Here are five observations on the Cavs' loss to the Mavericks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers lost for the first time this preseason, 108-102, to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

"Guess we are not going 90-0 this year," Blatt joked as he entered the media room following the game.

The Cavs, now 4-1 in the preseason, have two more exhibition games left before the regular season starts on Oct. 30 against the New York Knicks.

Here are five observations on the loss to the Mavericks:

Return of Kyrie Irving: Cavs coach David Blatt said Irving was "raring to go" after missing the last three preseason games with an ankle injury. He was right.

Irving came out aggressive, looking to create offense for himself and his teammates on Friday night. Matched up against veteran Jameer Nelson for much of the night, Irving scored a game-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also dished out five assists, had a team-high three blocks and made three of his six three-point attempts.

The two-time All-Star showed off a vast array of skills. There were jaw-dropping spin moves, ankle-breaking crossovers, a smooth shooting stroke and beautiful passes, including one to LeBron James. Of course, it didn't count because of a foul, but it still brought the sellout crowd to its feet. 

"That was a real positive," Blatt said about Irving's play. "The mere fact that he's out there playing the minutes he's playing and the speed that he played at and that he competed well on defense was really a good sign. He's a special player and special guy."

All signs continue to point to Irving having the best season of his young career in 2014-15. The time he spent with Team USA will be the launching pad to a big year. 

The first taste of zone: The Dallas Mavericks are one of the few NBA teams that use the 2-3 zone, and none use it better. The unique defense helped Dallas win an NBA championship in 2010-11, keeping Miami from slashing to the basket.

The Cavs were tested with it in the first quarter on Friday night, and they didn't respond well.

"He played the old European zone against the old European coach and I didn't do a good job preparing for it," he said. "We weren't quite ready for that."

It's the preseason and there is very little in terms of game planning for a specific opponent. It also hasn't helped that the Cavs have had one practice day in the last week and the practices before that in Rio were in a small, hot gym.

This past week was tiring for the Cavs and they will likely put an emphasis on the zone in the future.

LeBron James said following the game as he was pointing to Kevin Love's empty locker that the Cavs were missing one of their best "zone-busters." In a way James is right. The zone is used to keep a team like the Cavs with so many players capable of attacking off the bounce from getting inside. On Friday, The Mavericks invited the Cavs to launch triples. Cleveland obliged, taking 37 of them.

When some of those threes are coming from Love, a guy who made more than 100 last season, the defensive approach may change. Then again, given the choice of letting the Cavs fire threes all night versus Irving, Waiters and James getting into the paint, most defenses will take the former.

It's not the last time they see the zone. The Cavs are also planning to use it themselves during the season. The next step is practicing against it.

Going small: With the Cavs trailing 41-29 in the second quarter and the offense looking flummoxed against the Dallas zone, Blatt put James back in the game for Anderson Varejao, and James played power forward in a small-ball lineup that also featured Irving, Dion Waiters, Matthew Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson at center.

The three-guard look was too fast and athletic for Dallas. The floor was spaced better, there were more accomplished shooters and too many ball handlers for Dallas to deal with. It led to the Cavs going on a 19-8 run, trimming a 12-point deficit to one before Blatt took James and Thompson back out of the game. It was the first time the Cavs were showing any semblance of an offensive rhythm.

"It makes you stagnant and it gets you out of rhythm," James said of the Dallas zone. "It slows down dribble penetration and makes you shoot a lot of contested jump shots. We found a way to kind of break it down, we got shots we wanted and it was great to get some work against it in a preseason game."

Miami often played James at the "4" in a small-ball look and it created a number of matchup problems for the opponent. Because of James' versatility and strength, it's a lineup the Cavs will use this year. In the regular season, it's possible that Love plays the center spot in the lineup instead of Thompson. Either way, having James given Blatt plenty of options and he will explore them all. 

Enter the Matrix: On a night the Cavs played the Mavericks, Shawn Marion, a key piece to Dallas' most recent NBA title, rested. But it didn't stop his former coach Rick Carlisle from reflecting on Marion's time. 

"It's another coup they pulled off being able to get Shawn Marion for the contract they did," Carlisle said prior to the game. "He's one of the most underrated players in NBA history. If you look at everything he has done statistically over a long period of time, the versatility he has defensively and he he's a big-game guy. That experience is hard to put a price on."

Marion spent five years with the Mavericks before signing with Cleveland this offseason for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million. 

"Shawn is going into his 16^th season and still has love and passion for the game," Blatt said. "His body of work speaks for itself. I would second what coach Carlisle says."

Marion averaged more than 30 minutes last season in Dallas and scored double figures for the 15^th straight year. In Cleveland, he will come off the bench playing behind James. Still, Marion will be vital to the team's success.

"The one thing that stands out about Shawn other than the fact that he is a great two-way player is you don't have to focus on Shawn in your offense or defense," Blatt said. "He gets his stuff through the flow of the game. He's such an easy teammate because of that fact. I haven't seen a lot of guys like Shawn Marion."

Defense optional – The Cavs were playing their third game in four nights during in a week when they returned from a long Brazil trip. Cleveland was also without Marion, known for his versatility and defense, as well as Love, who was resting. There was a look of disinterest that Blatt noticed from the beginning.

"They (Mavericks) were more fresh and showed that and played that way," Blatt said after the game. "We lacked aggressiveness at both ends of the court."

The struggles on defense were highlighted by the 37-point first quarter in which the Mavs shot 57 percent.

"I think early on we were a little too passive," James said.

Some of the credit needs to go to Dallas as well.

"If it's not the top three or four best offenses in the league, then you don't get any better than Rick Carlisle offense," James said. "It was definitely a great challenge for our young guys, a great challenge for all of us. Defensively we're a little behind."

James is right. Dallas is a great team. They are a championship-contending team and took the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the playoffs before getting eliminated by the eventual champs. Don't be surprised when Dallas makes noise in the playoffs again this year.

They have one of the best coaches in the NBA and the additions of Raymond Felton, Chandler Parsons and Jameer Nelson, all three players having played in the playoffs, will help Dallas remain one of the top teams in the Western Conference. If they were in the East, the Mavs would be the second-best team.

There were issues defensively for the Cavs, and Blatt has shown frustration with that end of the court. The Cavs have allowed 105 points per game against NBA teams in the preseason, but Dallas' offense deserves a lot of credit as well. There's a reason they were top 10 in scoring last year. They will probably be even better this year. 

"We just didn't have it," Blatt said. "That's the result. There is no secret. Fact of the matter is we just kind of played poorly and they took full advantage of it."

BEREA, Ohio – Quarterback Brian Hoyer committed an act of intentional grounding before even taking his first practice snap Wednesday. Three days after leading the Browns to a resounding 31-10 win over the Steelers, the veteran called together members of the offense. Hoyer essentially told teammates their best effort against Pittsburgh in 25 years might not be good enough...

BEREA, Ohio – Quarterback Brian Hoyer committed an act of intentional grounding before even taking his first practice snap Wednesday.

Three days after leading the Browns to a resounding 31-10 win over the Steelers, the veteran called together members of the offense. Hoyer essentially told teammates their best effort against Pittsburgh in 25 years might not be good enough in coming weeks.

"He said, 'good teams practice harder after wins,'" right tackle Mitchell Schwartz recalled. "He said, 'You have to come back and prove it again and prove it again. If we don't prepare the right way we won't be successful.'"

The message was one he heard repeatedly, Hoyer said, during his three seasons in New England.

"We can't look at what we're doing with rose-colored glasses on," Hoyer told cleveland.com when asked about his address. "We can't think what we're doing now is good enough."

These Browns (3-2) are growing accustomed to tackling an unfamiliar topic in recent years: Dealing with success.

Winners of two straight, the Browns have an opportunity to open a season 4-2 for the first time since 2007. They play at winless Jacksonville on Sunday before hosting the Raiders (0-5) and Buccaneers (1-5).

The club is suddenly a favorite in Vegas sports books -- the Browns probably won't be an underdog again until Nov. 6 in Cincinnati -- and among national media members. Coach Mike Pettine is keeping close watch on how changing opinions and greater exposure affect his players.

Pettine offered a dose of perspective in a team meeting earlier this week.

"He just asked the group, 'What was our record after five games a year ago?'" Hoyer said.

The Browns were also 3-2, but lost Hoyer to a season-ending knee injury in the fifth game en route to a 4-12 finish.

Pettine said he's spoken to his players every Monday about handling victory or defeat and the external overreaction that comes with both in a league that plays just 16 games a season. He has shown them the same power-point slide following each win.

"It's a problem that we want to have," the coach said. "We want to have to deal with being favored in games. We want to have to deal with, 'Hey, this is a potential trap game for you.' Part of being a good program is being able to handle all those different situations."

As the Browns prepared for Sunday's game against the Jaguars a sampling of veteran players and coaches discussed various aspects of dealing with elevated levels of expectation and attention. 

Embracing the target

Seven-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas knows what it means to get his opponent's best shot every game -- at least in individual matchups. It's a different story with the team.

The Browns won 10 games during his rookie season and no more than five over the last six years. The last time they were fitted for a bullseye was early in the 2008 campaign when some analysts picked them to make the playoffs.

If the Browns are 6-2 at midseason, a distinct possibility given the next three opponents, Thomas is aware the league's perception of them will change. That expectation could help the team if the players handle it properly.

"When you're not sneaking up on anyone anymore it forces you to raise your level of preparation every single week because you're going to need your 'A' game to win," Thomas said. "Hopefully, it will help bring that preparation level to a Super-Bowl-type level every week."

Narrowing focus

Browns safety Jim Leonhard joined the Jets in 2009 and played in back-to-back AFC title games. Outside distractions abound for winning organizations, especially in mega markets like New York.

View full sizeJim Leonhard, shown here delivering a big hit, was part of Jets teams that reached the AFC title game in consecutive years.Associated Press 

What the team leaders did well, Leonhard recalled, was filter out "the noise" and concentrate on what mattered.

While every week brings different opponents and sets of challenges, the players' routines must remain constant, he said.

"Guys followed a system week in and week out to be successful," Leonhard said.

Outside attention is a good thing, he added, provided players stick to the formula that generated it.  

"We want people talking about us," Leonhard said. "It means we're playing well. But you also have to shut that off and refocus. I think we have a good group of veterans that's getting that (message) across."

Pettine repeatedly has said the only standard that matters inside the Berea facility is the one set by players and coaches.

Chip-on-the-shoulder brigade

The Browns lead the NFL with 22 undrafted free agents on their roster, many of them young players. The likes of Isaiah Crowell, Taylor Gabriel, Tashaun Gipson and Craig Robertson play key roles.

Youngsters can lose focus easily, especially when learning how to handle success. But offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan offered an interesting take Thursday.

"The best players, to me, in this league are talented players who are scared of getting cut every day – guys who are self-made guys who really come to work out to prove something every day," Shanahan said. "You've got to have a lot of talent to be successful in this league, but really what separates good ones from great ones is the effort you put in every day."

The Browns' offense also includes veterans such as Hoyer, and receivers Miles Austin and Andrew Hawkins who remain motivated by their undrafted status.

"When you have some talented guys who were on the back burner . . . always on the outside looking in . . . then you kind of get the best of both worlds because they're always trying to prove themselves, and never let up."

Media matters

Name another team on which two of the most discussed and widely covered players barely contribute on Sundays?

View full sizeThe Browns are beginning to make national news for reasons other than Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon.Monday Morning Quarterback 

Backup quarterback Johnny Manziel and suspended receiver Josh Gordon dominated headlines throughout training camp and the first few weeks of the regular season.

"Going into the year they were the only storylines along with the 'Browns aren't going to be very good,'" Leonhard recalled. "They're great guys and they handled it well. The team handled it well, too"

The early crush of media attention might make it seem less of a distraction, Thomas said, if the Browns continue to win. The victory over Pittsburgh led Peter King's popular Monday Morning Quarterback column. Thomas appeared on ESPN's Mike & Mike on Tuesday and Hoyer was on the Dan Patrick Show last week.

The decorated left tackle would prefer to avoid media obligations altogether, but he also knows what the exposure means beyond the facility's walls.  

"For our fans it's a great thing," Thomas said. "It's awesome to have positive attention on the city and the Cleveland Browns. These fans deserve it, this franchise deserves it."

Same old, same old?

Outside linebacker Karlos Dansby didn't join the Browns until this season, but he knows what it's like to play for a losing franchise.

Before reaching a Super Bowl with the Cardinals he endured four-plus seasons of bad football in the desert. As the Cardinals built momentum late in the 2009 season they went from a team hoping to win to one expecting to win.

He believes that transformation is occurring in Cleveland. He's not predicting a playoff run, but detects a similar vibe.

"The coaches got the right guys in the building," he said. "You handle success by going to work. There's always things you can get better at because the more you win the more you're going to attract attention and get a team's best shots."

Thomas and cornerback Joe Haden, who's yet to play on a winning team, think these 3-2 Browns are different than the ones from a season ago. The offensive lineman and defensive back point to a healthy quarterback as a big reason for optimism.

"Our defense believes in Hoyer," Haden said. "He's been doing everything. He's been doing a really good job of not turning over the ball, controlling the offense, getting first downs all the time . . . Just knowing that he's moving the ball and the offense is making their progress, it just makes you feel a whole lot more comfortable."

Especially when he's the one grounding teammates after big wins.

Urban Meyer's team has scored 50 points in three-straight games. Does Las Vegas think another 50 spot is on the way vs. Rutgers? That and more observations inside.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Rutgers has done everything it can to make you think its game at Ohio State on Saturday is going to be close. 

It has adjusted to the Big Ten better than anyone could have expected, posting a 5-1 record so far in its first season in the conference. The Scarlet Knights' only loss is a narrow defeat to Penn State, but they followed it up with a win vs. Michigan. 

Rutgers says its playing for respect, something that could be earned in four quarters of football depending on how things go at Ohio State. 

You want to believe it's going to be close.

But don't. 

Las Vegas is giving you a clue. 

Ohio State opened as 19.5-point favorites – a three-score difference – but the line has since moved to 22. If the initial spread wasn't enough of a hint, the steep three-point shift is probably an indication that things could get ugly for Rutgers in Ohio Stadium. 

The Buckeyes are coming off a bye week, and before that they scored 50 points in three consecutive games. Coaches and players have said that they wish they would have played a game last weekend to keep it going. 

It doesn't seem like it's going to matter. 

If Rutgers comes in and keeps it close, it deserves respect. But even with a win over Michigan and a close game against Penn State – tradition Big Ten powers that are really down right now – the Scarlet Knights haven't yet proved anything. 

And Ohio State may give them a rude awakening. 

• I don't really think the bye week thing is really a tell-all, but the Buckeyes haven't lost coming off of one since a close loss at Penn State in 2005. And with a young quarterback like J.T. Barrett, every week counts. I expect a big game out of him. 

• Could this be the game that Vonn Bell makes a huge play? Though the sophomore safety has had some rough plays, I do think there's something to his ability to change the game by making a big play in the secondary. He has been burned a few times, but is this the week he comes out and does something big? I have an inkling it is. 

• Running back Ezekiel Elliott has been a machine the last month, but what will it look like vs. Rutgers? I have been surprised at how he's been able to dictate games with his power running ability. That should continue, but I'd like to see him make a play off a swing pass or a sweep – something that gets him into space. 

• Speaking of big plays outside, how about one from Dontre Wilson. I'm waiting for the first five-yard pattern that turns into an 80-yard touchdown, something where he makes a guy miss and turns on the jets without being touched. 

Get updates from The Ohio State University's Scarlet and Gray golf courses in Columbus as the 2014 OHSAA Division I boys and girls state golf tournaments conclude.

Get updates from The Ohio State University's Scarlet and Gray golf courses in Columbus as the 2014 OHSAA Division I boys and girls state golf tournaments conclude.

No quarterback drafted in 2013 or 2014 ranks higher than 23rd this season. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I was looking at the quarterback ratings. Granted, the quarterback rating is a bit of mystery with lots of stats involved. But the players in the top 10 usually are the names you'd expect to see.

The top five this season are: Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer and Tony Romo.

The next five: Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Brian Hoyer, Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco.

Other notables: Colin Kapernick (11), Tom Brady (13), Ben Roethlisberger (15) and Drew Brees (18).

As the Browns prepare to face Jacksonville, I'm thankful that the orange helmets don't have a young quarterback starting.

Blake Bortles will start for Jacksonville, and he does have talent. But Bortles ranks No. 29. He has thrown seven interceptions compared to four touchdowns. He also has been sacked 11 times in 14 quarters.

Bortles was supposed to sit behind Chad Henne this season, but the veteran quarterback was injured in the third game of the year.

In 3 1/2 games, Bortles has played reasonably well for a bad team. Last week, he was 32-of-46 passing for 336 yards and one touchdown. But his team lost 16-14 at Tennessee.

The 0-6 Jags have not scored more than 17 points in a game this season.

Browns fans know the drill -- a young quarterback shows promise, but has trouble leading his team into the end zone. And winning games is a major issue.

This season, rookie quarterbacks are ranked low -- Teddy Bridgewater (33), Bortles (29) and Derek Carr (26). They have combined for 15 interceptions, 12 touchdowns and been sacked 24 times.

It's a very hard road.

Here's how the quarterbacks of the 2013 draft class rank -- Geno Smith (32), E.J. Manuel (28) and Mike Glennon (23). Manuel has lost his starting job to Kyle Orton.

You have to go back to the draft class of 2012 to find quarterbacks in the top 10: Russell Wilson (6) and Andrew Luck (7).

That 2012 class also had these quarterbacks picked in the first round: Robert Griffin (injured for the second year in a row), Brandon Weeden (backup in Dallas) and Ryan Tannehill (ranked 27th). Tannehill's record is 17-20 as a starter for Miami.

So what's the point?

For all the preseason fascination with Johnny Manziel, the odds are the rookie would be ... well ... struggling like most young quarterbacks if the Browns had simply handed him the job.

While Brian Hoyer has started only eight games for the Browns (nine in his career), Hoyer is 29 years old and been in the league for six seasons. He knows what he's doing -- and the players sense it. It's hard to imagine him continuing to play at such an outrageously high level -- only one interception this season!

But don't you feel so much more confident with Hoyer at quarterback than the young quarterbacks who have tried to play the position in the last few years?
 

ABOUT MISSING MACK

And yes, the Browns will miss Alex Mack. The only question is -- how much?

There's a reason that the Browns were willing to match Jacksonville's contract offer and make Mack the highest-paid center in the NFL. They consider him the best. Other rating services have him among the best.

John Greco moved over from right guard to center when Mack was hurt in the first half of the Steelers game. The Pro Bowl center had never missed a snap from the moment he was the team's first-round pick in 2009.

For what it's worth, www.profootballfocus.com rated Mack the No. 3 center in the NFL this season. The website rates the Browns as having the best offensive line in the NFL, and a strong case can be made for that lofty ranking. The Browns rank No. 3 in rushing, and have allowed only six sacks in five games.

Greco did an admirable job at center after taking over Mack. Profootballfocus ranks him No. 7 among guards this season. Rookie Joel Bitonio is No. 3. But the fact is that Greco won't play center as well as Mack.

Paul McQuistan takes over at right guard for Greco -- and he's probably not as effective as Greco. After all, McQuistan opened the season as a backup.

So it's possible the line may not be the same powerhouse that it has been in the first six games.

But the Browns also believe the line has so many talented pros with strong character -- "Football nerds," as they have been called by Coach Mike Pettine. And this can keep the line performing at a high level.

McQuistan started 14 games for Super Bowl champion Seattle last season -- eight at left tackle, six at left guard.

In 2012, he started 16 games for Seattle: 10 at right guard, six at left guard.

So like Greco, McQuistan has experience at several spots in the line. Greco has played both guard spots and tackle in his NFL career. But he never played center in any game until last Sunday.

In Seattle, McQuistan played in the same type of zone blocking scheme now used by the Browns. That's why the Browns are confident they can withstand the loss of Mack.

Jacksonsville's defense ranks No. 19 against the run. And the Browns will come out running the ball, as they always do. It will be interesting to see if they continue to run the ball well.

ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE

I was able to find some numbers on sacks allowed from STATS INC that should interest Browns fans:

1. Last season, Mitchell Schwartz allowed 11.0 ... that's right, 11 SACKS! In 2012, it was 6.0 sacks. This season, it's one.

2. Alex Mack has allowed only 7.5 sacks in his 85 NFL games. This season, he didn't allow a sack or commit a penalty.

3. John Greco allowed 4.5 sacks in 2012, 6.0 sacks last season. It's zero this year. We'll see how he does at center.

4. Joe Thomas has allowed 4.5 sacks in 2013 and again 2012. It's one this season.

5. Rookie Joel Bitonio has not permitted a sack this season at left guard.

6. Because of Mack's injury, McQuistan becomes a key player. I wondered why Seattle didn't make a push to keep the veteran, who started 14 games last season. He allowed 9.0 sacks.

• Terry's Talkin' Cavs.

• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

Rutgers QB Gary Nova has had an up-and-down career for the Scarlet Knights. Which version of Nova shows up against Ohio State will go a long way in deciding Saturday's outcome.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's possible that no other record-setting quarterback has run the gamut of emotions more than Rutgers senior Gary Nova.

There's the good: He's the program's all-time leader in passing touchdowns with 64. He's only the third passer in Rutgers' history to throw for more than 8,000 career yards. He piloted the Scarlet Knights to their first-ever Big Ten win two weeks ago against Michigan with the best performance of his career.

Then there's the bad: He threw five interceptions during a loss to Penn State this season in Rutgers' Big Ten debut. He was benched for sub-par play during his junior season after serving as the starter for two years. He has 13 multiple interception games during his four-year career.

So which version of Nova will show up when Rutgers comes into Ohio Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for Ohio State's Big Ten home opener? The answer to that question could very well decide the game.

If he's the quarterback who picked apart Michigan to the tune of 404 yards and three touchdowns, the Scarlet Knights could be thinking upset.

If he's the rattled version who struggled to complete passes to guys in the right jersey against Penn State, then Ohio State might be able to get an early jump on their game next week against the Nittany Lions.

That's the thing with Nova. It seems you can never predict which version you're going to get.

But there's not denying this has been his best season to date.

"I think this has probably been his most consistent year, even with the setback against Penn State," Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said this week on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. "He's come back stronger from that every week since, and probably had his best performance two weeks ago when we played Michigan."

Since the debacle against Penn State, Nova has thrown for 846 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in wins over Navy, Tulane and Michigan.

Ohio State isn't Navy, Tulane or Michigan, and the Buckeyes will give Nova and the Rutgers offensive the biggest challenge they've seen this season.

That didn't help quell Urban Meyer's fears, though.

"Historically, we've had problems against throwing teams," Meyer said Tuesday.

Ohio State's defensive line has drawn plenty of praise from Flood and Rutgers players this week, and the Buckeyes will do their best to throw Nova off his game.

They'll just have to hope it's the bad version of Nova that shows up on Saturday.

• Rutgers struggled in the run game against Michigan without starting running back Paul James, who's out for the season with a torn ACL. Backup Desmon Peoples averaged 2.5 yards per carry against the Wolverines.

Rutgers is 73rd overall in rush offense this season, putting even more of the onus on Nova to get things going.

View full sizeOhio State Buckeyes offensive linemen Billy Price (54) and Taylor Decker (68) block Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Andre Monroe. The Buckeyes' offensive line will be in for a test this week against Rutgers.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

• The true progression of Ohio State's offensive line may be revealed this week. It's been smooth sailing for that group since the Virginia Tech game, but Rutgers is tied for third in the nation in sacks with 24.

• Meyer didn't seem happy this week about having two bye weeks in such a short span, but the week off has traditionally been good to his teams.

Meyer-coached teams are 37-3 coming off "off" weeks, that includes season openers, games after bye weeks and bowl games. Ohio State is 6-1 in such games under Meyer, the lone loss coming in last year's Orange Bowl.

• This really is a big game for the Rutgers program. The Scarlet Knights haven't defeated a ranked team since 2009. They haven't defeated a ranked team on the road since 2008.

Cavs players have been impressed with how David Blatt is adapting to the NBA game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Some of the Cavs players weren't sure what to expect from Coach David Blatt.

European coaches have a reputation for being very vocal and demanding. Would Blatt open his first training camp as if he wanted to re-invent the NBA? What would Blatt do with a star-power NBA team -- when he had never coached a game in the NBA or college?

Notice how there have been no reports of griping from the players, or whispers of grueling practices. That's a real compliment to Blatt.

In an interview with me, Blatt has called himself a "chameleon" as a coach. He means he adapts his style to that of the players. He recognizes that the Cavs are an older team, and several players need to take practices and games off to nurse and/or avoid injuries.

Blatt has been very open to that, even though he knows that it will make it more difficult for him to develop some of the team concepts that he'd like on defense. But it makes far more sense to have the players healthy and work on the defense during the season -- rather than push too hard before the opening game and risk injuries.

Kevin Love's inside moves are impressive. And he's also shooting 53 percent from 3-point range in the preseason. John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer 

The Cavs plan to use the final two preseason games to develop their regular rotations. They also want to concentrate more on defense.

On offense, the Cavs are grasping many of Blatt's concepts. Here are some key points:

1. Notice that most plays start with all five players at the foul line or above it. They are spread out from one side of the court to the other. The idea is to create spacing for players to move the ball easily and create open shots.

2. The middle of the court will remain open, and that leaves room for LeBron James and others to drive. It also will make it easier for big men such as Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson to head to the rim for offensive rebounds.

3. Blatt's draft-day wish was for a power forward who can shoot 3-pointers. His dream player was Kevin Love, but he would have settled for any big man with an excellent outside shooting touch. Instead, he has Love who also is an elite rebounder and passer. Love also is shooting 53 percent on 3-pointers in the preseason.

4. The Cavs are still learning much of what the offense can do. James seems to love it, and is teaching it to others. He has been quick to remind Dion Waiters not to become confused and start dribbling. If a player isn't quite sure what to do, pass to a teammate and then cut to the basket.

5. Much of what Blatt is running is the old Princeton offense. Yes, it's the same stuff that Byron Scott wanted to use. But when Scott was with the Cavs, he didn't have the players who could learn it. Blatt also has taken that Princeton cake and added his own frosting -- fitting it to his roster.

6. General Manager David Griffin has loaded his bench with outside shooters -- Mike Miller, James Jones and rookie Joe Harris. Shawn Marion shot a respectable .358 from 3-point range.

7. Look for Blatt to use some small lineups with Love at center. The idea will be to quicken the pace and fire up shots from all over the court. While the Cavs have no real shot blockers, they should be an excellent rebounding team with Varejao, Thompson, Love and James. Marion also is a very good rebounder as a small forward.

ABOUT THE COACHING STAFF

Blatt also has been willing to consult with his assistants, especially Larry Drew and Tyronn Lue.

Drew is a former NBA player and head coach. Lue also played in the league, and has been an assistant for the last five seasons with Doc Rivers (in Boston and with the Clippers).

James has a very close relationship with Lue. Blatt deserves credit for immediately hiring Lue, who was the runner-up for the Cavs head coaching position.

Blatt told me that a head coach has to be confident enough to surround himself with the top assistants -- and not worry if one day they could take his place. He also said he needed veterans such as Drew and Lue to help him quickly acclimate to the NBA.

It is remarkable how smoothly things have gone for the Cavs, given all the new players and coaches coming together.

ABOUT SHAWN MARION

Marion doesn't play much basketball in the off-season and came into camp a bit heavy and needing to get into NBA shape. He does that every year. He drops some extra pounds. He works on his shot. And by the start of the season, the veteran is ready.

Even at 36, Marion still is an athletic player who can rebound and defend. He averaged 10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and shot 48 percent for Dallas last season.

Some of the Cavs best moments on defense in the preseason have been with Marion and James at the forwards, with either Tristan Thompson or Anderson Varejao in the middle. When Blatt rests Love, he can use that front court.

Marion played five years in Dallas, and Dirk Nowitzki raved about his former teammate to the Dallas Morning News: "He's one of the most versatile defenders this league has ever seen. We basically had him guard anything from one (point guard) to sometimes even fives (centers). He was the best at that, because he had the strength to play with big guys, but he also had the quickness to defend little guys, and the length. He was a special player."

The same can be said of James, who also can defend anyone on the court.

That's why it was so important that the Cavs convince Marion to sign -- they need a player with his defensive skills.

Matthew Dellavedova has impressed Cavs coaches with his unselfish play. Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer 

ABOUT THE CAVS

1. The Cavs have been very pleased with Matthew Dellavedova, who started three games at point guard while Kyrie Irving rested his sprained ankle. Dellavedova understands Blatt's offense. He keeps the ball moving. He is a gritty defender against opposing point guards. He blends well with Dion Waiters in the backcourt. The Cavs don't care about his scoring stats because he is surrounded by so many shooters.

2. Brendan Haywood is being viewed as a part-time player who can help when the Cavs face teams with tall centers, such as Indiana's Roy Hibbert. When teams have more mobile centers, Haywood no longer has the quickness to be a factor. He missed all last season with a broken foot. The Cavs are delighted that he's already playing. When they traded for him, they thought it would be January before he returned.

3. The Cavs also wanted the 7-foot Haywood for his contract, which is not guaranteed for $10 million next season. In the arcane world of the NBA salary cap, that type of contract can be very valuable in a trade to bring back a high-priced player.

4. James has spent much of the preseason getting the ball to his teammates, especially Love. James knows that on nights when the opposition is determined to double-team him, he needs another top scorer. Love's game also blends so well with James because both players understand ball movement and court spacing. James enjoys having Love set up inside to catch a pass in the low post. Love can score with either hand.

5. Tristan Thompson has been impressive, averaging 10 rebounds in 24 minutes a game. Where his limited offense was a liability when the Cavs lacked scorers, it's not an issue on this team. Instead, his energy, rebounding and hustle fit well with all the scorers.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.

• Terry's Talkin' Indians.

In an attempt to hit for more power, Jason Kipnis bulked up before last season. The Tribe has him on a new conditioning program to get him better shape.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After the 2013 season, Jason Kipnis decided to build up his strength and hopefully hit for more power.

Kipnis is listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. He weighed more than that last season, although no one will say how much. The added muscle didn't serve Kipnis well, as he seemed more bulky -- and slow.

That went both for his bat speed and his foot speed at second base.

Was the off-season weight program to blame for Kipnis straining an oblique muscle in late April? Who knows? The same with his hamstring injury in September. Kipnis did have a hamstring injury in 2011.

This much is certain: The Tribe is putting Kipnis on a different conditioning program. It will accent flexibility and try to take off some weight. Kipnis was very receptive to the plan.

Kipnis entered the 2014 season as a .270 hitter (.773 OPS) for his career. He made the 2013 All-Star team, batting .284 (.818 OPS) with 17 homers and 84 RBI.

But he was dismal in 2014, batting .240 (.640 OPS) with six homers and 41 RBI. He went from being rated in the middle of the pack defensively in his first few seasons to 19th out of 20 American League second baseman by www.fangraphs in 2014.

The Tribe signed Kipnis to a seven-year, $50 million contract extension at the start of the season. So they are heavily invested in the 27-year-old, and they believe he is determined to bounce back.

They have no current plans to move him to the outfield. They want to see if he can return to his form of 2011-13, when he was a productive hitter and a respectable second baseman.

The Indians believe Lonnie Chisenhall took a step forward last season. Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer 

ABOUT GIOVANNY URSHELA

If the Tribe wants to immediately improve its infield defense, it can put Giovanny Urshela at third base.

He is a quiet prospect, in that little is said about him. But the Tribe considers him a Gold Glove caliber third baseman. He had only five errors in 98 games at Class AAA Columbus. He batted .276 (.804 OPS) with 13 homers and 65 RBI in 395 official at bats.

Urshela turned 23 on October 11. He probably won't make the team out of spring training, but could be in Cleveland at some point in 2015.

That's especially true if Lonnie Chisenhall has a repeat of how he played after the All-Star break.

Chisenhall batted .280 (.770 OPS) with 13 HR and 59 RBI for the season -- his best in his four seasons of trying to establish himself as the Tribe's third baseman.

Chisenhall batted .332 (.915 OPS) before the All-Star break. He was at .218 (.591) after the break. Here are his batting averages by month: April - .362, May - .373, June - .311, July - .209, August - .250 and September - .219.

At third base, he had 18 errors in 108 games. That was the third-most errors in the American League. Fangraphs rated 11 "regular" third basemen in the American League, and Chisenhall ranked 10th defensively. Only Detroit's Nick Castellanos was rated lower.

Overall, the Tribe was encouraged by Chisenhall's season. They thought his defense improved over the final two months when Jose Ramirez took over at shortstop.

But Urshela does give the Tribe a real alternative at third, assuming he continues to improve as a hitter.

ABOUT THE MINORS

In their post-season meetings, the Indians believe they have the best group of position prospects in several years at the upper levels of the minors. It breaks down like this:

First base: Jesus Aguilar (.304, 19 HR, 77 RBI, .905 OPS) at Class AAA.

Second base: Zach Walters (.310, 17 HR, 56 RBI, 980 OPS) at Class AAA.

Shortstop: Francisco Lindor (.273, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 695 OPS) at Class AAA.

Third base: Giovanny Urshela (.276, 13 HR, 65 RBI, .804 OPS) at Class AAA.

Catcher: Roberto Perez (.305, 8 HR, 43 RBI, .922 OPS) at Class AAA.

Outfield: Tyler Holt (.308, 2 HR, 16 RBI, .817 OPS) at Class AAA.

Outfield: James Ramsey (.284, 3 HR, 16 RBI, .833 OPS) at Class AAA.

Outfield: Tyler Naquin (.313, 4 HR, 30 RBI, .795 OPS) at Class AA Akron.

ABOUT THE TRIBE'S 2014 DRAFT

Baseball America rated the Indians as having the best draft in 2014 -- as of right now.

The magazine wrote: "The Indians, known in the recent past as a college-centric drafting team, signed the lowest percentage of college players (53.3 percent) of any team in the draft. No American League team signed more high school players than the Indians with nine prep players, led by first-round lefthander Justus Sheffield, second-round righthander Grant Hockin and third-round first baseman Bobby Bradley.

"That was the most prep signees the Indians have had since the 2001 draft, when they took prep right-handers with their first four picks. Cleveland also signed the third-most junior college players (6) of any team after signing six junior college players last year.

"The Indians draft also stands out for its volume of lefthanded and switch-hitters. The first nine position players the Indians drafted all hit either lefthanded or switch-hit, including three players at the most righthanded-hitting positions with catcher Simeon Lucas and shortstops Alexis Pantojas and Austin Fisher.

"Only four of the 15 position players the Indians signed hit right-handed, two of which were catchers (Gianpaul Gonzalez and Juan Gomes)."

Here are some highlights from that draft:

1. Third-rounder Bobby Bradley had an incredible season in the Arizona Summer League. The 18-year-old first baseman batted .361 (1.078 OPS), and belted 16 homers. How about this? Bradley had 100 RBI in 78 games! The lefty hitter led the league in most offensive categories. He is a big-time prospect.

2. First-rounder Bradley Zimmer batted .302 (.892 OPS) with six homers and 32 RBI in 48 games. The outfielder was the best player at Mahoning Valley.

3. Second-rounder Justus Sheffield struck out 29 in 21 innings in the Arizona Summer League. He was 3-1 with a 4.79 ERA. The high school product was clocked at 95 mph with his fastball.

4. Fourth-rounder Sam Hentges had an 0.68 ERA in the Arizona Summer League.

• Terry's Talkin' Browns.

• Terry's Talkin Cavs.

Get updates, pictures and your questions answered as the 2014 OHSAA girls tennis state tournament wraps up on Saturday.

Get updates, pictures and your questions answered as the 2014 OHSAA girls tennis state tournament wraps up on Saturday.

LeBron James played a selfless game against the Dallas Mavericks, but in pre-game remarks said teammates had little to do with why he chose to return to Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – LeBron James has a personal game plan each night he takes the floor, a strategy for how he will impact the game based on what he feels is best for his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates.

For instance, in Friday night's 108-102 preseason loss to the Dallas Mavericks at The Q, James never made it past the three-point line on the Cavaliers' first two possessions.

On such nights, James' strategy is to make sure his teammates are getting into the flow of the offense before he does. Of the Cavaliers' first 55 points against Dallas, he had one. James finished with 12 points (on six shots) in three quarters.

It was about his teammates.

And yet, this is what he said before the game.

"It's funny man, it's not the team, besides obviously the guys that was here already, but the team was a small thing of me coming back" to Cleveland this season.

Understanding the connection between how James played and what he said needs context.

The Cavaliers, and James in particular, have reached the point of introspection in the preseason. They've played five games – three in four nights – and none of them count. Two more practice games remain until they start playing for real Oct. 30.

It's the point of the preseason where reporters, with deadlines for season preview stories fast approaching, ask the bigger picture questions.

James was asked about how different the Cavaliers' roster is now than it was when he announced his returned to Cleveland on July 11, and if he had thought then that the Cavaliers were loaded for a possible run to the Finals this year.

He said he "did sacrifice the right now for the future" when he came to Cleveland, because the roster hadn't turned over yet. But that's not why he came back.

"It was more about these fans and the city and the people here, and the people that watched me grow from when I first picked up a basketball at age 8 until where I am now," James said. "So, the team didn't mean much. I felt like me coming, we could hopefully add some pieces, obviously it happened quicker than I thought."

In a seven-minute interview, which took place about 60 minutes before a preseason game in October, James seamlessly shifted between the Cavaliers' injury issues and his affinity for Kobe Bryant.

He recognized that, entering his 12^th pro season, he is a long way away from Bryant in his 19^th year and Kevin Garnett in his 20^th season, but some day James will be there.

"Where a lot of the songs you listen to today a lot of the guys in the locker room have no idea what you're talking about," James said.

He went deeper, paraphrasing a famous quote from 26^th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, commonly referred to as the "man in the arena." James said it was one of his favorites.

"A lot of people criticize about what we do as athletes or criticize the person in the arena when they never step foot in it," James said in explaining why he no longer cares about his critics.

In a similarly deep pre-game session Wednesday, James was asked again about his relationship with Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert, how they patched things up from damage done four years ago so he could return.

"How did I forgive? I'm a man. Men, we all make mistakes," he said.

All of it – the way James played against Dallas and what he said beforehand – is indicative of the preseason James has had.

In four games (he missed one), James has only had one big scoring night, which came Wednesday with 26 points against Indiana. He said his last preseason game would be Monday night in Columbus -- he said he plans to sit out the finale in Memphis Wednesday.

Otherwise, James has been working to ensure others are comfortable in the offense.

He's been working for his teammates. He also knows they are not why he came back to Cleveland.

You are.

Chicago Wolves sweep two-game set vs. Lake Erie Monsters, winning on Saturday, 7-2.

ROSEMONT, Illinois -- The Chicago Wolves completed their weekend sweep of the Lake Erie Monsters, scoring three times late in the third period for a 7-2 victory on Saturday at Allstate Arena.

The Monsters (1-3-0-0) closed to within 4-2 at 5:57 of the third period when Stefan Elliott scored from the right point on the power play, assisted by Mike Sgarbossa and Michael Schumacher.

But Chicago then got goals from Pat Cannone, Colin Fraser and Yannick Veilleux to put the game away and improve to 3-0-1-0.

Dennis Everberg also scored for the Monsters, his first AHL goal.

Roman Will stopped 20 of 27 shots and fell to 0-2-0. Matt Climie stopped 20 of 22 shots for Chicago.

The Monsters, who lost 4-0 to Chicago on Friday, have lost three straight. They play at Grand Rapids on Friday at 7 p.m.

For all of the previous Brownstowns, click here

For all of the previous Brownstowns, click here

The Browns offense has an identity, now the defense needs to find one.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Scribbles in my Browns notebook before they play in Jacksonville:

1. If you are a Browns fan, games like this should scare you. Then again, the last 15 years of the Browns can cause you to be downright frightened of almost any game. Remember all the snide remarks when the new coaching staff rolled out the "Play Like A Brown" motto at the start of the season? But the Browns are 3-2 and have an honest-to-Paul-Brown identity! At least they do on offense, where they never vary from the gospel of the running game -- and then they spice it up with Brian Hoyer's savvy passing.

2. So when the Browns take the field in Jacksonville today, we should know what to expect -- at least from the offense. The Browns have scored between 21-31 points in each of their first five games. They actually score touchdowns! The offense is fun to watch. Jacksonville's  defense is ranked 30th. The weather is warm, the opportunity is there for the offense to continue it's consistent point production.

3. This is an important game for the defense, which is in a perfect spot to "play like a Brown." That defense finally was on display in the 31-10 victory over Pittsburgh last week. They have allowed only one touchdown in the last six quarters. So maybe the defense is indeed shaping up and ready to rise above its current 29th ranking.

4. Jacksonville's offense is a mess. The Jags haven't scored more than 17 points in a game, and they ranked last overall. It's why they are 0-6. Their quarterbacks have been sacked 27 times, the most in the NFL. Their eight interceptions are the second most. It's a perfect spot for the Browns defense to begin forcing turnovers and sacking the quarterback, especially with rookie Blake Bortles still trying to figure out the NFL.

5. The Browns have tons of injuries, especially on defense. No Phil Taylor. No Billy Winn. No Armonty Bryant. Barkevious Mingo has a sore shoulder and plays wearing a harness. Paul Kruger has a very grumpy back.

6. With K'Waun Williams out with a concussion, Justin Gilbert will be the first substitute as a nickel back. He will cover the outside receiver -- across from Joe Haden. Buster Skrine will move inside to cover the slot receivers. The Browns like Skrine's versatility -- he can cover inside or outside receivers. Williams only covered slot receivers.

7. And yes, Bortles has talent and can hurt a defense with his ability to scramble along with owning a strong arm. Mount Union product Cecil Shorts was hurt earlier in the year, but he's now playing for Jacksonville and is a very good receiver. But Jacksonville has the kind of offense that Browns fans watched for too long. They just don't get into the end zone (12 touchdowns in six games). And regardless of their injuries, the Browns should make sure that continues.

8. It will be interesting to see what the Browns do with Terrance West. The rookie was inactive last week. The coaches weren't thrilled with his approach to practice. West wasn't happy with Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell playing in front of him. Now, all is supposed to be well. But he is still No. 3 on the depth chart, and that's how it should be at running back. Tate and Crowell are better right now. The nice thing is all three of these guys could have started on last year's team. They have real depth in the backfield.

9. The coaches were pleased with how West reacted last week when not dressed for the Steelers game. He cheered for his teammates on the sidelines, and didn't pout. They considered that a significant step forward for the rookie from Towson -- especially because he followed it up with a good week of practice.

10. The Browns were impressed with how Brian Hoyer didn't seem distracted for long by all the reports about his contract situation. The quarterback dealt with it in his press conference. His attention was on Jacksonville. I doubt Hoyer will deliver a poor performance. It's up to the defense to make sure the Browns aren't upset.

PREDICTION: Browns 20, Jacksonville 17. My record is 3-2. Hope it's 4-2 by late Sunday afternoon.

Indians fans might as well accept it, Nick Swisher isn't going anywhere. If he's going to play next season, it's going to be with the Indians, but first he has to bounce back from surgery on both knees.

Hey, Hoynsie: I've gotten pretty tired of watching Nick Swisher whiff on bad pitches in critical at-bats. The walk-off grand slam against the Angels made me eat my words for one day, but it seems like every other game-changing opportunity is doomed the moment Swisher steps into the box.

Is there any way the Tribe can swallow its pride (and $30 million) to get him off the 25-man roster and bring up Jesus Aguilar? Everyone talks about signing some right-handed power. Why is he never mentioned in the conversation? – Bobby Reichert, La Crosse, Wis.

Hey, Bobby: You do know that Swisher had surgery on both knees in August, right? You must admit, trying to hit a 95 mph fastball on bad knees couldn't have been easy.

The best the Indians can hope for is that Swisher's rehab goes well this winter and that he's able to contribute next year because there's no way the Indians can trade him right now and they will not eat the $30 million left on his contract.

It's hard to say what the Indians have in Aguilar. He's hit everywhere except the big leagues. He didn't get a real chance this year, but he did break the ice on his big league career. Perhaps that will help in 2015.

Hey, Hoynsie: With the decline of Nick Swisher's performance and the fact that he had two knee surgeries in August, what are the chances he might consider retirement this year to give the Indians a shot to improve the offense? – Charlie Bolin, Mansfield.

Hey, Charlie: This is the real world. The Indians signed a real guaranteed contract with Swisher with real money. You want him to retire and walk away from $30 million? He blew out his knees, not his brain.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why are MLB fields not all the same dimensions? That is the only sport where hometown fields can give an advantages to hitters or pitchers. What other sports allow different dimensions of fields depending on what city you are in? None that I know of. – Patty Rzonca, North Olmsted.

Hey, Patty: Ballparks, especially in crowded cities, are built to fit into a specific area. That makes for different dimensions in the way the ballpark is built.

MLB's rulebook states that the distance from home plate to the nearest fence in fair territory shall be at least 250 feet. A distance of at least 320 feet for the foul lines and 400 feet from home plate to the center field wall is preferred.

When the retro ballparks such as Camden Yards and Progressive Field started to open, these dimensions were conveniently ignored for more quirky designs.

While the footprints of big-league ballparks differ, the infield measurements are uniform.

Hey, Hoynsie: Can the Indians ever win with fans and how can they get a free pass like the Browns? For instance, I don't ever see T-shirts made that say "It will always be Cleveland Browns Stadium to me!" But everyone lets you know Progressive Field is still "The Jake."

Also when the Jim Thome statue went up, fans were angry. The only statue the Browns have is of Al Lerner, who correct me if I am wrong, helped Art Modell move the team! -- John Smith, Cleveland.

Hey, John: Outgoing Commissioner Bud Selig says that baseball is held to a higher standard than other sports because of the way fans are attached to its long history. So when Jacobs Field becomes Progressive Field, people still call it The Jake because they remember the glory days there. When the Indians unveil a statue of Jim Thome, the franchise leader in home runs, fans say, "Hey, what about Larry Doby or Lou Boudreau or Nap Lajoie or Rocky Colavito or ...?"

That's the grip baseball has on people. It is a good thing, but it can be taxing as well.

Hey, Hoynsie: Whatever happened to the $15 million in payroll the Indians were willing to give Justin Masterson for the next three seasons? The club rightfully made a solid offer to Masterson, knowing it would help the team contend during the next three to four years. If they were willing to spend it on Masterson, why wouldn't they spend it on another All-Star caliber player via free agency or in a trade? Players like Josh Donaldson, Adrian Beltre, Troy Tulowitzki, Nelson Cruz and others could push them over the top. – Gavin Potter, Shaker Heights.

Hey, Hoynsie: I'm not sure what happened to that money, but since the Indians signed Yan Gomes and Jason Kipnis to extensions after negotiations broke off with Masterson, I would think some of it went in that direction.

Hey, Hoynsie: The Indians did OK this year, but they let too many games slip away late. I think they need a better closer. They need to develop a winning attitude. They have to have a belief that no matter what the score, they can come back. – Peter Whalen, Morrison, Tenn.

Hey, Peter: Cody Allen didn't take over the closer's job until May, but he still saved 24 games in 28 chances. Overall, the bullpen had the fourth-best ERA (3.12) in the AL. It was better than Kansas City and the Angels, who both made the postseason.

Over the last two years the Indians have produced 22 victories in their final at-bat at home, which tells you something about their never-quit attitude.

What the Indians need to do is score more runs.

Hey, Hoynsie: I am perplexed by Carlos Santana's low batting average. He clearly has an excellent eye as he led the league in walks. He also has good power, but he is prone to popping up a lot and being overeager on the first pitch. Is his low batting average due to pressing to make up for the lack of a consistent Tribe offense? – Gary Beckersman, Santa Ynez, Calif.

Hey, Gary: There's no reason to be perplexed. Santana opened the season with the worst two months of his career. He couldn't have hit water if he fell out of a boat in the middle of Lake Erie.

Santana was hitting .159 (28-for-176) at the end of May. The fact that he hit .265 (97-for-365) with power the rest of the way salvaged his season.

"I think I am getting pretty close to what they envisioned for me," Marshall said. "That doesn't mean I am going to stop working or take any days off. I could have been a quarterback, but that's old. So now I have to grow as a receiver and getting better and better and better every single week." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jalin Marshall was one of the best offensive prospects in the 2012 recruiting class, a former five-star quarterback who starred at Middletown, Ohio, before ending up at Ohio State. 

Typical story. Top Ohio prospect goes to Ohio State to play for Urban Meyer. How many times have you heard that? 

But Marshall's journey was different because he had chances to do elsewhere what wasn't available for him at Ohio State – to play quarterback in college. Tennessee gave Marshall that opportunity. He declined it.

"Being near my family was important to me, so Ohio State was a good spot for me," Marshall told cleveland.com after the Buckeyes' 56-17 win over Rutgers. "I wanted to come to Ohio State to play for Coach Meyer and to do big things in his offense. I really believed it would get to this point, and I am just going to keep working hard to make sure I accomplish the things I came here for." 

What he came to Ohio State for was this. To win big for his home state in a Buckeyes uniform, sure, but to be heavily involved in the offensive game plan. Against the Scarlet Knights, Marshall caught three passes for 58 yards (19.3 yards per catch) and was Ohio State's starting punt returner. 

"This," Marshall said, "is what I was waiting for." 

2. Why the wait? Now a redshirt freshman, Marshall said he considered himself a "myth" heading into the season. Because he starred for the Middies less than two hours away, he was one of the most anticipated prospects Ohio State has brought in under Meyer. 

But last season he didn't see the field. A big reason Marshall redshirted as a freshman is because he's dealt with multiple injuries at inopportune times. Last fall he was held out for a good chunk of fall camp with concussion issues, hindering him from making the necessary progress a freshman would need to make to see the field in his first year. 

View full sizeOhio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jalin Marshall (17) is tackled from behind by Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Gareef Glashen (2), Saturday, October 18, 2014.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer 

Then in the spring, Marshall tore his meniscus and had to be held out for the majority of the drills. Again, progress was halted. 

3. "I felt complete out there as a player" – Though Marshall's numbers weren't big – he didn't score a touchdown – he was incorporated too much in Ohio State's offense for him not to feel like he was in his natural habitat. 

It's been a long transition for Marshall from quarterback to wide receiver, through injuries to his head and knee. It's been more than a year since he was out on the field as a player the defense absolutely had to account for. 

"I felt complete out there," Marshall said. "I am getting more confidence in myself as a player like I used to have. It feels good, and every day I go out there and work as hard as I can to get better. I'm seeing it pay off." 

4. The type of play Marshall needs to make – Coach Urban Meyer has spoken at great length about his skill position players making a defender miss and turning a small-to-medium gain into a big one. On his 31-yard touchdown reception, Marshall caught a pass on the sideline, broke a tackle and busted up the middle of the field. It was a picture perfect play for Marshall, proof of his development as a receiver. 

"Every time I get the ball I think, 'Score,' " Marshall said. "I don't want to think anything less than that, because if you do, you won't score."  

5. "He didn't have a great week of practice" – Though Marshall was all over the field against Rutgers, Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman said he wouldn't have guessed it would happen this way. 

"He played well, but I thought he was a little banged up, he didn't have a great week of practice," Herman said. "I am not telling you anything I don't tell him. It was good to see him actually come out and play full speed and show us what he's capable of. 

"That's the tip of the iceberg for him. I think he's got a very high ceiling as far as talent and development is concerned." 

6. Starting punt returner? That job once belong to sophomore Dontre Wilson, but Marshall got inserted into that role vs. the Scarlet Knights. He returned four punts for for 45 yards, an average of a little more than 11 yards per return. 

"They moved me back there to see what I can do," Marshall said. "I feel like I did pretty well. It's big for me to be the starting punt returner at Ohio State. Now I have to make it happen." 

7. "I'm not a quarterback anymore" – What makes Marshall unique is that he still has the mind frame of a quarterback, even if he was able to do what not many of them can – agree to play a different position. It's paying off. 

"I think I am getting pretty close to what they envisioned for me," Marshall said. "That doesn't mean I am going to stop working or take any days off. I could have been a quarterback, but that's old. So now I have to grow as a receiver and getting better and better and better every single week." 

Bogard, who has dealt with two torn ACLs in his career, hurt his other knee Saturday, though it is not believed to be quite as serious. The Ohio State players gathered around Bogard as the Glenville grad was carted off. "He would give his body, he would give everything he has up for his teammates," linebackers coach Luke Fickell said. "The guys respect that and understand that and they really feel for him." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State Buckeyes were brought together as a team in the second quarter Saturday, not by a touchdown or a big play, but by an injury.

Another injury to Devan Bogard.

A junior backup linebacker and special teamer from Glenville High School, Bogard saw both his freshman and sophomore seasons at Ohio State ended by a torn ACL in his right knee, both occurring in the eighth game of the season. Both of those injuries required eight months of rehab. But Bogard came back.

In Saturday's 56-17 win over Rutgers, Bogard went down when he was hit while covering a kickoff. He'd been named the Buckeyes' special teams player of the week for his coverage against Maryland two weeks earlier.

The injury this time, which came in the season's sixth game, was to his left knee.  And while there was no official diagnosis from Ohio State, a team source said the injury is believed to be a sprained MCL. That type of injury, depending on the severity, can sideline a player for several weeks, but typically does not require surgery.

Bogard was back on the sideline on crutches at the end of the game and made his way to the locker room with his teammates after the win.

"He's walking around," Urban Meyer said. "He's a wonderful kid. Prayers with him."

As Bogard was treated by trainers on the field, anguish on his face, Meyer and strength coach Mickey Marotti both went out to check on him. Then as Bogard was helped off the field and onto a motorized cart, nearly the entire team came by to pat him on the head, back or shoulder.

"He's one of our favorite guys on the team," junior linebacker Joshua Perry said. "Everyone loves him. He's an energy guy, he's a selfless guy, he's a guy that's been injured every season since he's been here. But he's come back working, and he comes back with so much energy and passion for the game.

"He might be one of the most fun guys on the team to be around, so guys gravitate toward him. When he goes down, that just makes us want to play harder. If there's one person on the team that embodies being a soldier and being selfless, it's probably him."

The Buckeyes were in a state of shock and said similar things last October when Bogard was injured. Though Bogard doesn't play on defense anymore, and he said he's not quite the player he was before his ACL tears, he inspires strong feelings.

"He's a passionate kid, man," linebackers coach Luke Fickell said. "He's really the heart and soul of a lot of things that we do.

"He would give his body, he would give everything he has up for his teammates. The guys respect that and understand that and they really feel for him."

They may not see Bogard out on the field with them for a while. Again.

"Hopefully it's nothing like he faced the past couple of seasons," Perry said. "But if it is, I know he'll be able to work through it and guys will be able to rally around him."

Thoughts on the kicking game, the Buckeyes' offensive line, the college football Final Four and the incredible burden to the Big Ten of Michigan being bad again.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Things I think about during routs like Ohio State over Rutgers:

• Some reputations are earned and some are not. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer made such a big deal before the game of Rutgers' special teams. But it must be for blocking punts, not covering them or kicking them.

Rutgers punter Tim Gleeson had efforts of 28 yards (after an 11-yard return), 24 (after a 14-yard return), 23 (downed), 32 (downed) and so on. His six punts averaged only 36.3 yards

Cameron Johnston of Ohio State was called on to punt once, for 53 yards.

• Ohio State registered nine tackles for 37 yards in losses, four of them sacks. Rutgers got two tackles for a loss of 4 yards and no sacks. That was a lot of the game right there.

"Our offensive line was huge today," said freshman linebacker Darron Lee. "We played great. We knew we had to bring pressure and stop their run."

Lee had one sack for 11 lost yards. Defensive end Joey Bosa had two sacks for minus 10.

• The Buckeyes might never overcome the Virginia Tech loss, in which Meyer admitted he and his staff were outcoached. It was also only the second start for freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, taking over for the injured Braxton Miller.

Barrett has made a quantum jump since then in progression reads, use of the tight ends, accuracy and poise. But it's still a stretch to see the Buckeyes in the Final Four of college football, the new playoff system.

Victory in East Lansing on Nov. 8 is, of course, the "gotta-have-it" for OSU to even consider such a notion.

• If Maryland is the third-best team in the Big Ten, and that is possible, despite a four-touchdown loss at home to Ohio State, then strength of schedule is just going to kill the Buckeyes.

• Ohio State fans don't want to hear this, but the Buckeyes would gain more than anyone else from a strong, playoff-viable Michigan program, which is certainly not the case now.

Michigan State is a good team. Right now, I consider that game a toss-up with the Spartans getting the slight edge as the home team. But Sparty just doesn't have the national cachet of Michigan.

• Rutgers brought a small musical band. Nice host that it is, Ohio State played some Rutgers highlights during the warmups.

If you guess it was of Rutgers' victory over Michigan, you win -- well ... sorry, but that was just too easy for a prize.

 

The game can be seen on Ch. 19.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The Cleveland Browns take to the road on Sunday looking to keep their winning ways intact as they face the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.

You can watch the game locally on WOIO Channel 19. The game is being broadcast by CBS.

The game can be heard live on the radio on 92.3 The Fan, 850 ESPN Cleveland WKNR and 98.5 WNCX. Get the full list of Browns radio network affiliates here.

You can also listen to live games with the NFL's Audio Pass. You can watch archived games using the NFL's Game Rewind. Both services require a fee.

Watch our live pregame show from Jacksonville at 11:45 a.m.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The Browns take on the Jaguars on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Watch our live Browns pregame show from EverBank Field. cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Tom Reed, Dan Labbe and The Plain Dealer's Branson Wright will get you ready for the game. The show starts at 11:45 a.m.

On today's show we discuss:

• How can the Browns avoid a letdown today?
• How will the center position hold up without Alex Mack?
• What's the fallout if the Browns manage to lose this game?
• Who is the key player today?

Notre Dame's loss to Florida State wasn't good news for Ohio State in the playoff picture. And the fact that Rutgers beat Michigan, and then did that against the Buckeyes on Saturday, isn't good news for the Wolverines.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- 5 observations about Ohio State football after the Buckeyes' 56-17 win over Rutgers on Saturday.

1. You meet a beguiling guy or girl who catches your eye. You ask them to coffee. They say yes. It's perfect. You ask them to dinner. They say yes. You get dressed up. You go to the restaurant. You talk. You eat salmon and asparagus. You fall in love. You stare into each other's eyes. You pledge to spend your lives together. You finish dinner. You part ways. You go home.

You tell your friend. He or she asks whether you had dessert.

So goes the conversation about whether starting quarterbacks should stay in blowouts.

The discussions drive me crazy. There were a million different things to talk about after another dominating performance by the Buckeyes on Saturday. Why anyone wants to spend any real time talking about when freshman J.T. Barrett should have come out of the game is beyond me.

That's the dessert. What about the love and the dinner and the all-dressed-up?

And it's an argument that those, like me, who think Barrett should play as long as possible, as long as he and the coaches want to, have a hard time explaining.

The reasons to stay in are incremental and subtle. Every snap, every minute, every thought he has on the field makes a young quarterback like Barrett better.

The reasons to come out are singular and obvious. Don't get hurt.

If Barrett gets hurt and can't play against Michigan State on Nov. 8, that's a clear problem.

If Barrett learns one little thing about a blitz or a read or a protection or a route, that's a hard gain to explain.

There's more to sports than staying healthy for later. There's also getting better for later. And the starters enjoying the now, and not getting yanked the moment the lead expands, is worth something, too.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman said game reps are "critical" right now for Barrett, who made just his sixth career start Saturday. So they told him to be smart but kept him in until the middle of the fourth quarter. He played the first series in the fourth quarter before Cardale Jones took over for the drive that began with 8:33 left in the game.

But the whole discussion shouldn't be worth wasting much breath. Ask about the asparagus instead.

2. Notre Dame's  four-point loss at No. 2 Florida State on Saturday was not good news for the Big Ten. The No. 5 Fighting Irish, after a tight, well-played loss on the road, will stay right in the thick of the playoff talk. If Notre Dame finishes with one loss, they certainly would have a strong playoff argument ahead of a Big Ten champ, no matter what that Big Ten champ does.

Notre Dame has tough games left against Arizona State and Stanford, and a lot of things can, and will, happen in this college football season.

But Florida State is a solid bet to win out in the ACC, and it could certainly be that three playoff spots at the end of the year are taken by Florida State, Notre Dame and the SEC champ. That leaves one spot for everyone else.

A home loss for Florida State would have been better for the Big Ten, because that may have knocked the Seminoles out of the playoff picture, or least behind a one-loss Big Ten champ.

3. Running or throwing wide against this Ohio State defense is just not the way to go. That made the Rutgers pass from its own 10-yardline in the second quarter such a bad play. Gary Nova hit 175-pound receiver Janarion Grant with a swing pass but with no hope. There looked like there was one block that could have been made, but Grant was basically on his own to try to do something.

He did nothing. Darron Lee, a 228-pound linebacker, hit him and held him up, and 272-pound defensive end Rashad Frazier came in to finish him off with a crunching hit in the back. The ball came free and Eli Apple picked up the fumble and ran it in for touchdown. That was the worst that could happen for Rutgers. That best that could have happened looked to be about a 3-yard gain.

Not worth it. In a spot like that, the Buckeyes are going to pursue as a group and shut down a call like that.

"That was a team defense kind of play," linebacker Joshua Perry said. "We've got guys straining to get there. I think we've got guys who can run and we've got guys who can stretch the field a little bit. So we can keep up with that kind of stuff."

4. The Ohio State skill on offense impresses people taking it in for the first time. Check this out from nj.com columnist Steve Politi, who made the voyage to Columbus for the 39-point Rutgers loss:

Fans will gripe about preparation, and maybe that was a factor in giving up 585 yards. But I'm not sure Buddy Ryan could have slowed down that Ohio State offense with the Rutgers personnel. They were so much more athletic, and it showed from the very beginning.

5. That game might be the most definitive statement yet about Michigan's season. The same Rutgers team that lost to Ohio State by 39 beat Michigan by 2. Michigan's other three losses - to Notre Dame, Utah and Minnesota - are actually defensible. After Saturday, that loss to Rutgers really is not.