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Ohio State Buckeyes' Mike Brewster confident offensive line can handle Miami's defensive line

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Brewster's self-assuredness and consistency in the middle of the line, and his faith in the four linemen joining him, will be tested against Miami's quick and dangerous defensive line on Saturday.

Mike Brewster.jpgView full sizeOhio State center Mike Brewster graded well with his line calls last week against Marshall.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Brandon Saine's 45-yard touchdown run against Marshall last Thursday, every Ohio State offensive lineman finished his block perfectly, except for left guard Justin Boren, who pulled and led Saine through the hole, but found no one left to hit.

"They had a run blitz, and Mike made a good call to pick up everything," Boren said. "It was wide open, and I just saw Brandon take off."

Mike made a good call. That's Ohio State junior center Mike Brewster, and he made a lot of good calls. In fact, after playing about 45 snaps in the Buckeyes' opener, Brewster said line coach Jim Bollman disagreed with only one decision he made on blocking assignments, a duty that falls to the OSU center, and even Brewster realized that mistake as soon as it happened.

"It feels good to be confident," Brewster said Tuesday, "because when you're confident, you play 100 times faster."

For the first time in his career, Brewster was graded with a "winning performance" by his coaches, who examine every detail in their postgame evaluations. It's not a level that's easy to reach -- quarterback Terrelle Pryor is still searching for the first "winning performance" of his career. It's Brewster's self-assuredness and consistency in the middle of the line, and his faith in the four linemen joining him, that will be tested against Miami's quick and dangerous defensive line on Saturday when the No. 2 Buckeyes host No. 12 Miami.

Mike Brewster 2.jpgView full sizeMike Brewster's self-assuredness and his faith in the four linemen joining him will be tested against No. 12 Miami on Saturday.

"The D-line is huge. They're the strength of our defense," Miami cornerback Brandon Harris told reporters in Florida on Tuesday. "We need them to put a lot of pressure on Pryor, but also keep that running game slowed down. We want to control the running game, and hopefully the D-line gets to chow a little bit. We have to stop the run. We have to stop the run."

The Hurricanes also sacked the quarterback eight times in a 45-0 win over an overmatched Florida A&M team Thursday. While Miami believes it has turned a weakness a year ago into a strength this season with the defensive line, the Buckeyes' offensive line seems to be avoiding what have been regular early-season struggles. It's a line filled with elite recruits, and now they know what they're doing.

"I don't think we were ever not confident, but I think we were unsure," Brewster said of seasons past. "And when you're unsure of what you're doing, you're not going to do it as fast. I think that's what really showed against Marshall. I know Marshall is not Miami, but we still executed well, and we were very sure of what we were doing."

Heads on straight, the Buckeyes can get down to the physical matchups, with the most difficult assignments falling to tackles Mike Adams and J.B. Shugarts in dealing with Miami defensive ends Allen Bailey and Olivier Vernon.

"Their [defensive line is] super athletic and super quick," OSU tight end Jake Stoneburner said. "They've got a lot of talent and depth, but it's nothing we haven't gone against in practice. So it'll be a good test, but I think we'll be well-prepared."

Inside, Brewster will be dealing with defensive tackle Marcus Forston, a player Brewster got to know as the U.S. Army All-American Game when both were high school seniors.

"Those guys, they're technicians," Forston said of the Buckeyes. "They're well-coached. Those guys don't give any reads away. They're a good offensive line.

"We have guys that are athletic, guys that are powerful, guys that are just nasty and go out there and do whatever they have to do to intimidate the offensive line, the running backs or the quarterback. . . . We have to make a new line of scrimmage in the backfield."

Brewster has to keep the Ohio State offensive line together as one, starting with himself. Now in his third year as a starter, he has no doubts that will happen. He said a first-year center wouldn't have read that blitz on the Saine touchdown Thursday. A second-year center maybe would have recognized with a lot of studying. But now?

"I know my stuff," Brewster said. "I know it like the back of my hand, so it doesn't worry me at all. I'm never unsure, because those guys trust me, and I know everything about this offense."

Buckeye bits: OSU coach Jim Tressel said he expects starting defensive end Nathan Williams, who missed last week's game against Marshall, to be back Saturday, though his snaps may be limited. . . . Freshman running back Rod Smith, still a likely redshirt, joined the team for practice Sunday, his arrival at Ohio State previously delayed as the NCAA Clearinghouse cleared his high school transcript. . . . Tressel said junior linebacker Etienne Sabino, who lost the camp competition for a starting spot to Andrew Sweat, is expected to redshirt, though he is not injured or facing any off-field issues. Sabino is also blocked by seniors Brian Rolle and Ross Homan, and the year off would give him two years of eligibility after they graduate.


Lou Marson gets it right at plate as Cleveland Indians beat Anaheim Angels

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Marson hit his first career grand slam to highlight a five-run sixth-inning rally as the Indians beat the Angels, 6-1, to improve to 4-2 on this trip.

lou marson grand slam.jpgView full sizeThe Indians' Lou Marson, second from left, gets a pat on the head from Luis Valbuena, left, after Marson hit a grand slam in the sixth inning Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif.

UPDATED: 2:27 a.m.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Lou Marson was so disappointed with the way he has been hitting this season that before Tuesday night's game he said, "I could hit better left-handed."

The Indians are glad the right-handed hitting Marson didn't pick Tuesday to move to the other side of the plate. Marson hit his first career grand slam to highlight a five-run sixth-inning rally as the Indians beat the Angels, 6-1, to improve to 4-2 on this trip.

"No, I didn't think about hitting left-handed," said Marson, after the game. "But you know what I played hockey for years and I shot left-handed. But I never tried to hit left-handed."  

Justin Masterson pitched seven innings for the victory. Masterson (6-12, 4.88) allowed one run on six hits in seven innings. The 6-6, 250-pound Masterson is doing his best to show the Indians he deserves to be a starter next season. He's 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA in his past seven starts.

"Early on, I was learning," said Masterson, who has never been a full time starter in the big leagues until this year. "Now the goal it to put it all together so we can take this momentum into next season."

Masterson has had his moments this season, but consistency has not been one of his strong points.

"There were times when things came together and I didn't really know what my check points were," said Masterson. "I'm a big, tall, lanky guy. You work through many things.

"I finally found some good check points to catch myself, even within the game. I can say, "Hey, remember what makes us good and what we can do.' I've been turning to those. That's what's kept me consistent over the last month or so and I was able to carry it into this game, too."      

Travis Hafner started the sixth with a line-drive homer into the right-field seats off starter Trevor Bell for a 2-1 lead. The ball bounced back onto the field. Angels manager Mike Scioscia asked for a review.

The review went in the Tribe's favor for a 2-1 lead. Hafner, who has hit the ball hard since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 15, has 11 homers. It was only the second homer Bell has allowed in 61 innings.

"I wasn't sure if it was out or not," said Hafner. "I knew it barely got out or hit off the wall. I was dreading the umpires coming out and saying go to second. But Trevor (Crowe) ran up in the clubhouse and saw the replay and said it was a homer. After that I felt better about it."

The homer was Hafner's first in 61 at-bats.  He doubled in the third.

"I think the key moment was Hafner answering back Torii Hunter's homer to give us the lead," said manager Manny Acta. "Then we blew it open when Marson had the huge hit." 

When Matt LaPorta followed Hafner with a drive to the fence in left field, Bell's night was over and Francisco Rodriguez relieved. Rodriguez gave up a single to Jordan Brown, who was replaced by Crowe. Jason Donald and Luis Valbuena followed with walks to load the bases and bring Marson to the plate.

michael brantley.jpgView full sizeThe Indians' Michael Brantley, right, dives back to first base ahead of a pickoff throw from Los Angeles Angels pitcher Trevor Bell in the first inning.

Marson sent a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a 6-1 lead and his first grand slam. It was the Tribe's fifth slam of the season.

The homer was Marson's third of the season. He entered the game hitting .111 (5-for-45) with runners in scoring position.

"I knew he'd come at me with a fastball," said Marson. "He left it up in the zone. It felt good." 

In the fifth, Hunter went Bo Jackson on Masterson with a long homer onto the batter's eye over the center-field fence to make it 1-1. It was a flashback to Jackson's 448-foot homer in the 1989 All-Star Game. Jackson was named the game's MVP.

It was Hunter's second homer of the series and 21st of the season.

Bell (2-5, 4.72), making his seventh start, allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three in 88 pitches.

Indians starters are 5-3 with a 3.04 ERA (28 earned runs in 83 innings) over the last 13 games. Masterson has won two of the five games.

"This a positive thing," said Acta. "This is the last month of the season. A lot of the kids that are in our rotation, in normal circumstances, would be done right now. This is an extra month for them, but they have responded well so far.

"We like the way our starters have thrown and given us a better chance to matchup at the back end."

The Indians started the game aggressively with Michael Brantley pestering Bell. Brantley walked to start the game and drew several throws from Bell. The Angels' right-hander finally bounced one of the throws into the seats behind first base as Brantley took second.

In the third, Brantley hit a leadoff single. After Jayson Nix struck out, Brantley stole second and went to third when shortstop Erick Aybar couldn't catch a high throw from catcher Mike Napoli. Aybar was charged with an error.

Shin-Soo Choo followed with a sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead. It was Choo's 71st RBI.

Masterson, making his first start since Aug. 31, was sharp from the first pitch. He faced only 12 Angels through the first four innings.  He was scheduled to start Sunday, but had to leave the team last week because of a family matter.

Reggie Willits opened the game with an infield single, but was erased on a double play. Willits opened the fourth with a single, but was erased on Alberto Callaspo's second double-play grounder. Bobby Abreu followed with a single, but Marson threw him out attempting to steal second to end the inning.

He threw out Hunter in the seventh as he tried to steal third even though the Angels were down, 6-1. 

Marson leads AL catchers with a 36 percent (23-for-64) success rate in throwing out runners trying to steal.

The Indians, who have lost 20 of their past 31 games, are 4-3 in September. The Angels, who have fallen on hard times after winning five of the past six AL West division titles, have lost 11 of their past 15 games.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Who will lead the Browns in sacks this season? Poll

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Which Brown will lead Cleveland in sacks when the 2010 draws to a close?

matt-roth-lisa-DeJong.JPGView full sizeLinebacker Matt Roth is one possibility when it comes to leading the Browns in sacks this season.
Cleveland, Ohio -- As dismal as the Browns were in 2009, there were a few high points. One of them was sacks. Cleveland tied with Washington for eighth in the 32-team 40 of 'em. But it was a spread 'em out attack designed by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Kamerion Wimbley led the Browns with 6.5 sacks.

But Wimbley is now a Raider, so the question becomes who will take over the lead in sacks. Will it be Shaun Rogers, as a defensive end? Matt Roth? Someone from the secondary?

The Browns finished 2009 31st in the league in total defense. That's got to change for them to achieve anything close to success. And the sacks -- from whomever -- will be a big part of that.


















Jim Thome homers, ties Frank Robinson for 8th place

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Minnesota's Jim Thome moved into a tie for eighth place on baseball's all-time home run list with Frank Robinson, after hitting No. 586.

Jim ThomeMinnesota Twins' Jim Thome waits to congratulate Delmon Young after he and Young scored on a J.J. Hardy hit off Kansas City Royals pitcher Brian Bannister in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, in Minneapolis. Thome later hit a solo home run in the sixth, his 22nd of the season, in the Twins' 10-3 win. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Jim Thome moved into a tie for eighth place on baseball's all-time home run list with Frank Robinson, after hitting No. 586.

Thome went deep in the sixth inning on a 3-2 count, leading the Twins to a 10-3 win over Kansas City on Tuesday night. It was Thome's 22nd homer of the season, estimated by the team's media relations staff at 452 feet.

The ball soared over right field and past the American flag, traveling to almost exactly the same place his estimated 480-foot shot landed in Monday's game against the Royals. Thome has four home runs in his last three games.

After a little prompting from the Target Field crowd, Thome stepped out of the dugout and waved to the fans.

Francisco Liriano (13-7) raised his second-half record to 7-0 in 10 starts, giving up seven hits and two runs in seven easy innings. J.J. Hardy had three RBIs for the Twins, who scored six times in the third against Brian Bannister (7-12) and moved 4½ games ahead of Chicago in the division race.

"You hope the good times last as long as they can," Thome said.

The White Sox lost to Detroit 9-1, ending their seven-game winning streak. The Twins have won five straight, 10 of their last 12 and 33 of 45.

"They're not leading this division for nothing," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "They're a good team that swings the bat. They catch the ball. They throw strikes."

Thome has likened his new team to a family, smiling his way through his first season playing for his former division rival.

"We're all genuinely rooting for each other," he said.

The Royals lead the majors with 53 one-run games, just ahead of the Twins' 49. After one-run decisions in eight of their last nine games, winning six of those tight ones, the Twins were eager for a breather. That's exactly what they got, thanks to Young and Hardy at the bottom of the lineup.

Manager Ron Gardenhire was able to take some of his regulars out early, and newly recalled relievers Glen Perkins and Pat Neshek worked an inning apiece.

"It's a great feeling to go out there and not have that much pressure on you," said Liriano, who reached his career high in wins.

After tailing off following his torrid July, Young bounced back in a big way. Thome? He's been steady all season long.

Just seconds after the White Sox score flashed final, he went deep in the sixth inning on a 3-2 count to make it 10-2. This was Thome's 22nd homer of the season, estimated by the team's media relations staff at 452 feet. It tied him with Frank Robinson for eighth place on the career list with 586.

"He keeps hitting it farther and farther and farther," Young said.

The ball soared over right field and past the American flag, traveling to almost exactly the same place his estimated 480-foot shot landed in Monday's game against the Royals. Thome has four home runs in his last three games.

"It's fun to watch, and it's a tough act to follow," Young said.

For the sake of performance, perhaps, but not in terms of production. With Thome on base ahead of him in the second, third and fourth innings following two walks and a hit batsman, Young doubled, singled and doubled. He established career highs in doubles (40) and RBIs (97).

Josh Fields hit his first homer for the Royals, Alex Gordon made a hit-stealing diving catch in left field, and Jesse Chavez pitched two hitless innings of relief. But that was about all the Royals had to be happy about. They fell to a season-high 24½ games out of first place and a season-high 24 games under .500 (57-81).

Right-hander Luke Hochevar gave up five hits and three runs in three innings — including the moon ball by Thome.

"That pitch is definitely not where I was trying to go with it," Hochevar said.

Bannister lasted only 2 2-3 innings. All seven runs against him scored with two outs, with Jason Kubel, Young and Hardy delivering the RBIs in the third. This was his first start for the Royals since Aug. 2, missing time with a rotator cuff injury. He's struggling with his off-speed pitches.

"You're just not going to beat a good team at this level throwing fastballs, especially a below-average one," Bannister said. "I haven't been able to throw a cutter for months."

NOTES: Matt Tolbert hit his third triple in four days for the Twins, playing 3B again for Danny Valencia. Gardenhire wants to be cautious with Valencia's hamstring, and he might not be back until Friday. "I don't want this to turn into something where he really goes out there and pops it, and then we're done for the year," Gardenhire said. ... Royals prospect Clint Robinson finished his season for Double-A Northwest Arkansas with a Triple Crown, just the third winner in Texas League history. The 25-year-old native of Jefferson City, Mo., a 25th-round draft pick in 2007, hit .325 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs.

Troy Smith picked up by San Francisco 49ers

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San Francisco has become a place of second chances for two former Ohio State Buckeyes. Earlier this summer, the 49ers acquired wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. via trade with the Miami Dolphins. On Monday night, the 49ers signed quarterback Troy Smith who was recently released by the Baltimore Ravens. Ginn Jr. and Smith were teammates at Glenville High School...

troy smith.jpgFormer Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, is now with the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco has become a place of second chances for two former Ohio State Buckeyes.

Earlier this summer, the 49ers acquired wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. via trade with the Miami Dolphins. On Monday night, the 49ers signed quarterback Troy Smith who was recently released by the Baltimore Ravens.

Ginn Jr. and Smith were teammates at Glenville High School and Ohio State.

To make room for Smith, the 49ers waived rookie quarterback Nate Davis.

On Mercurynews.com:

 

         Coach Mike Singletary had recently gone public with his disenchantment over last season's fifth-round pick out of Ball State. After one preseason game, he questioned Davis' offseason work ethic and said the young passer lacked the ability to handle the basics, such as commanding the huddle.

"I don't know how long it's going to take," Singletary said that night. "I don't know how much time we have."

Apparently, the clock ran out when Smith hit the market.

Smith is a 6-foot, 217-pound passer who, like Davis, was a fifth-round pick. Unlike Davis, he has regular-season experience.

 

Dolphins try to escape LeBron's shadow

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Miami's NFL team has long dominated the affection of South Florida sports fans, but with the Heat's signing of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Dolphins suddenly find themselves fighting for attention.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris BoshIn this July 9, 2010, photo, Miami Heat basketball players Dwyane Wade (3), Chris Bosh (1) and LeBron James (6) leave the stage during a welcome celebration at American Airlines Arena in Miami. The Miami Dolphins have long dominated the affection of South Florida sports fans, but with the Heat's signing of the trio, the Dolphins suddenly find themselves fighting for attention. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MIAMI - This is the home of the Dolphin Expressway, the Dolphin Mall, the Dolphin Bar & Lounge, Dolphin Termite Services, Dolphin Used Auto Parts and Dolphin Bail Bonds.

That's the way it has been in Miami for decades: Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins.

No more. Now it's LeBron, LeBron, LeBron.

Turns out a 6-foot-8 NBA superstar can cast a pretty long shadow.

Miami's NFL team has long dominated the affection of South Florida sports fans, but with the Heat's signing of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Dolphins suddenly find themselves fighting for attention.

"If the Heat are bigger, that's cool," Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell says. "With the names they've got - LeBron, Wade, Bosh - I guess we'll be overshadowed when their season starts. But until then, we're still the big dogs in town."

The Dolphins' opener is Sunday at Buffalo, while the Heat are enjoying the last part of their offseason.

"We get the first at-bat while they're partying," linebacker Channing Crowder says. "We get a chance to play some games and impress some people down here in South Florida, which we will."

The Dolphins benefit from deep roots. They became the state's first franchise in a major professional sport in 1966, and their popularity soared with back-to-back Super Bowl championship seasons in 1972-73.

Despite the arrival of the expansion Heat in 1988 and the expansion Marlins and Panthers in the 1990s, the Dolphins remained South Florida's most beloved team. That didn't change when the Heat won the NBA title in 2006, nor when the Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and 2003.

The Miami Hurricanes made temporary inroads with three national championships in a five-year span from 1987 to 1991. But even then, the Dolphins had Dan Marino, which made them the biggest game in town.

The Heat knew it: They retired Marino's No. 13.

The Dolphins have yet to retire LeBron's number. But his oversized celebrity might be enough to eclipse the Dolphins' rich tradition, especially since they haven't added much to it in recent seasons.

It has been 10 years since they won a playoff game, 18 years since they reached the AFC title game, 26 years since they made the Super Bowl and 37 years since their most recent NFL title.

They went 7-9 in 2009, their recent exhibition season was uninspiring, and their early schedule is rugged, which makes it tempting to look ahead to hoops. And Dolphins coach Tony Sparano knows it.

"With all due respect to what the Heat have done - it's obviously exciting for our town, they've done a great job - but I have to believe this is football season," he says. "We know we have to care of business and start fast. You're not telling me the problems there; I've got it. There are some things we have to do to make sure our fans are excited. We're excited about that challenge."

So now the Dolphins are competing not only with the Patriots and Jets, but with the Heat.

With Tuesday's news that Bill Parcells is giving up control of the Dolphins, they don't match up well against Pat Riley. And when it comes to star power, the Heat win in a blowout. While they have James, Wade and Bosh, the Dolphins' most famous player is Ricky Williams, a 33-year-old backup.

Not that Dolphins business is bad. Season ticket sales have topped 50,000 and are expected to be up 4 to 5 percent over last year, chief executive officer Mike Dee says.

Dee says the Dolphins can benefit from the LeBron bump.

"People are now viewing this city as a premier sports city," Dee says. "It doesn't need to be a football town or a baseball town or a basketball town. It can be a great sports town. Great sports towns are defined as communities that can support more than one franchise."

Maybe the Heat can help with Dolphins attendance. Wade went to a couple of games last year, and Dee says "we have reason to believe that we will be hosting some Heat dignitaries from time to time this season."

Dolphins players, like everyone else, are eager to check out the Heat's power trio.

"I'm definitely going to make it to a few games," Bell says. "That's three guys you don't want to miss. They're going to put on some shows, and a lot of our guys will be watching."

Dolphins newcomer Brandon Marshall agrees. He was already on the Heat bandwagon last April, attending a game the night he was traded to Miami.

Rookie linebacker Koa Misi wants tickets, too.

"I've never been to an NBA game, although I went to a Harlem Globetrotters game when I was younger," Misi says.

The Heat are expected to win like the Globetrotters, while the Dolphins are widely projected for another season around .500. If that happens, they'll be buried in the AFC East standings, and perhaps also in the local sports section.

Miami's no longer just a football town. But that doesn't guarantee the Dolphins are consigned to second place in their own city.

"We'll be back on top," Crowder says, "if we go out and win the Super Bowl."

Cleveland Browns A.M. Links: David Bowens remains; Tampa quarterback is ready; Ocho and T.O.

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Linebacker David Bowens was concerned about making the Cleveland Browns' roster this season. He enters his 12th season in the NFL as the oldest (33) defensive player on the Browns. Bowens also had to worry because he missed most of training camp with a sore left knee. Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich writes how players, coaches and reporters often joked...


manginibowenstb.jpgLinebacker David Bowens and coach Eric Mangini.

Linebacker David Bowens was concerned about making the Cleveland Browns' roster this season. He enters his 12th season in the NFL as the oldest (33) defensive player on the Browns.


Bowens also had to worry because he missed most of training camp with a sore left knee.


Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich writes how players, coaches and reporters often joked with Bowens about his joining the coaching staff this summer.




''Physically, I just wasn't out there, and that's reason enough to be on the bubble,'' Bowens said. ''This league is performance based. And if you're not out there, you really [are at risk]. I just wanted to get out there as soon as I could and show what I could do.''


Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said the preseason finale on Thursday against the Chicago Bears didn't make or break any player's chance of earning a job. Bowens, however, said he treated the final exhibition game as a last audition, and his performance certainly didn't hurt his cause. He compiled four tackles, a half-sack and two quarterback hits.


So now that Bowens has made the cut, now what? Whether Bowens can duplicate his production from last season remains to be seen. Bowens is just thankful for a chance to try.




''This team has a lot of upswing, and to not be a part of it, especially when we started something at the end of last year, would have been devastating,'' he said. ''I feel like these guys are family. This is one of the good teams I've been on. You don't really come across that, and I just wanted to be a part of it.''


 


Thumbs up


Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since he broke the thumb on his throwing hand in a preseason game three weeks ago.


Roy Cummings for The Tampa Tribune writes:




Though he and the Bucs have discussed the possibility of protecting the thumb by wrapping it, putting it in a splint or having him wear a glove, Freeman has chosen to leave his thumb au naturel.


"I just feel a lot more comfortable going with bare hands," said Freeman, who has every intention of going into Sunday's season opener against Cleveland the same way.


"We're going to try out some different things this week, but right now I'm just going without any wraps or anything," Freeman said. "It felt really good (Tuesday), so that's going to be the plan."


Several Bucs wideouts said Freeman threw the ball as well Tuesday as he did before the injury.




"He looked fine to me," said Micheal Spurlock, who also caught several balls from Freeman during a pregame throwing test in Houston last Thursday. "He doesn't look like he's got a broken thumb at all."


    


 


Hits and misses


CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk picks up a quote from The Tampa Tribune from Raheem Morris:




“(Jake Delhomme) is going to know our defense as good as one of our vets on our own team. He might know it better than some of our young players. He probably knows it better than (Bucs rookie safety) Cody Grimm right now. When you go into the game, you got to understand that and know that he knows that you know that he knows.” 


 


 The Ocho and T.O. Show


That crazy duo in Cincinnati, receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, will also team-up off the field for their own television show.


Not only do they each have their own individual reality shows, the two players will find time to do another show during the season.


Ochocinco and Owens will host a 30-minute talk show discussing sports and pop culture, according to a news release.



The show will make its debut on Oct. 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET, but there will be teases for the show during Versus' nightly talk show, "The Daily Line," at 11 p.m. ET.





“This is coming from the perspective of two professionals. We play the game, we live the game and viewers will get to live it through us week in and week out,” Chad Ochocinco said in a news release. “Versus is taking a big risk giving us this show. It's gonna be dangerous. Watch with care.”




 

Cleveland Browns will defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14, predicts Terry Pluto (SBTV)

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PD columnist also sees the Browns going 6-10, even though they will be much improved over 2009.


rob-ryan.jpgBrowns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will try to find a pass rush by committee this season.

Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's going on in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Chuck Yarborough.


Let's go to the highlights:


• The Browns don't have a feared pass rusher on defense this season, which leads to this question: Which defender will lead the team in sacks in 2010? Cast your vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.


• Today's guest, Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto, points out that Rob Ryan's defense last season relied on a variety of players to produce sacks, and that likely will be the case again this season. Terry also predicts that the Browns will post a 6-10 record for their schedule this season, and he says that they might be a much-improved team but it won't be reflected in a winning record.


SBTV will return Thursday morning with Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises as the guest. He will break down the Miami-OSU showdown coming up on Saturday.













Shaquille O'Neal says Mo Williams took too many shots

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Former Cleveland Cavaliers' center Shaquille O'Neal, now with the Boston Celtics, says to reporter John Reid of Nola.com that he joined the Celtics because of the unselfish play of the veteran group. That wasn't always the case with the Cavaliers. "I like that they play together and nobody really worries about shots, " O'Neal said. "When I was with Cleveland, guys...

shaquille-oneal.jpgShaquille O'Neal

Former Cleveland Cavaliers' center Shaquille O'Neal, now with the Boston Celtics, says to reporter John Reid of Nola.com that he joined the Celtics because of the unselfish play of the veteran group.

That wasn't always the case with the Cavaliers.

"I like that they play together and nobody really worries about shots, " O'Neal said. "When I was with Cleveland, guys who couldn't even play were worried about shots. Why was Mo (Williams) taking 15 shots, and I'm only taking four? If LeBron takes 20 shots, that's cool.

"So I said, let me get with a good team for the last two years. I don't mind people calling me a journeyman. I've been programmed to move around every three years."

Anderson Varejao is OK with LeBron's decision

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Anderson Varejao played the past six seasons on the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James. Now Varejao is the longest-tenured Cavaliers' player remaining after the departure of James and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Fanhouse.com reporter Chris Tomasson writes Varejao and guard Daniel Gibson are the only players left from the 2007 NBA Finals' team. "We lost a big player, one of the best players in the world,''...

Anderson VarejaoCleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao hugs a teammate.

Anderson Varejao played the past six seasons on the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James. Now Varejao is the longest-tenured Cavaliers' player remaining after the departure of James and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Fanhouse.com reporter Chris Tomasson writes Varejao and guard Daniel Gibson are the only players left from the 2007 NBA Finals' team.

"We lost a big player, one of the best players in the world,'' Varejao said of life in Cleveland without James. "But we know we can't be thinking about that. ... We've got to think about who is there now and try to do a good job this season.''

Varejao knows things will be different without James. He knows the crowds will be smaller and the 60-plus win seasons are a thing of the past for the immediate future.

Varejao had a good relationship with James but also is loyal to Cleveland, where he has played his entire NBA career.

"I don't know if it's fair or not,'' Varejao said. "LeBron did a lot for that town and, of course, when you lose a LeBron everybody is going to feel that. But it is what is. I'm not the guy that's going to say that's fair or not to have to be angry at LeBron.

" I don't know if it's fair or not. LeBron did a lot for (Cleveland) and, of course, when you lose LeBron everybody is going to feel that. ... I'm not the guy that's going to say that's fair or not to have to be angry at LeBron."

 

 

A.M. Ohio State football links: Miami game is critical, as 11-1 might not be good enough for title game berth

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Buckeyes would be a near-lock for national championship game bid with a 12-0 regular season. Saturday's game is the first big test in trying to duplicate 2002 season title run that was capped by epic win over Miami.

ohio-state-celebrates.jpgOhio State coach Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes begin to celebrate their 31-24, double-overtime win over Miami in the national championship game on Jan. 3, 2003.

Cleveland, Ohio -- Most NFL Super Bowl champions lose three or four games during a season.

In the long, virtual game-a-day baseball season, seldom does the eventual World Series champion lose fewer than 60 games or so.

The analogies may be a stretch, but the point is, the college football season is quite unforgiving as to who even gets to play for the national championship.

Ohio State, the nation's second-ranked team, hosts No. 12 Miami (Fla.) in Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Both teams are 1-0. The last time the teams played, both were undefeated going into the game -- the 2002 season national title game -- the Fiesta Bowl classic won by Ohio State, 31-24, in two overtimes.

The Buckeyes have legitimate national championship hopes again. It's no certainty that it will take a 12-0 regular season to play for the grand prize, but for Ohio State, that record would all but assure the opportunity.

Jason Lloyd writes for the Akron Beacon Journal that center Mike Brewster and the Buckeyes realize a loss to the Hurricanes would dim OSU's national title hopes:

(T)he players understand one slip — even this early — could ruin everything. The Big Ten's still-anemic perception nationally means there is little margin for error if Ohio State is going to play for the national championship in January.

''We know this is championship week,'' Brewster said. ''If we lose one game, they're not going to let us in. We have to be perfect.''

That makes the clash Saturday with the Hurricanes even more crucial.

Jim Tressel loves scheduling a nonconference powerhouse every season, but he has misplaced the formula for slaying the giants. Since 2005, the Buckeyes have faced four highly ranked teams in September. They've lost three of the four.

Plain Dealer Ohio State coverage includes beat writer Doug Lesmerises' story on center Mike Brewster and the offensive line; Bill Livingston's column, speculating on how Boise State would fare in the Big Ten or SEC.

Pryor report card

As in any game, the quarterbacks will be key to the outcome. Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor is considered a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, while Miami's Jacory Harris is a dangerous playmaker.

Pryor completed 17 of 25 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Buckeyes' season-opening rout of Marshall last Thursday. John Kampf writes for the News Herald and Lorain Morning Journal how difficult it is for a quarterback to be a "winner" in Ohio State's grading system:

No criteria has been explained or distributed on just what constitutes a "winning performance," but Coach Jim Tressel pointed the finger in the direction of quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano — who apparently, by his grading scale, would be the teacher kids feared most had he gone into the field of education.

"Coach Siciliano is a harder grader than I was," Tressel said. "In fact, you'll have to ask Coach this, but I think it was (Pryor's) best grade he's had since he's been here, which means he did a lot of little things. Because that's where you lose points (in grading), some of those things that no one sees but we need to.

"He graded solid."

Tressel said former OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel graded out with a winning performance only once — and he was under center for the undefeated 2002 national championship team.

Real winners

Tom Archdeacon of the Dayton Daily News writes about some of the OSU-Miami pre-game hype, and -- playing off a quote from Buckeyes cornerback Chimdi Chekwa -- not-so-subtly disses a former Cleveland athlete:

And then there’s James, who fled the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat this summer in a move that left raw feelings in his home state. Last week on a twitter post, he said he was interested in coming to Columbus and that “O-State will prevail for sure.”

“I have no idea about that,” Chekwa shrugged. “I don’t follow LeBron’s twitters.”

This team is interested in aligning itself with the Bucks of eight years ago — players who actually have won a title.

Watched history

Ohio State's national championship game win over Miami eight years ago is considered one of the greatest games ever, and also an upset, as Miami went into the contest as the defending champion and on a 34-game winning streak.

The players on today's Buckeyes and Hurricanes' rosters were 10 to 15 years old, but many of them have been asked this week about their memories of the Jan. x, 2003 game. 

Adam Rittenberg writes for ESPN.com, quoting Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, and referring to a controversial penalty call that went OSU's way:

"I was in seventh grade," said Sanzenbacher, now a senior wide receiver for Ohio State. "I was over at my friend's house, watching with his family."

Sanzenbacher watched in his hometown of Toledo. About 200 miles away in Cincinnati, Tyler Moeller also tuned in for Buckeyes-Hurricanes.

"A couple of us got together and hung out to watch it," said Moeller, now a senior safety/linebacker for the Buckeyes. "I wasn't really too big of an Ohio State fan, so I was kind of neutral on the whole thing. But it was an exciting game to watch.

"We always see clips of it, like the pass-interference play."

Sideline to sideline

Miami will learn more about how good it really is when it plays the Buckeyes, writes Heather Dinich for ESPN.com.

Where Terrelle Pryor stands in Cory McCartney's Heisman Watch for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

Ken Gordon of the Columbus Dispatch writes about some Buckeyes and Hurricanes' memories of the 2002 season national title game.

OSU's Terrelle Pryor is a mobile quarterback, the kind that has given Miami problems, writes Manny Navarro for the Miami Herald. 

The approach Miami coach Randy Shannon is taking to Saturday's game, by Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch.

Mark Podolski of the News Herald writes about Ken Dorsey, the quarterback for Miami (and later a Cleveland Brown) in the 2002 national title game.

John Kampf writes for the News Herald that OSU coach Jim Tressel can't dodge questions about the game of nearly eight years ago.

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

  

P.M. Cleveland Indians links: Tribe tops Angels with Lou Marson's first career grand slam

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Indians become the latest last-place team to beat up on the Angels.

lou-marson-grand-slam-ap.JPGView full sizeIndians catcher Lou Marson gets a few high fives after his first career grand slam in Tuesday night's 6-1 Tribe win over the Angels.

Every now and then, the Washington Generals beat the Harlem Globetrotters. The first time that happened, back in 1971, it ended a 2,495-game winning streak for Harlem.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet your 2010 Washington Generals, aka the Cleveland Indians. Or at least that's how the Los Angeles Times views the Tribe . . . and anybody else in last place who happens to visit Anaheim, Calif.


The meek shall inherit the Earth, or at least a sliver of land in Anaheim known as Angel Stadium.

Last-place teams continue to embarrass the Angels on their home field, the Cleveland Indians' 6-1 victory Tuesday the latest indignity.

Given what seemed like an ideal opportunity to make one final push against slumping Texas in the American League West, the Angels instead have been thrust further into irrelevance by two of the worst teams in baseball.

Baltimore swept the Angels in the final three games of their most recent homestand, and the Indians have won the first two games of this series. It is the first time the Angels have lost five consecutive home games since April 28-May 2, 2006.

What in the name of Sweet Georgia Brown is going on here? We dunno, but it's kinda funny to see the clown shoes on somebody else's feet, isn't it?

Spare the Rod


Maybe Rod Carew can help. The Hall of Famer was in the Angels clubhouse to film part of a documentary marking the team's 50th anniversary. Here's how the Los Angeles Daily News tells the story:

Even at age 64, Carew -- who played seven seasons with the Angels (1979-85) and was their hitting coach for eight (1992-99) -- looks as though he could have grabbed a bat and helped the team.

. . . "We're playing baseball that is very uncharacteristic of the guys in that room, and we're responsible for that," (Manager Mike) Scioscia said. "We'll keep trying until we get it going in the right direction."

(Angels outfielder Torii) Hunter was more direct.

"It's killing me," he said. "The atmosphere is bad. We did not come to play. We didn't come with it today at all. It's been going on for a while. There's no fight. We just don't have it. There's no excuses, I'm sorry, embarrassed. All I can do is apologize."

Which really leaves only one question: Why, oh, why couldn't this happen to the Yankees?

Quick history lesson
The Associated Press' "This Date in Baseball" feature notes that on this day in 1992, Robin Yount became the 17th player in baseball history to collect his 3,000th hit. It came in a 5-4 loss to the Indians. Jose Mesa was pitching. Maybe he thought Yount was playing for the Florida Marlins instead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

From The Plain Dealer


You know how it goes: You stand on the tee worried not at all about the water on the left. "I NEVER hook," you tell the guys sharing your cart and talking to the beer lady. Rear back for a mighty drive and . . .

A Titleist swims with the fishes.

Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer's Indians beat writer, has to feel like he just plunked a $4 golf ball in the drink.

A little inside-baseball stuff for y'all: When Eastern time zone teams play on the West Coast, writers usually do a piece in case the game doesn't end in time to make the print deadline. Personally, Starting Blocks loves reading this features, especially the ones Hoynsie does.

In this case, he decided to talk to the weak-hitting but slick-fielding Tribe catcher, Lou Marson. The original piece spent a couple hundred words talking to and with Marson about his .189 average.

So naturally, last night Marson goes and hits his first career grand slam.

Plunk.

Hoynsie updated his story, and the online version, filed at 2:30 a.m. or so Cleveland time, talks about the dinger.

Lou Marson was so disappointed with the way he has been hitting this season that before Tuesday night's game he said, "I could hit better left-handed."

The Indians are glad the right-handed hitting Marson didn't pick Tuesday to move to the other side of the plate. Marson hit his first career grand slam to highlight a five-run sixth-inning rally as the Indians beat the Angels, 6-1, to improve to 4-2 on this trip.

"No, I didn't think about hitting left-handed," said Marson, after the game. "But you know what I played hockey for years and I shot left-handed. But I never tried to hit left-handed."

Browns Comment of the Day: Team should be competitive

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"This week will be a good measure. I believe that this team is much improved over last year and, barring a rash of devastating injuries like we saw in the first few weeks of 2008, should beat these first two teams convincingly and be in most games until the final whistle." - Joe1970KnowsFootball

eric-mangini-delhomme.jpgView full sizeEric Mangini has a better quarterback than last year, but will the team overall be better?

In response to the story Tampa Bay offers Cleveland Browns a good chance to start season with a victory: Tony Grossi's Scouting Report, cleveland.com reader Joe1970KnowsFootball sees a much better team than last year. This reader writes,

"This week will be a good measure. I believe that this team is much improved over last year and, barring a rash of devastating injuries like we saw in the first few weeks of 2008, should beat these first two teams convincingly and be in most games until the final whistle."

To respond to Joe1970KnowsFootball's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

USA basketball personnel disagree with American-born, Team Russia coach's opinion that USA wasn't robbed in 1972 Olympics: Game video

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U.S. and Russia play tomorrow in world championships quarterfinal. Russian coach David Blatt, a Massachusetts teen in 1972, thinks Russia's third-chance, buzzer-beating game-winner over U.S. was fair.

Video: From youtube.com, final moments of Russia's controversial 51-50 win over the United States in 1972 Olympics gold medal game.





Istanbul (Wednesday, Sept. 8) -- Russia's coach believes the Soviets were right in 1972. The Americans say he's got it all wrong.



U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski responded to David Blatt's opinion that the Soviet Union's victory in the controversial Olympic gold-medal game was fair by saying that Blatt should have that belief as a Russian either forgetting or ignoring that Blatt was born and raised in the U.S.



NBA executive Mike Bantom, who played for that U.S. team, says the issue could be debated, but "if you lived it, and you were there, you know that it was wrong."



The U.S. plays Russia on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the world championship on the 38th anniversary of the Soviets' 51-50 victory in Munich.



Today's Associated report follows this AP report from Istanbul on Tuesday:



David Blatt was a teenager in Massachusetts in 1972, and remembers crying after the Soviet Union's controversial victory over the United States for the Olympic gold medal.



Blatt now thinks the Americans were wrong, that they weren't cheated.



That's not all that's changed for Blatt when it comes to basketball and his homeland.



The Kentucky native now coaches Russia, which will meet the U.S. on Thursday for a spot in the semifinals of the world championship.



"It's kind of mind boggling for me," Blatt said. "I hope my guys are less confused and they'll get out there and play. I just don't want to mess it up too bad."



Russia advanced to the quarterfinals with a superb defensive performance in a 78-56 victory over New Zealand on Monday. Hours earlier at the Sinan Erdem Dome, the Americans crushed Angola 121-66 in their best effort of the tournament.



The U.S. made 18 3-pointers and had 30 assists against just five turnovers.



"If we play like that, I don't think really anybody could beat us," guard Eric Gordon said.



Blatt played at Princeton, and its offensive principles show in Russia's deliberate pace. But Blatt doesn't sound convinced that anything can be done to slow the U.S. speedsters.



"We obviously lack certain things that they're going to attack and they're going to try to take advantage of, and all things considered I'd rather be in Philadelphia right now," Blatt said. "I really don't want to play them, but we're going to, and for my guys it's a great, fun thing, and I know my guys will compete. I just don't know that we have enough to play against that group."



The game comes 38 years to the day after the Soviet Union's 51-50 victory in the gold-medal game in Munich. The Americans took a one-point lead on Doug Collins' free throws with 3 seconds left, and seemed to have won when the Soviets inbounded and didn't score.



But the Soviets claimed they'd called timeout, and an official had whistled for play to stop when he saw a disturbance near the scorer's table. Time was put back on the clock, and again the Americans celebrated as the Soviets failed to score after inbounding.



More confusion followed because the clock was still being reset when the ball was put in play. Given a third chance when FIBA's secretary general ordered the final 3 seconds replayed, the Soviets won when Aleksander Belov caught a long pass over two U.S. players and scored.



Their 63-game Olympic winning streak snapped when basketball's governing body denied their protest, the Americans voted unanimously to refuse their silver medals, which remain locked away.



"There's a wonderful film about that, and I hate to say it as an American, but it looks like the Russians were right. The American team was not cheated," Blatt said. "Funny things happened, but in reality it was fair."



Blatt had already become a successful coach throughout Europe when the Russian Basketball Federation hired him in 2006, the first foreigner to coach the national team. Blatt led the Russians to the 2007 European championship in Madrid, where they upset reigning world champion Spain in the final.



With Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, Russia's top player, and other veterans no longer playing, the Russians are a young team that relies on defense. They improved to 5-1 with the victory over New Zealand, with Timofey Mozgov, a center who recently signed with the New York Knicks, scoring 16 points.



Blatt is unsure if he will return as Russia's coach, but said he hasn't thought about what an upset of the Americans could do for his career.



"My mind tends to wander to things that are somewhat realistic. I don't know how realistic that is," he said.



"I would like to see us come play well, though. I don't want to see us come out and just give in to that onslaught that they're going to prepare for us, and it's not going to be easy. We've just got to do a whole lot of things special to stay in the game. Give me a couple of days and I'll see if I can figure that out, but I ain't a magician."



Though Blatt makes the U.S. sound invincible, the other American coach in the game believes otherwise.



"We are beatable, not unbeatable," Mike Krzyzewski said. "I've been fortunate to be the coach for the last five years and there is no one in our country who has a greater feeling in our country for the international game than me."



Krzyzewski points to all the good teams and exceptional players.

Cleveland State's 2010-11 men's basketball schedule features rivalry games

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Cleveland State 2010-11 basketball schedule includes games vs. Final Four teams West Virginia and Butler, plus matchups with local rivals Akron and Kent State.

csuwatersldj.jpgCSU coach Gary Waters

 Cleveland State announced its men's basketball schedule today, and it offers several plum contests for Vikings fans to savor, including games against 2010 Final Four teams in Butler and West Virginia.


CSU is expected to be among one of several contenders for the Horizon League basketball throne. The non-conference schedule should be a solid prep for the HL season that begins Dec. 2 with a road game at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Overall there will be seven 20-win Division I teams in non-conference play for CSU. One of the three with a losing record, 15-16 St. Bonaventure from the Atlantic-10, defeated the Vikings last season.


 A season-opening World Vision Tournament, Nov. 12-15 at the Wolstein Center, will feature high-powered mid-majors in Iona and Kent State, both 20-game winners last season. As part of the same tournament, the Vikings will also play Bryant and Urbana. The matchup with nearby Kent, a team the Vikings demoralized, 67-41,  the last time the two teams met in 2008, should be one of two Northeast Ohio highlights.


  Cleveland State will also play a road game at Akron, Nov. 24. This will mark the first time since 2005 CSU has played both of its neighbors from the Mid-American Conference in the same season. Vikings head coach Gary Waters said now that the three schools all have solid programs in place, it is time to collectively highlight each other through competition, for the benefit of all.


  "What we've done (each an NCAA Tournament berth within the last three years), between us three, we all believe we might as well start moving toward making this a NE Ohio kind of challenge,'' Waters said. "At this stage it's good financially for all three schools. It's good for marketing. I know it will help us.''


 Along with power conference challenges against West Virginia and South Florida out of the Big East, the Vikings will also play a mid-major gauntlet of Robert Morris, Sam Houston State, St. Bonaventure, and Louisiana-Lafayette along with Iona. The turn to more quality mid-majors on the schedule is a major change from last season when the Vikings played the likes of Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas State, Virginia and Ohio State to ultimately finish at 16-17 on the season.


 "We don't have the light mid-majors, we have strong mid-majors on our schedule, both home and on the road,'' Waters said. "What influenced our decision to go this way is we were high-major heavy last season. We played six Sweet 16 teams and most of them on the road. It's hard to have a solid record like that.''


 CSU will also play a pair of small college teams  in West Virginia Tech along with Urbana, and have a New Years Day Home game vs. Illinois-Chicago.


 


CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY
2010-11 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE



November Opponent Location Time
Mon. 8 BALDWIN-WALLACE (Exhibition) Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
World Vision Classic
Fri. 12 Iona vs. Kent State Wolstein Center 5:00 p.m. EST
CSU vs. BRYANT Wolstein Center 7:30 p.m. EST
Sat. 13 Kent State vs. Bryant Wolstein Center 3:30 p.m. EST
CSU vs. IONA Wolstein Center 6:00 p.m. EST
Sun. 14 Iona vs. Bryant Wolstein Center 3:30 p.m. EST
CSU vs. KENT STATE Wolstein Center 6:00 p.m. EST
Mon. 15 CSU vs. URBANA Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
Tues. 23 Kent State vs. Urbana Wolstein Center 5:00 p.m. EST
Fri. 19 at Louisiana-Lafayette Lafayette, La.
Wed. 24 at Akron Akron, Ohio
Sat. 27 ST. BONAVENTURE Wolstein Center 6:00 p.m. EST
Mon. 29 ROBERT MORRIS Wolstein Center 6:00 p.m. EST
December
Thurs. 2 at Green Bay * Green Bay, Wisc. 8:00 p.m. EST
Sat. 4 at Milwaukee * Milwaukee, Wisc. 8:00 p.m. EST
Tues. 7 WEST VIRGINIA TECH Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
Sat. 11 at Sam Houston State Huntsville, Texas
Sat. 18 at West Virginia Morgantown, W.V.
Wed. 22 SOUTH FLORIDA Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
Thurs. 30 LOYOLA * Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
January
Sat. 1 UIC * Wolstein Center 2:00 p.m. EST
Fri. 7 at Butler * Indianapolis, Ind.
Sun. 9 at Valparaiso * Valparaiso, Ind.
Sat. 15 at Youngstown State * Youngstown, Ohio 7:05 p.m. EST
Thurs. 20 DETROIT * (DH) Wolstein Center 7:30 p.m. EST
Sat. 22 WRIGHT STATE * (DH) Wolstein Center 2:00 p.m. EST
Thurs. 27 at UIC * Chicago, Ill.
Sat. 29 at Loyola Chicago, Ill. 4:00 p.m. EST
February
Thurs. 3 VALPARAISO * Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
Sat. 5 BUTLER * Wolstein Center 2:00 p.m. EST
Mon. 7 at Detroit * Detroit, Mich.
Sat. 12 YOUNGSTOWN STATE * (DH) Wolstein Center 2:00 p.m. EST
Wed. 16 at Wright State * Fairborn, Ohio 7:00 p.m. EST
Sat. 19 at BracketBusters TBA
Thurs. 24 MILWAUKEE * Wolstein Center 7:00 p.m. EST
Sat. 26 GREEN BAY * (DH) Wolstein Center 2:00 p.m. EST
March
2010 Horizon League Championship
Tues. 1 First Round at Campus Sites 7:00 p.m. EST
Fri. 4 Second Round Site TBA TBA
Sat. 5 Semifinals Site TBA TBA
Tues. 8 Championship Site TBA 9:00 p.m. EST
* Denotes Horizon League game
Home games in BOLD CAPS are played at the Wolstein Center at CSU.
(DH) denotes doubleheader with CSU women’s basketball team Schedule updated as of Sept. 8, 2010


Browns Comment of the Day: Hoping to see what James Davis can do

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"Personally, I can't wait to see Davis in the regular season. He was good enough in college to keep Spiller on the pine and had a good preseason two years in a row." - forechecker

jamesdavis.jpgView full sizeSome fans were intrigued by James Davis after last preseason, and that hasn't changed for many of them heading into 2010.

In response to the story Terry Pluto previews the Browns 2010 season, more - Podcast, cleveland.com reader forechecker is curious about what James Davis can do. This reader writes,

"Personally, I can't wait to see Davis in the regular season. He was good enough in college to keep Spiller on the pine and had a good preseason two years in a row."

To respond to forechecker's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Drew Brees masters New Orleans offense as champion Saints prepare for NFL opener vs. Brett Favre and Vikings

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New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist lauds how quarterback Brees directs offense of Super Bowl champions. Thursday night, Saints host QB legend Favre and contending Vikings.

drew-brees.jpgQuarterback Drew Brees directs the New Orleans Saints offense.

By Peter Finney

New Orleans Times-Picayune

Keep this in mind: Regardless what you witnessed, or read, the final score of last season's Super Bowl was New Orleans Saints 31, Minnesota Vikings 28.

It was not Saints 31, Colts 17.

Quite simply, the Minnesota Vikings were a better football team than Indianapolis.

At quarterback, a dream season by Brett Favre -- 33 touchdown passes, seven interceptions -- canceled the Peyton Manning factor. On defense, it was a matter of the Vikings' front seven being a far more dominant group in applying pressure than the front seven playing for the Colts.

Just ask New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

Of course, if you did, Brees would be diplomatic. But if you watched those two games, you watched Brees chew up the Colts in the second half, and although he did throw for three touchdowns against the Vikings, he graded himself poorly for 14 incompletions in a 17-for-31 performance.

"As we all know, Drew is never satisfied," said offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, the go-between between Coach Sean Payton and his quarterback on a daily basis. "What can I say? I'm living a magical life watching two brains function as one."

Another spectator with a box seat is backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who continues to say he's "blown away at the manner in which Drew can see, and evaluate, the whole picture in a matter of seconds.

"He comes out of the huddle with several things in mind, checking the front-four alignment, the depth of the linebackers, how the safeties might be rotating, blitz protection if necessary," Daniel said. "Then he's making pre-snap calls. Makes you feel you're looking at a master at work."

Ask Carmichael for an example of adjusting on the fly, and he goes back to a play at Philadelphia last season.

"It was third-and-7," he recalled. "He doesn't get the defensive look he anticipates. In this case, he had two backup calls. One is safer, but he goes to the other to get the first-down yardage. With a quarterback who's an extension of his coach, little things like this keep happening to keep the chains moving."

Sometimes, you can move the chains in spectacular fashion, as Brees did in two games last season.

Against the New York Giants, he connected with four receivers for touchdowns: Robert Meachem (36 yards), Marques Colston (12 yards), Lance Moore (12 yards) and Jeremy Shockey (1 yard).

Against the New England Patriots, he threw for five touchdowns in only 23 attempts, four of them for double digits: Devery Henderson (75 yards), Meachem (38 yards), Colston (20 yards) and Pierre Thomas (18 yards).

In the Giants' game, Brees picked on a certain cornerback. Against New England, he "found a home" finding receivers on seam routes down the middle.

There were times Henderson found himself coming to the sideline after a touchdown, telling Payton, "Hey, Coach, I caught that same pass doing reps after practice."

Said Carmichael: "The more reps, the more it becomes second nature. They call it muscle memory. You watch those receivers play pitch and catch with Drew and can see the smile on their faces. The way he goes about business gives everyone a lift."

Said Henderson: "No matter what route you're running, you know, when you make your cut, and turn, the ball's going to be right there."

In any game, when you're talking about offense vs. defense, you usually win or lose by the way you adjust, then find a way to adjust to the adjustments.

There was no better illustration than last season's playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals. The Packers went in given a legit Super Bowl shot mainly because of their defense, one that had forced 40 takeaways, best in the league, including 30 interceptions. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers had driven quarterbacks crazy with a variety of alignments that included the "Psycho Package" (one down lineman, five linebackers, five defensive backs).

So what happened? The Packers' defense had a monumental guessing-game collapse.

Kurt Warner completed all but four of his 33 passes, five for touchdowns, in a wild 51-45 overtime victory. The Cardinals amassed 531 yards and faced only five third downs in four quarters.

"Our problem was not adjusting to their adjustments," a Green Bay cornerback said.
For Payton and Brees, it's the same ol' challenge Thursday night at the Superdome.
"We'll be making adjustments against one of the best defenses in the league," Payton said.

In that last meeting, winning the turnover battle 5-1, offset losing two others, first downs (31-15) and total yards (475-257).

All that's left to say is let the chess game begin.

Ohio State wrestling team adds former Buckeyes' national champions J Jaggers and Mike Pucillo to coaching staff

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Head coach Tom Ryan says 2008-09 national champion Jaggers and 2008 national champion Pucillo will join him and associate head coach Lou Rosselli.

ohio-state-logo.jpg
Columbus, Ohio – Former Ohio State wrestling standouts J Jaggers and Mike Pucillo have been added to the Buckeye coaching staff, head coach Tom Ryan announced on Wednesday. Jaggers and Pucillo join Ryan and associate head coach Lou Rosselli.

“We are proud to add one of the great wrestling Buckeyes to the Ohio State coaching staff,” Ryan said. “Mike has been a standout in every aspect of his life for many years. We are all anxious to see Mike pass his knowledge on to the next generation.

“J Jaggers brings a long successful resume to the Buckeye program.  He has accomplished many great things as a competitor and student. His deep-rooted passion for the Buckeyes makes him a great addition to the staff.”

Jaggers, the NCAA champion in 2008 and 2009 at 141 pounds and Ohio State's male Athlete of the Year in 2009, will also assist the athletic department’s Fan Experience and Promotions staff in marketing this season's home matches. Jaggers also will work in fund-raising for the wrestling program and serve as the team liaison, providing up-to-date team information to the squad during summer and holiday breaks.

As a volunteer assistant coach last season, Jaggers helped mentor former teammate Reece Humphrey, who took over Jaggers' starting spot at 141 pounds. Humphrey went on to finish third at the NCAA championships, earning his second All-American recognition.

Jaggers was the third wrestler in OSU history to win two national titles. A three-time All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier, he compiled 107 wins with the Buckeyes. After winning his first national title in 2008, he was honored by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission as its college Athlete of the Year.

Jaggers was a three-time NWCA All-Academic Team member, two-time Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete recipient. He earned his bachelor's degree in communication in March, 2009.

Pucillo, the 2008 Big Ten and NCAA Champion at 184 pounds, will, besides his coaching, create the team’s community service plan. The Buckeyes have worked closely in the past with the 2nd and 7 Foundation, a program that strives to eliminate illiteracy, and they have volunteered at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Last season, the wrestling program generated 244 hours of community service under former assistant Joe Heskett.

Pucillo will oversee the team managers and work on postseason travel information. He also will work with Jaggers in the fund-raising department.
 
Pucillo was a three-time All-American with Ohio State. The 2009 NCAA runner-up at 184 pounds, Pucillo once won 43 consecutive matches for the Buckeyes.  He finished the 2008 and 2009 Big Ten seasons undefeated and was the 2006 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational champion. Pucillo was 5-0 at the 2009 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, defeating three Top 20-ranked opponents.
 
Pucillo earned a bachelor’s degree in communication in March, 2010, and was a two-time NWCA All-Academic selection, Academic All-Big Ten and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete.

Attention Ohio State fans: Ex-Hurricane Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson predicts a Miami win

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Wrestler/actor/ex-Hurricane Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson predicts a Miami win over Ohio State on Saturday.

dwayne-johnson-eyebrow-ap.JPGView full sizeDwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a lineman for the University of Miami on its 1991 national championship team. Apparently, this gives him license to predict a 'Canes victory over Ohio State on Saturday.
Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson was a defensive lineman for the University of Miami from 1991-1994. He even played -- or so the rumor goes, though Starting Blocks can't find a play-by-play account -- on the Hurricanes' undefeated national champion team in 1991.

And to his credit, he DID give a million bucks to the school to help build a locker room back in 2007. So he has clearly has the right and obligation to be a Hurricanes fan.

Unfortunately, he's also got the vocabulary more suited to a wrestling ring than a sewing circle. That's why Starting Blocks is only TELLING you that there is a Youtube video of him predicting a win by No. 12 Miami when they visit No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday and not showing it.

Maybe on Sunday, when a more contrite Johnson tapes the followup video after the Buckeyes win, he'll be less a profane 'Cane and we can share it. 

But we will share a clip from Johnson's playing days when he gets to Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward.

Shaun Rogers among five Cleveland Browns limited in practice Wednesday for Bucs game

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The Browns had five players who limited in practice today, including Shaun Rogers.

 

Shaun RogersCleveland Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers was limited in practice on Wednesday but might play Sunday against the Bucs.

CLEVELAND -- Five Browns players were limited in practice today in preparation for Sunday's opener in Tampa. They were linebacker Marcus Benard (shoulder), linebacker David Bowens, defensive lineman Shaun Rogers, tight end Robert Royal and offensive lineman Floyd Womack.

Rogers practiced a little more today than he did Monday and his time will increase throughout the week.

 Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (pectoral) is out for the game and defensive back Nick Sorensen (concussion) did not participate today.

For the Bucs, starting quarterback Josh Freeman was limited a right thumb injury.

     

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