Todd Gurley leads what's probably the deepest stable of running backs in the country.

Clemson's defensive front seven looked great for much of Saturday's game against Georgia.

But as the game wore on, the Bulldogs' defense kept getting three-and-outs and Georgia kept rotating talented running backs into the game. Eventually, the Tigers' front looked exhausted.

Georgia ended up with 328 rushing yards in what turned into a 45-21 rout, and by game's end, there didn't appear to be a more complete team in the country than Georgia.

Todd Gurley leads what is probably the deepest stable of running backs in the country. Huston Mason, a calm fifth-year senior quarterback, has a plethora of proven receivers to throw to.

And most impressively, Georgia appears to have a defense to go with the offense, holding Clemson to a mere 15 yards in the second half.

Aside from perhaps Texas A&M with its 52-28 blowout of South Carolina Thursday, no team in college football impressed more in its season opener than Mark Richt's team, which is coming off a disappointing and injury-riddled 8-5 season.

And maybe those injuries are part of the success.

Gurley and backup Keith Marshall both missed time with injuries last year, allowing the Bulldogs to develop depth at the position. Mason got valuable playing time playing for an injured Aaron Murray. Several wide receivers honed their skills in place of sidelined players.

Now, Georgia's offense looks able to put up big numbers on a weekly basis. Add in the defensive boost from new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and this could be the Bulldogs' year to break through.

Best Game

If there was one thing we learned from Saturday, it's that there is some balance in college football, something that was particularly evident in Florida State's struggle to edge Oklahoma State, 37-31 in Arlington.

The defending national champion was projected to be a double-digit favorite in every game this season, including the opener against a Cowboys team that lost more starters from last season than any team from the five power conferences.

Yet, a game OSU team played FSU to the wire. It took a possible Heisman moment from reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston -- a career-long 28-yard run for a touchdown where he leaped, dodged, then dove into the end zone -- and a 50-yard touchdown pass from Winston to Rashad Green in the fourth-quarter for the Seminoles to get past the Cowboys.

Certainly, it was a reminder that you can take nothing for granted in college football and it is also noteworthy to consider how close the ACC, which suffered a serious national loss when Clemson was blown out by Georgia, came to becoming the league least likely to have a team in the College Football Playoff.

Still, FSU survived and remains a team that will be a heavy favorite against the rest of its schedule.

Biggest playoff impact

When LSU rallied for 21 unanswered points to beat Wisconsin, 28-24, it changed the postseason dynamic in a big way.

The SEC struggled a bit in some non-conference games, starting Thursday when Ole Miss sputtered early against Boise State, and continuing Saturday when Alabama's feared defense was sliced up for 365 passing yards by West Virginia's Clint Trickett.

The SEC team went on to win each of those games, but if Wisconsin, which had a 24-7 third-quarter lead, was able to hold on and beat LSU, the perception that the SEC might be slipping would have gone to another level. Instead, the SEC swept its big non-conference games.

On a weekend where the SEC at times looked ho-hum, the conference also did a lot to make a move toward getting a second team in the playoffs.

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson heads toward the end zone for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Rice in South Bend, Ind., Saturday Aug. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)Joe Raymond 

Heroes

Here are some of the top performers in Saturday's college football games:

• Georgia's Todd Gurley rushed for 198 yards on 15 carries with three touchdowns and added a fourth score on a 100-yard kickoff return to become the early Heisman Trophy favorite in Georgia's win over Clemson.

• Notre Dame's Everett Golson completed 14 of 22 passes for 295 yards and two TDs, and added 41 rushing yards on 12 carries and three more touchdowns in a 48-17 win over Rice.

• Kentucky's Braylon Heard had only two carries, but they were long touchdowns of 73 and 43 yards, 116 yards total, in a 59-14 rout of Tennessee-Martin.

• Penn State's Christian Hackenberg completed 32 of 45 passes for 454 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, and engineered a late drive for a game-winning field goal in a 26-24 win over Central Florida.

• John Crockett of North Dakota State rushed 17 times for 138 yards and three TDs in a 34-17 win over Iowa State, the FCS Bisons' fifth straight win over teams from the FBS.

• J.T. Barrett of Ohio State, playing for the injured Braxton Miller, completed 12 of 15 passes for 226 yards and two TDs and rushed for 50 yards in a 34-17 win over Navy.

• Jacoby Brissett, the Florida transfer, made his debut as North Carolina State's quarterback and completed 28 of 40 passes for 291 yards and three TDs, including the game-winner with 1:37 left in a 24-23 win over Georgia Southern.

• California's Jared Goff completed 21 of 34 passes for 281 yards and three TDs in a surprising 31-24 win over Northwestern.

• D'haquille Williams, Auburn's highly-touted junior college transfer receiver, caught nine passes for 154 yards in his Tigers debut vs. Arkansas.

• Anu Solomon of Arizona passed for 425 yards and rushed for 50 more in his debut as the Wildcats' starting quarterback in a 58-13 rout of UNLV.

• UCLA's defense scored three touchdowns to bail out the Bruins in a 28-20 win at Virginia.

• Cody Kessler of USC passed for 394 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-13 romp over Fresno State.

• Devin Funchess of Michigan caught seven passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-14 blowout of Appalachian State.

• Florida State's Rashad Green caught 11 passes for 203 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner against Oklahoma State.

St. Edward football running back Cole Gest ran for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles Week 1 victory against Gilman.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The St. Edward football team entered the 2014 season with a ton of hype and expectations, and rightfully so.

Quarterback Brett Kean, running back Andrew Dowell and wide receivers Alex Stump and David Dowell are one of the best set of skilled players in the state.

On Sunday night, it was a different player, junior running back Cole Gest that stole the show in the Eagles 38-7 victory against Gilman (Md.).

Gest finished the game with 194 yards and three touchdowns on only 11 carries. Despite a small frame of 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he also showed a nice combination of speed and power.

After his career game, Gest talked about his performance, and what he can bring to this offense.

“This was a big opportunity for me to go out and show what I am capable of, and I felt I was able to do that,” Gest said. “We have so many players that can make plays on this offense, and I feel that if I play like I can, that is just another player on our team the defense has to deal with.”

There are a lot of running backs similar to Gest’s build that have a lot of speed, however, it is the toughness that he showed running through the tackles that has St. Edward coach Rick Finotti so impressed with his back.

“Cole is a great football player, and everyone on our team knows how good he is,” Finotti said. “He has had to deal with some injuries in his career, but he is a tough kid that just works so hard. You saw the play that Andrew (Dowell) made on fourth down for us. We really want Andrew to help with us on both sides of the ball, and when Cole is running like that, it just helps our team in so many ways.”

“He is such a great player, and just another one of those guys that makes my job easier,” Kean said. “I know I have receivers around me that can make plays, but if the defense has to really focus on stopping our rushing attack, our receivers are going to get the one-on-one matchups on the outside. He was awesome tonight, and showed people outside our locker room something that we on the team already knew.”With so many playmakers on the outside, the expectation is that the Eagles will throw the ball a lot. With Kean at the quarterback position, St. Edward definitely has the makings of being a prolific passing offense. However, if Gest is able to make those types of big plays on the ground, Kean knows it is only going to make the passing game that more explosive.

For Gest, being able to come out and help his team get the win was the most important thing. However, having such a big game on ESPNU is definitely something that he will remember for a long time.

"It was awesome to be able to show what I can do on such a big stage," Gest said. "I give all the credit to my teammates and coaches, but tonight was definitely an amazing feeling."

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email mkern@cleveland.com or Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Eagles improved to 12-3 in Week 1 since 2000.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – St. Edward is No. 1 in the cleveland.com preseason Top 25. The Eagles are also showing up in national polls. And on Sunday they played up to the hype, dominating Gilman (Md.) 38-7 at Lakewood Stadium.

Check out more from the game below, including key plays that shaped the game, top individual performers, and more.

Junior running back Cole Gest got his first varsity start and rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns, including a shut-the-door, 81-yard run in the third quarter.

That provided the final score, and also got the clock running under the OHSAA’s new point differential rule.

The Eagles led 14-0 midway through the first quarter before the Greyhounds responded with an 89-yard kickoff return for a score.

But the momentum didn’t shift. The Eagles tacked on an Andrew Dowell 1-yard touchdown run and a John Patrick Walton 25-yard field goal to lead 24-7 at halftime and just kept on going.

The Eagles outgained the Greyhounds 204 yards to 23 in the first half. Those numbers shifted to 396-87 at game’s end.

Gilman, an all-boys Catholic school equivalent in size to a Division III school in Ohio, had Florida State recruit Kai Locksley at quarterback, but he was held to 45 yards rushing and 13 yards passing 

What it means

The Eagles improve to 12-3 in Week 1 since 2000. The win was also a positive first step toward the team’s 13^th playoff berth in the last 15 years.

6 plays that shaped the game

1. Gest sped around the left side, broke a tackle and went 36 yards to the Greyhounds 13-yard line on the opening drive. It served notice right away that he would cause problems for the Greyhounds throughout the game. Three plays later he scored from two yards out.

2. What looked like another wide receiver screen turned into a Frank Geib-to-Alex Stump 58-yard touchdown on the Eagles’ second possession. The Greyhound defense bit on the throw to Geib, leaving Stump wide open to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead.

3. The Greyhounds’ best play of the first half came on special teams when Northwestern recruit Jelani Roberts returned a kickoff 89 yards. It cut the Eagles’ lead to 14-7 midway through the first quarter.

4. A high snap on a punt attempt lost 21 yards for the Greyhounds in the second quarter, setting up the Eagles at the Gilman 32. Five plays later, Andrew Dowell went in from the 1 and the Eagles led 21-7.

5. Linebacker Troy Dipre stuffed Gilman running back Antonio Dupree on a fourth-and-three play at the Eagles 36 early in the third quarter. It ended the Greyhounds’ best drive of the game.

6. Gest’s 81-yard touchdown run with 2:59 left in the third quarter not only ended Gilman’s hopes, it also got the clock running due to the 31-point differential.

“Cole Gest, first game starting for him. I don’t think you can have a better coming out party than that,” said Kean. “He didn’t surprise any of us. We all knew he was going to be something special.”

Who stood out for St. Edward

Gest: Instead of last year’s starter Andrew Dowell in the backfield, Gest took the field in the first quarter Sunday. He didn’t waste any time making an impact. He had a 36-yard run and later capped the opening drive with his first of three scores.

Check out Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Mark Kern’s story on Gest’s big game.

“He loves the weight room,” said Finotti. “You can tell. He ran hard tonight.”

Dowell started at defensive back and on special teams.

Kean: The senior quarterback finished 16-of-28 for 106 yards. The Eagles’ lone touchdown pass started in his hands. He threw to wide receiver Frank Geib behind the line, and Geib found a wide-open Alex Stump for a 58-yard touchdown.

Dipre: Along with his third-quarter stop on fourth down, Dipre had a first-quarter sack of Locksley. He chased the Gilman quarterback to the 1-yard line and forced the Greyhounds to punt.

Who stood out for Gilman

Roberts: His 89-yard kickoff return gave the Greyhounds hope early on. It also probably looked good to his college choice, Northwestern. 

St. Edward sound bites

Kean: “We’re a great team. I think today we proved it. Some people had questions about our team. Some people had questions about our offensive line. We knew they were going to be good. We’re satisfied, but we’ve got to keep on moving.

Finotti on Gest: “Real thick in the legs. Loves the weight room. You can tell. He ran hard tonight.”

Finotti on the linemen: “I was real proud of their effort. They hunkered down. They were adaptable. The kids are learning. The offense has one start in their career, that’s Ben Gauthier against Moeller last year. The only returner on D is Max Williams. So I was real proud of their resiliency.”

Linebacker Troy Henderson: “We weren’t comfortable at all (leading 24-7 at halftime). It’s a new game in the second half. It starts 0-0. So we just had to keep the foot on the pedal and keep working.” 

Other key stats

232 – Rushing yards for St. Edward.

15 – First downs for St. Edward, compared to seven for Gilman.

79 – Receiving yards for Stump on six catches.

6 – St. Edward receives caught passes.

What’s next

No 1 St. Edward hosts No. 7 Glenville Saturday, 7 p.m.

Gilman Academy hosts Paramus Catholic (N.J.) Saturday, 11 a.m.

Follow our new high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag.

Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko by email(spatsko@cleveland.com) or Twitter(@ScottPatsko). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Brian Hoyer will always have a special place in his heart for the Steelers for signing him when no one else would. But he also hates them just as much as every Browns fan does.

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer will always have a love-hate relationship with the Steelers, whom he'll face Sunday in the opener in Pittsburgh.

The hate came first, all the way back when Hoyer was a little boy growing up in North Olmsted, darting around the yard like he was Bernie Kosar, kicking some black-and-gold butt.

A lifelong Browns fans whose family had season tickets, Hoyer could work up a rage against the Steelers just as well as anyone around these parts.

The love came much later, when Hoyer was a 27-year-old out-of-work quarterback waiting for the phone to ring.

The Steelers called on Nov. 20, 2012 and rescued him from the scrapheap, where the Patriots had unceremoniously dumped him three months earlier in their finals cuts -- when most teams had their rosters set.

On Nov. 25, 2012, Hoyer pulled on the enemy jersey and marched into Cleveland Browns Stadium as a backup quarterback, where he watched the Browns feast on third-teamer Charlie Batch in a 20-14 victory.

"I didn't visualize being on the other side of the rivalry the first time I was a part of it, but I know what this means to this city,'' said Hoyer. "I know what it means to our fans. Like I've said all along, for me, I'm one of the few that get a chance to actually impact it.''

It didn't matter to Hoyer that the first team that called just so happened to be the arch-enemy of his parents, his siblings, his neighbors and everyone he went to school with at St. Ignatius High School. To him, it wasn't black-and-gold, just a golden opportunity.
 
"I was just grateful to have a job,'' he said. "As bitter as this rivalry is and being a Cleveland boy, I'll always have a place in my heart for Pittsburgh because they gave me a job when no one else would. Had a couple things fallen different ways, you never know how it would have turned out.

"I couldn't be happier to be a Cleveland Brown. Like I said, there will always be a spot in my heart for those guys because they gave me a job when 31 other teams wouldn't. I'll always be thankful for that, but at the same time I think I'm on the right side of this rivalry now."

The Steelers cut Hoyer three weeks later, when Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich were on the mend and the Steelers needed to call up a cornerback from the practice squad. He signed with the Cardinals two days later, and even started their season finale that year.

The Steelers reportedly wanted to re-sign Hoyer as a free agent in March of 2013, but the Cardinals -- then coached by Hoyer's former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians -- slapped a second-round, $2.023 million tender on him, making him a restricted free agent.

The move essentially blocked the Steelers from signing him, and they inked Bruce Gradkowski to a three-year deal instead.

Ultimately, Arians set Hoyer free on May 13, 2013 -- his third waiving in nine months -- and the Browns pounced on him four days later.    

"Well, (the Cardinals) found (the technicality) no doubt,'' said Hoyer.  "I don't know for what reason. Maybe I could be on the other side. You never know. I'm glad I'm here, that's for sure.''

Hoyer, knowing the intensity of the rivalry from both sides of the turnpike, has been studying film of the Steelers for a long time already.

"Not only here but when I was in New England,'' he said. "It seemed like we played them every year. Obviously I was here last year, and I was there for a few weeks, so I ran the scout team against their defense. I don't know how much I can recall from that. But I've been familiar with Pittsburgh ever since I've been in the league.''

Hoyer was laid up with his torn anterior cruciate ligament for the two meetings against Pittsburgh last season, but he studied them nonetheless.

 "I was still coming in and watching film knowing that I'd be back again this year and you get a feel for how they are defensively,'' he said. "Really, I think if you watch them, you know exactly what you're going to get.

"They're going to be solid, the guys are going to be in the right place, they have some schemes where you really have to be ready for them or else they're going to get you. We know what we're going to face and we have to be at our best to be able to beat these guys.''

Hoyer knows the offense will have to be much better than it was in preseason -- when the first-team offense failed to score a touchdown against a starting defense and scored only three points against first-teamers.

"I feel really good,'' he said. "Now you have a single purpose that you're working towards and you're going to be working on plays that you're running in the game. You're not just working on concepts that are your core concepts.

"You could tell there's a little more pep in people's step and a sense of urgency and attention to detail. That's what we need.''

Sure, Hoyer's gotta love the Steelers for what they did. But he still hates 'em just as much as you do.

Buster Skrine will play vs. Pittsburgh despite his broken thumb. Joe Haden (foot) also returned to practice.

BEREA, Ohio -- Buster Skrine got the thumbs up for Pittsburgh even though he's one thumb down.

Skrine broke his right thumb on Aug. 15 and had it surgically repaired Aug. 18, but coach Mike Pettine said he'll play Sunday in the opener.

"Yeah, he practiced full (Sunday),'' said Pettine.
 
And even though Skrine will wear a small cast in the game, Pettine still expects him to split time at right cornerback with No. 8 overall pick Justin Gilbert, who suffered some rookie growing pains during preseason.

"I think given him (Skrine) coming off an injury and Justin being a rookie, I don't know if we want to give either one of them the entire game outside,'' Pettine said.
Skrine explained that he broke the thumb in one-on-ones when he smacked it on the back of someone's elbow. He missed the final three preseason games after getting off to a great start in camp, breaking up passes left and right.

"I won't miss a beat,'' said Skrine. "I've been watching a lot of film, eating right and just conditioning when I could, so I wouldn't be out of shape and just be able to get back right where I was."
 
Skrine has played in all 48 games since he was drafted in the fifth round of 2011 out of Chattanooga, and was determined to keep his streak alive.

"Definitely,'' he said. "I haven't missed a game yet, and I didn't want to miss this one. I think playing with Sheldon Brown, Sheldon went I don't even know how many games it was (175). It was a lot of games before he finally sat out one game, I think the Cincinnati game my second year. But he always took a lot of pride in that, just being a tough player."
 
Skrine said he's advised Gilbert through some of his preseason struggles.

"Justin's still learning, but he's a good corner,'' said Skrine. "He shows a lot of good flashes. Stuff like that just happens. But he's going to learn from it and he won't let those things happen again because that's the type of player he is. Stuff like that happened to me, so I already know what he's going through. But he has a lot of confidence, and I know he's going to just continue to get better.
 
"I just told him early in my career I made a lot of mistakes. But the good ones, they come back and then they improve and don't let it happen twice."

Skrine, who will likely primarily in the slot when Gilbert is ready for full-time duty, hopes to pick up where he left off last season, when he finished fourth in the NFL with 23 passes defensed.

He returned to practice today along with cornerbacks Joe Haden (foot) and Pierre Desir (knee).

On Glenn Winston's baggage: Pettine explained that the Browns did their homework on new running back Glenn Winston, the 25-year-old rookie claimed on waivers Sunday from San Francisco. Winston, from Division II Northwood University, was kicked out of Michigan State and has been jailed twice for a total of 10 months, both times for altercations.

"It's not like we're just taking a guy blind,'' said Pettine. "If there is a particular player that might have some issues in his background, we'll make sure that we research it."

He said Winton is "a big back who can run downhill. He's a one-cut guy. He's a guy who has some receiving ability, so I'm just curious to get him here and see how he fits in. Just as far as that mold of a downhill one-cut guy – a guy who can thump it up in there – he fits that criteria."

On rookie CB Robert Nelson: Pettine praised rookie cornerback Robert Nelson, one of six undrafted rookies to make the team."'Nelly' (Nelson), I think he has a bright future in this league,'' said Pettine. "He was a guy nobody really looked at after the draft. We were very fortunate that (secondary coach) Jeff Hafley had a connection and that we were able to bring him here. I know he was very productive at Arizona State – made a lot of plays there.

"That continued when he got here. He just comes in here with some of these other rookies like a Gabriel and an (FB Ray) Agnew and the bigness of it never fazed him. He just went out and played. He was a guy who impressed us and we feel has the potential to be a starting NFL DB at some point."

The struggling third-round pick met with coach Mike Pettine. The message: not every run can be a home-run in the NFL.

BEREA, Ohio – Halfback Terrence West entered training camp intent on battling veteran Ben Tate for the starter's job.

But the rookie's confidence and prolific small-college statistics have not yet translated to NFL success. The third-round pick from Towson University averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in four preseason games, showing little burst and losing a fumble in Thursday's finale against Chicago.

His sluggish start opened a hole for undrafted free agent Isaiah Crowell, who made the team thanks in large part to a 102-yard rushing performance against the Bears.

Browns coach Mike Pettine met with West on Sunday.

"There were some times where he made plays, and then he made rookie mistakes some other times," Pettine said. ". . . He can catch the ball. He's shown that in camp. We're pleased with where Terrance is, but it's something...he just needs to continue to get better.

"Some guys kind of say, 'OK, I made it. I'm on the roster,' but to me, they need to accelerate, not decelerate."

West rushed for 2,509 yards and 41 touchdowns a season ago playing at the Division I-AA college level. He's been slow adjusting to Kyle Shanahan's blocking scheme and appears tentative in his decisions.

In their meeting, Pettine emphasized not every carry goes for big gainers in the pros. West registered 83 yards on 31 preseason carries.

"I think the biggest thing to learn, especially with the zone scheme, is don't look to hit the home run every play," Pettine said. "It's the creases in the NFL that can gain you four or five yards aren't that big. They don't appear that big. When that crease is there, we've got to go ahead and square up and get downhill and understand, 'Hey, know how to finish a run so I'm not taking a big hit.'"

Pettine said the fumble was more a product of a great play by the Bears' defensive back Al Louis-Jean than negligence on West's part.

". . . That was a heck of a play by that kid on defense," Pettine said. "He put his helmet right on the ball. I don't know how many other backs in the league hold onto that one."

The five receivers on the current active roster average 5-foot-11, 191.4 pounds. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, a sawed-off Hercules in shoulder pads, says he's been able to bench press more than twice his weight since his sophomore year in college.

The Browns list the undrafted free agent at 5-foot-8, 167 pounds, making him the lightest player on the roster. But let Gabriel strap on a hernia belt, point him to the weight room and watch him level the playing field.

He benches 350 pounds, squats 500 pounds and cleans 315 pounds.

"I just feel like I'm not a little guy," Gabriel said. "I'm a big guy at heart and I want to play big."

The Browns hope their entire receiving corps shares his feistiness. The five-member group on the active roster averages 5-foot-11, 191.4 pounds – or just slightly smaller than Browns punter Spencer Lanning (5-11, 200).

A season after saddling their passing game to a thoroughbred in Josh Gordon, the Browns have three wideouts, Gabriel, Andrew Hawkins (5-7, 180) and Travis Benjamin (5-10, 175) under 6-feet. The club's most established receiver Miles Austin is 6-2, 215, while LaRon Byrd, claimed off waivers Sunday, is 6-foot-4, 220.

Byrd has one NFL reception for eight yards in three seasons as a pro.

"What those guys lack in stature they make up with in heart, smartness and toughness - those types of things and I'll take that over physical attributes any day," quarterback Brian Hoyer said.

There are plenty of small receivers who have thrived in the NFL such as Wes Welker. And, after watching Greg Little (6-2, 215) the past two seasons, Browns fans realize good size doesn't always equate to good production.

But this receiving corps – and the decisions that went into constructing it – have come under criticism. Management opted not to draft a wideout even as it knew it could lose Gordon indefinitely to his latest drug suspension.

They opted to release 33-year-old Nate Burleson (6-0, 192), who missed much of camp with a hamstring injury, and Charles Johnson (6-2, 215).

Coach Mike Pettine stressed the roster remains fluid a week before the opener in Pittsburgh. The Browns also might split out athletic Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron (6-5, 249) more often this season.

Pettine believes the system employed by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan can help mitigate the Browns' lack of size. Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss, who played under Shanahan the past four seasons, echoed Pettine's sentiments in a recent interview with cleveland.com.

The coach cited condensed formations and lots of pre-snap motion as ways to free up his smaller pass catchers.

"That takes the bull's-eyes off them a little bit," Pettine said Sunday. "It's hard to ask a smaller guy to go out there and be (a wideout) and be up on the ball and get off some of these press corners in the league. Gabriel has shown an ability to get off of press probably better than the other guys have, but that's something where I think the system helps us out a little bit there."

The Abilene (Texas) Christian product realized early in his career he'd have to get stronger to have any shot at making it professionally. He pattered his game after Baltimore Ravens' Steve Smith, who plays a physical style despite his 5-9, 185-pound frame.

The son of a computer encryptionist, Gabriel unlocked the NFL code with hours spent in the weight room. He led all Browns receivers in the preseason with 10 catches for 128 yards.

"I'm just blessed to be here," Gabriel said. "I want to come out here and give it my all, stay in the playbook and grind."

Undrafted free agents often receive calls from their position coaches informing them they've made the 53-man roster. Halfback Isaiah Crowell and fullback Ray Agnew shared their stories with reporters Sunday.

Gabriel got no such call Saturday afternoon. Taking a page from George Costanza, he just showed up for work, assuming he had the job and attending a team meeting Saturday night. Turns out he was right.

"I heard if you don't get a call that's a good thing," Gabriel said.

He said the real test begins now. Making the team is nice, but being a productive part is more important.

Costanza had the Penske file. Gabriel will have a playbook to beat Pittsburgh. He plans to play big.

A late-night summer storm passed through Kauffman Stadium just as Kyle Crockett took the hill to attempt to close out a 4-2 Indians win, a triumph that would complete a three-game sweep of Kansas City and move the Tribe ever closer in the race for a playoff spot.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Only Mother Nature could prevent the Indians from sweeping the first-place Royals. And she only did half the trick.

A late-night summer storm passed through Kauffman Stadium just as Kyle Crockett took the hill to attempt to close out a 4-2 Indians win, a triumph that would complete a three-game sweep of Kansas City and inch the Tribe ever closer in the race for a playoff spot.

The game will resume at Progressive Field prior to the teams' next meeting on Sept. 22 in Cleveland, since the Indians do not return to Kansas City this season.

Lonnie Chisenhall provided the two-run cushion with a 10th-inning double. The Indians had a chance to win it in nine.

They were three outs from leaving Kansas City with a sweep. Three outs from attaining a week's head start on another September surge. Three outs from soaring into the regular season's final month with all of the momentum the major leagues can offer.

Then, the Tribe came back to Earth.

Alex Gordon socked a game-tying home run off Indians closer Cody Allen to lead off the ninth. Allen had been 18-for-18 in ninth-inning save opportunities.

So, the game persisted until the 10th, but the storm clouds rolled in and prevented the teams from finishing the deal. By rule, a home team must receive final at-bats if the road team takes the lead in an extra-inning suspended game.

Still, the Indians leave Kansas City unscathed.

T.J. House delivered the strongest start of his brief big league career. House limited Kansas City to one run -- scored in the first frame -- over seven innings as he spared a taxed Cleveland bullpen and kept a sellout crowd of 39,009 mostly quiet.

It didn't look promising from the start. Nori Aoki and Omar Infante tagged House for singles to open the first and Alex Gordon followed with a sacrifice fly. House then set down 16 of the next 18 batters he faced.

The Tribe scored a run in the third on a Michael Brantley RBI double and tacked on the go-ahead run in the fourth on a Mike Aviles sacrifice fly. That scored Yan Gomes, who tallied four hits in his five trips to the plate.

What it means
With three more outs in three weeks, the Indians can gain a game on the Royals, wherever they may stand at that point in time. As it stands, the Indians enter September 3 1/2 games back in the American League Central and three games back in the chase for the second Wild Card spot. The Indians return to Progressive Field on Monday following a 4-1 trip through Chicago and Kansas City.

Shaw's redemption
The Royals placed a runner on third with one out in the eighth after Roberto Perez's throw sailed into center field on a stolen base by Alcides Escobar. Bryan Shaw, however, kept Kansas City at bay. With the infield playing in, Shaw induced a harmless groundout off the bat of Aoki. He then struck out Omar Infante to end the threat.

House on fire
House (3-3, 3.92 ERA) established a career high with his seven innings of work. He held the Royals to five hits and he did not walk a batter. Tribe starting pitchers have now limited the opposition to three runs or fewer in 17 of the last 19 games.

What's to come
The Indians begin an 11-game homestand on Monday afternoon (4:05 p.m. ET first pitch) with the first of four games against the Tigers. Cleveland's Corey Kluber (13-8, 2.52 ERA) will oppose Detroit's David Price (12-10, 3.32 ERA). Kluber has suffered the loss each of his last two times on the hill, despite quality starts in each. Over his last 13 outings, he has logged a 1.69 ERA. Price has posted a 4.41 ERA in five starts with the Tigers. On Wednesday, he surrendered eight runs on 12 hits in two innings against the Yankees.

Watch Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed recap the news from Browns practice Sunday. Also watch videos on Brian Hoyer talking about the rivalry with the Steelers and the undersized wide receiver group. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio --  Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed fill you in on what happened at practice Sunday.

The Browns reduced their roster down to 53 yesterday and today were awarded four players off waivers, which meant more cuts.

On the field, they began preparations to open the season against the Steelers in Pittsburgh Sept. 7. 

Topics discussed include: Brian Hoyer and the rivalry with the Steelers, which he has seen from both sides.  Undrafted free agents Taylor Gabriel and Ray Agnew both making the 53-man roster.  Rex Grossman and Charles Johnson were both cut to make room for players claimed off waivers.  Cornerbacks Joe Haden, Buster Skrine and Pierre Desir all returned to practice from injuries. 

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Rex Grossman was cut by the Browns Sunday but might find his way back to Cleveland. Rookie Connor Shaw, a fan favorite, was signed to the practice squad today.

BEREA, Ohio -- Veteran quarterback Rex Grossman could resurface with the Browns, and undrafted rookie Connor Shaw already has.

The Browns waived Shaw in the final cuts Saturday, but signed him back to the practice squad on Sunday.

Grossman, on the other hand, survived the final cuts Saturday only to be lopped off the roster Sunday when the Browns needed to make room for four waiver claims.

But if the 12th-year pro doesn't sign with another team, there's a chance he could return to the Browns and his longtime offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

"As you know, 48 hours after the deadline, there's a lot of movement with the roster, so I wouldn't read too much into where it stands right now,'' said coach Mike Pettine. "There are some guys who aren't here who potentially could come back. There are some guys who are here who won't be here. The roster situation right now is very fluid.''

Quarterback Brian Hoyer also seemed to have an inkling Grossman, a 12th-year pro with a command of Shanahan's system, could be back.

"It was good while he was here,'' said Hoyer. "Just like it is with the other 31 teams, the rosters are fluid and it's a business decision. So for me, he was useful when he was here because he's a guy I could talk to who's played in this system. You never know how things are going to work out, and we'll see what happens.''

Shaw, signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, captured the hearts of Browns fans with his promising preseason performance in Washington, where he completed 8-of-9 attempts for 123 yards -- including a 45-yard Hail Mary pass -- for a 155.8 rating.

The performance prompted Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier to urge the Browns to toss Shaw into the mix for the starting job.

The practice squad isn't what Spurrier had in mind, but it's a start.

Undrafted free-agent took an unconventional route to the league despite NFL bloodlines.

BEREA, Ohio – A year ago, missing a blocking assignment for Browns fullback Ray Agnew III meant answering to a higher authority than any frothing football coach.

Southern Illinois University featured a brother running-back tandem of Ray and Malcolm Agnew. If Ray botched a block and his younger brother, the team's leading rusher, got tackled for a loss he could almost feel Kathy Agnew's glare from the stands.

"That is true," the undrafted free agent said. "If I didn't block anybody and he got hit my mother was mad at me."

Football is a family passion and vocation for the Agnews.

The 23-year-old, who opens holes for others, actually followed his father's lead into the NFL. His dad, Ray Agnew II, played 11 years as a defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, New York Giants and St. Louis Rams with whom he won a Super Bowl during the 1999 season.

Talk about fueling a love for the family business. His father plucked him from the stands at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 30, 2000 and took him into the Super Bowl-winning locker room to celebrate with Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and the other Rams.

The fullback's first call after learning he'd made the Browns' 53-man roster  Saturday was to his dad, who works as a Rams' scout.

"Obviously, he was very happy, very supportive, proud of me," Agnew said. "It was a crazy day, surreal."

At the NFL level, fullbacks are becoming almost as obsolete as postmasters. In a passing-obsessed league many clubs employ hybrid tight ends to fill the position. But Agnew beat out H-back MarQueis Gray because of his stout blocking to become the Browns' first traditional fullback since Lawrence Vickers was here from 2006-2010.

The position is an important one in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Darrel Young has been key to the success of Washington Redskins' Pro Bowl halfback Alfred Morris.

"I have a lot of fun playing the position," said Agnew, who earned 57 preseason snaps and caught three passes. "Me and my dad talk about it all the time. There's not a lot of people who can honestly say they enjoy playing fullback. You're hitting your head against a brick wall pretty much every day . . . Every time I step out here I get a tingling feeling in my stomach because I love (it) so much."

The traditional fullback took a very unconventional route to the league.

A converted tailback in high school, Agnew received no scholarship offers. At 5-foot-10, 247 pounds, he did not inherit his old man's size (6-3, 285). Kathy, a former sprinter turned grade-school teacher, is 5-2, 120 pounds.

While the Agnews encouraged their three boys to play sports, making a career out of the game was not a priority. The father is most pleased with his son's pursuit of a radio-television degree.

"I'm proud of the person that he is," said his father, the No, 10 overall pick in 1990. "I've always told my sons my love for you has nothing to do with being a football player."

Agnew walked on at Southern Illinois before earning a scholarship. He left the school as a team captain, but endured a rough start.

Coach Dale Lennon said his fullback arrived at the Carbondale, Ill., campus out of shape. The coaching staff wasn't sure he'd survive the Salukis' first camp. But as Agnew adjusted to the rigors of college football – he redshirted his first year -- his work ethic and athleticism started to show.

It didn't hurt his head coach was a former fullback at the University of North Dakota. Lennon and Agnew spoke often about the demands and responsibilities surrounding one of the game's most selfless positions.

View full sizeRay Agnew II played 11 NFL seasons as a defensive tackle and won a Super Bowl title with the St. Louis Rams. Associated Press 

The Salukis averaged 153 yards rushing his senior season and Malcolm ran for 888 yards after transferring from Oregon State. Agnew cherished the chance to block for his younger brother, calling it a "script you would write in Hollywood."

The fullback exited Carbondale in better standing than he arrived.

"Ray was just the ultimate team player," Lennon said. "His teammates loved how hard he played for them."

Agnew wasn't invited to the combine – in a sign of the times only three were. After the draft, the Browns, Rams, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets contacted him, he  said.

The Browns' renewed interest in running the ball in Shanahan's wide-zone blocking scheme helped lead Agnew to Berea. He's worked to develop chemistry with Ben Tate and the other halfbacks, learning how they prefer blocks angled.

Despite making the jump from the small-college level, Browns coach Mike Pettine said the game has "never looked too big" for Agnew. The player offers theories on why that is.    

"Watching my dad (and) others like Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, they showed me how to carry yourself in an NFL setting," Agnew said.

"As far as playing, it was just football. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous the first day I was out here in pads because I thought every rookie was. But after that first hit it was just football. It's just these guys are big, grown men like Paul Kruger."

His Twitter handle, Underrated_FB, reflects his chip-on-the-shoulder attitude. He made an NFL 53-man roster without registering a single carry in college.

No words can describe how happy I am right now! I've come a long long way. Tell me the odds and watch me beat them. #53man #DawgPound

— Ray Agnew III (@Underrated_FB) August 30, 2014

Someone asked him Sunday if he wants the opportunity run the ball.

"I do and I think people would be surprised to see how well it goes," Agnew said smiling. "I'd love to get a few carries – third-and-1, first down, first-and-goal, spike the ball, all that good stuff."

If Agnew gets a carry, the linemen had better seal their blocks. Or, prepare to have a 5-foot-2 mother sprinting from the stands. 

Follow along as the Indians host the Detroit Tigers in a nationally televised Labor Day game. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get scoring updates and chat with other fans as the Indians take on the Detroit Tigers on Labor Day at Progressive Field.

Game 135 (or is it 136?): Indians (70-64) vs. Tigers (74-62)

First pitch: 4:05 p.m. at Progressive Field

TV/radio: STO, ESPN; WTAM AM/1100

Starting pitchers: Corey Kluber (13-8, 2.52 ERA) vs. David Price (12-10, 3.32 ERA)

If you're viewing this on a mobile app, click here to get updates and comment.

Tweets from @clevelanddotcom/indians

The Indians, coming off a 17-9 August, return home for a four-game series against the Tigers as Corye Kluber faces lefty David Price. Kluber is looking to end a two-start losing streak.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the starting lineups for Monday's game between the Indians and Tigers at Progressive Field.

TIGERS

2B Ian Kinsler, R.

RF Torii Hunter, R.

DH Miguel Cabrera, R.

1B Victor Martinez, S.

LF J.D. Martinez, R.

3B Nick Castellanos, R.

C Alex Avila, L.

SS Eugenio Suarez, R.

CF Ezequiel Carrera, L.

LHP David Price, 12-10, 3.32.

INDIANS

CF Michael Bourn, L.

SS Jose Ramirez, S.

LF Michael Brantley, L.

1B Carlos Santana, S.

C Yan Gomes, R.

2B Jason Kipnis, L.

RF Mike Aviles, R.

DH Jesus Aguilar, R.

3B Lonnie Chisenhall, L.

RHP Corey Kluber, 13-8, 2.52.

UMPIRES

H Adrian Johnson.

1B Mike Everitt.

2B Tom Woodring.

3B Chad Fairchild.

Viriginia Tech will be the kind of game Ohio State players came to Columbus to play. But the pressures of a night game can affect an inexperienced team with a new quarterback, too.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The spectacle of the Brigade of Midshipmen marching out on the field in Baltimore before the game and the sing-along by the players  of the Ohio State and Navy alma maters after it, along with the handshakes and well wishes -- all the emotional trappings of that outlier of a game are over.

Saturday night is the start of the season the Buckeyes came here to experience.

Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech -- Urban Renewal vs. Beamer Ball, under the lights at the Horseshoe, on ESPN, with Mark May and Lou Holtz arguing anytime they're on camera and and awarding helmet stickers later,  just as battle promotions will be someday for some of the Navy men.

A game against a service academy provides a tug pf sentiment in a time of al-Qaida and Isis threat. In some way, that turned the Navy game into an experience more befitting Memorial Day weekend than Labor Day.

Now that is over and, said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, in the clipped tones and no-nonsense way that characterizes most of what he says and does, his players are veterans, not newcomers,  and the past is past, and it's game on.

Virginia Tech is a program college football fans know, for coach Frank Beamer's fanatical attention to special teams and for the highlight show days of the past  when Michael Vick went off script with mad ad-libs.

Virginia Tech is like everyone else. Except for that odd school cheer of "Hokie! Hokie! Hokie! Hi! Tech! Tech! VPI!" (The school was first called the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.)

"Someone told me all the excuses were there last week," Meyer said. "You didn't hear us bring it up very often. Nine new starters on offense. The good thing (is) they're not nine new starters. They're veteran players now. Enough with the excuses and get going."

Night games bring their own dynamic of tension that grows as the day wears on before the players face the added pressure of prime-time exposure. But it is not like the Hokies force the radical adjustments Navy's  demanded.

"I just think of our D linemen. Joey Bosa didn't come to Ohio State to squeeze down blocks and keep people off his ankles," said Meyer. "That's what he had to do last week. He came to rush a quarterback and penetrate. So there's big smiles across our defensive line right now to let them go play."

Meyer asked defensive tackle Michael Bennett how he felt he played.

"I got double teamed every snap and one guy was trying to take my knees out," Bennett said.

"That's all legal. It's really good football, to be honest with you," said Meyer on Monday. "But . . . they certainly didn't come to play in that kind of game, the defensive line."

Against an Ohio State pass defense that was an outright liability last season, the Mids tried only four passes, completing two, for only 20 yards.

"I think we're ranked pretty high in pass defense," Meyer said drolly.

Then there is Ohio State's own passer, redshirt freshman  and native Texan J.T. Barrett, who will be at the controls for the first-ever meeting of the Ohio State and Virginia Tech.

The stars shine bright late at night deep in the heart of Texas, just as the song says. But Barrett is from Wichita Falls, near the Red river, in north Texas, which is nowhere near the heart of it.

Also, Barrett is more of a game manager, by lack of experience but also by skill set. OSU fans have been watching the flair of Braxton Miller, Barrett's predecessor, who is out for the season, for the past three years.

Ohio State can win Barrett's way. Game-managing Craig Krenzel won a national championship with the Buckeyes. But, of course, Barrett also has to make progress.

What does he need?

"More dynamic, 16 yard run, Ezekiel (Elliott) led (the blocking) on the draw play," said Meyer, who often seems to be at the point of such urgency that a subject-less sentence  comes galloping out of his mouth. "And he's done pretty good. He's just not the dynamic guy. Wouldn't mind (for his attitude to be), when you go, go. But he played pretty well."

Meyer might be asking for what is not going to be there.  Miller, Terrelle Pryor and Troy Smith, all of whom had more wiggle and speed than Barrett,  struggled  in their first games under the lights.

The game plan was plain vanilla against Navy. It will be expanded against Virginia Tech. It won't be tutti-fruitti, all rooty,  but it will still be a game with which they are familiar.

Other than that "Hokie! Hi!" thing.

Bryant, drafted in the seventh round by St. Louis, stuck around on the Rams' practice squad.

Rookie safety Christian Bryant was signed to the practice squad by the St. Louis Rams.Jeff Roberson, Associated Press 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Over the weekend, NFL players found out who didn't make the final 53-man roster. Now it's time to find out who gets to stick around on the practice squad.

Among the former Ohio State Buckeyes released in the final cuts, at least two have kept alive their NFL hopes on practice squads.

Second-year linebacker John Simon, a fourth-round pick in 2013, was placed on Baltimore's practice squad after the Ravens cut him Sunday. Rookie safety Christian Bryant, a seventh-round pick in 2014, stayed on the Rams' practice squad after St. Louis after not making the Rams' active roster.

Another player signed to a practice squad was defensive lineman Jamie Meder, a Parma native from Ashland University. He wasn't taken in the NFL Draft but he did enough during Baltimore's training camp for the Ravens to decide to keep him around.

• Ohio State players released in final NFL cuts

Be sure to like our cleveland.com Ohio State sports Facebook page, where we'll keep you up to date with everything that's happening in the world of Ohio State football, basketball and recruiting. 

The Hokies are generally viewed as a top-40 team and they were picked to finish third in their division in the ACC. They beat William & Mary 34-9 in their opener.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe Ohio State's best grade for its 34-17 win over Navy on Saturday is an incomplete. Or an "I don't know." Or a "What was that?"

Virginia Tech, coming off a 34-9 win over William & Mary with a traditional offense and defense will give everyone a better idea of what the Buckeyes are all about.

"Our players are excited. Our fans are excited about it," Urban Meyer said Monday. "We got a very good opponent, coach I've known for a long time. First time I've ever played against him. But they are what they are. And one of the top five defenses in America. Really good defensive coach. Offensively last year they struggled but this year they have a quarterback that's a transfer that's thrown the ball very well in the one game."

That transfer is Michael Brewer from Texas Tech, who was 23 of 30 for 251 yards on Saturday. 

That coach is Frank Beamer, with a 225-109-2 record in 28 years at Virginia Tech. Overall, he's 267-132-4 in 34 years coaching college football.

Virginia Tech was No. 32 in USA Today's preseason countdown of the best teams in college football.

In preseason media voting, the Hokies were picked to finish third in the ACC Coastal Division behind Miami and Duke.

So Ari and I discussed what we don't know yet about the Buckeyes, and what we may know more about after Saturday.

Be sure to like our cleveland.com Ohio State sports Facebook page, where we'll keep you up to date with everything that's happening in the world of Ohio State football, basketball and recruiting. 

Bragg has October visits set for Kentucky and Kansas.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After receiving offers from more than 20 schools, Villa Angela-St. Joseph senior Carlton Bragg cut his recruiting list to five schools on Monday. Making the cut are Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, Arizona and UCLA.

There was one primary reason for why Bragg included those five schools over the many other options.

"It's the way their style of play is," Bragg said. "They like to play open and my style of play matches their style of play."

The five schools will have to wait a little before the final decision, as Bragg is not sure when he will make a final decision, although his mentor, Michael Graves, believes it will likely come after his senior season.

Bragg, who is ranked No. 14 overall by ESPN in the Class of 2015, is currently the highest ranked Ohio boys basketball player at any high school level. As a junior, he averaged 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Vikings.

Now was that time to cut the list for Bragg because he didn't want that decision to carry over into his senior season and affect him.

"We're getting closer to the season when I start conditioning and I wanted to get focused," Bragg said.

Prior to his senior season starting, Bragg plans on taking college visits. He has a trip to Kansas scheduled for Oct. 10, and he will be headed to Kentucky on Oct. 17. He plans to visit the other three schools but has yet to decide on a date.

Among the schools not making the cut was Ohio State. When it was decision time, Bragg just like his other options better.

"I think these schools were the best fit for me, and Ohio State was not the best fit for me," Bragg said.

The Buckeyes also lost out on Franklin senior and 2013-14 Mr. Basketball winner Luke Kennard, who is headed to Duke after he graduates.

Shaker Heights junior Esa Ahmad did include the Buckeyes when he cut his list down to five schools last week. The Buckeyes already have a commitment from Dayton Dunbar senior A.J. Harris.

Among the schools still in contention, Arizona has three players committed for the Class of 2015. UCLA and Illinois have two players committed, Kentucky has one player committed and Kansas has no players committed. No school has a power forward committed, which is where Bragg projects to play.

When breaking down the five schools, Bragg also said he liked how they developed players for the NBA.

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There were a lot of new roles in the dove fields for Monday's opener on a grey, overcast morning in southern Medina County.

SEVILLE, Ohio – There were a lot of new roles in the dove fields for Monday's opener under grey, overcast morning skies in southern Medina County.

John Jacob of Copley and Brandon Riffle of Mogadore were the men in charge of this hunt for Flyway Outdoors. The Seville hunting operation leases fields and ponds for mourning dove and Canada goose hunting, and this was the first morning Jacob and Riffle had worked as hunting guides.

Both are experienced hunters, but shepherding a group of strangers carrying shotguns requires special talents. Their job was to determine the best locations for the shooters around the perimeter of the hunting fields, set up dove-attracting decoys and keep their fingers crossed flocks of birds would come to visit.

Making the morning even more of a challenge would be a young bird dog eager to retrieve doves for the first time. Dezzie, my Deutsch Drahthaar, was a bundle of energy and wanted to run the fields in search of game birds. Keeping her under control in a makeshift blind while waiting for the birds to visit our field would be the first order of the morning.

Joining me in the field were veteran hunting friends Kevin Keogh of Rocky River and Mark Duncan of Olmsted Falls. To make sure we had enough firepower, Jacob brought his son, Austin, a 15-year-old with a talent for breaking clay targets.

"Austin finished in a tie for runner-up in the junior varsity division of the Scholastic Clay Target Program nationals in Sparta, Illinois this year," said Jacob. "We started shooting clay targets together when he was nine years old, and he's become an excellent shooter."

A member of the Chippewa Trapshooting Club in Copley Township, which is noted for its fine youth squads, Austin Jacob now competes at the North Lawrence Fish and Game Club in Lawrence Township, a premier area trapshooting facility.

"I grew up on a dairy farm in Johnstown, Ohio, and we were a hunting family," said John Jacob. "Austin tagged along on rabbit hunts with my beagles when he was just six or seven years old, and passed an Ohio Hunter Safety Course when he was eight. While we all hunt deer, Austin would rather go bird hunting."

The first field we hunted on Monday morning was a freshly plowed, 100-acre patch of leased ground. I was relieved we had to cross a small freshwater creek to get to our hunting stations. With temperatures forecast for the mid-80s later in the day, there would be ample opportunities for Dezzie to splash around in cool water and stay hydrated.

A few doves flew our way to take a look at the spinning-wing Mojo dove decoy and a few stationary dove decoys Jacob and Riffle had positioned in front of the group of hunters. So did much larger flocks of rock doves, better known in the agricultural community as grain-stealing pigeons. After a couple of hours of watching flocks of pigeons, the guides decided to switch to a grain field a few miles down the road.

When we arrived we could see a few pigeons in the air and a smattering of doves on far away telephone and electric lines, but the big show was in front of us. A pair of long-legged acrobatic sandhill cranes was already feeding in the field. A bird protected in Ohio, the tall, lanky birds finally spotted the intruders and danced off to their own unique cry of the sandhill crane.

Before the morning was over, Dezzie would have the chance to bring back a few downed birds. Her final retrieve required her to pick her way down a steep, brushy embankment, wade the small waters of a creek and use her nose to locate a mourning dove on the far bank.

There were cheers all around as Dezzie proudly returned with the bird nestled in her mouth. We wouldn't bag limits of doves, or even come close, but Austin Jacob's fine shot and Dezzie's last retrieve were memories to take home.

Manager Terry Francona remebers when he had to go to the bullpen for an emergency suit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Quick hits from manager Terry Francona and the Indians before Monday's game against the Tigers at Progressive Field.

Wardrobe malfunction: Dan Shulman and John Kruk, who called the Indians-Royals game on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, told a story about Francona forgetting his suit and having to go buy one just before an ESPN broadcast in 2012 in Anaheim, Calif.

Asked about the story Monday afternoon, Francona said, "I didn't forget my suit, it was the dry cleaner's mistake. They put the sports coat and pants on different hangers. I started to get dressed. I had my tie on, my jacket, but I've got no pants.

"So 15 minutes before we're leaving, I went to the concierge and asked him if there was a men's store. He said there was one across the street. So I went there and it was a Target. So I bought a $75 suit, wore it that night and threw it in the wastebasket when the game was over.

"The bad thing was three people told me I looked nice."

Early birds: After Sunday's night's game was suspended in the 10^th inning with the Indians leading, 4-2, the team's flight didn't land in Cleveland until 3:15 a.m.

"I feel like one of those fresh daisies on the side of the road that just got run over by truck," said Francona.

Suspended game: The Indians and Royals will finish Sunday's game on Sept. 22 before the regularly schedule game between the two teams at Progressive Field.

Lefty Kyle Crockett was announced to pitch the bottom of the 10^th against the Royals when play was stopped because of rain and high winds. When asked if that meant Crockett had to start the 10^th on Sept. 22, Francona said, "Crockett has been entered into the game and we have a right to make a change. They have a rule in place for just that. Say we would have resumed that game an hour later, he does not have to pitch, but since he's also been announced we couldn't use him."

The Indians could still use Crockett to start the suspended game on Sept. 22.

New role: Zach McAllister, recalled Sunday to take Josh Tomlin's spot on the 25-man roster, will be working out of the bullpen, but if the Indians decide they need a sixth starter in the struck run, they'll give him a shot.

"We're going to keep all our options open," said Francona.

Tomlin was placed on the paternity list.

Long season: Francona on players, managers and coaches fighting fatigue at this point of the season, "Every player this time of year is a little tired, a little banged up. Probably the same goes for the coaches and the managers, too.

"But the players work so hard all winter and spring training. You grind through so many ups and downs to get to this point where it is meaningful. Players get a lot more tired when they're 30 games out. You saw our dugout Sunday night when Lonnie (Chisenhall) hit that double. They were like high school kids . . .and that's not a bad thing."

Chisenhall's pinch hit double gave the Indians 4-2 lead in the 10^th.

Tito on David Price: "I've seen him too much."

Francona was referring to Price pitching for Tampa when he managed the Red Sox.

In the House: Lefty T.J. House is usually on a short leash when he starts for the Tribe. But Sunday night Francona let him go seven innings with good reason.

"I thought Sunday night was by far his best start," said Francona. "He gave up a couple of hits and sacrifice fly in the first. I think the sac-fly was big because it got the runner off third and eliminated the big inning.

"From that point on he was as crisp as we've see him. He was down, below the barrel with his breaking ball and two seamer and they were some pretty good right-handed bats."

House, leading 2-1, worked a trouble free seventh inning in which he faced right-handed hitters Billy Butler, Salvador Perez and Lorenzo Cain.

"Normally when he goes six, we turn it over to the bullpen. But (even though) they had Butler, Perez and Cain up, we let him go out and pitch."

House allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter on 85 pitches.

The perennial All-Pro said teams with continuity on offense can reach 'graduate-level' thinking Watch video

BEREA, Ohio – Joe Thomas, one of the NFL's most accomplished left tackles, yearns to participate in some "graduate-level thinking" as it applies to offense.

He knows it occurs in places such as New Orleans and New England, where established quarterbacks and continuity are givens.

It's just the opposite in Berea, where Thomas almost annually finds himself enrolled in Offensive Systems 101. The Browns' lack of continuity is nothing new, but the perennial All Pro spoke at length Monday about the dirty details of reprogramming.

"Day One for a new offense is we're going to put in the most basic plays then go out and run them," Thomas said. " You can barely start working on technique until halfway into training camp when people start to understand who they're supposed to block."

Kyle Shanahan represents Thomas' sixth offensive coordinator in eight years. He's optimistic about Shanahan's methods and teachings, but acknowledges how much is lost when an offense has to start over every year or so.

Thomas believes it takes three to four seasons to master a system. The Browns haven't come close to that timetable in his years here.

"You can get to a good-enough level in a year or an offseason, but there are so many fine details on offense that make the difference in one or two plays every week," Thomas said. "A lot of times games come down to one or two plays."

He cited the work of the Saints – the Browns' Week 2 opponent – and the nine-year partnership of quarterback Drew Brees and coach Sean Payton.

"(The Saints) are talking about the details from the year before because everyone already knows what they're supposed to do," Thomas said. "So they sit in there in meetings and that's what they talk about – the (tells) of the defense, how the way they hold their feet, the ways their eyes are, the safety rotation – that's graduate-level thinking."

The left tackle said he doesn't allow the constant change in Berea to frustrate him because it's beyond his control.

He's quick to recognize, however, the advantages stable offenses possess such as sampling plays from around the league to see if they work in your scheme. New offenses, Thomas said, don't have to time make such additions in training camp.

Teams like the Saints can get more achieved in fewer hours because veterans have such a grasp of the offense, Thomas said.

"First of all, life is better because they don't have to be in the building as long," he said. "Lot of those guys like the ones in New Orleans are out of the building by 2 o'clock every day because they're just not as much to do. That's the bottom line of it. It's great because you can keep yourself more fresh, you get the graduate level thinking done. It's a huge luxury."

New arrival

Third-year pro LaRon Byrd might not get a better chance to impact an NFL receiving corps and he seems to know it.

The 6-foot-4, 220 pounder participated in his first Browns practice after getting claimed from waivers.

The Cowboys released him following a preseason in which he caught seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. The University of Miami product has one career regular-season reception for eight yards in 2012 with Arizona. He missed virtually all of last season with a concussion.

"I don't just want to be a guy on the roster," he said. "I want to contribute to this team. This is my job. I've got to pick (the offense) up as fast as I can. I'll be in the coach's ear . . . Hopefully, I can be ready (for the opener).

Byrd's size is a welcome addition to a receiving corps that averages 5-foot-11, 191.4 pounds. Now, if he can play.

Injury update

Coach Mike Pettine said defensive end Desmond Bryant is "day to day" coming off wrist surgey. He rode the stationary bike again Monday. Reserve linebacker Eric Martin (concussion) returned to practice. Pettine wouldn't supply a timetable on reserve offensive lineman Paul McQuistan only to say "he's a tough kid, I'll leave it at that." McQuistan was spotted leaving the stadium Thursday in a walking boot on his left leg after sustaining an ankle injury.

Quotebook

Pettine on responding to the fact 22 of the 53 Browns are undrafted players: "You evaluate when you're putting that roster together a very narrow focus. Who are our best players and who can help us win and how they were acquired I don't think really comes into play."

Roster shuffle

The Browns added three more players to their practice squad. Receiver Charles Johnson, released Sunday, returned to club. The Browns also added offensive linemen Karim Barton and Patrick Lewis. Lewis spent 11 weeks on the Browns active roster last season.

Brownies

Byrd was the only member of the four roster claims Sunday that arrived in Berea to take part in practice Monday. Pettine said the delay was due to travel logisitics . . . The locker room no longer is separated by position groupings. Offensive and defensive players have lockers side by side in many cases. It's a similar approach taken by former Browns coach Eric Mangini.