the country's political future and establish a transitional government that brings the divided country together. There, he said, HTS will dissolve after years of being the country's most dominant rebel group that held a strategic enclave in the country's northwest. Earlier, an Israeli airstrike in the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday killed 11 people, according to a war monitor, as Israel continues to target Syrian weapons and military infrastructure even after the ouster of Assad. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrike targeted a weapons depot that belonged to Assad’s forces near the industrial town of Adra, northeast of the capital. The observatory said at least 11 people, mostly civilians, were killed. The Israeli military did not comment on the airstrike Sunday. Israel, which has launched hundreds of airstrikes over Syria since the country's uprising turned-civil war broke out in 2011, rarely acknowledges them. It says its targets are Iran-backed groups that backed Assad. Unlike his criticism of key Assad ally Iran, al-Sharaa hoped to maintain “strategic relations” with Russia, whose air force played a critical role in keeping Assad in power for over a decade during the conflict. Moscow has a strategic airbase in Syria. The HTS leader also said negotiations are ongoing with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria, and hopes that their armed forces will integrate with the Syrian security agencies. The Kurdish-led group is Washington’s key ally in Syria, where it is heavily involved in targeting sleeper cells belonging to the extremist Islamic State group. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have been clashing with the SDF even after the insurgency, taking the key city of Manbij, as Ankara hopes to create a buffer zone near its border in northern Syria. The rebels attacked near the strategic northern border town of Kobani, while the SDF shared a video of a rocket attack that destroyed what it said was a radar system south of the city of Manbij. In other developments: — Syrian state-run media said a mass grave was found near the third largest city of Homs. SANA said civil defense workers were sent to to the site in al-Kabo, one of many suspected mass graves where tens of thousands of Syrians are believed to have been buried during a brutal crackdown under Assad and his network of security agencies. — An Egyptian activist wanted by Cairo on charges of incitement to violence and terrorism, Abdulrahman al-Qardawi, was detained by Lebanese security forces after crossing the porous border from Syria, according to two judicial and one security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to to talk to the press. Al-Qardawi is an Egyptian activist residing in Turkey and an outspoken critic of Egypt's government. He had reportedly visited Syria to join celebrations after Assad's downfall. His late father, Youssef al-Qaradawi, was a top and controversial Egyptian cleric revered by the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. He had lived in exile in Qatar for decades. — Lebanese security forces apprehended an armed group in the northern city of Tripoli that kidnapped a group of 26 Syrians who were recently smuggled into Lebanon, two Lebanese security officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information with the media. The Syrians included five women and seven children, and security officials are working to return them to Syria.

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Green Bay's recent dominance on defense has Packers believing they can make a deep playoff runBEIRUT (AP) — Syria's de facto leader said Sunday it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans to dissolve his Islamist group that led the country's insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview with Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad's decades-long rule, ending the country's uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. Al-Sharaa said it would take time to hold elections because of the need for Syria's different forces to hold political dialogue and rewrite the country's constitution following five decades of the Assad dynasty's dictatorial rule. Also, the war-torn country's battered infrastructure needs to be reconstructed, he said. “The chance we have today doesn’t come every 5 or 10 years,” said al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani. “We want the constitution to last for the longest time possible.” Al-Sharaa is Syria's de facto leader until March 1, when Syria's different factions are set to hold a political dialogue to determine the country's political future and establish a transitional government that brings the divided country together. There, he said, HTS will dissolve after years of being the country's most dominant rebel group that held a strategic enclave in the country's northwest. Earlier, an Israeli airstrike in the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday killed 11 people, according to a war monitor, as Israel continues to target Syrian weapons and military infrastructure even after the ouster of Assad. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrike targeted a weapons depot that belonged to Assad’s forces near the industrial town of Adra, northeast of the capital. The observatory said at least 11 people, mostly civilians, were killed. The Israeli military did not comment on the airstrike Sunday. Israel, which has launched hundreds of airstrikes over Syria since the country's uprising turned-civil war broke out in 2011, rarely acknowledges them. It says its targets are Iran-backed groups that backed Assad. Unlike his criticism of key Assad ally Iran, al-Sharaa hoped to maintain “strategic relations” with Russia, whose air force played a critical role in keeping Assad in power for over a decade during the conflict. Moscow has a strategic airbase in Syria. The HTS leader also said negotiations are ongoing with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria, and hopes that their armed forces will integrate with the Syrian security agencies. The Kurdish-led group is Washington’s key ally in Syria, where it is heavily involved in targeting sleeper cells belonging to the extremist Islamic State group. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have been clashing with the SDF even after the insurgency, taking the key city of Manbij, as Ankara hopes to create a buffer zone near its border in northern Syria. The rebels attacked near the strategic northern border town of Kobani, while the SDF shared a video of a rocket attack that destroyed what it said was a radar system south of the city of Manbij. In other developments: — Syrian state-run media said a mass grave was found near the third largest city of Homs. SANA said civil defense workers were sent to to the site in al-Kabo, one of many suspected mass graves where tens of thousands of Syrians are believed to have been buried during a brutal crackdown under Assad and his network of security agencies. — An Egyptian activist wanted by Cairo on charges of incitement to violence and terrorism, Abdulrahman al-Qardawi, was detained by Lebanese security forces after crossing the porous border from Syria, according to two judicial and one security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to to talk to the press. Al-Qardawi is an Egyptian activist residing in Turkey and an outspoken critic of Egypt's government. He had reportedly visited Syria to join celebrations after Assad's downfall. His late father, Youssef al-Qaradawi, was a top and controversial Egyptian cleric revered by the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. He had lived in exile in Qatar for decades. — Lebanese security forces apprehended an armed group in the northern city of Tripoli that kidnapped a group of 26 Syrians who were recently smuggled into Lebanon, two Lebanese security officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information with the media. The Syrians included five women and seven children, and security officials are working to return them to Syria. Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press

Israeli official reveals how 'to truly defeat Hezbollah'

As we look ahead to 2022, it's clear that the gaming world is in for a treat with the releases of GTA6 and NS2. With their groundbreaking graphics, innovative gameplay, and captivating storylines, these two titles are set to redefine the gaming landscape and offer players an experience like no other. It's safe to say that 2022 will be a year to remember for gamers around the world.Voon says one of the most pressing concerns is the high cost of transitioning to e-invoicing. KUCHING (Dec 28): The mandatory e-invoicing may inadvertently push small and family-owned businesses to the brink of closure, undermining their vital role in the economy, asserted social activist Voon Shiak Ni. “First and foremost, the current threshold for mandatory e-invoicing is set far too low. Many stakeholders including members of the federal government have highlighted that the threshold should be increased to above RM500,000. “This adjustment would provide breathing room for small businesses, particularly ‘mom-and-pop’ shops and rural family-run operations that are already struggling to make ends meet,” she said in a statement yesterday. According to Voon, one of the most pressing concerns is the high cost of transitioning to e-invoicing. She observed that small businesses, which often operate on razor-thin margins, would need to invest in new software, hardware and training to comply with the system. For many, she said these expenses are simply unaffordable, especially in the current economic climate. “Recent increases in the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700, though beneficial to workers, add further financial strain to business owners already grappling with inflation and rising operating costs. “Inflation has made everything more expensive, from raw materials to utilities, leaving small businesses with little room to absorb additional expenses. “Unlike larger corporations, which have the resources to negotiate better deals and manage compliance costs, small businesses operate on limited budgets,” she explained. In addition, Voon said the complexity of e-invoicing requirements posed a significant challenge given that many small businesses, particularly in rural areas, rely on straightforward systems like handwritten receipts or simple cash registers. She opined that forcing them to adopt a digital system requiring real-time submissions and strict compliance would add unnecessary stress to their already heavy workloads, highlighting that these businesses often lack the technical expertise or resources to navigate the change effectively. “The timing of this initiative is another issue. Many small businesses are still recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic. Coupled with rising costs and tighter margins, the sudden push for mandatory e-invoicing feels poorly timed and unreasonably rushed. “Without adequate time to familiarise themselves with the system, many small businesses may face closure, devastating not only the owners but also the communities that rely on their services,” she said. As such, she proposed that the government raise the threshold for mandatory compliance to above RM500,000, so as to provide relief for small businesses, allowing them to adjust more comfortably. She said other measures could include financial assistance from the government, meant to help businesses cover the cost of new tools, systems and training. “The government can also consider implementing e-invoicing in stages, starting with larger corporations to give small businesses the time they need to adapt. “The government should also develop affordable, user-friendly invoicing solutions specifically for small businesses and offer free training workshops to ease the transition significantly,” she suggested. Voon said the government must also address concerns about data security and system manipulation by engaging independent auditors to ensure the system is robust, secure and trustworthy. “Given the many public concerns on the issue, I do earnestly call upon the government to consider increasing the threshold and roll out the system more gradually to ensure that small businesses are not left behind or killed off in the push for modernisation.”

Citius Oncology, Inc. Reports Fiscal Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business UpdateFurthermore, subsidies for tenants have also played a significant role in supporting individuals and families with limited financial resources. In City B, a new subsidy program was launched to assist low-income renters in covering a portion of their monthly rental expenses. This initiative has helped alleviate financial burdens for vulnerable populations and ensure that they have access to safe and stable housing.

The bond between Zhang Yimou and Sophie Marceau goes beyond admiration for her acting prowess. Zhang Yimou spoke passionately about how Sophie Marceau's presence on screen has moved him in ways that words cannot fully express. Her ability to convey raw emotions, vulnerability, and strength through her performances resonates deeply with Zhang Yimou's artistic sensibilities, influencing his own approach to storytelling and character development.

An ongoing knee concern means Australian captain Alyssa Healy is no certainty to take back the wicketkeeping gloves during next month’s blockbuster Ashes series. Healy planned to test her troublesome knee behind the stumps in a warm-up game for the Governor-General’s XI against England on January 9 three days before the series opener. But the skipper left the door open for Beth Mooney to keep the gloves during the multi-format series as both were locked into a 14-player squad for the limited overs games. After missing the successful New Zealand series with a knee injury, Sophie Molineux was the key absentee from the squad as Cricket Australia confirmed she would undergo surgery in January. All-rounder Heather Graham was omitted after touring in New Zealand, with young opener Georgia Voll holding her spot in the squad after a superb debut campaign against India. Voll was not called upon in New Zealand as Healy returned to the top of the order as a specialist bat, but the captain said it was exciting to have the powerful right-hander ready to go if needed during the Ashes. “A little bit frustrating for myself personally, because every time someone comes in to take my spot they’ve made runs,” Healy joked. “(But) it’s been amazing, and I think just to see the depth in Australian cricket is there and young players in particular. “It’s been exciting to have (Voll) along for the ride, and obviously to be selected in this squad is justice for what she’s done this summer.” Healy said it would be challenge to keep her knee healthy through the series, suggesting it was no guarantee she would take back the gloves. “(To keep is) the plan – obviously (I’m) named in the Governor-General’s squad and that will be a great opportunity for me to take the gloves for a little bit and see how everything is progressing,” she said. “It’s kind of play it by ear at the moment to see how everything pulls up, but I did thoroughly enjoy running around the field in New Zealand, so if that’s the option and it’s less disruptive to our side, then that could be the way moving forward. “My main niggle concern at the moment is my knee, and having an angry joint in there and flaring that up ... that will be the real test in the next 10 days moving into the series, as to how that pulls up, how that responds to me keeping again.” Top-order option Grace Harris was named for the three T20 games only, leaving 13 players to choose from for the opening 50-over games with a squad for the historic MCG day-night Test still to come. Healy said the delay naming the Test squad was partly to ensure Australia found the right bowling mix based on the conditions and domestic form. It left the door open for the likes of left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle, who played in last year’s Test in India, or WA teenager Chloe Ainsworth to figure in the longer format. “I think you look at the way we’ve shaped up in Test cricket over the last couple of seasons, it’s looked a little bit different to what we’ve done in the white-ball format,” Healy said. “We’ll probably look at that over the next few weeks just to see where all the bowlers in domestic cricket are at and their loads ... and how they’re going to prepare for a Test match. “Knowing it’s pink-ball, knowing it swings a little bit more and what the conditions are going to be like, I think there’s a few players around the country at the moment that could stick their hand up for a baggy green.” Australia’s ODI and T20I Ashes Squad Alyssa Healy (c,wk), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Grace Harris (T20s only) FIXTURE January 12: 1st ODI, North Sydney Oval January 14: 2nd ODI, Junction Oval January 17: 3rd ODI, Bellerive Oval January 20: 1st T20I, SCG (N) January 23: 2nd T20I, Manuka Oval (N) January 25: 3rd T20I, Adelaide Oval (N) January 30 – Feb 2: Ashes Test, MCG (D/N) Multi-format scoring system: Teams get two points for an ODI or T20I win and four points for a Test victory. Australia retained the urn in 2023 after the series was drawn 8-8. Originally published as Alyssa Healy continues to manage knee injury ahead of Ashes seriesDec. 24—The Steelers run defense has been one of the best in the NFL for most of the season. But on Saturday, it allowed Derrick Henry to rush for 162 yards on 24 carries, the most rushing yards by a Ravens running back against the Steelers in the history of the AFC North rivalry. Pro Football Focus charted the Steelers to have missed 15 tackles against the Ravens, the most in a game by the Steelers this season. It's just the third time this season the Steelers have missed 10 or more tackles in a single game; the other two games also resulted in losses to the Browns and the Eagles. Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the Steelers' tackling issues during his Sunday press conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex and how they can get back to being a good tackling team. On a short week late in December, fixing those tackling issues doesn't involve more physical practices. "There's so much that you can do around tackling," Tomlin said. "You don't necessarily need pads on to improve tackling and to work at it. You work on the approach. You work on the positioning. You work on awareness of others, gap responsibility. And so when I say, 'Back to the lab,' it's all-encompassing on fundamental things that may not be tackling directly but really tee up tackling." Approach and positioning Tomlin's point about how the Steelers can get back to being better against the run is that they need to be in position more often to make plays against the run earlier. Generally, the Steelers have done that this season. The Steelers' 102.7 rushing yards allowed per game this season ranks eighth in the NFL. The Steelers have allowed broken and missed tackles at a rate of 8.8% of their opponents' runs, seventh best in the NFL, according to Sports Information Systems. On the season, the Steelers have allowed an average of 1.7 rushing yards before contact, which means their defense usually hits a running back before they can get 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. One of its best performances at limiting a running back's yards before contact came a week before the loss to the Ravens. The Steelers limited the NFL's leading rusher, Saquon Barkley, to just 65 yards on 19 carries, the fourth-fewest amount of yards in Barkley's career with that many carries. But the key to that effort was how little Barkley was allowed to run before any defender first contacted him. Only 7 of Barkley's rushing yards came before contact — an average of 0.37 rushing yards per carry. Henry's numbers in the next week were the polar opposite, as 88 of his rushing yards came before contact for an average of 3.7 yards before contact per rush. One factor that played into that result was how the Ravens consistently won the line of scrimmage against the Steelers interior defensive linemen. Watch this 11-yard gain by Henry early in the first quarter. The Ravens double-teamed Keeanu Benton to move him out of the hole while Cam Heyward held his position. That led to Elandon Roberts being stuck guarding two gaps, which allowed Henry to pick the right hole and be untouched until he got to the second level. But just as important as Benton and Heyward's strength in the trenches is the positioning of the Steelers defenders behind them. Roberts did his best to hold down two gaps, but there's a question of who should've been there to help him. Patrick Queen had to move out to the right edge of the formation with a motion, while Preston Smith had to honor Lamar Jackson's threat as a runner on the quarterback option. That leaves Minkah Fitzpatrick as a player who could've helped if he had jumped into the gap between Benton and Heyward faster. Instead, one of the linemen who double-teamed Benton easily chipped to get to Fitzpatrick downfield and Roberts was left alone. Another 13-yard run in the first quarter again showed a combination of the defensive line losing at the point of attack, as well as the off-ball defenders being blocked at the second level. While Heyward lost against Tyler Linderbaum, Benton tried to get free but tripped and fell. That allowed the Ravens' pulling guard to create more space for Henry to run. Benton's trip also took Nick Herbig out of the play, while Queen tried to guard the left B-gap, the location that the pulling guard suggested the play was designed to attack. But with Smith again guarding against the threat of Jackson running the ball and Heyward losing at the point of attack, that left Payton Wilson as the lone linebacker to make a play on the back side of the formation. But an offensive tackle that didn't have to worry about any defensive linemen sealed Wilson inside and allowed for another first-down gain. The Steelers linebackers and safeties share blame when it comes to the lack of gap integrity, as well. Players on both levels missed opportunities as they appeared to read the wrong keys on a play to determine what the Ravens were doing. One such play came on a 14-yard run by Henry when the Ravens used fullback Patrick Ricard in motion. The motion caught the attention of Queen, who followed Ricard to the left side of the defense. But Ricard's motion was a decoy, as the Ravens pulled both their right guard and right tackle to turn into lead blockers for a counter trap on Heyward and Roberts on the other side of the formation. Typically, a linebacker should read the guards — not a fullback — to determine which direction a play is going. While Heyward recognized the trap and tried to limit the space that would be created, Queen being on the other side of the formation opened up the opportunity for Henry to run untouched. Other times, players tried to make plays outside of the design of the Steelers defense and it came back to bite them. On Henry's 49-yard run in the fourth quarter, the Steelers had the proper alignment, but a bad angle taken by Fitzpatrick opened up a gap in the defense. Notice how Benton fought to get to the right A-gap while Heyward held onto the B-gap. Henry's path was a stretch run that went out wide, and Fitzpatrick shot up the A-gap to try to end the play in the backfield. He missed on his tackle, and Henry took it for a long way after. Had Fitzpatrick played his spot and trusted Benton to protect A-gap, Heyward would've kept him clean of blockers so he could take a better attack angle outside of B-gap and limit the big gain. Fitzpatrick's effort was to make a play on his own. If he forced a tackle for loss, it would've been a very impressive play and potentially a game changer. But had he trusted Benton and Heyward to win those gaps and scraped to B-gap, Fitzpatrick probably gets an easier opportunity to make the play. That trust factor for teammates to do their jobs was something Heyward discussed in the locker room after the Steelers' Monday practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "We're not trusting," Heyward said. "Myself included. We have to rely on our fundamentals, our technique and our execution. It's a mixture of that and remembering that if one guy does his job, then we can rely on everybody doing their job. "If you watch our last game in particular," Heyward continued, "I was playing too many blocks and trying to do too much. This defense is made on everyone doing their job." If the Steelers can get back to being a team that contacts the runner in the backfield or right at the line of scrimmage, they can probably force the Chiefs to abandon the run earlier in the game and force Patrick Mahomes' offense to be one-dimensional. (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.