Cleveland Browns wide receivers coach Joker Phillips is confident that Terrelle Pryor is all in at his new position. "He's very, very talented -- and talent wins ballgames,'' said Phillips. Watch video

Berea, Ohio -- Browns receivers coach Joker Phillips got the answer he was looking for from Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor during their initial conversation.

"I heard it in his voice the first time I talked to him over the phone that he really wants to be a wide receiver,'' said Phillips. "I'm sure everybody heard it. It was the thing: 'Does this kid really want to be a wide receiver? Is he buying into it.' There's no doubt about that.  He's all in. The guy's starving to be taught the techniques.''

Phillips also knew this wasn't just a passing fancy when he the former quarterback working out so hard at the Randy Moss Academy with Moss, Antonio Brown, Josh Gordon, Mike Evans and Josh McCown.

"You don't do the things he did in a short period of time (if you're not serious),'' said Phillips at Browns training camp Sunday. "He wasted no time. He got with some guys, some guys that really know the position and went to work.''

By the first day of practice, when Pryor strutted out onto the field looking the part and fitting right in, Phillips knew it was a worthwhile venture.

 "What gives me hope and excitement is just watching him on the first day,'' said Phillips, who played receiver for the Redskins in the mid-80s.  "He's very, very talented and he's willing.''

Even coach Mike Pettine had to admit Sundays that Pryor, who at almost 6-5 is towering over most of the other receivers, has exceeded expectations over the first four days of camp.

"He doesn't look out of place,'' said Pettine. "It's still very early, too early to tell, but he does not look out of place. He does some good things. He is just behind from the learning standpoint and the subtleties of playing receiver. If you had asked where he would be at this point, I would think we would all agree he is ahead of where we thought he would be."

But can Pryor close the gap quickly enough to make the 53-man roster and contribute this season?

"It's hard to say right now,'' said Phillips. "I'm not going to put that kind of pressure on him or myself. I can tell you this, he's very, very -- and I'll say it two times -- very, very talented. There's no question about that. The guy's talented, and talent wins ball games. Now, we've got to challenge that talent with the techniques that we have and give him a chance to be successful out wide.''

Phillips, a first-year NFL assistant, listed the things he needs to see to christen Pryor an NFL receiver.

"Well, we've got to see him put his face on people in the blocking game,'' he said. "He's got to be able to play some of the special teams, and coming from a quarterback he's never played any special teams, but I think the guy's a tough kid, there's no doubt about that. If you've got some toughness and you're willing, which he is, that gives you a chance.''

Phillips will also need to see him beat press-man coverage before he can fully endorse him.

"Yes, no doubt, because one thing about him, he is a big man, and he's a long-strider and long strides don't help you get off press coverage,'' he said. "Fast feet help you get off and strong hands, which we already talked about he has, and being physical which I think he is versus the press. So we're just trying to get him to use his size and his quicks. The first release that we had, I wasn't really sure if he understood how to turn his feet over and use his hands  -- and it was like he had done it forever. And the next one, it was like he hadn't ever done it. So he's just got to learn to be consistent at doing all the techniques.''

Phillips stressed that Pryor has to work primarily on the nuances of the position.

"Terrelle's got a million little things that he's got to get better on, but  we have time,'' said Phillips. "He's getting a lot of reps technique-wise out here and sometimes it's frustrating for him because he's not getting a lot of reps in 11-on-11, but the technique thing is what I'm evaluating him on right now.''

Pryor, who's been working primarily with the third-team offense, did get summoned onto the field for one first-team rep, on which he went one-on-one down the right sideline with two-time Pro Bowler Joe Haden. Josh McCown's pass fell far short, indicating Pryor was probably supposed to come back for the ball.

"I had to pull somebody from the sideline because one of our guys ran a deep route and he was the first person I saw,'' said Phillips. "That's the only reason he got the first-team rep. Again, they all are first-team right now. Everybody's trying to learn and earn a position.''

The possible miscue reinforced the notion that Pryor is a work in progress -- despite the fact his potential is intriguing.

 "One rep it looks like he's been there all of his life and one rep it looks like he's never been there,'' Phillips. "We've just got to get him consistent in what he's doing and he'll be fine.''

One thing working in Phillips' favor is the fact that Pryor has played in offensive coordinator John DeFilippo's system before, albeit as a quarterback, and knows if by rote.

"There isn't a lot of teaching,'' said Phillips. "I don't have to coach the alignments. I don't have to coach assignments. I don't have to coach adjustments. All I can coach is technique on the young man, and he's really willing. I'm just trying to teach him our techniques and how to play the game.''

When Phillips isn't coaching him up, Pryor's teammates are. He worked one-on-one with Haden before practice Sunday.

"This group tries to help everybody, and I really enjoy that,'' said Phillips. "The defensive backs are doing it with Terrelle, grabbing him before practice, and all we want is a guy that can help us win games here. That's the main goal.''

Pryor, who played receiver as a freshman in high school, has caught mostly everything that's come his way in camp. He hasn't gotten many opportunities, but he's made the most of them.

"He's handled the ball, obviously (as a quarterback), and I think he has really, really good ball skills, has really strong hands,'' said Phillips. "He's able to pluck the ball. He's not a body catcher, although I'm never going to complain for a guy catching a ball in his body, but he's not that. He's got really natural ball skills. His hand placement is correct the majority of the time. That's not the issue. I don't have to coach that. I have to coach the techniques and running routes and how to carry yourself outside.''

Pryor has also proven a willing blocker, tying up rookie safety Ibraheim Campbell to help spring running back Shaun Draughn for more yards Sunday.

"He covers you up,'' said Phillips. "The guy's a 6-foot-5 guy that's blessed with a great body, and all we want him to do is put his body on someone, and it's hard for defensive backs to see or work around him because he's so big.''

Pryor, who runs the 40 in the low 4.3s, has already made the adjustment to the increased running at his new position. Now, he must figure out how to foil the likes of Haden and Tramon Williams and he could be a force at some point this season.

"This guy knows the offense, okay?'' said Phillips. "He's trying to learn some new techniques, but those techniques aren't difficult. We break them down into stages, and I think that will allow him to learn them in a hurry.''

A quick study, Pryor's chances of making the team increase every day.

Cody Allen had two outs in the 10th inning when he gave up a game-winning double to Oakland's Mark Canha.

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Indians offense, minus departed Brandon Moss and David Murphy and injured Jason Kipnis, didn't do much Sunday afternoon at O.co Coliseum.

Check that, they did score a run against Sonny Gray, which is akin to seeing Haley's Comet, but then they went into a deep slumber.

The A's weren't much better until Mark Canha scored Sam Fuld from first base on a two-out double in the 10th inning for a 2-1 victory over the Indians. Cody Allen (1-3) gave up the game-winning hit.

Allen retired the first two batters he faced before Fuld singled to center. He fell behind Canha, who sent a 3-1 pitch to the wall in left center to end it.

The A's came into the game hitting .170 against the Indians this season. Starter Trever Bauer didn't stray from that theme until the fifth when he temporarily got his wires crossed.

The first two batters went down on line drives before Bauer, who came into the game tied for the AL lead in walks, started doing it again. He walked No.8 hitter Eric Sogard and No.9 hitter Marcus Semien on eight pitches.

Bauer threw two quick strikes past Billy Burns before the count spun to 2-2. Burns lined the next pitch into left field for a single to tie the score at 1-1. Once again Bauer jumped ahead in the count, this time against Fuld, before working the count full and issuing his fourth walk of the inning.

Finally, Canha, pinch-hitting for injured Josh Reddick (back spasms), popped out to third to end the inning. Bauer threw 36 pitches in the fifth, including 19 balls.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Jerry Sands with the bases loaded. In three previous starts against the Indians, Gray allowed one run in 21 innings.

Chisenhall and Michael Brantley started the mini-rally with walks. Carlos Santana blooped a single into center field as Chisenhall carefully went to third thinking the ball might be caught.

Sands, in his first start since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on Friday, skied a ball to center to deliver Chisenhall. It gave Sands seven RBI in 11 games.

Bauer and Gray pitched to a standoff.

In 6 2/3 innings, Bauer allowed one run on four hits. He struck out six, walked four and threw 114 pitches.

Gray allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. He struck out seven, walked four, but threw only 96 pitches. Gray, in 28 innings against the Indians, has allowed two runs, with 11 walks and 29 strikeouts.

What it means

The Indians are 2-2 on this seven-game trip. The loss meant they dropped the season series to the A's, 4-3.

The loss makes the Tribe 15-12 against the AL West and 28-24 on the road.

Long and short of it

Bauer, after throwing 36 pitches in the fifth, needed 15 pitches to record his next five outs.

He retired the A's in order in the sixth on eight pitches. In the seventh, he recorded the first two outs on seven pitches before Semien ended his afternoon with a single.

Lonnie baseball

Chisenhall, in his first big-league start in the leadoff spot, walked, singled and walked in his first three plate appearances. The converted third baseman also turned in another good defensive game in right field.

In the fifth, he did a nice job tracking down a fly ball in foul territory by Reddick for the first out of the inning.

Kipnis did not play because of a sore right shoulder. He could be headed to the disabled list.

Starved for runs

The Indians are 11-43 when they score three or fewer runs. When they score four or more runs, they're 37-13.

If you're scoring at home the single by Mike Aviles in the 10th ended an 0-for-27 skid.

Quality arms

The Indians' rotation has turned in six straight games in which they've pitched at least 6 2/3 innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs. The stretch includes complete games by Bauer, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco.

Bauer has made two starts in that stretch, allowing three earned runs in 15 2/3 innings.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Oakland drew 21,458 fans Sunday to 0.co Coliseum. The four-game series between the two teams drew 81,829.

What's next?

The Indians open a three-game series against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium with Kluber (6-11, 3.44) facing LA right-hander Garrett Richards (10-8, 3.38) at 10:05 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.

Kluber will make his 23^rd start of the season. He's coming off a five-hitter against the Royals. This will be only Kluber's second start against the Angels.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mark Canha doubled to drive in Sam Fuld from first base with two outs in the 10th inning as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Cleveland Indians, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Fuld singled with two outs against Cody Allen. Canha socked a 3-1 fastball off the wall in left-center. Fuld easily beat...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mark Canha doubled to drive in Sam Fuld from first base with two outs in the 10th inning as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Cleveland Indians, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.

Fuld singled with two outs against Cody Allen. Canha socked a 3-1 fastball off the wall in left-center. Fuld easily beat the relay.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Injury concern: Tribe All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis did not play because of a sore right shoulder.

Bitter pills: The Indians, who slipped to 48-56, lost the final two of a four-game series against a fellow bad team. The Athletics are 47-59.

Offensive offense: Tribe bats produced a total of seven runs in 37 innings in the series. The Indians won, 3-1 and 2-1 and lost 5-1 and 2-1.

Fast fact: Since June 1, the Indians rank last in the majors with 174 runs. (Stat courtesy of MLB.com's Indians beat writer, Jordan Bastian.)

Bauer power: Tribe right-hander Trevor Bauer allowed one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six.

Bauer needed to be sharp because Oakland's starter was righty Sonny Gray, one of MLB's best.

A case can be made that Bauer's outing should have been scoreless and, by extension, the game should not have gotten to extra innings. Bad umpiring is to blame.

With two outs in the Oakland fifth and the Tribe leading, 1-0, Bauer walked No. 8 batter Eric Sogard in four pitches and No. 9 Marcus Semien in four pitches.

Back-to-back walks to the Nos. 8-9 batters can't happen. Bauer created the problem, not the Athletics. Still, he should have been allowed to escape.

Bauer got ahead of lefty Billy Burns, 0-2, and threw a nasty curve in the dirt. In real time, Burns appeared to chase. Bauer and catcher Roberto Perez thought Burns chased. But third-base umpire Stu Scheurwater, on appeal, signaled no swing.

A side-angle replay confirmed that Scheurwater absolutely, positively missed the call. Burns blatantly committed the hands and the barrel to the ball; if Burns had made contact, he would have grounded to Bauer.

Three pitches later, Burns slapped a fastball to left for an RBI single.

Yes, Bauer should have been able to retire Burns even after the 0-2 pitch was not ruled a swing. But Bauer earlier had done his job and deserved better from Scheurwater, whose non-call ended up affecting the outcome of the game.

Tough customer: Gray allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out seven.

In four career starts against the Indians, Gray has allowed two runs in 28 innings. The dominance includes a two-hitter in a 2-0 victory July 12 in Cleveland.

The Indians could not be expected to beat Gray on Sunday with Kipnis sidelined and Nos. 5-9 in the lineup consisting of Jerry Sands, Giovanny Urshela, Roberto Perez, Michael Bourn and Mike Aviles. But they could be expected to score more than once in 10 innings.

Sands did notch a sacrifice fly against Gray and infield single against Edward Mujica. 

Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Gray's outing:

FIRST INNING

(L) Lonnie Chisenhall -- 92 fastball high; 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball low; 94 fastball low; 94 fastball low, walk.

Skinny: Gray struggled with release point and landing spot.

(L) Francisco Lindor -- 93 fastball called strike (Lindor showed bunt); 92 fastball high and away; 80 curve called strike; 85 slider, swinging strikeout (down and in).

Skinny: Lindor overmatched by two nasty breaking pitches.

(L) Michael Brantley -- 94 fastball called strike; 80 curve outside; 94 fastball low; 92 fastball outside; 94 fastball high, walk (Chisenhall was on the move).

(Athletics catcher Josh Phegley chats with Gray.)

(L) Carlos Santana -- 94 fastball foul; 87 changeup in dirt; 85 slider down and in (Santana checked in time); 94 fastball, single to center (bases loaded).

Skinny: Chisenhall did not read the bloop well enough to try to score.

(R) Jerry Sands -- 94 fastball inside (barely); 94 fastball high; (Athletics pitching coach Curt Young visits mound); 94 fastball called strike (outer third at knees); 94 fastball, sacrifice fly to center.

Skinny: Sands had a pitch to hit and did enough with it to drive in a run, which is a triumph for his team with the bases loaded.

Updated Tribe season stats with bases loaded: 12 walks, 11 sacrifice flies, 10 hits.

(R) Giovanny Urshela -- 94 fastball swinging strike (Urshela late); 93 fastball up and in; 94 fastball foul; 85 slider in dirt for wild pitch (Santana to second); 93 fastball, swinging strikeout.

Skinny: Urshela overmatched by the heaters. The first inning was the time to get to Gray, whose command and control were off, but the Tribe managed just one run.

SECOND INNING

(R) Roberto Perez -- 92 fastball low and away; 93 fastball, single to third.

Skinny: Chopped off plate.

(L) Michael Bourn -- 92 fastball down and away; curve called strike (outer third); 93 fastball, GIDP 6-3.

Skinny: Bourn helped Gray by chopping a pitch running down and away toward the bag, where Marcus Semien fielded.

(R) Mike Aviles -- 81 curve low; 93 fastball swinging strike (down and in); 92 fastball, fly to right.

Skinny: Aviles skid at 0-for-25. Gray settling in.

THIRD INNING

(L) Lonnie Chisenhall -- 92 fastball called strike (outer third); 88 changeup low; 93 fastball low; 93 fastball foul; 85 slider, single to right (off inside corner above knees).

Skinny: Excellent barrel awareness by Chisenhall, who fought off a good pitch and broke bat).

(L) Francisco Lindor -- 92 fastball inside (Lindor show bunt); 92 fastball, bunt fielder's choice, 5-4.

Skinny: Gray provided a good pitch to bunt, but Lindor was unable to deaden it. Brett Lawrie pounced and threw to second in plenty of time to erase Chisenhall.

(L) Michael Brantley -- 80 curve low; 93 fastball outside; 89 off-speed called strike; 87 off-speed foul; 93 fastball foul; 86 slider foul (down and in); 93 fastball, swinging strikeout (off outside corner at belt).

Skinny: Gray got away with missing his spot on the decisive fastball; Phegley wanted it down.

(L) Carlos Santana -- 81 curve called strike; 79 curve called strike; 85 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt).

Skinny: Gray, remembering Santana's AB, was going to make him hit the breaking pitch. Santana

FOURTH INNING

(R) Jerry Sands -- 90 fastball called strike (outer third at knees); 79 curve low; 79 curve, grounder to second.

Skinny: Eric Sogard made quality play behind bag.

(R) Giovanny Urshela -- 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 85 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt).

Skinny: Gray set up Urshela perfectly for the hammer. Urshela had no chance.

(R) Roberto Perez -- 80 curve called strike; 93 fastball outside; 92 fastball swinging strike; 92 fastball high; 93 fastball in dirt; 93 fastball down and in, walk.

Skinny: Gray rushed delivery three straight times after 1-2 count.

(L) Michael Bourn -- 93 fastball foul; 92 fastball foul; 84 curve, swinging strikeout (in dirt).

Skinny: Gray set up Bourn perfectly for the hammer. Bourn unable to check swing.

FIFTH INNING

(R) Mike Aviles -- 92 fastball foul; 92 fastball, foul fly to right.

(L) Lonnie Chisenhall -- 80 curve outside; 93 fastball in dirt; 93 fastball outside; 93 fastball down and in, walk.

Skinny: Gray showed plenty of respect for Chisenhall and his approach the past three games.

(L) Francisco Lindor -- 92 fastball foul; 81 curve outside; 93 fastball called strike (inside corner at knees); 92 fastball, GIDP 6-3.

Skinny: Lindor jammed by pitcher's pitch in hitter's count. Semien, as happened earlier in Bourn AB, fielded grounder near bag.

(Gray 78 total pitches)

SIXTH INNING

(L) Michael Brantley -- 92 fastball called strike; 81 curve, single to left.

Skinny: Brantley kept hands back and served pitch to left. 

(L) Carlos Santana -- 92 fastball inside; 92 fastball high; 93 fastball foul; 94 fastball, GIDP 3-6.

Skinny: Gray totally changed pattern against Santana and forced him to hit the fastball. The 2-1 pitch was available -- inner third above knees -- but Santana was unable to do damage.

(R) Jerry Sands -- 81 curve called strike (top of zone); 92 fastball, fly to center.

Skinny: Sands missed a pitch to hit: over plate at thighs.

SEVENTH INNING

(R) Giovanny Urshela -- 92 fastball called strike; 85 curve swinging strike; 85 curve in dirt; 86 curve foul (down and away); 86 curve, swinging strikeout (down and away).

Skinny: Urshela's long day (0-for-3, three strikeouts) and series (1-for-13) continued.

(R) Roberto Perez -- 94 fastball, grounder to short.

(L) Michael Bourn -- 91 fastball outside; 94 fastball low and away; 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball, fly to center.

Skinny: Bourn missed a pitch to hit: inner half above knees.

Games to forget: Urshela and Lindor, the first-year major leaguers on the left side of the Cleveland infield, were a combined 0-for-9 with one GIDP and five strikeouts.

*Shortstop Lindor was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and the GIDP.

With runners on second and third and two outs in the 10th, Lindor faced righty Fernando Rodriguez. Lindor vs. Rodriguez needs to favor the Tribe -- anytime, anywhere.

Lindor got ahead in the count, 2-0, with Michael Brantley on deck. Rodriguez threw a fastball that was up, but Lindor was too eager, took a mighty cut and missed. Even if it is a high strike, it is a pitcher's pitch. After a foul and a ball, Lindor swung and missed to the delight of Rodriguez.

*Third baseman Urshela was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

There is no shame in getting carved by Gray, but Urshela committed a mental error against Mujica in the ninth. With a runner on first and two outs, Urshela chopped toward third, where Brett Lawrie mishandled the ball. In Urshela's first 15-plus feet  out of the box, he watched the play unfold as he ran. The several tenths of seconds of speed lost proved costly because Lawrie recovered and threw him out by a half-step.

Urshela went 1-for-14 in the series.

The Indians' offense scored seven runs in this four-game series against the A's. They were fortunate to come away with a split because of some excellent pitching. But good pitching couldn't save them in Sunday's 2-1 loss.

OAKLAND, Calif. - There are three key ingredients to winning baseball games -- pitching, defense and offense.

The Indians can hold their own in the first two categories. When it comes to offense, they can't hold anything, especially a lead.

In Sunday's 2-1 loss to the A's in 10 innings at O.co Coliseum, the Indians scored their only run in the first inning. They manufactured nine zeroes after that.

They've scored the fewest runs in the big leagues since June 1 with 174. They've scored three or fewer runs in 52 percent (54-for-104) of their games this season.

"We scored seven runs this series and we're probably fortunate we split," said manager Terry Francona. "We have to do a better job of manufacturing or scoring runs. We're getting good pitching . . .we've got to win those games."

It's not going to be easy.

Last week the Indians traded two of their better hitters in David Murphy and Brandon Moss. Jason Kipnis, the best hitter still on the roster, is probably headed to the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

Tightrope: The lack of offense has required the Tribe's starting pitchers to walk the razor's edge in almost every game.

Trevor Bauer allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings Sunday and it was one run too many.

Bauer lost a 1-0 lead in the fifth when he walked two batters on eight pitches and gave up a game-tying single to Billy Burns. All that happened with two outs.

Asked about pitching when there is no room for error, Bauer said, "I don't think it's anymore taxing than any other inning. If you have clean innings, they're easy innings. If you have people on base, they're taxing innings.

"I don't think it has anything to do with good run support or bad run support, offense or defense. If you make good pitches, you have clean innings and they're not stressful."

Bauer did think there were a couple of checked swings during the fifth that should have been strikes.

"I thought one of them was for sure a strike," said Bauer. "I looked at them on video. Any time you can see the full barrel facing you on the mound, it's got to be a strike. But I need to not walk three people. That was the main issue.

"I get two quick outs, walk three people and gift them a run. It cost us a chance to win."

Good work: The Indians promoted Jerry Sands from Class AAA Columbus on Friday and he made his first start Sunday.

Sands drove in the Indians only run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and did a nice job at first base.

"Jerry has actually been better defensively, whether it has been in right field or first base, than we anticipated coming in," said Francona. "He's worked so hard, moves around well and has good actions."

Lead the way: Lonnie Chisenhall batted leadoff with Kipnis unavailable Sunday. It was his first game in the leadoff spot.

He walked twice, scored a run and singled in his first three plate appearances. If the Indians have to put Kipnis on the disabled list, Francona isn't sure who he'll hit at the top of the lineup.

He could go back to Michael Bourn or use rookie Francisco Lindor. Jose Ramirez, currently at Columbus, might be an option.

Bourn started the season in the leadoff spot, but lost the job to Kipnis.

The Akron RubberDucks got rattled early and were unable to regroup, losing, 7-2, to the Curve in a Class AA Eastern League game Sunday at Altoona, Pa. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak. Akron took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from outfielder Carlos Moncrief, but it didn't last long. After getting the first...

The Akron RubberDucks got rattled early and were unable to regroup, losing, 7-2, to the Curve in a Class AA Eastern League game Sunday at Altoona, Pa.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak.

Akron took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from outfielder Carlos Moncrief, but it didn't last long. After getting the first two batters out in the bottom of the first, Akron starter Jordan Cooper gave up a double then walked two straight batters. Altoona first baseman Hunter Morris then cleared the bases with a double to center field, giving the Curve a 3-1 lead.

The Curve increased its lead to 4-1 in the second inning with a solo homer from third baseman Edward Salcedo.

An RBI single from RubberDucks outfielder Jordan Smith made it 4-2, but Akron would get no closer, getting shut out over the final six innings.

It was a rough outing for Cooper (0-3, 5.18 ERA), who gave up six runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Curve starter Steven Brault (5-3, 3.21) went six innings, giving up two runs on four hits.

The RubberDucks had only five hits for the game, with Moncrief and Smith each getting two hits. Second baseman Todd Hankins got the other RubberDucks hit.

Akron is off Monday, then plays three games at Harrisburg, Pa., beginning Tuesday. The RubberDucks return to Canal Park on Friday to face Portland.

Conklin has gone from a walk-on to a potential All-American. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The running countdown of the Northeast Ohio Media Group's top 50 Big Ten football players for the 2015 season.

No. 3, Jack Conklin, Michigan State

Junior offensive tackle, 6-foot-6, 317 pounds

* On Twitter: @Jack_Conklin74

* See players No. 50 through No. 31

* See players No. 30 through No. 11

* See players No. 10 through No. 1 

* What he's done: Gone from a walk-on to one of the best offensive tackles in the country. He's the third Michigan State player in our top 10, joining quarterback Connor Cook (No. 6) and defensive end Shilique Calhoun (No. 9).

Conklin has 26 career starts, the last 23 at left tackle. And here's what makes him so dominant: In 27 career games, he's allowed 2.5 sacks. He was Second-Team All-Big Ten last year along with Ohio State's Taylor Decker, who came in at No. 4 on this list. Conklin landed on various First-Team Freshman All-American lists in 2013.

Conklin was No. 40 on the Lansing State Journal's list of the 50 best Michigan State football players ever.

* How he got here: You read that right. Conklin came to Michigan State as a walk-on in the 2012 recruiting class. He didn't even have a star rating on recruiting site 247Sports.com.

Prep school looked like it was going to be the route, and Conklin had plans to enroll at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy -- the same prep school that helped mold Ohio State's Cardale Jones and Michael Thomas -- in the fall of 2012. At that time, Conklin had a partial scholarship offer from Division II Wayne State, and some minor interest from Wisconsin that never turned into an offer.

Before enrolling at Fork Union, Conklin was offered a walk-on spot at Michigan State with the promise of a scholarship in 2013.

* What's ahead: Michigan State might have the best offensive line in the country, Conklin is unquestionably its best player. He was named a Second-Team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele, and certainly looks like he'll put together an All-American season in 2015.

The question is where Conklin could land in the 2016 NFL Draft should he choose to come out early. There were some minor rumblings that he might come out last year, but that didn't happen. Now he's one of the top tackle prospects in the country.

Steele has him fourth-best draft-eligible tackle behind Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil, Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley and Decker. Any of those guys could play their way to being the first tackle off the board in April. ESPN's Todd McShay has Conklin as the No. 14 pick in his early mock draft.

Elsewhere

* How Conklin got overlooked as a recruit

* What Conklin worked on in spring drills

During cleveland.com’s media day event, we asked Northeast Ohio football players and coaches to tell us their least favorite things about two-a-days.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – There’s a lot to like about high school football two-a-day practices. They signal the beginning of the football season and let us know that games are just a few weeks away.

But if you’ve ever gone through two-a-days, you might have a different outlook.

During cleveland.com’s media day event, we asked Northeast Ohio players and coaches to tell us their least favorite things about two-a-days. Heat, long days and early alarms were among the most common gripes about the annual preseason ritual, which began across Ohio on Aug. 1.

Check out the video below for a look at some of the other responses.

If you are going through – or have gone through – two-a-days as a high school football player or coach, let us know what your least favorite thing was. Share your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post. 

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter (@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Indians, after losing in extra innings on Sunday, 2-1, to Oakland, will try to generate more offense against the Angels.

Where: Angel Stadium.

Who: Indians vs. Angels, Monday through Wednesday.

TV/Radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM AM/1100 and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the series.

Pitching matchups: RHP Corey Kluber (6-11, 3.44) vs. RHP Garrett Richards (10-8, 3.38) Monday at 10:05 p.m.; RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-8, 4.03) vs. RHP Matt Shoemaker (5-7, 4.24) Tuesday at 10:05 p.m. and RHP Danny Salazar (9-6, 3.47) vs. LHP Hector Santiago (7-5. 2.70) at 3:35 p.m.

Season Series: The Indians and Angels are meeting for the first time this season. The Angels lead, 392-298, overall.

Monday: Kluber is coming off a complete-game five-hitter against the Royals. He's 0-1 against the Angels. LA infielder Conor Gillaspie is hitting .364 (8-for-22) against Kluber.

Richards has lost two straight and three of his last four starts.

Tuesday: Carrasco is coming off a one-hitter against the A's on Thursday. He's 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in six appearances against the Angels. Mike Trout is hitting .333 (1-for-3) with two RBI.

Shoemaker is 1-0 in his last two starts, throwing 13 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts. Lonnie Chisenhall is hitting .667 (2-for-3) against him.

Wednesday: Salazar allowed one hit and an unearned run in eight innings in his last start. He's 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts against the Angels. Kole Calhoun is hitting .667 (2-for-3) with one home against Salazar.

Santiago has won three of his last five starts. He's 2-1 with a 4.97 ERA in 10 appearances against the Indians. Michael Brantley is hitting .375 (3-for-8) with one homer and two RBI against Santiago.

Overall: The Indians are 2-2 on this West Coast trip. The Angels, who have lost six straight and recently fell out of first place in the AL West, are powered by Albert Pujols and Trout. They are on pace to become the first Angel duo to hit 40-plus homers in the same season.

Injuries: Indians -- LHP Nick Hagadone (left elbow, back), DH Nick Swisher (knees), RHP Gavin Floyd (right elbow) and RHP Josh Tomlin (right shoulder) are on the disabled list. Jason Kipnis (right shoulder) day to day. Angels - LF Matt Joyce (concussion), LHP C.J. Wilson (left elbow), 3B David Freese (right index finger), RHP Jered Weaver (left hip), LHP Tyler Skaggs (left elbow) and LF Colin Cowgill (right wrist) are on the disabled list.

Next: The Twins visit Progressive Field on Friday to open a three-game series.

See DeMann Wilson's entry in cleveland.com's new summer-long series of interactive and multimedia football player profile pages covering NCAA recruiting and high school careers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Welcome to another edition of cleveland.com's new summer-long series of interactive and multimedia football player profile pages covering NCAA recruiting and high school careers.

The series – Top Targets: NEO’s Best NCAA Recruiting Prospects – will feature 50 dynamic player pages on the biggest football recruits in the region. Look for recruiting profile pages on elite boys and girls basketball players later in the school year, too.

Today's featured athlete, with the debut of his player page, is Glenville linebacker and defensive end DeMann Wilson.

Player pages include many separate posts. Content includes photo galleries, videos, college offers, career stats, key content about the player by cleveland.com and other media outlets and much more about the prospect on and off the football field.

These pages are rolling out with one posted every Monday through Saturday continuing until Thursday, Aug. 27, the first night games will be played.

Each day there also will be a post like this one with links to find all of the player profile pages that have been published to date. Click on the player’s name below for a direct link to his page. You can also see the most recent football news on the cleveland.com football page. 

Links to every player page to date:

DeMann Wilson, Glenville: The senior Tarblooder could make for a interesting story this season with no offers on the table, but talent to show. According to Scout.com, Ohio State, Purdue and Pitt have expressed interest in having Wilson. The senior linebacker and defensive end has given opposing quarterbacks and linemen problems standing at 6-3 and weighing in at 215-pounds.

Jonah Morris, Archbishop Hoban: The Knights senior ranks among Northeast Ohio's tallest top targets at 6-foot-4, with quickness and elusiveness to match his stature. Morris had a breakout season in 2014 and committed earlier this year to Michigan State. He stands to put up even more impressive numbers in 2015 with the addition of quarterback Danny Clark (an Ohio State commit) to the Hoban lineup.

Joey Johnson, John Adams: The senior athlete plays on both sides of the football and remains a player still under the radar. Johnson is projected to do really well this season and has attracted interested from a handful of MAC schools so far. Last season he threw for 510 yards as a quarterback, but on defense had 17 total tackles. Johnson is quiet on the field, but his play on the field speaks loudly.

Niko Lalos, St. Vincent-St. Mary: The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder impressed in his first full season on varsity last season. The senior did some of his best work on defense where he recorded 61 tackles, including a couple of sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. In addition to defensive end and and linebacker, Lalos is also likely to see a fair amount of playing time at wide receiver and tight end this year. 

Joey Bachie, Berea-Midpark: The senior linebacker and Michigan State recruit is the anchor of Berea-Midpark's defense with the speed to be a disruptive force. Bachie attacks the play well defensively and makes sure to finish each play effectively. With a 4.5-second 40-yard-dash time, Bachie is very athletic and is a true playmaker on defense.

Javonte Richardson, Maple Heights: At 6-foot-4, Richardson is a big target with great hands at receiver. He helped Maple Heights reach the postseason last year. Although his future is at receiver, he can play all over the field for the Mustangs. He has three Division I offers and Big Ten interest.

John Todd, Parma: The 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive tackle is touted as the best lineman from Parma in more than 30 years by coach Bruce Saban. He received his first Division I offer from Davidson, but after doing the summer camp circuit following his junior season, Todd is hopeful more offers come in. Excellent athleticism and footwork are Todd’s strengths. He graded out at more than 95 percent each game of his junior year.

Logan Bolin, Midview: The Middies' senior wide receiver has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was the top target of QB Dustin Crum in 2014 where he caught 87 passes for 1,410 yards and 18 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2, Bolin has the ability win one-on-one battles against most defensive backs, particularly in jump ball situations. Bolin has offers from Air Force and Davidson.

Tyrone Chambers, Brush: The Arcs' enormous defensive tackle has been on the recruiting radar since his sophomore season. He registered seven sacks and 35 tackles in 2014 and has drawn offers from Akron, Bowling Green and Toledo. Chambers, who has been scouted by nearly every Big Ten school, says he plans to visit Michigan State and Ohio State soon.

Terek Zingale, Nordonia: An overpowering tackle, Zingale was one of the reasons why Nordonia's offense clicked all the way to reaching the Division II state championship game last December. Colleges took notice of Zingale, and during the off-season, he verbally committed to Maryland.

Jatairis Grant, Akron Garfield: The rising senior is a back-to-back all-district member selling voters on his explosiveness as defensive back. The 6-foot-1 Toledo commit is quick and gives coaches a versatile player on the field. He received offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, James Madison, Kent State, Miami (OH) and Ohio University. He also plays receiver, punt returner and punter for the Rams.

Zach Corrigall, St. Vincent-St. Mary: Corrigall is a Kent State commit who prides himself on his relentless work ethic and willingness to always look for ways to improve various aspects of his game. His strength and dedication to his craft of protecting his quarterback and opening up holes for his running backs make him a cornerstone of the Irish's offense as the team looks to make another deep playoff run after a state semifinal appearance last year and state titles in 2012 and 2013. 

Dustin Crum, Midview: A sophomore in 2014, Crum helped lead Midview to a 12-1 record and had almost 4,500 yards of total offense. He threw for 3,323 yards and 39 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,175 yards and 17 scores. Crum is the type of quarterback who is just as capable of making plays with his legs as he is with his arm. With the Middies moving into the Southwestern Conference, Crum will be one of many top quarterbacks in the 10-team league.

Anthony Johnson Jr., Euclid: The transfer from Cleveland Heights is one of the top defensive back prospects in Ohio and holds nine Division I offers. Rated three stars by multiple recruiting services, Johnson is a tall defender able to cover man-to-man and make the big hit. He’s expected to make his college choice before the end of July, with his finalists narrowed down to Cincinnati, Kentucky and Toledo. He has offers from most Mid-American Conference schools.

Kierre Hawkins, Maple Heights: An Ohio State commit, Hawkins is the focal point of the Maple Heights offense. Although he is projected as a tight end or a receiver in college, Hawkins sees the majority of his work out of the backfield for the Mustangs. He helped take the team to the playoffs last season.

Carlos Chavis, Lorain: Now the focal running back on the team, Chavis could be in store for a huge junior year. In a limited role last season, he rushed for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has the ability to read the hole, while also taking it the distance at any given moment. Look for Chavis to start to get some offers during his junior campaign.

Cameron Odom, Bedford: The Ohio University commit is a speedy runner both on the track and on the football field. He can also catch the football. With Odom having such Bedford alumni members and pro football receivers such as Chris Chambers and Lee Evans, he's in good company to blossom as a wide out.

Tyler Tupa, Brecksville: Tupa, an Ohio commit, is a senior receiver with a knack for hauling in passes and finding the endzone. Tupa also has received scholarship offers from Kent State and Bowling Green. He's part of the Tupa family, which has experienced a lot of football success, including his father, Tom, who played in the NFL as a punter. Last season, Tyler Tupa had 17 receiving touchdowns for Brecksville.

Nick Sokolowski, Brecksville: The senior is a cornerstone of the Bees' defense and has begun to catch the attention of more college scouts but still is regarded as somewhat underrated. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end possesses quick feet and agility in addition to size and strength. He has a Division I offer from Bowling Green and has taken unofficial visits to Toledo and Cincinnati. Other big name schools such as Purdue also have expressed interest in what Sokolowski has to offer. 

Jack Wohlabaugh, Walsh Jesuit: Wohlabaugh, an Ohio State commit, is a heady and athletic interior lineman who finishes off every play. He is the son of former Browns center and nine-year NFL veteran Dave Wohlabaugh, and last season he displayed the savvy and leadership that comes with having a father who started 128 professional games. Wohlabaugh is nasty and aggressive, smart and strategic.

Tony Butler, St. Edward: The senior is the main holdover from a defensive backfield that dominated opponents during last season’s Division I state championship season. Originally a Pitt commit, he recently decommitted to pursue other offers. A rarity as a 6-foot-2 defensive back, Butler is a three-star prospect and likely to be the Eagles defender opposing quarterbacks try to avoid most this season.

Cole Gest, St. Edward: The three-star running back is undersized, but the Indiana commit has impressed talent evaluators with his speed and physicality. Heading into last season, it was the passing game of St. Edward that had opponents' focus, and Gest exploited them. This year, it will be the opposite as opposing defenses will add another defender in the box to try and stop the talented senior.

Jake Sopko, Avon: The senior quarterback committed to Cincinnati in May. He led the Eagles to a 10-2 record and the Division II regional semifinals last season, throwing for 2,864 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Northeast Lakes District selection.

Chawntez Moss, Bedford: The senior running back committed to Pittsburgh in April. Moss led the Bearcats in rushing last season, with more than 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, and was selected as a cleveland.com All-Star. Moss helped lead Bedford to a perfect regular season and playoff run that ended with a 34-32 loss to Mayfield in a Division II regional final.

Nik Urban, Willoughby South: The senior offensive guard committed to Northwestern in April. He opened eyes during a dominant junior season in which the cleveland.com All-Star selection's play helping allow teammate D.J. Greene to rush for 1,900 yards and 26 touchdowns. Urban has 10 offers in all, including fellow Big Ten members Illinois and Maryland. He is a consensus three-star prospect among the main national recruiting services. 

Luke Farrell, Perry: The senior TE has 14 Division I offers after three spectacular seasons for the Pirates. As a junior, Farrell caught 43 passes for 730 yards and six touchdowns, upping his career totals to 91 catches for 1,544 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a DE, he recorded 19 solo tackles and 21 assists last season as well as 10 sacks. He has 198 total tackles in over the last three seasons including 68 as a sophomore, of which 40 were solo tackles. Imposing size, speed and strength and the will to continue to improve on those aspects make Farrell a promising collegiate prospect. 

Demario McCall, North Ridgeville: The senior RB is an Ohio State commit after two outstanding full seasons for the Rangers. As a junior, McCall rushed for 2,302 yards and 35 touchdowns, and caught 14 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. He has 60 touchdowns in two seasons. McCall is a game-breaker because of his speed and elusiveness in the open field. Any time he touches the ball, he is a threat to get into the end zone.

A.J. Rose, Garfield Heights: The senior QB/RB holds more than 13 Division I offers, including Minnesota and Syracuse. Rose committed to Kentucky in February. Scouts like Rose's size and speed, combined with his ability to run through tacklers at the line of scrimmage. Last year, Rose rushed for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns while passing for more than 600 yards and 10 scores.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact Nathaniel Cline on Twitter (@nathanielcline), by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Which came first, the Cardale or the Zeke? It's the question begged by Ohio State's huge numbers running the ball in the postseason on the way to last season's College Football Playoff National Championship. The numbers are staggering - Ezekiel Elliott ran for a combined 696 yards against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon, averaging 232 yards per...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Which came first, the Cardale or the Zeke?

It's the question begged by Ohio State's huge numbers running the ball in the postseason on the way to last season's College Football Playoff National Championship. The numbers are staggering - Ezekiel Elliott ran for a combined 696 yards against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon, averaging 232 yards per game and 9.2 yards per carry.

That kind of performance might get some numbskulls theorizing about a 3,000-yard rushing season for a back.

Why did that happen? Specifically, was the presence of new quarterback Cardale Jones a primary contributing factor?

Elliott averaged 98.5 yards per game and 6 yards per carry in the 12 regular-season games in which J.T. Barrett started at quarterback. And that was against lesser competition. 

* Ohio State QB Hot List No. 3

So was Jones the difference? If so, that has to factor into the quarterback competition that will be engaged as the Buckeyes open preseason camp a week from now.

He wasn't. Jones did his job and did it remarkably well for a third-string quarterback thrust into the starting role. But he wasn't what made Elliott better.

When asked at Big Ten Media Days last week why Elliott went crazy in the postseason, Urban Meyer mentioned five players by name in his explanation: left guard Billy Price, left tackle Taylor Decker, receivers Devin Smith and Michael Thomas, and Elliott himself.

"I think it was a combination of the line and Zeke," Meyer said. "I'm not disrespecting Zeke, but a couple runs against Wisconsin, I could do that. I would have got caught, but they were opening up (holes). And Zeke would be the first one to tell you that."

The line by December and January had transformed from earlier in the year. That was obvious to all.

"Billy Price became a legitimate all-conference candidate by the end of the year. Beginning of the year he wasn't very good," Meyer said. "Taylor Decker went from being a very good player to a potential high draft pick.

"So I think the development of the offensive line was one. And I do believe Zeke got better. Zeke his freshman year was OK. I never envisioned him to be what he became. And that's all work. He's the best worker at tailback I've ever had, and he just got better and better and better."

So did Jones' arm have any effect?

"I think it was more the structure of the press coverage where they force you to go over the top a lot," Meyer said. "And Devin Smith early in the year was pretty good. He became ridiculous. So we just tried to gameplan as many possible ways ... to get him isolated on a safety. It was the development of Devin Smith. Mike Thomas also became more of a deep threat. Early in the year, who was our deep threat, we didn't really have much."

A lookback at the Michigan game (Barrett's last start, as he broke his ankle in the second half) and the Alabama game (Jones' second start, after he had some time to really get the full offense) doesn't show much difference in the defensive gameplan. The safeties were lined up 11 to 13 yards from the line of scrimmage in both games. And there were no runs against Alabama where it seemed obvious that hedging for the deep ball made Elliott's life easier.

In fact, maybe we've made too much of what happened with that postseason explosion. It may have been the same Elliott, with a few big runs.

Of course, you can't just take the big runs out and pretend they don't exist. Game planning those big plays, or wearing down defenses to create them, is the idea of the entire game.

But while Elliott ran for 230 yards on 20 carries against Alabama, he gained 139 of those yards on two carries. One was a 54-yard run in the first quarter that was all Elliott and his skill and speed, as he turned an average wide run, where initial contact was made at the line of scrimmage by a defender, into a scamper down the sideline because he hurdled a would-be tackler. Pure individual effort. No Jones effect.

The second run was the 85-yard touchdown that put the game away. On that one, he emerged from a pile, was aided by a block from receiver Evan Spencer that wiped out two defenders and then ran away from the secondary. There was a safety issue there - Jones had knocked All-American safety Landon Collins out of the game on the previous play with a big collision on a run, and his backup was timid and left chasing the play as Elliott raced to the endzone. 

But it wasn't a deep ball scheme issue.

Without those two runs, Elliott rushed 18 times for 91 yards. That looked remarkably like his Michigan game, Barrett's last start, when he ran 17 times for 121 yards, with a long run of 44 yards.

The point here isn't to downplay anything Elliott, Jones or Barrett did last season. The Buckeyes wouldn't be national champions without their high-level contributions.

The point is to assess Jones' arm strength in the quarterback battle ahead, and whether what he does for the run game will be a consideration for Meyer as he makes this choice.

"I heard the comments that Cardale is a much better down the field thrower," Meyer said in Chicago. "There might be some truth to that. But the way we call plays isn't our quarterback is pretty good at throwing deep, throw deep all the time.

"It's what the defense dictates. And it just so happened that for example, the Wisconsin game, they were bump-and-run man, they were forcing you to go over the top. If it's a soft zone, you work underneath.

"I think their skillset, other than the way they look, their skillsets aren't that far off."

So Elliott will be Elliott, and that might be the best running back in the country and a top Heisman candidate. But he shouldn't play into the quarterback battle.

Shane Wynn is the little man in camp but he's trying to make a big impression on his hometown team. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Shane Wynn is making a lot of players in the Browns locker room feel tall.

"This is the first time ever in my life I think I'm not the shortest receiver," said 5-foot-7-inch Andrew Hawkins. "And it is an awesome feeling."

Taylor Gabriel, who checks in at five feet, eight inches tall, just laughed when he was asked about towering over the undrafted rookie.

"He fits right in with some of our other smaller guys," said head coach Mike Pettine. "I was joking with (offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) that we can have an all-Smurf group out there."

"All I can do is look up to those guys," Wynn said unironically on Friday. "They're already where I'm trying to get to."

It didn't take Wynn, who is listed by the Browns as five feet, six inches tall, to learn that life as an undersized receiver isn't easy. He signed with Atlanta after going undrafted out of Indiana University on May 6. The Falcons waived him on June 18 and the Browns picked him up the next day.

"I don't know what happened in Atlanta. I got waived. I was just happy that the Browns picked me up," Wynn said. "I talked to the Browns throughout the draft process. I really liked it here."

"It definitely helps," said Wynn of playing on a team that features two receivers that have found success in the league at a lower altitude. "I can go to those guys and ask, 'How did you get open on this play? What did you do? What release did you do?' knowing that they have the same stature as me."

Even before Wynn signed with the Browns he was getting advice from Hawkins.

"I think he had been texting, doing something -- I don't know if he Skyped or whatever -- but he talked to (Hawkins)," wide receivers coach Joker Phillips said, "and he knew some of the things, some of the terminology, and that."

"When he was training for the draft, I was watching film on him and watching him run," said Hawkins, "and I sent him a message on Twitter. I said, 'Hey man, I really like your game. Keep working.' So we kind of had a relationship long before he was here.

"Shane has a lot of ability," said Hawkins, "and, like I said, he's also trying to soak everything in."

He's coming home

The other side of this for Wynn is that, after 48 games at Indiana where he finished his career tied for second in school history in receptions with 189 and seventh in receiving yards at 2,189, he's back in his hometown playing football again. Wynn was a member of the Glenville Tarblooders team that became the first Cleveland public school to play for a state championship in 2009. The Tarblooders lost to Hilliard Davidson, 16-15, on a two-point conversion with 1:04 left in the game.

Shane Wynn was part of a Glenville team that became the first Cleveland public school to play for a state championship.Joshua Gunter, Plain Dealer file photo 

His quarterback on that team was current Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones, whose own star has risen dramatically since the two came within a minute of a state championship together.

"I talk to Cardale every day," Wynn said when asked if he follows his former teammate's career.

Jones, who many Browns fans dream of seeing on their practice field one day, was in attendance at training camp on Saturday morning to see Wynn. He was asked how close the two were.

"Pretty close," Jones said. "I mean, I wouldn't be out here for no reason. I wouldn't be out here for just an old, regular high school teammate. You know, it's more than that. It's way deeper than that."

"I knew what he could do," said Wynn of Jones' ascent after leading Ohio State to wins over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game, Alabama in the national semifinal game and Oregon in the national championship game. "He was my high school quarterback, so the whole time people probably were doubting him, I wasn't.

"Cardale's going to be Cardale. Goofy and know how to win games."

The Glenville ties at training camp go beyond Jones attending camp, though. Safety Donte Whitner graduated from Glenville in 2003 before attending Ohio State and then moving on to the NFL.

"Donte Whitner has definitely did that," Wynn said of Whitner taking him under his wing at camp. "Every time I -- everybody drops a pass, ends up fumbling a pass -- he gets on me about that.

"Him and Joe Haden are two of the guys that I've been around a lot growing up in Cleveland."

Fighting for a spot

Will Wynn be able to complete the hometown story that Clevelanders love?

Shane Wynn, standing five feet, six inches tall, is battling in camp with the likes of six-foot-four-inch Terrelle Pryor.John Kuntz, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

"That would be big for the hometown and me," Wynn said. "To make the team, it would be an honor."

"He's shown right away that it's not too big for him," Pettine said. "He's picked up the Xs and Os part of it right away. For his size, he has the skillset that you need when you have the lack of height -- the suddenness, the ability to separate and I'll be curious to see what happens in the live situation, what he can do when he gets the ball in his hands."

Phillips praised Wynn for his smarts and his willingness to learn. "Obviously, they did a really good job with him here at Glenville and also at Indiana. Guy knows football."

When you're the smallest guy in the room, it can be tough to get noticed. Wynn understands what he needs to do to make any discussion of possibly letting him go a short one.

"All I can do is keep working," Wynn said. "This decision is not in my hands, but it really is, and just focusing on what I need to do and how I need to get better and not make mistakes."

 Follow @dan_labbe

"Watching him walk off in typical Corey fashion, but yet to see the standing ovation he got," Jim said, "that was a very special moment to see that."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jim Kluber hasn't defeated his son on the golf course in years.

It was somewhere around the time Corey Kluber slammed his driver on the ground after a bad drive. The fit of rage wrecked the shaft of his club. Kluber rarely displays such emotion anymore.

When he saunters toward the dugout after manager Terry Francona grabs the baseball from him, Kluber's surroundings fade into white noise. He stares ahead and peers out at a blend of green seats and fans clad in red and blue. It's just a mix of colors, a makeshift Jackson Pollock painting in motion.

Kluber greets his teammates on the bench, his emotions absent. He arrives at the Indians' clubhouse, stoic as ever. He speaks with reporters, still locked in, processing what happened on the mound.

Kluber requires an unwavering focus when he works. He never lets his mind acknowledge the aesthetics around him.

The golf course is his escape from baseball. It's where Kluber and his father spend free time together. Kluber maintains that focus when he lines up a putt or takes a whack in the tee box.

Jim is accustomed to his son's disposition. After all, he's responsible for sharing those even-keeled genes. So when Kluber called his parents in 2010 to inform them he had been traded to the Indians, the right-hander barely broke his monotone cadence.

Both of Kluber's parents answered the phone.

"Go ahead and talk to Mom," Jim told his son. "I'll talk to you when you're done talking with her."

"No," Kluber said. "You're both on. I have news to tell you. I just got traded to the Indians."

Jim laughed, and said, "You're kidding."

"No," Kluber told his father. "I really got traded to Cleveland."

"From then on," Jim said, "it was a big celebration."

Jim was born in Cleveland. He attended Mayfield High School. He and his friends roamed around the woods and the vast, open fields behind their homes in Highland Heights. Jim remembers how his father wielded a productive green thumb and maintained a large garden.

He moved away in 1980, but 30 years later, his son was headed to his hometown.

"I knew it would be cool for him," Kluber said. "He grew up here and it was the team he grew up watching."

Kluber, naturally, was a little more reserved when delivering the news.

"For me, it was just a new team to go play for," he said.

Kluber logged five starts for Double-A Akron in 2010. He then advanced to the organization's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus. Kluber made his big league debut in 2011. The following year, he spent the final two months with the Indians. That September, Jim returned to his hometown for the first time in nearly two decades.

Since, he has watched his son develop into one of the league's better starting pitchers.

"Over the years, it would take him a little more than a season to get comfortable with the team he was with or the level he was at," Jim said. "That second year, things would come together and he would blossom and be ready for the next level."

The San Diego Padres selected Kluber in the fourth round of the 2007 amateur draft. He had hoped to be chosen in the first 60 picks, but teams were concerned with a stress fracture in his forearm that he suffered in high school.

"From an expectation standpoint," Jim said, "once he got drafted, sure, you dream that he's going to make it to the big leagues. You know how difficult that is. Every year, there are [about 1,200] players drafted and a small percentage of them make it. So we didn't have big expectations for him other than: 'Give it your best and let's hope that's enough.' And it's worked out that way."

Kluber registered a 5.14 ERA in 12 starts in 2012. A year later, he joined the rotation in mid-April and proceeded to post an 11-5 record and 3.85 ERA over 26 outings.

"He got that taste for the couple months the first year and he had some success and some failures, but he saw that he belonged," Jim said. "He had the same stuff a lot of other people had. His confidence grew. We probably imagined him, like most everyone else, to be a back of the rotation kind of guy, which is quite an accomplishment in itself. Then, when he had his 2013 season, it looked like maybe he could move up to the top two or three starters on the team."

Kluber's parents record all of his games. That way, Jim can enjoy Kluber's 18-strikeout performance against the St. Louis Cardinals at any time.

Jim recalls when Kluber outdueled Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in July 2014.

"That's when it seemed like there might be something pretty special going on," Jim said. "We kept our fingers crossed every start that he'd continue to throw up the kind of numbers that he was starting to do on a consistent basis. It probably got a little more nerve-wracking as the season wound down."

Kluber edged out Hernandez in the balloting for the American League Cy Young Award. He logged an 18-9 record, a 2.44 ERA and he tallied 269 strikeouts.

"It was wonderful to watch his confidence build," Jim said. "We just kept watching game after game what he was able to do. It was a very special season."

Kluber's parents live on Cape Cod. They rented a house in the area in 2006, when Kluber was supposed to play in the Cape Cod League. At the last minute, Kluber and his college coaches decided he should take the summer months off. His parents ventured to the Northeast from their home in Dallas, anyway. The following spring, they moved their permanently.

So, Kluber's parents trek to Fenway Park to watch the Indians when they battle the Boston Red Sox. If Kluber is slated to pitch when the Indians play at Yankee Stadium, his parents will journey to New York. Jim enjoys watching his son operate. He also enjoys watching him walk off the field, his face motionless, his mind still fixated on what just happened.

Like father, like son.

"His mother is outgoing with just about anybody she sees, whether in a store or walking down a street," Jim said. "She's very outgoing. I'm definitely not like that. I'm probably more like Corey."

Jim was at Progressive Field last August when his son exited after 7 1/3 innings of a start against Cincinnati. He limited the Reds to one run and he struck out seven. Francona collected the baseball and Kluber retreated to the dugout as fans showered him with praise. Kluber, of course, didn't notice the 18,000 in attendance offering their appreciation.

His father did.

"Watching him walk off in typical Corey fashion, but yet to see the standing ovation he got," Jim said, "that was a very special moment to see that."

A fan and viewer guide to the 2015 Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club Thursday through Sunday, including ticket information and TV schedule.

AKRON, Ohio - The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Tour return to Firestone Country Club this week with Jordan Spieth, but without injured Rory McIlroy and fading Firestone dominator Tiger Woods.

Here's a quick fan guide with everything from TV schedules and favorites to ticket prices and camera and phone policies:

When: Thursday-Sunday

Where: Firestone Country Club, South Course, 452 East Warner Road, Akron.

Event link: www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational

Format: 72-holes, stroke play, no cut

Purse: $9,250,000. Winner's share: $1,570,000

THE FIELD

• Defending champion: Rory McIlroy. He will not play because of an injured ankle.
• Favorite: Jordan Spieth. The world No. 2 ranked player turned 22 last week and is lapping the PGA Tour. He has 12 top 10s and four wins, including the Masters and U.S. Open. He can take over the No. 1 ranking with a victory at the Bridgestone, where he has one previous start. He did not break par at Firestone last year and finished 49th (five-over).
• Others to watch: Jason Day won the Canadian Open the week after a near-miss at the British Open. Zach Johnson won the British Open. Bubba Watson has six top-10 finishes and two wins this season. Dustin Johnson has seven top 10s, two runner-ups and a win. Rickie Fowler is crazy inconsistent, but is coming off a second-place at the Quicken Loans National on Sunday and can't be counted out. Justin Rose won the Memorial and was fourth at Quicken Loans National. Keegan Bradley won Bridgestone in 2012 and has the best scoring average at Firestone (67.75) since 1999. Sergio Garcia was last year's third-round leader, but didn't close. Louis Oosthuizen was second at the U.S. Open and British Open. Adam Scott won here in 2011.
• Eligible players: There are 75 (of 78 qualified) players officially committed. Eligible players include members of the most recent U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams; top 50 players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, and tournament winners from the Federation Tours since the 2014 Bridgestone Invitational, including journeyman Troy Merritt, who was Sunday's surprise winner at the Quicken Loans National.
• World golf rankings: click here.
• Notable: Woods, a five-time winner at Firestone, did qualify. His last victory was the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational.

A venue map for the 2015 Bridgestone Invitational.Bridgestone Invitational 

EVENT SCHEDULE

• Wednesday: Practice round. Gates open 7:30 a.m. Ambassador of Golf ceremony honoring LGA Tour champion Judy Rankin, 5:30 p.m., first tee.
• Thursday: First round. Gates open 7:30 a.m.
• Friday: Second round. Gates open 7:30 a.m.
• Saturday: Third round. Gates open 7:00 a.m. Military appreciation ceremony 9:30 a.m. at the Championship Club.
• Sunday: Final round. Gates open 7:00 a.m. Closing ceremony with trophy presentation at the conclusion of play at 18th green.

TV SCHEDULE

• Thursday: Golf Channel, 1:30 p.m.
• Friday: Golf Channel, 1:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Golf Channel, noon; CBS, 2 p.m.
• Sunday: Golf Channel, noon; CBS, 2 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

• Prices: Wednesday, $25; Thursday-Friday, $40; Saturday-Sunday, $45; Choice of any day, $49. Enhanced tickets also available.
• Kids, military are free: Children 18 and under are admitted free to the grounds with a ticketed adult. Active Duty, military reserve, National Guard and military retired and their dependents receive complimentary tickets for each day. Veterans may receive one complimentary ticket and one discounted guest ticket for each day.
• Tickets link: www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational/tickets

NEWS

Live updates, live leader board and complete coverage: Available throughout the tournament at cleveland.com/golf

THE COURSE

Firestone's famed South Course has hosted the PGA Championship three times and has been the site of the Bridgestone Invitational and its predecessor, the World Series of Golf, almost continuously since 1962.

• Par: 70 (four par 3s, two par 5s)
• Length: 7,400 yards.
• Fairway, green grass type: Bent grass.
• Designers: Bert Way, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
• Year Opened: 1929

Featured holes:

• No. 4. The 471-yard par 4 requires a long, straight tee shot and a sticky approach shot onto an elevated green. Spieth had three bogeys on this hole last year.
• No. 5. A tiny green at the end of the 220-yard par 3 can be reached with a 5- or 6-iron, unless the wind blows, and then it gets interesting.
• No. 6. The club's web site describes the par 4 as "469 yards of heartburn." It usually ranks as the course's toughest hole.
• No. 15. The 221-yard par 3 features a flat green, but bunkers on the left of the green are hidden and attract numerous tee shots.
• No. 16. The Famed "Monster,'' so named by Arnold Palmer after he took triple bogey there. The 667-yarder is among the longest par 5s on the tour. Making matters worse is a pond fronting the green. Finishing at the main walkway and next to the 18^th green, it is a popular spot for fans and often provides great theater.
• No. 18. The long (464 yards), narrow par 4 has a green defended by bunkers and is a difficult place to make birdie. Last year's winner, McIloy, played the hole in 2-under and won by two strokes.

Camera, phone policy

Cameras are allowed during the practice round Wednesday, but once the tournament starts, no photographs are allowed, and fans are asked to silence their mobile devices.

Music After Play

Olivia Lane will perform Friday and the Clarks Saturday at the Fan Zone after play is completed.

Fan Zone

The Taste of Ohio Cafe and the 16^th Hole Bridgestone Green Monster Challenge are near food trucks along the main concourse.

Did you know?

The Bridgestone Invitational in 2016 will be played in June to accommodate golf at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Everything in football works together. Miss a block or an assignment, run the wrong route, make the wrong read, and the play goes haywire. Ohio State's offense worked together in three postseason games a year ago for 143 points, 1,623 yards, a 3-0 record and a national title. Of those yards, 755 came through the air,...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Everything in football works together. Miss a block or an assignment, run the wrong route, make the wrong read, and the play goes haywire.

Ohio State's offense worked together in three postseason games a year ago for 143 points, 1,623 yards, a 3-0 record and a national title. Of those yards, 755 came through the air, and 878 on the ground.

Credit all around. The Buckeyes have the rings to prove it.

But why did the offense do that?

That question danced through the postseason, as new quarterback Cardale Jones stepped in and running back Ezekiel Elliott went crazy.

Did Jones and his strong arm, threatening defenses with deep balls to Devin Smith, help open up the run game by forcing safeties to play off the line of scrimmage to respect that hookup?

Or did Elliott and the gradually dominating offensive line force defenses to respect the run so much that it made life easier for Jones to make throws, especially down the field?

You watched the games. Tell us what you think.

There's no fight for credit. But which part of the offense helped lead to the other?

With Ohio State opening preseason camp a week from Monday, let us know why you think the offense did what it did against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon. 

Cleveland is the 16th stop in 37 years for the son a former college coach and athletic director. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio - John DeFilippo needed to set his father and the record straight.

During a family vacation five years ago, the new Browns offensive coordinator wanted his dad to understand the road more traveled hadn't made their lives any less enriching. So what if the DeFilippo name had become as synonymous with moving as Ryder?

Gene DeFilippo, a longtime college football coach and athletic director, ably provided for his wife and three kids, but over the years became burdened by the guilt of their nomadic existence. His only son had lived in four states by the age of 8.

As Gene spilled regret in front of the family, John interrupted his father's confession.

"Dad, you need to put it to rest," Gene recalled his son saying. "It was hard for us when we moved around, but look at how our lives have turned out? Our lives have turned out fine."

DeFilippo inherited his father's passion for sports and a willingness to chase the next opportunity across state lines. Berea marks his 16^th stop on a circuitous journey that includes time spent on two coasts, 10 college campuses and inside six NFL organizations.

The 37-year old arrives here greeted by skeptics wondering how a first-time NFL coordinator can spark an offense with a journeyman quarterback and few playmakers. He will rely on his people skills, knowledge of offense and an array of gridiron experiences that began at his father's knee. Gene offered his boy access into a sports world most kids could never imagine.

"Dad and I got to do things together that a lot of fathers and sons don't get to do," DeFilippo said. "I got to see a ton of places and sporting events and meet great people.

"Growing up the son of a coach, you either really love it or you want something completely different for your life. I really loved it."

John DeFilippo and his father, Gene, pictured here at MetLife Stadium, share a passion for football. DeFilippo family archive 

DeFilippo has seen the game from the eyes of a Vanderbilt University ball boy, a third-generation college quarterback and a Colts' intern watching Peyton Manning throw his first pro passes.

He's apprenticed as a Notre Dame graduate assistant, a Giants quality-control coach and a San Jose State play caller. He's learned from failures alongside JaMarcus Russell and successes with Derek Carr.

Through it all, football has acted as a surrogate best friend. It's the one companion that's always accompanied him and excited him and made starting over again in another city tolerable because of its promise.

DeFilippo is so wed to the game he didn't marry until a year ago because as he says, without apology:

"I'm one of those guys who puts my job first. A lot of people will say that's wrong, but I knew what I wanted to do and I knew how to get there and I had to do it the right way."

Such unfettered ambition has reunited him with another coach's son on the lakefront.

Two of a kind

On opening day of Browns training camp, as players and fellow coaches walked onto the practice fields, DeFilippo ran from the locker room as if introduced by a public-address announcer only he could hear.

Dressed in brown shorts and T-shirt, the energetic assistant got right to work. He understands the task is daunting. He represents the sixth Browns offensive coordinator in as many years. His starting quarterback, Josh McCown, went 1-10 a year ago in Tampa; and his backup, Johnny Manziel, spent 10 weeks in rehab following a disastrous rookie season.

Although he doesn't listen to "the noise," DeFilippo is aware of the perception some outsiders have on him. He is not a brand name. He lacks the play-calling pedigree of Norv Turner and Kyle Shanahan, the Browns' previous two coordinators.

"I'm sure there was skepticism in this building when I got hired," he said. "I think a lot of it has gone away once people got to know me and saw my preparation and work ethic and my knowledge of the game.

"From outside the building I can totally see it and that's fair. I've never done this job at this level before . . . I can tell you this: We're going to scratch, fight and claw to put the best product on the field. Our players are going to be prepared to play each week. They will play with a tremendous amount of energy and effort and we're going to play with a great deal of swagger."

Such verve is part of what drew coach Mike Pettine to DeFilippo when they worked together on the 2009 Jets staff. Pettine was a first-year defensive coordinator and DeFilippo an assistant to the quarterbacks coach.

The men kept the same late hours and hung out socially. They shared an Italian heritage, a taste for cigars and a childhood of growing up in a football household. Pettine's father, Mike Sr., is a prep coaching legend in suburban Philadelphia.

While the Pettines were moored to the same geographical area, the DeFilippos were literally all over the map. Born in Youngstown, the Browns' offensive coordinator lived in Nashville, Spartansburg, S.C., Lexington and Philadelphia by time he was 15. The endless relocation was difficult, but for a boy obsessed with sports, his dad's work environment presented limitless perks.

He traveled on some team trips. He stood on the sidelines for SEC football games. He sat within earshot of Rick Pitino as he coached the Wildcats basketball team. He saw how to treat and how not to treat athletes.

"Some kids tell their parents they are going to grow up to be policemen or firemen," said Gene, who retired from Boston College in 2012. "John used to tell me when he was 10 years old, 'I'm going to be coaching in the NFL and you will be watching me on TV.' "

Gene didn't allow his son to play organized football until his freshman year in high school. The father wanted DeFilippo's love for the game to sprout organically and not have it forced on him.

The youngster brought home game tapes and broke them down. He worked summer football camps in part to network and tap into the minds of college coaches.

"When you've moved around as much as I have, you are looking for something constant in your life, and I was very fortunate that football and my father provided that," he said.

'Our type of guy'

Standing 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, DeFilippo sensed the confusion. As Manziel barked out signals, several teammates seemed unsure of their assignments on the play.

It was the first day of camp and DeFilippo could have let the chaotic sequence unfold. Instead, he blew the play dead and ordered the offense to huddle up, marking one of the few times he raised his voice.

"He's a stickler for detail," Pettine said. "It's important to him. He desperately wants to win and wants things to be right. That's what you love about John. He's got a great way with the players. They sense his passion and that's part of why he's here."

DeFilippo's life has been shaped and consumed by quarterbacks. His grandfather, Gene Sr., 90, played the position at Holy Cross. His dad, 65, directed a wishbone attack at Springfield College in Massachusetts while he continued the family tradition at James Madison University in Virginia.

Whatever professional playing aspirations he harbored quickly evaporated after attending Panthers' and Colts' training camps as a summer intern. DeFilippo lacked the size and arm strength of NFL quarterbacks and returned to college determined to one day mentor them.

He accepted $5,000 to coach quarterbacks at Fordham University in 2000. Months before his start date, the ambitious college student took bus trips at his own expense from Virginia to New York to familiarize himself with coach Dave Clawson's team and terminology.

Clawson knew the DeFilippos from his time as an offensive coordinator at Villanova. He wasn't prepared, however, for the maturity and self-assurance of a 22-year-old who had no problem admonishing players.

Siblings Mary, John and Christine DeFilippo endured their share of moving as the kids of a college coach and athletic director. Mary lives in Boston, while Christine is in Akron.DeFilippo family archive 

"Sometimes, young coaches try to be friends with the players," said Clawson, who coaches at Wake Forest. "John acted like a coach from Day 1. He arrived with an accelerated knowledge base. It was like I was getting a fourth-year coach."

Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre made similar observations when DeFilippo served as his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at San Jose State in 2010-11. The program climbed 32 spots in the national offensive rankings with him calling plays.

"John is very straightforward with players," MacIntyre said. "He gets along with them, but he's also not afraid to get after them. He is demanding in the right way."

DeFilippo has toggled between the college and pro ranks. He's seen the best and worst the game offers. He's been on staffs that were fired. He was one of several coaching assistants released by the Jets after the 2009 season despite helping tutor quarterback Mark Sanchez, who led the franchise to the AFC title game as a rookie.

"There is a rainbow at the end of every cloud and the (Jets) experience allowed me to become a play caller for the first time (in San Jose)," he said. "It sucked at the time, but in the big picture it ended up helping me."

DeFilippo interviewed for the Cleveland coordinator's job in 2014, but didn't get it. He remained as quarterbacks coach in Oakland and helped Carr enjoy a solid rookie season.

In January, the Browns were mired in controversy as Shanahan bolted amid rumors of front-office meddling in the play calling. Hiring a top-flight experienced coordinator was going to be tough given the circumstances. Pettine wanted to give DeFilippo another look.

The coach had all the play-calling candidates speak with the remaining offensive staff and sit in on a meeting with the defensive assistants.

"I'm big on chemistry," Pettine said. "Do you want an all-star team or do you want guys who work well together? I remember talking to our defensive staffers after John left and they said, 'This is our type of guy.' "

DeFilippo is reacquainting himself with McCown and Terrelle Pryor, who played under him with the Raiders. The coordinator believes McCown is a good fit to run his offense.

"Josh has gotten so much better since our time in Oakland," he said. "His arm strength is stronger now than in 2007 and I don't think he's lost anything athletically. His game has improved as he's gotten older and not declined like a lot of guys.

"Josh is not going to make it all about Josh. He's going to make it all about this offense and the team. He's the most selfless player I've ever been around. He'll do anything he can to make the team better."

McCown sees an evolution in DeFilippo as a coach.

"He's changed so much," the quarterback said. "His knowledge of the game has grown . . . You can see the whole time he's been preparing himself to be in this chair . . . and it's going serve us well."

Finding love and a best man

On a second date with his future wife, DeFilippo asked an audacious question: Would she be willing to move from California?

"When you're older you want to find out fairly quickly about things or you're wasting each others time in the dating process," he said.

John and Kari DeFilippo were married last year.DeFilippo family archive 

The football lifer met Kari, a schoolteacher, while coaching in San Jose. He liked her, but proceeded cautiously knowing how difficult life can be for coaches' families. The long hours and threat of relocation have strained many relations and ended marriages. The Browns coordinator and his sisters, Mary and Christine, who lives in Akron, feel fortunate their parents, Anne and Gene, have been married for 43 years.

DeFilippo is a ghost around the house during football season. He's explained it to previous girlfriends and told them he understood if they wanted to stop dating because of frequent absence.

"Kari has never complained about the time away," said DeFilippo, whose family includes a French bulldog named Jameson after his favorite whiskey. "There were times in Oakland we'd barely see each other in a week."

The couple got engaged in 2013, leading some to wonder who a groom with so few roots would pick as a best man?

The offensive coordinator went outside the playbook and made a creative call.

DeFilippo chose the person who taught him a love for golf, cigars and red wine. The person he phones all the time concerning important questions about coaching and life. The one who implanted so many desires and opened so many doors.

He asked his father.

"That's the biggest compliment I've ever received," Gene said. "I was honored."

Dad plans to make multiple trips to Northeast Ohio, where two of his children now reside. Berea probably won't be DeFilippo's final stop given his age and the National Association of Realtors should present him a lifetime supply of Bubble Wrap for the business he's generated.

But these are good days for a ramblin' man ready to put down roots. The coach they call "Flip" has found an ideal partner and a challenging job. Everything has turned out fine. Just as he told his best man they would five years ago.

The road well traveled

Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has moved 16 times because of his life and his father's life in football and athletics. Click on the map above to see the stops he has made along the way:

• Born April 12, 1978 in Youngstown (father offensive coordinator, Youngtown State).
• Age 2: Moved to Nashville, 1980 (father was running backs coach, Vanderbilt).
• Age 6: Moved to Spartanburg, S.C., 1984 (father athletic director South Carolina-Spartansburg).
• Age 8: Moved to Lexington, 1987 (father associate athletic director Kentucky).
• Age 15: Moved to Philadelphia, 1993 (father athletic director, Villanova
• Age 18: Studied in Harrisonburg, Va. (student/athlete, 1996-2000 at James Madison University).
• Age 19: Moved to Boston, 1997 (father athletic director Boston College).
• Age 19: Interned in Charlotte, N.C., 1997 (summer intern, Carolina Panthers).
• Age 20: Interned Indianapolis, Ind., 1998 (summer intern, Indianapolis Colts).
• Age 22: Moved New York City, 2000 (Fordham University QB coach).
• Age 23: Moved to South Bend, Ind., 2001 (graduate assistant, Notre Dame).
• Age 24: Moved to New York City, 2003 (Columbia University QB coach 2003-04; quality control coach Giants 2005-06).
• Age 28: Moved to Oakland, 2007 (Raiders QB coach, 2007-08)
• Age 30: Moved to New York City, 2009 (Jets QB coach, 2009)
• Age 31: Moved to San Jose, Calif., 2010 (San Jose State QB coach/offensive coordinator, 2010-11.
• Age 33: Moved to Oakland, 2012 (Raiders QB coach, 2012-14)
• Age 36: Moved to Cleveland, 2015 (Browns offensive coordinator, 2015).

Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Zach Johnson are favored to win the 2015 Bridgestone Invitational. Phil Mickleson and Jim Furyk are among the sleepers.

AKRON, Ohio - The 2015 Bridgestone Invitational this week will be missing defending champ Rory McIlroy and five-time champion Tiger Woods, which certainly takes some luster off this classic event. But the golf super nova that is Jordan Spieth will be at Firestone Country Club, and wherever he goes on the PGA Tour these days, all of golf turns to watch.

That said, the Bridgestone has never been about one or two stars. It is about the quality of the small field, which is considered one step below a major.

This week, even without world No. 1-ranked McIlroy, who is injured, and the fading Woods, there is no shortage of players to watch in a field that features 48 of the top 50 ranked players.

• Click here for a fan guide to the Bridgestone Invitational.

 Here are our no-brainers, secondary favorites, sleepers and rookie wildcards to watch Thursday through Sunday in Akron:

FAVORITES

Jordan Spieth, 22, United States: The man to beat. He's the world's No. 2-ranked golfer and is having an historic season, especially when considering he just turned 22 last week. His 12 top-10 finishes and four victories (Valspar Championship, Masters, U.S. Open, John Deer Classic) have given him nearly twice the FedEx Cup points and earnings ($9.1 million) as any other golfer.

His last four starts: third at the Memorial, won the U.S. Open, won the John Deere Classic, and fourth at the British Open.

The one catch? Spieth has played Firestone only once, and he failed to break par. He was 49^th at last year's Bridgestone Invitational, shooting 5-over par 285 (71-70-73-71).

Jason Day, 27, Australia: He won the RBC Canadian Open after just missing the playoff at the British Open. He ranks second in driving distance (311.5), second in putting average (1.7) and first in birdie average (4.67). Finished fourth here in 2011.

Rickie Fowler, 26, United States: The highs and lows of his play this season are stunning. After winning The Players Championship in May, he missed the cut at the Memorial and U.S. Open, then won the Scottish Open and finished six-under (tied for 30^th) at the British Open. He's coming off a highlight-filled, second-place at the Quicken Loans National on Sunday. He had an ace and was spectacular on the greens, and finished 15 under. Clearly, the talent is there to match the hype. Fowler placed second at the 2011 Bridgestone.

Zach Johnson, 39, United States: His win at the British Open touched many because of the way he paid tribute to his wife afterward, then revealed he was reciting scripture to remain calm during the tense final moments. He has not played since then, but is having a good summer. After a rough week at the U.S. Open, he was sixth at the Travelers, third at the John Deere and then won at St. Andrews. He has three top-10s at Firestone; he was fourth in 2013, sixth in 2011.

As an Iowan, this Jug has multi-purposes... pic.twitter.com/dROnlb3uwZ

-- Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA) August 2, 2015

SECOND-TIER FAVORITES

Dustin Johnson, 31, United States: The tour's biggest hitter by far (318-yard driving average) comes at a price. His pedestrian 58 percent driving accuracy ranks 154^th. If he drives straight for four rounds, he can be unbeatable at a long course such as Firestone. In his last two starts, he blew an opportunity to win the U.S. Open on the final hole, then began the British Open 69-65, but finished 75-75.

Keegan Bradley, 29, United States: He won Bridgestone in 2012, finished second in 2013 and fourth last year. He has the best scoring average at Firestone (67.75) since 1999. He was eighth at the Memorial, but hasn't finished better than 27^th in four starts since then.

Justin Rose, 35, England: Ranked eighth in the world, he can be a birdie machine when he gets hot. Finished second in a playoff at the Memorial, sixth at the British Open and fourth at last week's Quicken Loans National. He was fifth at Firestone in 2012.

Sergio Garcia, 35, Spain: He tied the Firestone course record with a second-round 61 last year and was the third-round leader. He finished second to McIlroy. Garcia has more than 20 pro wins, and seemingly just as many near misses, including this year's second-place finishes at the CIMB Championship and the Players Championship. He still has game. Garcia is ranked 10th in the world overall, and fourth on the tour in scoring average (69.725).

SLEEPERS

Phil Mickelson, 45, United States: Lefty was second at the Masters and at the 2014 PGA Championship. He won the RBC Heritage, then was a non-factor at the U.S. and British opens. At age 45, he doesn't win as often, but still wins, and sometimes when we least expect it.

Jim Furyk, 45, United States: He has played well at Firestone over the years, but perhaps is best remembered for taking a one-shot lead to the 18^th in 2012, and losing the tournament with a double bogey. He was ninth the following year and 15^th last year. He also was sixth in 2010. He has five top 10s this season.

Henrik Stenson, 39, Sweden: Ranked ninth in the world, he's one of the best golfers on the tour without a major. He was a first-round leader at the U.S. Open. His ability to hit long and straight fits well at Firestone, where he tied for second in 2013.

Louis Oosthuizen, 32, South Africa: The runner-up at this year's U.S. Open and British Open also won the U.S. Open in 2010. At Firestone most recently, he was ninth in 2010, fourth in 2012 and 61^st last year.

Adam Scott, 35, Australia: He was the world No. 1 until Rory McIlroy took that from him last year at Bridgestone, where Scott finished eighth. Scott won 2011 Bridgestone as well as 2013 Masters. Currently ranked 11^th in the world.

Jason Dufner, 38, United States: The guy who made "Dufnering" famous is a sleeper. Get it? The Olmsted Township native has a good history at Firestone, finishing fourth in 2013 and seventh in 2012. A neck injury ruined his 2014 season. He lost weight and has played well in spurts this year, but rarely puts together four good rounds. He has two top 10s.

WILDCARDS

Surprises are unusual at this tournament. Big names usually win. Hunter Mahan in 2010 is the only Bridgestone/Firestone winner since 1994 who did not have a major under his belt at the time, or did not go on to win a major.

If a wildcard wins this week, here are three Bridgestone first-timers to watch, just for fun:

• Kevin Kisner has lost in three playoffs this season (RBC Heritage, The Players Championship and Greenbrier).
• Brooks Koepka won the Waste Management Open and his 69.780 scoring average ranks fifth on the tour.
• Former U.S. Amateur champion Byeong-Hun An won the European Tour's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May with a tournament-record 21-under.

With running back Duke Johnson out for awhile with a hamstring and other backs such as Terrance West (calf) and Glenn Winston ailing, the Browns added Timothy Flanders and Jalen Parmele on Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' first two days in pads over the weekend were not kind to the once-deep running back corps.

After watching three more running backs go down with injuries, the Browns fortified the sparse position group by adding two ball carriers on Monday.

They signed Timothy Flanders, a first-year back out of Sam Houston State, and Jalen Parmele, a fourth-year pro out of Toledo.

Parmele (6-0, 224), spent three seasons (2008-10) playing for Browns running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery in Baltimore, where he was known as a tireless worker. He also played four seasons at Toledo with Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins.

The two backs will help carry the camp load while their four injured Browns comrades find their way back into the lineup:

* Rookie Duke Johnson, the third-round pick out of Miami, suffered a pulled hamstring Saturday and could be out awhile. Johnson also suffered a hamstring injury that prevented him lifting and running at the NFL combine. If the Browns want him to be healthy for the season, they're going to have to err on the side of caution with his return.

* Terrance West suffered a strained calf muscle on Saturday, shortly after Johnson went down. West looked to be in pain, but coach Mike Pettine said Sunday he might be back as early as Tuesday. The players had Monday off.

* Rookie running back Luke Lundy, out of Ottawa, left practice with a concussion on Sunday and did not return. It's unknown how long he'll be out, but he could miss the rest of the week, including Fridays intrasquad scrimmage at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

* Glenn Winston came to camp with a knee injury and hasn't yet practiced. Pettine seemed optimistic he'll be ready to go soon.

That leaves only two healthy tailbacks in Isaiah Crowell and Shaun Draughn, and one fullback in Malcolm Johnson.

Parmele, originally drafted by the Dolphins in the sixth-round of the 2008 draft, has been cut by five teams, but has made a lasting impression on some of his coaches, including Bruce Arians, who gave him a chance last season in Arizona after Parmele emailed him and told him he was living nearby. Parmele only played one game for the Cardinals last season, but he gained a fan in Arians.

"He can play in this league, and he might make our football team because he's finding a niche in special teams," Arians told azcentral last August. "If you're a better special teams player, I'm keeping you over maybe a better tight end or maybe a better running back because you're going to dress on Sunday and maybe play 20 or 30 plays."

Parmele will also be able to help replace Johnson for the time being on kick returns. In 2009 in Baltimore, he filled in for injuries, returning nine kicks for 283 yards for a 31.4 average. In a 2010 victory over the Browns, he returned four kicks for 85 yards.

Johnson is expected to be a leading kick returner for the Browns this year, providing the hamstring cooperates.

He was originally signed by the Saints as undrafted free agent in 2014. Flanders finished his collegiate career as Southland Conference's all-time rushing and scoring leader with 5,664 yards and 66 touchdowns.

To make room for Parmele and Flanders, the Browns waived receiver Kevin Cone and defensive back Brandon Stephens. Cone spent the final 11 weeks of the 2014 season on the Browns' practice squad and Stephens was signed in May after trying out in rookie minicamp.

The Indians have recalled Jose Ramirez from Class AAA Columbus to take Jason Kipnis spot on the 25-man roster. They also recalled lefty Kyle Crockett from Columbus, optioning Michael Roth to make room.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Indians have placed All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list with inflammation of the right shoulder. Kipnis returned to Cleveland on Monday to have the shoulder examined.

Kipnis is expected to miss two to three weeks. The shoulder has been bothering him off and on for much of the season. He feels it most when he throws.

The Indians recalled infielder Jose Ramirez to take Kipnis' spot on the roster. In another move, the Indians recalled lefty Kyle Crockett and optioned lefty Michael Roth.

Kipnis' trip to the disabled list, his second in as many years, comes in the midst of a career season. The left-handed hitting Kipnis leads the AL with 132 hits and 31 doubles.

Overall, he's hitting .326 (132-for-405) with six triples, six homers and 39 RBI in 101 games. Kipnis has scored 66 runs and has a slash line of .326/.401/.477. 

He is among the league leaders in average, WAR, runs created, times on base, total bases, runs, OPS, triples, extra base hits and walks.

"He's been a force," said manager Terry Francona over the weekend in Oakland.

Kipnis, who didn't play Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the A's, had an MRI on the shoulder Sunday morning. He returned to Cleveland on Monday afternoon.

The injury comes at a bad time for the already offensively-challenged Indians. They traded outfielders David Murphy and Brandon Moss before Friday's trade deadline in a pair of white-flag moves.

Now they've lost their best hitter and leadoff man. The Tribe scored seven runs in a four-game series against the A's and split because of some good pitching. They rank 12th in the AL with 399 runs, an average of 3.8 per game. In July, they scored 3.6 runs per game, but managed to go 13-13. 

This will be Ramirez's third tour with the Indians this season. He was their opening day shortstop and held the position until he was sent down on June 7 with then third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Now they've both resurfaced, Chisenhall as a utility man and Ramirez as Kipnis' replacement at second base.

Ramirez, who hit .293 (51-for-174) with 29 runs and 15 steals at Columbus, could move into the leadoff spot. He's hitting .176 (27-for-153) with the Tribe. His slash line is .176/.243/.235 in the big leagues this year.

Crockett opened the season with the Indians, but has spent most of the season at Columbus.

Corey Kluber will be facing the Angels on Monday night for just the second time in his career. He is coming off a five-hit complete-game win over Kansas City.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Get live updates and chat in the comments section below with beat writer Paul Hoynes as the Indians and Angels open a three-game series Monday night at Angel Stadium.

Game 105: Indians (48-56) vs. Angels (55-49)

First pitch: 10:05 p.m. ET at O.co Coliseum.

TV/radio: STO; WTAM AM/1100 WMMS FM/100.7.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Team USA executive director Jerry Colangelo said "I expect" LeBron James to be in Las Vegas next week for meetings and workouts for 2016 American Olympic basketball hopefuls, basing his belief off of information from "another player, it doesn't matter which one." But James' agent, Rich Paul, only told Colangelo of scheduling conflicts James has next...

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Team USA executive director Jerry Colangelo said "I expect" LeBron James to be in Las Vegas next week for meetings and workouts for 2016 American Olympic basketball hopefuls, basing his belief off of information from "another player, it doesn't matter which one."

But James' agent, Rich Paul, only told Colangelo of scheduling conflicts James has next week and gave no commitment that James would attend Team USA's four-day sojourn to Las Vegas for meetings and a scrimmage on Aug. 13, Colangelo told the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

In other words, James' status with Team USA as the organization prepares to chase its third consecutive gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is both unchanged and unknown. He, too, would be pursing a third gold, but he's already played in five consecutive Finals, hopes to be chasing a sixth in June, and has logged 43,330 minutes in 12 NBA seasons at the age of 30.

"LeBron has had an incredible career, and I know how many minutes he's played. He's played a lifetime of minutes," Colangelo said in a phone interview. "He's been involved with Team USA basketball since he was 19. This is totally up to him - he has to make the call whether he wants to go after three Gold medals.

"One thing I need to find out: is he desirous, is he committed," Colangelo said. "I don't know that right now, and I need to find out at some point. An indicator will come next week when we see who shows up."

Neither Paul nor James' spokespersons returned numerous messages seeking comment. Even if James shows in Las Vegas -- or, for the sake of argument, he doesn't -- nothing would be guaranteed in either direction for James next summer.

Colangelo, 75, is hosting a mini camp for Team USA that starts Aug. 10 in Las Vegas when upwards of 30 (or more) potential team members -- many of them NBA stars -- are expected to report. Cavaliers Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are expected to attend, Colangelo said, though neither would be ready to play after undergoing surgeries for various injuries during the playoffs that ended their seasons.

The entire week for Team USA will include meetings, NBA-style shootarounds and a non-contact scrimmage at week's end for fans on UNLV's campus.

James, who will turn 31 in December, has been in Toronto for the past several days (rubbing elbows with hip-hop artist Drake, among others) and is in the midst of a whirlwind offseason that has included red-carpet movie premieres and Tonight Show appearances,  the ESPYs, signing new contracts with the Cavs and Warner Bros., and one trip to Las Vegas already for players' union meetings.

The LeBron James Family Foundation has an undisclosed event scheduled for next week in which sources have said he will participate, and sometime this month he is scheduled to travel to China for Nike.

Colangelo said he expects James to come to Las Vegas for a meeting or two, but not to participate in any drills, because of his packed schedule.

"This is just a loose thing I'm doing because we don't have anything to prepare for this summer," Colangelo said. "The purpose of having this minicamp is to celebrate the last 10 years of Team USA basketball and begin to find out who's committed for next summer."

James won an Olympic bronze with Team USA as a 19-year-old in 2004 and golds in 2008 and 2012. He also has a gold from the 2007 FIBA world championships.

But James missed a career-high 13 regular-season games for the Cavs in 2014-15, mostly due to nagging knee and back injuries. He spoke throughout the season about the "miles" on his body from long playoff runs and summer commitments for Team USA. He'll be older with even more miles when Team USA leaves for Rio next summer.

James' close friends Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony may be in Las Vegas next week, as well as Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin, among many others.