"The NFL will keep losing attendance thanks to high definition televisions and cheaper, better food and drinks, making a televised game just about as good as being there." - loubuck

View full sizeTracy Boulian | The Plain DealerSome fans would prefer watching the game from the comfort of their own home as opposed to being there.

In response to the story Sen. Sherrod Brown renews call for NFL to revise blackout policy, cleveland.com reader loubuck thinks watching the game at home is becoming a better experience than being there. This reader writes,

"The NFL will keep losing attendance thanks to high definition televisions and cheaper, better food and drinks, making a televised game just about as good as being there."

"Shaq and Mo may have been right. Both should have been a bigger part of the offense. Shaq's criticisms should be directed at Mike Brown, if anyone. Benching J.J. and sitting the vets at the end of the season was a major blunder that hurt team chemistry going into the playoffs. Then LBJ's quitting in Game 5 was the cherry on top." - bluebengal

View full sizeJohn Kuntz | The Plain DealerLeBron James' and Mike Brown's last playoff series in Cleveland was not their best effort.

In response to the story Shaq's career nearly over, but his pettiness continues: Bud Shaw's Sports Spin, cleveland.com reader bluebengal thinks Mike Brown is more to blame than anyone not named LeBron. This reader writes,

"Shaq and Mo may have been right. Both should have been a bigger part of the offense. Shaq's criticisms should be directed at Mike Brown, if anyone. Benching J.J. and sitting the vets at the end of the season was a major blunder that hurt team chemistry going into the playoffs. Then LBJ's quitting in Game 5 was the cherry on top."

"Mike Brewster definitely has the right attitude. You state your goal, be unapologetic about it and build toward the finish line one hurdle at a time. Coaches fear this kind of talk because they perceive that if you look ahead you overlook what's in your direct path." - soldierdad

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealerOhio State offensive lineman Mike Brewster says the 2002 Buckeyes have what the 2010 Buckeyes want.

In response to the story Buckeyes inspired by clips of 2002 national championship team: Ohio State Insider, cleveland.com reader soldierdad loves the attitude some Buckeyes are taking about trying to win a championship. This reader writes,

"Mike Brewster definitely has the right attitude. You state your goal, be unapologetic about it and build toward the finish line one hurdle at a time. Coaches fear this kind of talk because they perceive that if you look ahead you overlook what's in your direct path."

Speaking at length with reporters for the first time since the Heat acquired James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade this summer, Pat Riley revealed he thought some critics of Miami's roster moves should "get a life." he is also certain it'll be a motivating point for his team throughout the season.

Associated PressHeat President Pat Riley takes exception at criticism directed towards his team and LeBron James.

It seems to be fueling both of them.

Speaking at length with reporters for the first time since the Heat acquired James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade this summer, Riley revealed he thought some critics of Miami's roster moves should "get a life." He is also certain it'll be a motivating point for his team throughout the season.

"I know one thing," Riley said. "We will show up and we will play games. And our team will be ready. And I think that's the way we can answer all the critics."

Riley specifically cited Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith and former NBA star turned analyst Charles Barkley as examples of people who took what the Heat president thought were unwarranted shots at the way the Heat went about business this summer. He also mentioned Magic coach Stan Van Gundy - Riley's former protege in Miami - as well.

On the day after Miami signed James to a six-year contract that lured him away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smith said, "I thought he was, I guess, more of a competitor."

Riley responded to that Friday, saying Smith made, "an absolutely stupid remark. He never made any kind of comment like that when he signed Rashard Lewis and he brought him down from Seattle with an $128 million contract."

Barkley went a step farther, saying James "is never going to be the guy" in Miami because he'll have to share the spotlight with Wade and Bosh. James responded a month later on Twitter, saying "Don't think for one (minute) that I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!"

Riley said he thought Barkley allowed his remarks to become personal attacks.

There have been countless other critics of James, Wade, Bosh and the rest of the Heat in recent weeks, and Riley said he's having trouble understanding the need for venom.

"I take a little bit of umbrage to some of the things that came from people in our game that all of a sudden have become the moral conscience or moral authority on the decisions that every team or some individual might make concerning his life or his career," Riley said.

Riley reiterated that he does not plan to hover over Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Yes, Spoelstra and Riley will continue talking and strategizing, but even with the talent he assembled this summer, Riley doesn't envision becoming a teacher again on the practice floor.

For his part, Wade isn't surprised by that.

"I think he's going to sit back and watch," Wade said. "I think he has the coaches he believes in. I think he has the team he believes can do it. I think he's going to sit back and watch it unfold."

There are more pressing matters for the Heat to deal with before the Sept. 28 start of training camp, namely figuring out how all the new pieces like James, Bosh, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Juwan Howard all fit into place.

Point guard is perhaps the biggest point of intrigue for Miami, with Riley suggesting there will be time when the Heat play without a true one on the court - no surprise there, considering Wade, James and Miller are all fine ballhandlers. Miami re-signed last year's point guard starter in Carlos Arroyo, and has former starter Mario Chalmers still recovering from an offseason ankle sprain.

"It wouldn't be something that would be a stretch for anybody," Riley said. "Wouldn't be a stretch for Dwyane to play that position. It would not be a stretch for LeBron. LeBron was basically a natural point guard until he was 15, 16 years old. ... So it isn't something that he has to learn."

Riley said last season that Miami's plan for the long-awaited offseason of 2010 was "to build a dynasty." Step one in that process was convincing Wade to re-sign, something that wouldn't have happened unless either James or Bosh decided to join the Heat.

"We were ready for the worst-case scenario," Riley said, "and the best-case scenario happened for us."

That being said, his job isn't done.

Riley will shift his focus back to talent evaluating now, working on finding hidden gems out there, while continuing to figure out how to make the current Heat lineup better.

The summer has been about talking. Riley's longing for games.

"I'm actually bored stiff," Riley said. "I can't wait for it to start."

Weekly "You Pick the Winners" contest debuts on SBTV.

View full size

Kevin Mawae will finish out his term as president of the NFL Players Association, but his playing career is over. He didn't make the team with the Tennessee Titans, and hasn't been picked up by any other team.

View full sizeAP FileKevin Mawae, celebrating the 2008 win over the Cleveland Browns that gave the Tennessee Titans the AFC South title, is retiring from football. He didn't make the team this year. He will remain president of the NFL Players Association until his term expires in March.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kevin Mawae, president of the NFL Players Association, is retiring from the NFL after 16 seasons and eight Pro Bowls.

Mawae has called a news conference for Friday afternoon, and a news release posted on the NFLPA's website Friday morning said he will be announcing his retirement.

"It's a time of reflection for me just to think that I (had) the privilege of playing in the NFL," Mawae said. "It's an honor -- not a right -- and it's something that I don't take for granted. It's one that I cherish."

The lineman played for Tennessee last season, starting all 16 games and helping block for Chris Johnson as he ran for 2,006 yards. The starts gave Mawae 241 regular season games played, at that time the most among active linemen. He missed only three starts, in his rookie season with Seattle.

But his contract was up, the Titans chose to go younger with Leroy Harris, and no team called to sign the lineman, who turns 40 in January. He finished his career playing in his final Pro Bowl. He will serve out his term as union president, which ends in March 2012. Mawae felt his role as union president, with the league and union in the final year of their labor deal, limited interest in him.

Mawae (muh-WHY) said football was his life coming into the NFL, and compared the progression from his rookie year to now to night and day.

"Learning the business side of the NFL was a rude awakening for me, and it's when I realized that even though it was a game, it's a job and if you don't perform, you don't have a job. The one thing I have learned that keeps players in the league is consistency in how they work and how they prepare for the game," Mawae said.

Mawae first was elected president of the players union in 2008 and was re-elected to the two-year post in March. He had been on the union's executive committee since 2000 and was a players' representative between 1998 and 2000.

A four-year starter at LSU, the 6-foot-4, 289-pound Mawae was drafted in the second round in 1994 by the Seahawks and also played for the New York Jets before landing with the Titans in 2006.

Mawae earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 1999 with the Jets, after blocking for Curtis Martin, who ran for 1,464 yards. He snapped his streak of playing in 177 consecutive games in October 2005 when he hurt his left triceps, knocking him out of the final 11 games.

He signed with Tennessee where he spent the final four seasons of his career, helping the team to two playoff berths as part of an offensive line that allowed an NFL-low 12 sacks in 2008. He missed the two playoff games with injuries.

"The life of an offensive lineman is one of obscurity and living in the background, but winning is always the main goal," Mawae said. "Reaching different milestones in a career just adds to your memories when your playing days are over."

Mawae has been working at Vanderbilt as a strength and conditioning intern with the Commodores' football team. He also started his own lineman camp this summer.

In big games, Ohio State's defense has been its constant of late. If the Buckeyes can get 21 points against Miami, recent history says that should probably be enough.

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerLinebacker Ross Homan, standing, and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward are two big reasons the Ohio State defense is expected to be one of the nation's best in 2010.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week might not play very much Saturday. Ohio State's Tyler Moeller, who made a team-high six tackles against Marshall, takes the field only in the Buckeyes' nickel defense, and against the Thundering Herd last week, that meant nearly every snap.

Against No. 12 Miami today at Ohio Stadium, the defense for No. 2 Ohio State will be dealing with a Hurricanes offense that should be balanced nearly 50-50 between pass and run, employing a fullback and not spreading it out on all downs. That means Moeller will be on the sidelines more often, with third linebacker Andrew Sweat in as the 11th defender instead.

"It's kind of tough," OSU safeties coach Paul Haynes said of trying to get Moeller on the field. "Our linebacking corps is pretty good, too."

Ignore the names. Ignore the positions. Last season was the year when the OSU defense publicly adapted a no-name persona. What Ohio State has the chance to do today is remind fans that in this era of OSU success, the defense has been the constant.

In the Ohio State pregame notes, quarterback Terrelle Pryor has his own page of highlights. But on the flip side, the accomplishments of "The Silver Bullet Defense" are listed. While Pryor is rightly touted as a Heisman candidate, it's the defensive stats that are more impressive. Since the 2005 season, Ohio State leads the nation by limiting opponents to 20 points or fewer in 51 games and also is No. 1 in giving up an average of 13.3 points per game. The Buckeyes have allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns (39) and the second-fewest passing touchdowns (53).

Recent numbers are even better. Since getting blown out at Southern Cal, 35-3, in the third game of the 2008 season, the Buckeyes have faced seven top 25 teams and not allowed more than 24 points in any of those games, giving up an average of 18.1 points against top competition. A good defense might be getting better.

Marshall coach Doc Holliday was an assistant at Florida when the Gators beat Ohio State for the 2006 national title, and after losing to the Buckeyes, 45-7, to open the season, he said at his news conference this week "that is a better defense than the one we faced back then. That team is going to win a lot of games."

But the Buckeyes are only 4-3 in those past seven top 25 games, losing, 13-6 to Penn State in 2008, 24-21 to Texas in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl and 18-15 to USC last season. In each loss, the OSU defense gave up game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdowns, those against the Longhorns and Trojans coming in the final minutes. But while limiting Oregon's high-octane offense to 17 points in a Rose Bowl win in January, the OSU defense reinforced what should be clear today: If Pryor and the offense can put up about three touchdowns, the Buckeyes should be in great shape.

Asked about rising to the occasion against top opponents, OSU defensive tackle Dexter Larimore said this week: "I think we have for the most part. But there have been games where I think we got after them for a while and then we kind of let off and something happened. It seemed like the ball started rolling the other way in some of those losses, and suddenly you come out with a loss.

"To combat that, we're really focusing on the next play as the most important thing. If we get beat deep, if we get a pass interference call or a big run, calm down, focus up and let's hit this next play."

Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerOregon came into the Rose Bowl with great offensive numbers, but the Ducks quickly discovered the Ohio State defense was tough to crack. All the players in this picture, from left, Devon Torrence (who wears No. 1 this year), Brian Rolle, Ross Homan and Nathan Williams, are back with the Buckeyes this season.

That's easier to do when the defense doesn't focus on one player. Yes, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is an All-American candidate. But when Scouts Inc., on ESPN.com, evaluated the top 150 NFL prospects in college football before the season, seven Buckeyes were included -- and five were on defense. Heyward was No. 14, followed by linebacker Ross Homan (59), cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (95), cornerback Devon Torrence (141) and safety Jermale Hines (142).

Defensive end Nathan Williams should add to that depth of talent this week, expected to start after sitting out last week while still recovering from a left knee injury. Though the Buckeyes had just one sack in the opener, Tressel wasn't concerned, since Marshall's quarterback made a point of getting rid of the ball early. Wisconsin beat Miami in the Capital One Bowl last season by getting after quarterback Jacory Harris, and when asked before the season, Badgers safety Jay Valai thought the Buckeyes could do the same thing.

"Pressure on Jacory, that's all we did," Valai said. "Pressure on Jacory and keep moving around a lot and don't let him ready your coverage pre-snap. Obviously, Ohio State has a great defense, so if they can do those two things, they'll have a great game."

Matt LaPorta homered to help the Indians lead the Twins, 2-0, through six innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Twins tonight in the first of a three-game series at Progressive Field.

Pitching matchups: RHP Fausto Carmona (11-14, 4.05) vs. RHP Carl Pavano (16-10, 3.52).

In-game updates: The Indians led the Twins, 2-0, through six innings.

Matt LaPorta hit a two-out homer in the second for a 1-0 lead. He hit a hanging changeup for his 10th long ball.

Carmona escaped trouble in the third.

J.J. Hardy led off with a single. Drew Butera chopped to the mound, where Carmona triggered a double play. After Denard Span tripled to right, Orlando Hudson lined to third.

In the Tribe half of the third, Michael Brantley tripled to right with one out. The throw from relay man Hudson was in time but third baseman Danny Valencia failed to secure it. Asdrubal Cabrera grounded to first, where Michael Cuddyer made a dive toward the line, snagged the ball and held Brantley. Shin-Soo Choo walked and Travis Hafner whiffed.

The Indians made it 2-0 in the fifth. Jason Donald singled and moved to third on Lou Marson's double.  After Michael Brantley lined out to second, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to left. Delmon Young caught the ball in foul territory near the railing and had no shot at Donald.

Carmona gave up three hits and walked one. He retired the side in order in a stress-free sixth.

Pregame notes: Twins designated hitter Jim Thome's pursuit of eighth place alone on the all-time homers list will be put on hold for at least another day.

Thome is not in the lineup for a second consecutive game because of a mild abdominal strain. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said this afternoon that he hopes Thome will be able to play Saturday night.

Gardenhire ruled out Thome for pinch-hitting tonight.

Thome is tied with Frank Robinson for eighth in Major League Baseball history with 586 homers. He has a three-game homer streak, having gone deep twice Saturday and once Monday and Tuesday. He had a scheduled day off Sunday and was a late scratch Wednesday because of the abdomen.

Thome has reached base in 11 of his last 12 plate appearances. He leads the Twins with 22 homers.  

Here are some other nuggets concerning Thome, a 13th-round pick by Cleveland in 1989:

 *Six seasons of 40-plus homers.

 *Career .294 hitter with 477 homers, .430 OBP and .617 SLG against right-handed pitchers.

 *Career .330 hitter with 30 homers, .809 OBP and .798 SLG after 3-0 count.

 *Indians franchise leader with 334 homers.

 *Career .254 hitter with 18 homers and 51 RBI in 70 games against Indians.

 *Career .307 hitter with 185 homers in 662 games at Jacobs/Progressive Field.

 *Amassed 190 homers over four-year span, 2001-2004.

 *Hit 511-foot homer off Kansas City's Don Wengert on July 3, 1999, at Jacobs Field -- longest HR by an Indian in a Cleveland ballpark. Hit 480-footer off Kansas City's Sean O'Sullivan on Sept. 6, 2010, at Target Field -- longest HR at Target Field, which opened this season.

 *Home run No. 500 was a walkoff (White Sox beat Angels, Sept. 16, 2007).

 *Has hit 17 homers in 64 postseason games.

 *2002 Roberto Clemente Award.

 *2006 American League Comeback Player of the Year.
     
  Keep working: The Indians will send 50 players, including their top pick from each of the last two drafts, to the Arizona Instructional League on Wednesday. They will play a 14-game schedule, Sept. 22 through Oct. 14.

  Left-hander Drew Pomeranz and right-hander Alex White will be among the players attending. Pomeranz was the Indians No.1 pick this year, while White was their No.1 pick last year.

  New gig: Cord Phelps, Columbus' second baseman, has been picked for Team USA's Pan-Am roster. They begin play in Puerto Rico on Oct. 1.

 O-Dog rules: Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson has reached safely via hit or walk in 15 straight games.

 Car parts: Carmona has lost six straight starts. 

 Lineups:

 Twins (83-57) -- 1. Denard Span cf; 2. Orlando Hudson 2b; 3. Joe Mauer dh; 4. Jason Kubel rf; 5. Michael Cuddyer 1b; 6. Delmon Young lf; 7. Danny Valencia 3b; 8. J.J. Hardy ss; 9. Drew Butera c; and Pavano.

 Indians (57-83) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Travis Hafner dh; 5. Jayson Nix 3b; 6. Matt LaPorta 1b; 7. Trevor Crowe lf; 8. Jason Donald 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Carmona.

 Umpires: P -- Paul Nauert; 1b -- Angel Campos; 2b -- Brian Gorman; 3b -- Tony Randazzo.

Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has confidence in his system after a year in the job under his belt -- and an office down the hall from team President Mike Holmgren.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll isn't timid about seeking advice from Browns President Mike Holmgren.

BEREA, Ohio — Certain circumstances have a way of improving an offensive coordinator's outlook on his team. Brian Daboll is in his second year leading the Browns offense, and heading into Sunday's season opener in Tampa, Fla., he admits to feeling more comfortable. Time and experience are factors that cannot be duplicated.

So, too, is having one of the shrewdest offensive minds in the game move into an office down the hallway.

"Not a lot of guys have that where if you're curious as to how you want to run a route or what's going to be successful, can walk down the hallway and ask [team president] Mike Holmgren," coach Eric Mangini said Friday. "That's pretty good."

Daboll hasn't worn a path in the carpet yet in his treks to Holmgren's office, but he also hasn't been afraid to ask the Browns' new leader for advice.

"I don't keep the tally marks up, but anytime if I need to ask him about a certain thing, I have no hesitation doing that," Daboll said.

A mixture of experience and that experienced offensive advice have given Daboll renewed confidence in a Browns offense that last season ranked last among the NFL's 32 teams in total yards.

View full sizePDMike Holmgren

Through four preseason games, the Browns bumped their total offensive yards to 331.2 per game, good for ninth in the league. Most notably, the passing game, led by quarterback Jake Delhomme improved to 227.8 yards per game (11th in NFL), up from 129.8 (32nd in NFL).

When the regular season begins Sunday against the Buccaneers, Daboll will have an experienced quarterback running a system he believes will be more successful this year -- even if only for the ease he now feels calling the shots.

"Your first year is hard when you go from being a position coach to running a unit," Mangini said. "You have to run meetings, you have to put together a plan, you have to call the game in a very tight time frame, and you have to deal with all of the things that happen in a game. It's not an easy thing to just jump into."

Said Daboll: "I think anytime you get a year under your belt in any profession, you feel better about it. In the preseason games, just calling it and getting into the flow . . . I feel better, I do."

Haden's first game: Rookie defensive back Joe Haden will play his first regular-season game in the state where he played college football, and he already has jitters about it.

"I'm nervous for all the games, but this one especially," Haden said Friday. "This being my debut as a pro, then going back to Tampa, to Florida, all my friends from college will be there so that makes it really special."

Haden figures to play significant time, Mangini said, as the nickelback who will likely be on the field against a Buccaneers offense that often leans on its passing game.

The Browns hope to work Haden into their base defense, as well, and have confidence he'll soon be a regular in the lineup.

View full sizePDJoe Haden

"This guy gets better every day in practice," defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "The ball is starting to find him. He gets two or three interceptions everyday in practice. He's a unique guy because he can tackle so well. He's outstanding. Another smart, tough guy that we added on our defense.

"Really, he is going to be a special guy. There's no question. He's a humble guy that comes to work every day to get better, and man has he improved. He's jumped out and made great strides. He's going to play right away and look for him to do some great things in this ballgame."

Injury update: Right guard Shawn Lauvao sat out Friday's practice with a twisted ankle, and is doubtful for Sunday's game. Linebacker Marcus Benard (shoulder), defensive lineman Shaun Rogers (ankle) and offensive lineman Floyd Womack (knee) are questionable, and tight end Robert Royal (ankle) is probable.

Mangini said the right side of the offensive line could see any combination of John St. Clair, Womack and Tony Pashos.

"Pretty much we know each other's responsibilities," St. Clair said. "Everybody does that. Everybody's moving around. We have versatile guys, you can do more that way."

Safety Nick Sorensen, who suffered a concussion when he was knocked unconscious Aug. 28 in Detroit, practiced Friday for the first time since the injury. Though he's out for Sunday's game, he reported no repercussions after practice.

"It felt great," he said. "It's good to be back."

The Class AAA Columbus Clippers take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series with a 1-0 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Clippers 1, Yankees 0 Columbus took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five International league playoff series with a victory at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Columbus scored in the top of the eighth when Jose Constanza singled in Luke Carlin, who had doubled. Yohan Pino pitched seven innings of shutout ball for Columbus, yielding only one hit. He struck out six. Zach Putnam pitched a scoreless eighth and Vinnie Pestano pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up a save. Carlin's double was the only extra-base hit of the game. Yankees left fielder Justin Christian kept the game close by throwing out two Columbus base runners -- Ezequiel Carrera and Cord Phelps -- at the plate.

Notes: Game 4 in the series starts at 12:05 p.m. today, at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Dash 10, Indians 5 (12) Winston-Salem, N.C., scored five in the top of the 12th to defeat Kinston, N.C., and sweep the K-Tribe in the first round of the Carolina League playoffs. The Dash's winning rally included a home run, two doubles and a walk. Matthew Langwell was the losing pitcher, yielding four hits and three runs, all earned, in 2 1/3 innings.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 3, Whitecaps 2 Lake County scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to defeat West Michigan and win the best-of-three Midwest League playoff series, at Classic Park in Eastlake. The Captains' Jason Smit slugged a home run in the fifth. Starting pitcher Jason Knapp pitched five shutout innings to pick up the win. Preston Guilmet held the Whitecaps scoreless for the final 2 innings for the save. Both teams had seven hits, but the Captains were 3-5 with runners in scoring position, and the Whitecaps just 2-for-8.

Notes: The Captains begin play in the second round of the playoffs tonight. They will play host to the Great Lakes Loons at 6:30 p.m. in Classic Park in Eastlake. Great Lakes won its first round series Friday night, defeating Fort Wayne, Ind.

From the couch, keep your eyes on these aspects of today's game in Columbus.

View full sizeAl Diaz / Miami HeraldThe 6-3 Leonard Hankerson literally is a big test for Ohio State's secondary.

OSU's defensive backs when the ball is in the air

There's a spot on the field where Miami's offense may have edge today -- about 100 inches above the turf at Ohio Stadium.

The Hurricanes like to go deep, and with 6-3 receiver Leonard Hankerson against Ohio State cornerbacks Chimdi Chekwa (6-foot) and Devon Torrence (6-1), Miami has the chance to win the battles in the air.

"He does a good job of going up and adjusting to the football," Chekwa said of Hankerson, "and he's got good speed. He's a threat, and he'll be a challenge to cover."

Chekwa and Torrence have plenty of speed, but finding the ball and then challenging receivers hasn't always been their strong suit. Chekwa said Hankerson lined up all over the field last week against Florida A&M, so both should have chances to cover him. They'll need help from safeties Jermale Hines and C.J. Barnett, who also are a bit untested in coverage.

View full sizeChimdi Chekwa

"We need to make sure we have great body control," OSU safeties coach Paul Haynes said, "and be ready to jump. Because those guys are going to jump and throw it up, and we need to be athletic and be ready to go."

Hankerson led the Hurricanes with 45 catches for 801 yards and six touchdowns last season. He caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. Travis Benjamin (5-11), LaRon Byrd (6-4) and Aldarius Johnson (6-3) make up the rest of a Miami receiving group that is at its best on play action, after the Hurricanes try to suck in a defense to defend the run. Barnett, a sophomore making his second career start, has to ensure he's not vulnerable to this.

"We need to have great eye control and discipline on what you're supposed to be looking at," Haynes said. "That's something that you've always got to work on."

The Buckeyes can't afford to be looking up and watching Hankerson come down with too many catches.

OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor's first series

How will Miami defend him? Pressure him extra? Spy him with a linebacker? Will Pryor be calm and collected or hyped-up?

Remember, the Buckeyes scored on their first drive of the Rose Bowl, as Pryor scrambled for 24 yards on the third play and was 5-for-8 passing, including the touchdown to Brandon Saine.

Pryor said earlier this week he might go back and rewatch Ohio State's loss to Purdue last year as motivation, "just to notice that feeling of losing," Pryor said. "I don't want to feel that."

How ready will he be, and how ready are the Hurricanes for him?

OSU's offensive line on field goals and extra points

OSU coach Jim Tressel said that when Marshall's Johnny Jones blocked a field-goal attempt last week that was returned for Marshall's touchdown, and also tipped an extra-point attempt that still was good, it gave Jones six tipped kicks in his career. What did Ohio State do wrong on the left side of the line?

"We just didn't block the guy," Tressel said. "We let him come through and get his hand up."

So there's no adjustment to the blocking scheme, according to Tressel. Just in case, watch the first few OSU kicks a little more closely than usual.

Former OSU recruit Seantrel Henderson

Pursued by the Buckeyes, the Minnesota native chose USC but was released from the school after the Trojans were hit with NCAA sanctions. The freshman is now the third-string right tackle, wearing No. 77, but he received a decent number of snaps last week while the No. 2 tackle, Jermaine Johnson, was out with an injury. Johnson is expected back this week, so if you do see Henderson, things probably aren't going as planned for the Hurricanes.

The hang time on Miami's punts

Tressel said Matt Bosher, who is both the Hurricanes' kicker and punter, has extraordinary hang time on his punts, in the range of 4.8 seconds. So try to count to five while the ball is in the air, or just pay attention to how much room to run OSU punt returner Jordan Hall does or doesn't have.

Hall didn't call for a fair catch and took an immediate hit after receiving one punt against Marshall, so keep an eye on his decision-making if the coverage is right in his face.