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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A fresh start in a familiar place is bringing out the best in Nnamdi Asomugha. The four-time All-Pro cornerback felt right at home Saturday as the San Francisco 49ers practiced in pads for the first time in training camp, using the size and press-coverage skills that made him a star during his first stint in the Bay Area. Asomugha is looking to regain the form at age 32 that made him one of the NFLs elite defensive players during his first eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders. And the defending NFC champion 49ers are looking for an upgrade in their secondary, which struggled in the playoffs during the teams run to the Super Bowl last season before losing All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson to free agency earlier this spring. Asomugha, after a forgettable two seasons with Philadelphia, feels he can give the Niners a lift in his return to a region where he also starred during his college days at the University of California. With San Francisco coming off its first trip to the Super Bowl in 18 years, Asomugha has felt a lift of inspiration and incentive as he embraces his new team. The 11th-year veteran has never been to the playoffs. "Theres always this feeling of a fresh start because the previous season has never really been that great," Asomugha said Saturday. "In my career Ive never been on a playoff team, so its never been like were going to build off that playoff year from the year before. The fact that theyre building off the Super Bowl definitely changes the whole landscape of how this season is going mentally for me so far. Its a fresh start, but its building off success." Asomugha needed a fresh start after his time with the Eagles, who were proclaimed a Super Bowl contender after Asomugha signed a five-year, $60 million deal as one of the NFLs top free agents of 2011. But the Eagles faltered during Asomughas two seasons and some wondered whether his best days were behind him. Asomugha ranked near the bottom of starting NFL cornerbacks last season in several statistical categories, and was released in March when he and the Eagles could not agree on terms of a restructured contract. Asomugha is putting that behind him with the 49ers, working to find his niche on a team that finished third in the NFL last season in total defence and fourth in passing defence. "Im kind of still letting it play out," Asomugha said. "I think Ive been fitting in well so far just learning the defence and being able to make plays out there. Thats been one of the big things Ive been happy about, my ability to make plays in this defence so far judging out there from the spring and summer. Now that its early in training camp, Im just focusing on getting better." Asomugha will have to earn his spot on the team after signing a modest one-year, $1.35 million deal in April. The 49ers return their top five cornerbacks from 2012, and there also are other newcomers vying for playing time in the secondary: veteran free agent Craig Dahl and rookie first-round draft pick Eric Reid. But defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio is known for his aggressive style, and his system that mixes man and zone coverage appears to be a good fit for Asomugha, who calls it, "a really nice scheme. The aggressive nature of this defence is just really good. And the players that are around this defence helps anybody out." Asomugha will have to be able to help the 49ers in coverage situations if hes to find success again in the Bay Area, where he played in three Pro Bowls with the Raiders. His NFL experience and knowledge have been a plus so far, but his time in San Francisco will be determined by his ability to lock down on wide receivers. "The hunger is definitely there," Asomugha said. "Its definitely a different culture. The whole environment is a lot more positive, a lot more upbeat, a lot more optimistic. And its true optimism. Its not like all the 32 teams in the league coming in and saying this is the year were going to win the Super Bowl. Its coming from a real place. Ive never been around that." Wholesale Ducks Jerseys . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Anaheim Ducks Pro Shop . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. https://www.cheapducks.com/637c-troy-loney-jersey-ducks.html . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Derek Grant Jersey . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jari Kurri Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Click here to view full infographic.2016 SEC Bowl Selection ProcessCollege Football Playoff Bowls:Cotton BowlOrange BowlFiesta Bowl [Semifinal]Sugar BowlPeach Bowl [Semifinal]Rose Bowl?CFP National ChampionshipContract Bowls:Sugar (SEC vs. Big 12 when Sugar is not a semifinal game)Rose (Pac 12 vs. Big Ten when Rose is not a semifinal game)Orange (ACC vs. highest ranked SEC/Big Ten non-champion or Notre Dame when Orange is not a semifinal game)Access Bowls:CottonFiesta (Semifinal in 2016)Peach (Semifinal in 2016)BowlContract TeamsDateTime (ET)Cotton BowlFilled by CFP Selection CommitteeJan. 2, 20171 p.m.Orange BowlACC/SEC, Big Ten, NDDec. 30, 20168 p.m.Sugar BowlSEC vs. Big 12Jan. 2, 20178:30 p.m.Rose BowlBig Ten vs. Pac 12Jan. 2, 20175 p.m.Fiesta BowlSemifinal GameDec. 31, 20163 p.m. or 7 p.m.Peach BowlSemifinal GameDec. 31, 20163 p.m. or 7 p.m.CFP National ChampionshipWinners of Semifinal GamesJan. 9, 20178:30 p.m.SEC BOWLS:?After the CFP selection process the Citrus Bowl gets the first selection of available SEC Teams.BowlDate, Time (ET)NetworkCitrus Bowl (Orlando, FL) vs. Big TenDecember 31, 11 a.m.ABCPOOL OF SIX BOWLS:?After the Citrus Bowl selects a team, there will be a pool of six bowls and the Conference, in consultation with the institutions and the bowls, will make the assignments for these six bowl games from all eligible SEC teams.BowlDate, Time (ET)NetworkOutback Bowl (Tampa, FL) vs. Big TenJan. 2, 1 pmABCTaxSlayer Bowl (Jacksonville, FL) vs. Big Ten/ACCDec. 31, 11 a.m.ESPNMusic City Bowl (Nashville, TN) vs. ACC/Big TenDec. 30, 3:30 pmESPNTexas Bowl (Houston, TX) vs. Big 12Dec. 28, 9:00 pmESPNBelk Bowl (Charlotte, NC) vs. ACCDec. 29, 5:30 pmESPNLiberty Bowl (Memphis, TN) vs. Big 12Dec. 30, NoonESPNBOWLS AFTER THE POOL OF SIX:BowlDate, Time (ET)NetworkBirmingham Bowl* (Birmingham, AL) vs. AmericanDecember 29, 2 p.m.ESPNIndependence Bowl** (Shreveport, LA) vs. ACCDecember 26, 5 p.m.ESPN2*The Birmingham Bowl selects after the CFP, Citrus Bowl and the Pool of Six Bowls (Outback Bowl, TaxSlayer Bowl, Music City Bowl, Texas Bowl, Belk Bowl and Liberty Bowl).**The Independence Bowl selects after the CFP, Citrus Bowl, the Pool of Six (Outback Bowl, TaxSlayer Bowl, Music City Bowl, Texas Bowl, Belk Bowl and Liberty Bowl) and the Birmingham Bowl.FAQs: 1) Which SEC Team qualifies for the College Football Playoff? The winner of the SEC Championship Game (December 3, 2016) automatically qualifies for a spot in the Sugar Bowl if that team is not selected to participatee in the four-team playoff.dddddddddddd. The top four teams in the CFP Standings will play in the semifinals (Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl) with the winners advancing to the CFP National Championship Game in Tampa, Fla. (Monday, January 9).2) How can additional SEC teams be selected for the CFP? Additional SEC teams may be selected for one of the CFP access bowls based on its ranking in the final CFP Selection Committee rankings. There is no limit on the number of teams from any one conference that can be selected to participate in the CFP bowls.3) How can a SEC Team be selected to participate in the Orange Bowl? When the Orange Bowl is not a semifinal game and a SEC team is the highest ranked team among the non-champions of the SEC and Big Ten and ranked higher than Notre Dame (See Mississippi State in 2014) then that team will participate in the Orange Bowl. There are eight years in which the Orange Bowl is not a semifinal game and the SEC is guaranteed three of the eight years, the Big Ten is guaranteed three of the eight years and the remaining two years can be filled by Notre Dame, the SEC or the Big Ten based on CFP Selection Committee rankings. The SEC Champion can never participate in the Orange Bowl unless it is a semifinal game.4) How does the CFP selection process work in 2016? The CFP Selection Committee ranks the top 25 teams and selects the four teams to participate in the semifinal games. Then, after the contract bowls are filled based on conference agreements, the Committee will assign teams to fill the remaining access bowls. Each conference champion from the contract bowls (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC & Pac 12) has a guaranteed spot in its contracted bowl or in an access bowl (Cotton in 2016) if the contracted bowl is a semifinal game and the conference champion is not selected to participate in a semifinal game. The highest ranked champion from the Mountain West, American, Conference USA, Sun Belt or MAC is guaranteed a spot in a CFP bowl and the remaining spots are filled based on the rankings of teams after the contract bowls have been filled.5) Where is the CFP National Championship Game played? The CFP National Championship Game will be played in locations selected by the CFP. The 2017 CFP National Championship Game will be played in Tampa, Fla. on January 9, 2017. Atlanta, Ga. will host the 2018 game on January 8, 2018. ' ' '