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Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield, Khalil Mack, Mychal Kendricks -- Terry Pluto

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A strong training camp by Baker Mayfield shows the Cleveland Browns the rookie could be ready to take over soon.

ABOUT BAKER MAYFIELD

The answer is...yes.

The question is...have the Browns found a quarterback in Baker Mayfield?

The other answer is...no.

The question is...how about playing Mayfield right now?

If the Browns didn't have Tyrod Taylor or another veteran with a clue of how to win games in the NFL, then Mayfield has shown enough in the preseason to start for a team that is willing to be patient.

But Browns fans are tired of the P-word - patience.

And they are trapped by the D-word - desperation.

When a team is 1-31 and saddled with a 17-game losing streak headed into the regular season, something has to change...

And change fast.

It's why General Manager John Dorsey traded for Taylor, who had a 22-20 record in three seasons with Buffalo.

Dorsey was reasonably sure he was going to draft Mayfield when trading for Taylor in March.

His judgment of Mayfield's poise, accuracy and quick feet all appear to be correct.

But Dorsey also knows most rookie quarterbacks have a hard time making a fast adjustment to the NFL.

That's why he quickly traded for veteran Alex Smith in 2013 when Dorsey wanted to set up Kansas City for a fast turnaround from a 2-14 season.

And it's why he made the Taylor deal to help drag the Browns out of their 0-16 Grand Canyon of last season...or 4-44 in the last three seasons.

The fans, the players, the coaching staff and the entire franchise have been devastated by losing at a record-breaking rate.

This is not the time for a rookie quarterback.

WHAT ABOUT BAKER?

As I praise Mayfield, it's not about wanting him to open the season against the Steelers.

Mayfield has been a revelation.

He has quickly adapted to the pro game. He's learned to work out of the huddle and take snaps under center, something he never did in 46 college starts at Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

His progress is admirable. He went from seeming somewhat overwhelmed in the spring to looking confident with the offense and the coaching staff in the summer. It shows Mayfield did his homework.

Not only did he learn from his coaches, he has been respectful and listening to veteran quarterbacks Drew Stanton and Taylor.

Dorsey has surrounded Mayfield with two no-nonsense quarterbacks who know how the NFL works and have worked very hard to keep their jobs in the NFL.

Mayfield has no signs of the entitlement that often sticks to the first pick in the NFL draft.

In the preseason, the 6-foot Mayfield showed the wisdom and confidence to stay in the pocket. He moves around just a bit to evade the pass rush and find an open throwing lane.

It's important that he's willing just to heave the ball out-of-bounds rather than make a risky throw in the red zone.

He does a good job of keeping his eyes focused downfield, searching for the right receiver.

He is an accurate passer, especially in the mid-range area of 5-to-15 yards. About 80 percent of passes are thrown in that area in most games.

Of course, a pass can be 8 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but it's thrown 25 yards. That takes into consideration how far the quarterback sets up in the pocket -- and if the receiver is on sidelines.

I loved how Mayfield connected with rookie Damion Ratley for a 21-yard pass, perfectly timed with some juice behind it.

Mayfield was 35-of-61 passing (57 percent) with two TD passes and one interception.

If the Browns have an early season disaster such as 2016, when starting quarterback Robert Griffin III was injured in the opener, Mayfield probably can play and do a decent job.

My theory has long been this: A rookie quarterback can be hurt by having to play too soon. He won't be set back by perhaps waiting longer than necessary to start.

So the Browns are in good shape either way with Mayfield. And it appears Dorsey made a wise choice with Mayfield, a pick I didn't like when it was announced.

Just wince, baby  Browns  Raiders punish McCown, Browns for dreadful start  from C1Khalil Mack sacks former Browns quarterback Josh McCown.  

ABOUT KHALIL MACK & MYCHAL KENDRICKS

1. The Oakland Raiders supposedly want at least two first-round picks for Mack, their elite linebacker, and that's apparently what they got from the Chicago Bears.

2. Mack has a $14 million salary in the final season of his contract, but he was holding out for a contract extension. The Bears will probably have to make Mack the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

3. The Rams just gave defensive lineman Aaron Donald a $135 million deal for six years, with $87 million guaranteed. So that would be the floor in talks with Mack.

4. The Browns have the salary cap room to handle that salary. Assuming Mayfield takes over as the starter by 2019, they don't have to pay a quarterback big money for a few seasons.

5. The question was if the Browns were willing to part with their first-rounders in 2019 and 2020. They no longer have multiple first-round or second-round picks, just their own selections. I was for keeping the picks. This team is not that close to being a playoff contender yet.

6. I was trying to figure out why the Browns immediately cut Mychal Kendricks when he was indicted on insider trading. They have been patient with Josh Gordon and others who have had legal problems.

7. I was told the Browns didn't believe Kendricks was a major target of the investigation. But it appears he could do some jail time...soon.  I don't know all the facts, so it's hard to have a strong opinion.

8. I do know not having Kendricks is a significant loss. He could make a major impact as a pass-rushing linebacker. Suddenly, the Browns don't have the same deep depth at the position as they did a week ago.

Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers, December 3, 2017Former Browns quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Cody Kessler have made other teams as backups this season.  

ABOUT THE BROWNS

1. The rise of undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison finished Shon Coleman with the Browns. Harrison has shown some potential to play left tackle. The new Browns front office lost faith in Coleman, who started 16 games at right tackle in 2017. The Browns signed veteran Chris Hubbard to start at right tackle, and Coleman struggled when trying to play left tackle.

2. Coleman was shipped to San Francisco for a seventh-round pick in 2019. He was a third-round pick in 2016.

3. The 2016 first-round pick (Corey Coleman) was traded to Buffalo for a 2020 seventh-rounder. The Bills cut him. Another third-round pick in 2016 (Cody Kessler), was traded to Jacksonville for a future seventh-rounder.

4. The Browns had five picks in the top three rounds of 2016. The only players left with the team are Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib. Also left from that draft are Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert (fourth round), safety Derrick Kindred (fourth round), tight end Seth DeValve (fourth round) and Rashard Higgins (fifth round).

5. Kessler had a strong preseason with Jacksonville. He won the backup quarterback job behind Blake Bortles. Kessler completed 36-of-46 passes with one TD. The Jags rely on a strong running game and want a backup who doesn't turn the ball over. That's why they brought in Kessler.

6. DeShone Kizer has made the Green Bay Packers as the backup after they traded Brett Hundley (last year's backup) to Seattle. Kizer completed 53 percent of his passes in the preseason, three TDs compared to one interception. The Packers said they liked Kizer in the 2017 draft. They believe playing behind veteran Aaron Rodgers and with an established coaching staff and offense will help the 22-year-old adapt to the NFL.

7. I will be speaking at the Lorain-South Library on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. My other appearance will be Sept. 13 at the Ashland Library at 5:30 p.m. Both events are free as we talk sports, sign books and have a good time.


Browns explored trade for Khalil Mack before Raiders shipped him to the Bears

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The Browns called the Raiders along with multiple teams about Khalil Mack, but talks are not believed to have gotten serious.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns were one of the teams that called the Raiders about Khalil Mack before they agreed to trade him to the Bears, a source told cleveland.com.

Talks may not have gotten serious, though, when they realized the Raiders really were seeking at least two first-round picks for the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year. The Bears surrendered that and more for the Pro Bowl pass rusher, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

In addition, the Bears will have to sign Mack to a blockbuster deal, and he'll undoubtedly seek something close to what the Rams gave Aaron Donald: six years, $135 million, $87 million guaranteed.

Browns to explore trade for Khalil Mack

Mack, whom the Browns passed on in with the No. 4 pick 2014 pick, would've given the Browns two monster bookends along with Myles Garrett. But they're still excited about Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah being healthy and on the field together this season.

The Jets were another team that tried to trade for him, according the New York Daily News, making a "strong offer."

Last season, the two were on the field for only five games together.

Browns coach Hue Jackson said on a conference call Friday that the Browns will explore every chance to improve the roster.

Later Friday night, the Browns made a minor trade, shipping right tackle Shon Coleman to the 49ers for a 2019 seventh-round pick.

On Saturday morning, they released punter Justin Vogel, according to ESPN, meaning incumbent Britton Colquitt has kept his job.

They must still make 11 moves to get to 53 by today at 4 p.m. 

Cleveland Indians promote catcher Eric Haase from Class AAA Columbus as rosters expand

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Reinforcements are arriving for the Indians. Catcher Eric Haase is among those players who will join the Indians today when roster can expand to 40 players.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Catcher Eric Haase will join the Indians on Saturday from Class AAA Columbus. He will not be the only Clipper to join the Indians because this is the day rosters can expand to 40 players.

Haase, 25, hit .236 (102-for-433) with 20 homers and 71 RBI this year at Columbus. He struck out 143 times compared to 31 walks, while posting a .732 OPS.

The Indians drafted Haase in the seventh round in 2011. Word of his promotion was first reported by Indians Prospective.com.

Haase impressed manager Terry Francona and the coaching staff in spring training when he hit .250 with three homers and 10 RBI. They liked his power and the way he worked with pitches.

Francona said recently that the Indians would add some players from the minors as soon as the rosters could expand. He said others would be added along the way.

Watch Ryan Day's first Skull Session as Ohio State's acting head coach

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Day, Alex Grinch and Isaiah Prince addressed the crowd in St. John Arena before Ohio State's season opener against Oregon State. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ryan Day kept his first Skull Session as Ohio State's acting head coach short and sweet.

Addressing the crowd in St. John Arena before Saturday's season opener against Oregon State, Day didn't hog the mic. He used only 35 words to relay to the crowd the message he delivered to the team before it began its procession from The Blackwell hotel, to St. John Arena, to Ohio Stadium.

"We talked to the team about how today, we can make a statement," Day said. "We have an opportunity today to make a statement as a team and as Buckeye Nation we're gonna make a statement today."

Not to compare everything Day does to what Urban Meyer would do, but Meyer typically talks a lot longer than Day did on Saturday. When Meyer comes back for the Tulane game on Sept. 22, that will be a Skull Session to see.

New co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and senior right tackle Isaiah Prince also spoke on Saturday.

You can watch a video from the first Skull Session of the 2018 season above.

Bills cut Corey Coleman less than a month after trade with Browns

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The Bills have cut Corey Coleman less than a month after they acquired him in a trade with the Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns first-round pick Corey Coleman lasted less than a month in Buffalo after the Browns shipped him there Aug. 6 for a 2020 seventh-round pick.

The Bills released him on Saturday in their final trim to 53, a league source confirmed for cleveland.com. The Browns still get the draft pick because it wasn't conditional on Coleman making the team.

They did so despite the fact they assumed Coleman's guaranteed base salaries of $1.5 million and $2 million in the trade.

The Bills didn't like Coleman's attitude from the time he arrived, a source told cleveland.com, and it never got much better. He also still struggled to run full speed because of his tight hamstrings.

The Bills cut him despite the fact they don't have much talent on offense.

Coleman was selected with the No. 15 overall pick in 2016 out of Baylor. He was the first pick made by former Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown, and also the first selection from the bounty of picks Brown received in the trade of the No. 2 pick to the Eagles, which enabled Philadelphia to select quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Browns traded another Coleman from that haul Friday night when they shipped offensive tackle Shon Coleman to the 49ers for a 2019 seventh-rounder.

After two seasons with broken hands and tight hamstrings here, Corey Coleman got on the bad side of new Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley, which was chronicled on HBO's Hard Knocks.

Haley felt Coleman didn't give enough effort on contested balls and wasn't a precise route runner.

Cleveland Indians trade for Josh Donaldson is another bold move - Terry Pluto

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The Indians always would have wondered what would have happened if they failed to make this trade for Josh Donaldson.

ABOUT JOSH DONALDSON

1. The Tribe's front office is relentless trying to get this team back to World Series. I kept thinking that after they made the waiver-deadline deal with Toronto for Josh Donaldson.

2. The Indians are risking very little in terms of money. They have agreed to pick up about $1 million of what is left on Donaldson's $23 million contract. There is a "player to be named later" element to the trade. It's hard to imagine that being a big time prospect, as Donaldson is a free agent after the season.

3. "There is some risk," admitted Tribe President Chris Antonetti in a press conference late Friday night. It's starts with Donaldson's health. He's not played in a big league game since the end of May. He had a shoulder injury in the spring, then came the dreaded calf-muscle injuries.

4. The Indians know how calf injuries linger after watching Lonnie Chisenhall battle them the last two seasons. Chisenhall has played only 47 games since the 2017 All-Star break. The Tribe and Chisenhall have both been frustrated with his truncated comeback attempts. He keeps re-pulling those muscles.

5. Antonetti correctly called Donaldson, "One of the most dynamic players in the game on both sides of the ball when he's healthy." Not only did Donaldson average 27 HR, 98 RBI and hit .282 over the last four years, he is an above-average third baseman.

6. Antonetti said Donaldson will play third, when healthy. About a week ago, Terry Francona said he wanted to keep All-Star Jose Ramirez at third. That also meant Jason Kipnis would remain at second base. The Tribe manager and Antonetti will discuss the impact of the deal with Ramirez and Kipnis Saturday.

7. The Indians are counting on Ramirez and Kipnis wanting to do what could help the team be in a stronger position for the playoffs by making the same late season moves as they did last September. That's when Ramirez went from third base to second, and Kipnis went from second base to the outfield. It's Kipnis who probably will lose playing time in this scenario.

8. Donaldson played two games on a rehabilitation assignment in the Class A Florida State League this week. He was 2-for-5 with a homer. Is he healthy enough to help the Tribe? The Indians will talk to Donaldson and have their medical people evaluate him. Then they will put together a plan to try and have him in the best physical condition for the playoffs.

9. In other words, there is no rush to put Donaldson on the field with the Tribe right now. Donaldson told the Toronto Sun that his injuries were "serious" this season. Antonetti admitted,"It's not an easy process to work through, complicated by Josh's health status . . . and him just working his way back to full health."

10. So that means Ramirez and Kipnis will not be sure exactly when they will switch positions. The Indians could begin that process now by playing Yandy Diaz at third, Ramirez moving to second and Kipnis helping in the outfield. Last week, Francona said Ramirez has not been working out at second base this season.

11. Donaldson has been a very good player in the post-season, batting .292 (.806 OPS) with four HR and 13 RBI in 120 at bats. That was from 2012 to 2016.  That also has some appeal to the Tribe.

12. The Indians have been making moves aggressively hoping to win a World Series in the last few years. Last weekend, I wrote about the 2016 July deals for Andrew Miller and Jonathan Lucroy (which fell apart). After the 2016 season, they signed Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million deal -- the most lucrative contract in team history.

13. There was some reluctance to play Kipnis in center this season because the Tribe needs speed at that position. Melky Cabrera is slow in right field. Michael Brantley is average in left field. Rookie Greg Allen has been hitting .300 (.697 OPS) with a homer and 10 RBI in 23 games since the All-Star break. He's made some superb catches in center in the last few weeks.

14. The Indians will have to decide if Kipnis plays center .  . . and how often? They could use him in right field, but the only outfield he has played since college has been in center field.

15. Last summer, the Indians traded for Joe Smith and Jay Bruce during the season. This summer, it was All-Star reliever Brad Hand and Adam Cimber coming to the Tribe. Now, Donaldson, another All-Star. I believe the Indians thought if they failed to make the Donaldson deal - and didn't get to the World Series - they'd always second-guess themselves.


Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins - Aug. 28, 2018Carlos Carrasco is perhaps the Tribe's most consistent starter.  

ABOUT CARLOS CARRASCO

1. While writing about the Tribe and the playoffs, it's easy to take Carlos Carrasco for granted. When he pitches, I think, "He's pretty good." That's an underestimation. Carrasco is very, very good. He has a 16-7 record with a 3.38 ERA this season.

2. From 2014-18, his highest ERA was 3.63. His lowest was 3.29. His record is 59-33 in that span. You can write him in for about 15 wins each season, with a solid ERA. His only problem has been getting hit with line drives, leading to some scary injuries.

3. The Indians have the 31-year-old Carrasco under contract for two more seasons: $9 million in 2019, $9.5 million in 2020. On the open market, he's probably a $20 million per year pitcher.

4. But Carrasco has dealt with Tommy John elbow surgery (2011), being hit with a line drive and fracturing his right hand (2016) and some minor heart problems. Taking the long-term deal made sense because of the injury risk.

5. The Indians acquired Carrasco on July 29, 2009. That was in the Cliff Lee deal with the Phillies. Lee was the 2008 Cy Young award winner. He was headed to free agency, and the Indians knew they wouldn't re-sign him.

6. Also in that trade were Jason Donald (2012 last big league season), Lou Marson (2013 last season) and Jason Knapp. Along with Carrasco, Knapp was supposed to be an elite prospect. He had major shoulder problems and last pitched in the minors in 2010.

7. Lee won 143 games in his career and he made $143 million, according to Baseball Reference. His career record was 143-91 with a 3.52 ERA. His last season was 2014, and then arm problems ended his career at the age of 36. In the 5 1/2 seasons after leaving the Indians, Lee had a 60-43 record and 2.98 ERA.

8. Ben Francisco also was in that trade. He retired after the 2015 season. So only Carrasco remains in the big leagues.

Perez gets jumping when he gets outsOliver Perez helped save the Tribe's bullpen this season.  

ABOUT OLIVER PEREZ

1. Here's a list of names: George Kontos, Neil Ramirez, Matt Belisle, Ben Taylor, Evan Marshall, Oliver Drake, Alexi Ogando, Jeff Beliveau, Nick Goody and Oliver Perez.

2. The Indians went through all of those guys -- 10 to be exact -- hoping to find someone to help the bullpen this season. It turned out to be the 37-year-old Perez, who has a sparkling 1.11 ERA in 39 games for the Tribe.

3. Perez was pitching for the Yankees Class AAA Scranton team when the Indians came calling. He had an "out clause" in his contract if a big league team wanted him. That team was the desperate Tribe.

4. Perez had a 4.78 ERA pitching for Washington in 2016-17. That's how he ended up in the minors this season. He appeared to be at the end of a 20-year professional career. The Indians wanted to see if he had a little tiger left in his tank.

5. The lefty Perez, who throws different pitches from strange arm angles, has made a career of getting out lefty hitters. They are batting only .167 against him. But the surprise is righties are 2-for-33. Perez is getting out everyone right now. He gave the bullpen hope and optimism early in the season when nearly everyone coming into the game seemed to be choking under the pressure or dealing with injuries.


Jordan Fuller out vs. Oregon State with a hamstring injury: Ohio State football news

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Ohio State safety Jordan Fuller will not play vs. Oregon State because of a hamstring injury.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State safety Jordan Fuller will not play on Saturday vs. Oregon State because of a hamstring injury.

Fuller, who was the team's top returning tackler, did not warm up with the team on the field prior to the game.

He was also out on the field early getting some work in while the players were at Skull Session.

Sophomore Isaiah Pryor and redshirt sophomore Jahsen Wint started in his place on Saturday. Fuller was named one of Ohio State's seven captains.

Watch Dwayne Haskins' first touchdown pass as Ohio State's starting quarterback

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Check out Dwayne Haskins' first touchdown pass as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins started his first game for the Buckeyes on Saturday vs. Oregon State.

And on his first drive, he threw his first touchdown pass as the Buckeyes' starter.

He found Terry McLaurin on a crossing pattern going to the left for a two-yard TD reception. 

Haskins also completed a 27-yard pass to McLaurin earlier in the drive to set up the touchdown. He completed his first eight passes of the game.

Watch the TD pass here.


Ohio State vs. Oregon State in weather delay at halftime

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Ohio State led 42-14 at the half when the game was delayed for weather.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's season opener against Oregon State was delayed at halftime with the Buckeyes leading 42-14 due to severe weather in the area. The game entered the delay with about seven minutes left on the halftime clock.

A lightning strike near Ohio Stadium was followed by heavy downpours during the halftime break. Fans were instructed to seek shelter on the concourse or allowed to leave the stadium and re-enter when the game resumes.

The most recent update from an Ohio State spokesperson was that teams would back on the field for second-half warmups at 2:20 p.m. and the game would resume at 2:38 p.m.

The game is being televised on ABC.

Watch the Ohio State marching band's tribute to Queen at halftime vs. Oregon State

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Check out the Ohio State band's halftime show, in which it paid tribute to Queen. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The first halftime show for the Ohio State marching band in 2018 was a tribute to one of the most legendary rock bands in history.

On Saturday during the game vs. Oregon State, the band performed some of the best from Queen, including "We Will Rock You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody."

The band also broke out some cool formations, including a rock singer on stage and two bicyclists.

Watch the full halftime show in the video above and remember to subscribe to the Ohio State Football on cleveland.com channel on YouTube.

Time is of the essence for Cleveland Indians, Josh Donaldson and it's in short supply

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The Indians have taken a nothing ventured, nothing gained approach to the Josh Donaldson trade. But is there enough time left to get him healthy and productive before the postseason? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - What the Indians need more than anything else right now is another month of regular season baseball. Too much to ask? Then make it three weeks.

It's hard to believe, but in a sport where there is always another game, always another seven-game trip to make, manager Terry Francona and his team are running out of time when they need it the most.

The regular season ends on Sept. 30. That's 28 games and counting.

Will it be enough for the stress fracture in Trevor Bauer's right leg to heal? What about Andrew Miller's sore left shoulder, Cody Allen's search for his curveball and Lonnie Chisenhall's strained left calf?

And speaking of strained left calves - drum roll, please - we have Josh Donaldson about to pull on an Indians' uniform for the first time. The Indians acquired the former AL MVP on Friday night from Toronto, but just how well and how much he'll be able to play is something that they'll have to figure out starting Saturday when he reports to Progressive Field from his rehab assignment in Dunedin, Fla.

Team executives Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff raced the clock Friday to get Donaldson before the midnight deadline. Now the team's medical staff will be racing the clock all September to see if they can expedite the healing of Donaldson, Bauer, Miller and all the other injured Indians to see if any of them can return to form in time to assist a deep run into the postseason.

It is reminiscent, and not in a good way, of last year when Michael Brantley and Chisenhall missed much of the second half of the season with injuries, but returned just in time to make the postseason roster. It did not end well for them or the Indians in the ALDS against the Yankees. Fortunately, Brantley has come back strong this year. Chisenhall, however, has been bothered by the same injuries that slowed him last year.

When Antonetti talked to reporters just before Friday's midnight deadline, he talked about the element of risk in the trade. He was mostly talking about the money involved. He said the trade was constructed to give the Indians as much protection as possible. Toronto will reportedly pay $2.7 million of the remaining $4 million on Donaldson's deal.

So they're getting a month of Donaldson - and however deep they get into the postseason - for just over $1 million and a player to be named. Donaldson will be a free agent in November.

The competitive risk seems even less. Either Donaldson can play or he can't. One way or the other, a guy who hit .297 with 41 homers and 123 RBI in 2015 was worth a look.

If Donaldson, 32, can come close to being that player, the Indians could be a force headed into the postseason. Yes, the infield will have to be re-arranged --- again. Antonetti said when Donaldson is ready to play, he'll start at third base, moving AL MVP candidate Jose Ramirez to second base and second baseman Jason Kipnis to the outfield or the bench. Those conversations are expected to take place before Saturday night's game against the Rays.

Should Donaldson's injury linger, and his play prove ineffective, the Indians have lost little. Ramirez can return to third, Kipnis to second. Maybe Donaldson makes the postseason roster as a bat off the bench.

Even though the Indians are pressed for time, this mostly likely will be a gradual process. It's hard to believe Donaldson is going to show up Saturday and start playing third base five to six times a week after missing more than three months. It doesn't work that way so unless the Indians put Donaldson back on the disabled list and send him to the minors to get some game action - Antonetti said that was a possibility - he will probably be in and out of the lineup for the first couple of weeks of September.

The possible downside is the reaction of Ramirez and Kipnis. Will switching positions upset Ramirez, who despite a recent slump, is having a career year and could win the AL MVP? Kipnis, after a season of struggle, has just started to hit. But they're both under multiyear deals and have changed positions in the past.

The upside is the players in the clubhouse have real proof that the front office not only believes in them, but is trying to help them pursue a World Series championship. They acquired relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from San Diego and center fielder Leonys Martin from the Tigers before the July 31 deadline. Now Donaldson is scheduled to walk through into their clubhouse on Saturday.

In a season where they have dominated the AL Central, despite seemingly being on autopilot for long stretches of the schedule, that should get their attention.

Cleveland Indians add Josh Donaldson to 25-man roster, activate Rajai Davis, promote Eric Haase, Jon Edwards

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Right-hander Evan Marshall was designated for assignment on Saturday by the Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the wake of the Johson Donaldson trade on Friday night and rosters expanding on Saturday, the Indians made a series of moves before Saturday night's game against the Rays at Progressive Field.

Donaldson was added to the 25-man roster, outfielder Rajai Davis came off the disabled list and catcher Eric Haase and right-hander Jon Edwards were promoted from Class AAA Columbus. In another move, right-hander Evan Marshall was designated for assignment.

Haase hit .236 (102-for-433) with 24 homers, 20 homers and 71 RBI at Columbus this year. He was on the 40-man roster.

Edwards, 30, was not on the 40-man roster and had to have his contract selected from Columbus.  He signed a minor league deal with the Indians on March 22 after missing the 2016 and 2017 seasons because of reconstructive surgery on his right elbow.

He went a combined 2-1 with four saves and a 3.63 ERA in 34 appearances for Class AA Akron and Columbus.

Edwards has pitched in the big leagues with Texas and San Diego. He began his professional career as an outfielder in the St. Louis farm system.

Who is Ohio State's better Heisman Trophy candidate: Nick Bosa or Dwayne Haskins? (poll)

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Vote for which Ohio State player you think is the better Heisman Trophy candidate.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dwayne Haskins had quite the first half in his first start at Ohio State. He completed his first eight passes and finished with 313 yards passing and five touchdowns against Oregon State. 

Not to be outdone, defensive end Nick Bosa showed why he was an All-American last season. He had two sacks and two fumble recoveries, one of which was a touchdown, in the first half.

A defensive player has not won the Heisman Trophy since Charles Woodson in 1997. And he was the first one as well.

So could Bosa be a good Heisman candidate? Or is Haskins more primed to be the Buckeyes' best hope of claiming the trophy? Let us know in the poll and comments below.

Ohio State shows offensive promise, defensive question marks in 77-31 win over Oregon State

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No. 5 Ohio State opened the 2018 season with a win over Oregon State on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The debut of Ryan Day as Ohio State's acting head coach and Dwayne Haskins as the Buckeyes starting quarterback went about as well as could be expected. Both shined and the offense really clicked.

Ohio State's defense? Not so much, and that's something to monitor moving forward.

There was also the issue of that pesky weather delay during halftime that put things on hold for 72 minutes, and seemed to make things a little weird after the game resumed. It made for a day of surprising unease for a game that ended with the No. 5 Buckeyes beating Oregon State 77-31 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Beavers running back Artavis Pierce had scoring runs of 80 and 76 yards in the third quarter as the Buckeye linebackers had trouble filling gaps, and the secondary struggled in pursuit. The back seven of the defense featured four new starters with Baron Browning and Pete Werner at linebacker, and Isaiah Pryor and Jahsen Wint at safety. That youth showed.

Oregon State, which played three different quarterbacks, finished with 392 yards of total offense. That for a team that was No. 113 in the country in total offense last year, and nearly all of it came against a Buckeye defense that was mostly first-teamers into the fourth quarter.

The good news for Ohio State is that by the time things started going sideways for the defense in the second half, Haskins and the offense had already racked up 314 yards and had Ohio State up comfortably 42-14 while the teams cooled in the locker room at halftime as lightning and rain moved across Columbus.

The first-team offense, which sat on the final series of the first half, came back in to start the second half -- which was important as Ohio State's defense got leaky in the third quarter.

Haskins was sharp, completing 22-of-30 passes for 313 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. Ohio State's offense moved at a frenetic pace and had its way with an Oregon State defense that has a long way to go before new head coach Jonathan Smith can build anything resembling a competitive program in the Pac-12.

The Buckeyes had 721 yards of total offense.

The redshirt sophomore Haskins connected on two scoring throws to receiver Terry McLaurin, and another to tight end Rashod Berry. He was also credited with passing touchdowns on pop passes to running back Mike Weber and receiver Parris Campbell.

Haskins became the first Ohio State quarterback to throw for 300 yards and five touchdowns in his first career start.

Weber, though, was the offense's best player, running with a purpose after a season spent battling hamstring issues. He finished with a career-high 186 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. J.K. Dobbins had 15 carries for 74 yards.

Jordan Fuller out, young safeties struggle

Starting safety Jordan Fuller missed Saturday's game with what the team said was a hamstring injury. It's unclear how long he might be out.

In his place the Buckeyes started sophomores Pryor and Wint. Both had been battling in camp to start next to Fuller, and the plan was to play them both. But with two new safeties, Oregon State was able to to find some holes in the Buckeyes' pass defense early and bust some long runs in the second half.

Quarterbacks Jake Luton and Conor Blount combined to throw for 194 yards in the first half. Blount hit receiver Trevon Bradford on a slant for a 49-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Pryor and Wint seemed to get mixed up on the play. In the second half, the secondary as a whole struggled with angles on the two long runs by Pierce.

Fuller was arguably the surest thing Ohio State had in the secondary coming into the season. His absence was felt and the youth showed at the position against Oregon State.

Tuf Borland sighting

Ohio State said all week that sophomore linebacker Tuf Borland might be available for Saturday's game, which would have signified a faster-than-expected return from the Achilles injury he suffered in the spring. Borland didn't start, but he was on the field for a few snaps in the first half. With the way the linebackers played on Saturday against the run, you could see Borland start next week.

Bosa, Jones start strong

Defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones, both in their third year starting, didn't play in the second half despite things getting a little haywire. But both had two sacks in the first half. Bosa also had a fumble recovery touchdown in the second quarter.

Bosa said in the lead up to this season that Jones would break out this year with more opportunity to rush the passer. Both stood out in OSU's third-down Rushmen package (which surprisingly featured true freshman Tyreke Smith).

Tate Martell plan

Day said during the week that the offense would not use special packages for No. 2 quarterback Tate Martell, though they did get him some snaps with the first-team offense on Saturday. He took two in the second quarter, a pair of runs that didn't go anywhere, before Haskins came back in on third down and led an eventual scoring drive the rest of the way.

Martell then got a decent look with the second-team offense in the second half. He completed three passes for 33 yards and ran twice for 4 yards. In a glimpse of the exciting, and sometimes risky, reality that could be an offense run by Martell, the redshirt freshman unexpectedly flipped a ball to receiver C.J. Saunders on what went down officially as an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.

What's next?

Ohio State is back home next Saturday for its first Big Ten game. The Buckeyes will kick off against Rutgers at 3:30 p.m. in Ohio Stadium. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network. 

Ohio State football, unlike in 2015, understands its offense: Doug Lesmerises

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The Buckeyes rolled Oregon State with a Dwayne Haskins-Mike Weber attack that will work.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- To be fair, Ohio State's offense also worked against Virginia Tech in the 2015 opener, when the Buckeyes gained 572 yards in a 42-24 win.

Ezekiel Elliott carried 11 times for 122 yards, Cardale Jones threw for 187 yards and ran for 99, Braxton Miller dropped his spin move into the highlight reel of Ohio State history, and the Buckeyes looked like the defending national champions.

For a game.

After that, they didn't know what to do with themselves.

Too much talent was somehow a drag on that offense, which balked on a quarterback choice, never figured out how to work Miller into the gameplan consistently and generally failed to maximize its potential. The Buckeyes averaged 44.8 points during their national title march in 2014. They averaged 35.7 points in 2015.

So, that's a long caveat to lead into this: The 2018 Buckeyes look like they have this offense figured out.

The first half against Oregon State is the proof of that so far, with Dwayne Haskins throwing, Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins running, and co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day calling it all.

The 2015 season was often a failure of play calling, which fell on co-coordinators Ed Warinner and Tim Beck and Urban Meyer. On Saturday, with Day serving as the acting head coach for the first of three games while Meyer is suspended, he could do what he wanted.

Kevin Wilson was in the coaches box offering suggestions, but on the sideline, Day could just "like play, call play."

He knew what he wanted to do.

Haskins didn't carry the ball at all in the first half, which is how it should be for a 6-foot-3 QB with a large arm and a lack of comfort keeping the ball in the zone-read run game. 

Weber and Dobbins split series equally, and the result was 18 first-half carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns, both by Weber.

Ohio State's top five receivers all caught first-half passes, and tight end Rashod Berry scored on a play design that sent him in motion across a two-tight-end set and left him alone in the flat for an easy 6-yard pass. The Buckeyes ended the day with 721 total yards of offense.

In 2015, the Buckeyes never managed to put together an offense that highlighted the best attributes of Jones, a big-armed quarterback who was coming off a magical playoff run. In 2018, Haskins, making his first career start, looked as if college football wasn't going to be a problem for him.

Ohio State always has talent. Some of the few questions in the Meyer era have focused on how that talent is used.

Given Meyer's penchant for running the QB, and some past offensive struggles when he had a quarterback that was all-throw, no-run, you had to be a little curious about how Haskins was going to work.

It wasn't a question about the quarterback. Any Ohio State fan should have known Haskins was ready.

It was a question about this offense, and what it would ask him to do.

Haskins finished 22 of 30 for 313 yards and five touchdowns, two of which were cheap pop passes that are much more like runs, but hey, it counts in the stats.

Haskins scrambled twice for 24 yards. And he threw a pick in the red zone when he stood in and tried to make a play. Right idea, off target on the pass. Mistakes you'll take for the upside.

In Week 1, with Meyer away and Day in control, the Buckeyes asked Haskins to do what he does best.

If that continues, this season will be much more like 2014 than 2015. 


Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays lineups for Saturday night, Game No.135

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The Indians get their first look at Cy Young candidate Nate Snell on Saturday night at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the lineups for Saturday night's game between the Rays and Indians at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

RAYS

2B Joey Wendle.

3B Matt Duffy.

DH Ji-Man Choi.

LF Tommy Pham.

CF Kevin Kiermaier.

SS Willy Adames.

1B Jake Bauers.

C Jesus Sucre.

RF Brandon Lowe.

LHP Blake Snell, 16-5, 2.05.

INDIANS

SS Francisco Lindor.

LF Michael Brantley.

3B Jose Ramirez.

1B Edwin Encarnacion.

DH Yandy Diaz.

CF Brandon Guyer.

RF Melky Cabrera.

C Yan Gomes.

2B Erik Gonzalez.

RHP Shane Bieber, 8-2, 4.52.

2018 DAP Championship: Hickok holds lead, pressure is on for title contenders

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Hunter Mahan, the most recognized name among the title contenders heading into Sunday's final round of the 2018 DAP Championship at Canterbury Golf Club, trails leader Kramer Hickok by four strokes. Alone in second place is another former PGA Tour

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Getting a PGA Tour card is the biggest reason Web.com Tour golfers are competing in the 2018 DAP Championship at historic Canterbury Golf Club - even for professionals who have had past success on the tour.

Such is the case with Hunter Mahan, the most recognized name among the title contenders after he shot a 5-under 65 Saturday. At 8-under-par heading into Sunday's final round, Mahan trails leader Kramer Hickok by four strokes.

Alone in second place is another former PGA Tour player, Stephan Jaeger, whose three-day 66-65-68 totals trail Hickok (63-67-68) by one stroke. Sangmoon Bae sandwiched his 63 Friday with his second 1-under 69 and is third at 9-under.

Mahan, 36, has six PGA Tour victories, including 2010 WGC Bridgestone at Firestone Country Club. He is seeking to regain his tour card after losing it by finishing 159th on the tour money list. Pros need to finish in the top 125 to keep their cards.

"That's why I'm out here," said Mahan, who has improved his score each day (71-66-65). "Canterbury is a fun course to play...I love playing it. It's very similar to Firestone (South) in that it has a lot of big and beautiful trees. Firestone is probably a little tougher in that it has tougher and bigger par 4 (holes).

"Today I hit a lot of greens, and I have a great touch with the putter. Here (at Canterbury) you need to hit the ball below the hole. Above it, you'll have to be protecting some of those putts. You need to think your way around this course."

Will his experience of winning six times on the PGA Tour help him win on Sunday?

"I'd rather hit it good and better than everyone else on Sunday," Mahan said. "I'll take that over experience (of previous tour victories)."

Saturday's trio of leaders - Hickok, Bae and Jaeger - had to grind to shoot under par. Playing conditions were tougher than the first two rounds. Hickok and Jaeger both shot 2-under 68, while Bae scored - for him - a disappointing 69.

Hickok, who has led the tournament all three days, already has his PGA card secured and is playing pressure free.

"My ball striking was again good...I had one bad drive and one bogey, a lot of easy pars and not many birdie opportunities," said Hickok, 26, a winner last year on the Canadian Tour. "Those wins in Canada draw happy memories. I'd feel more pressure if I were in the shoes of those other guys trying to get their cards.

"The thing is, I can't go backwards in the (Web.com Tour) standings. All I need to do here is go out and play good golf."

Jaeger, whose German name means "hunter," is in the title hunt and he said he wants a title at Canterbury more so than just earning his PGA card back.

"I'm here to win...winning solves every other goal," Jaeger said. "The scores today were not as low because Canterbury had some teeth in it. It was also a windier day, making it tougher to hang in there.

What does he have to do Sunday besides shoot the lowest score - as Ben Hogan once advised Nick Faldo when the latter asked Hogan what he had to do to win the U.S. Open?

"I figure if I can shoot five birdies and avoid bogeys - something I'm capable of doing - I'll have a good chance to win," Jaeger said.

OK ROUND: Akron native Justin Lower shaved two strokes off his Friday round and posted even par 70. He remains 1-under-par for the tournament.

FINAL ROUND TIMES: Tee off times for Sunday begin as early as 7:30 a.m. The leaders will tee off at 12:50 p.m.

Everything Ohio State acting head coach Ryan Day said after the Buckeyes' 77-31 win vs. Oregon State

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See everything Ohio State acting head coach Ryan Day said after Saturday's 77-31 win vs. Oregon State. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Everything Ohio State acting head coach Ryan Day said after the Buckeyes' 77-31 win vs. Oregon State on Saturday. Watch his full press conference at the top of this post and remember to subscribe to the Ohio State Football on cleveland.com channel on YouTube.

Day: Really proud of the way the guys came out today. We talked about starting fast in this game. We talked about how we wanted to start fast, play fast. I thought we did that in the first half.

The guys on defense I thought were running around, playing with speed. And then going into halftime there we're in there for a while. That was a long break for us. And it was just one of those same things that we talked to our team about. It was another E, which is an event that we couldn't control.

And so we wanted to have an outcome of winning the game and playing strong in the second half, and making the strength staff the best in the country. They did a great job of hydrating the guys and making sure they got off their feet. And then we had a good plan, coming out in the second half. And I thought we played well in the second half as well.

Q. Could you assess the play of Dwayne Haskins, Jr.? After then can you assess Mike Weber's? You talked about Mike Weber's great camp. It seemed to carry over.

Day: Really proud of the way Mike has practiced. We've been talking about that for a while now. He's at a really good preseason. He's practiced hard, been taking care of the football. And so that was really good to see him play well today.

We brought three guys up in the locker room. He was one of them. Malcolm Pridgeon was another one. And Terry McLaurin was the third. And those three guys have arguably been three of the best practice players we had. And they had really big days for us today. So that was great.

I thought Dwayne started well, played well, had the one play there that obviously you'd like to have back. But overall a good start to them.

Q. Can you just talk about your emotions of the day and what it was like without having Urban here?

Day: It was a lot going on for me. First time going through everything, whether it was in the meetings or going to the skull session, the walk, pregame, going out in the field.

So there was a lot of first times. And so did the best I could. Got a lot of help from a lot of people. Obviously Greg and Kevin and the guys on the staff. But also Quinn and Brian and all the guys that helped me. And obviously Mick on a daily basis.

Got a lot of support there. And obviously the players, the way they played today and the way they've been playing all camp gives you a lot of confidence as you're in front of the group.

Q. 77 points out of your offense. Just overall what did you see out of those guys? And I'm sure you saw room for improvement, but 77 points. And on the other side of the ball, the defense did give up some big plays.

Day: Well, I thought that we played with tempo today. And we were aggressive. I thought we stretched the field horizontally and we stretched it vertically, which is the goal. But I thought the tempo was really good.

We have a lot of depth at receiver. So we're able to play multiple receivers and stay fresh, which I think you could see. Our offensive line is in tremendous shape.

But we were playing at a pretty fast clip. I've got to go back and look to see how fast we were playing, but we were really playing fast in that first half which was the plan going in.

But then we were playing efficiently, too. So that was good. But a lot to learn from. It's something to build on for sure.

Greg and the guys obviously had these guys ready to roll. Obviously the sacks early on and creating a lot of disruption.

The turnover is a huge play. Anytime you can create a turnover, that flips it. Where you go from possibly getting the ball back to 7 points for us.

I think it went from 35 to 42, if I remember correctly. Then all of a sudden the game changes, the whole outcome of the game changes. So that was really big for us.

Q. You had about a near 50/50 split on snaps for J.K. and Mike. How much of that is the plan that you're hoping to have every week even though on a day like today, for example, Mike might be better but then next week J.K. could also be the one who has the big day. Is that 50/50 what you're aiming for?

Day: Yeah, but it kind of depends on the game. When we're playing this fast, those guys, shoot, after they go about five plays, they need a sub anyways.

It's not like we could leave them in even if we wanted to. We try to roll them, keep them fresh, and how the game plays and how the chips fall, they do.

But both guys are talented. And some days one guy is going to be hot. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw based on the way that the guys block up front.

Q. (Question off microphone)?

Day: More of just what we're seeing on defense. That was just a schematic play we came up with during the week that we thought gave us an advantage to get the ball into the perimeter.

Q. I think you had a handful of third and short and never ran the quarterback, which in the past few years that would have been the case. In fact, I think you only had one run and it was a scramble. Consciously, did you go into that: Let's not run him as much on short yardage, let's throw, change things up from what we've seen in the past?

Day: Dwayne can run. And there's going to be times when he's going to need to run. But sometimes just kind of based on what we're seeing in terms of what the defense has given us. He's still a threat with his legs. He's obviously a gifted passer and he does that really, really well.

But there's different ways that we can spread the field where he might possibly be reading the linebacker on one play, or there's times when he's reading a defensive lineman, he'll have to run. So sometimes it's based on what the defense is giving us.

Q. This might sound silly before the game looked like you had some whistle problems. Were you nervous at all to go out the first time? Did you sense any nerves with Dwayne either?

Day: No. No. I didn't, actually. The whistle, I don't know, they gave me a whistle, it didn't work. I had to send it back. They gave me a fresh one.

No, not nervous because there was a quiet confidence about this team all along. There's a quiet confidence about a lot of guys on our team.

When you're surrounded with players and coaches that have your back and that you know you've been through some stuff with, you kind of feel good about it. And probably my two -- I had three things I really, really enjoyed. First one was bed check last night. Going around and being with each of the guys in their room, that was a really cool experience for me.

The skull session and the support that we all felt going into the skull session was really awesome. And then the last one was coming out in the second half and seeing all the fans come back after a long delay. Coming out before the game and seeing the support and going through the line, and just the support that I felt and this team felt walking from the skull session to the stadium was really, really cool. And you could feel it and it was emotional.

Q. What kind of reaction do you think you'll get from Urban on the outcome and how the game went?

Day: Well, when Coach gets back, we're looking forward to getting him back and looking forward to those meetings and kind of building as we go to Rutgers. But it will be business as usual for us. We'll look at the film, make corrections, go from there.

Q. How about Tate's ability, he runs 10 yards and pitches. Was he playing under control or is that the way you want him to play?

Day: From my angle I thought he fumbled the ball. So my heart jumped out of my throat. He was actually being Tate, which is he's a playmaker.

He can do some great things like that. Quick. Short area quickness is excellent. In that opportunity he has an option to run it, give it, or actually pitch the ball late or throw it.

That's what he did there. He's a playmaker. And so as the season goes on he'll have more and more opportunities to show that.

Q. The last month has been difficult for, I'm sure, you and the players on the team and difficult for the fans who just want to talk about football and think about football.
Do you feel as if Dwayne Haskins is the perfect face for a fan base that just needs something to look forward to, and is he, based on what you've seen, capable of kind of just becoming the new face of this program?

Day: I don't know about that. I think this is a first start for Dwayne. It was a good start. We'll be building on it as we go. I understand what you're saying, but I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. It's one game, and we have a long way to go.

Q. You see what he was able to do with his arm. How was he in the locker room during your guys' long delay? How do you think he handled just his first real day on the job being this team --

Day: I thought he handled it well. I thought all the guys had a calmness about them, again. In that locker room, Mick had them in there, take off your shoulder pads, relax; it's going to be a while, don't panic.

When it was time to flip the switch, I think we went out, 2:58 was the time, then the music went on everybody got jacked up and we were rolling. We went through a routine and ready to go the second half. I thought everybody handled it really well.

Q. You said earlier this week that it was Dwayne's first start; he's going to make some mistakes. With that in mind, did today go about as well as you could have expected for him?

Day: Yeah. I mean, we laughed about it afterwards. He knows I'm going to be all over him for that third down throw down in the red zone. But, yeah, I thought it was a good start.

We'll look at the film, see what happens. Sometimes you have a vision what it was like on the field. Then you look at it, go from there. But I thought it was a good start for him.

Q. I know you and Kevin both have a background in tempo offense. Did this seem much faster and more consistent tempo than maybe we've seen; is that game-specific, or is that something you're hoping to change on the whole of the season?

Day: We have the ability -- second half we actually played pretty slow. I don't know if you saw that. At the end we were trying to eat up the clock. We were spending a lot of time eating that clock. We like to be in control of when we go fast and when we don't.

Obviously Kevin has a big hand in all of this. And his tempo and my tempo background, we've combined, and obviously with the help of the whole offensive staff. There's certain times where we think it gives us an advantage. Sometimes maybe it doesn't.

So based on what's happening in the game, we can make an in-game adjustment. Like I think it was, like, maybe midway through the third we decided, all right, we need to slow this thing down, snap it like 10 and try and eat up the clock. Do you want to shorten the game or elongate the game? And so I think you saw that today, how we can change that.

Q. First of all, what, if anything, did you prove to yourself today?

Day: Again, I don't think I proved anything to myself. It was just one of those things where you gotta jump into the pool with two feet, just do it.

And it was like standing in the tunnel and looking up at Ohio State and the Horseshoe, about to run out with the team and I looked over at Quinn, and I'm like: We really doing this? He said yeah. And I had a smile on my face and ran out.

But, again, when you have those guys behind you and this coaching staff behind you, that's what it is. And, again, I've said this before. My job is not to replace Coach Meyer. My job is to just keep this place until he gets back and never wanted to replace him, just want to keep this thing going in the right direction.

Q. Secondly, other than the win, what was the best thing about today and what was the worst thing about today?

Day: I thought the best thing, again, was overcoming adversity again. We had to come in and deal with this delay. That's hard when you're getting to the rhythm of the game and all of a sudden you have to stop. You don't do that in football where you just take a deep breath. You're always on edge. Then we had to ramp it back up again. I thought that was the best part of the day.

The worst part of the day, probably just again the fact that we were nervous at halftime about it was 42-14 going into the second half.

You know, how can we put ourselves in a situation where we're not going to win this game? Well, maybe it would be a delay, something like that. We were a little nervous going into the second half. So that was a little concerning at the time. But overall it was a good day.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

Trey Griffey attempts another sports chapter for his baseball family: Pittsburgh Steelers (video)

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Wide receiver Trey Griffey was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Watch video

PITTSBURGH - Baseball has been woven so tightly into the fabric of Trey Griffey that he could not loosen the grip if he tried.

He never would, but he totally understands the culture of a sport that smothers itself in superstition.

For example, when his Baseball Hall of Fame father, Ken Griffey Jr., was asked about his son prior to the Pittsburgh Steelers' final preseason game by The Plain Dealer, Griffey Jr. politely declined.

"We're a baseball family, we're superstitious," he said, smiling. "We don't know if he'll make the team."

Griffey did not make the Steelers final 53-man roster. He's a candidate for their practice squad. The Steelers can sign 10 players to their practice squad by noon Sunday.

"I totally understand why my dad didn't say anything," Trey said. "That's baseball. I was born into a baseball family. I've been around [the culture] all of my life."

Trey is also the grandson of Ken Griffey Sr., a three-time All-Star and a two-time world champion with the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and '76.

Despite being born into the family's business, Trey set his own path in football. He developed himself into a Florida All-State wide receiver in high school, and that earned him a scholarship to Arizona. In college, Griffey made 79 catches for 1,241 yards and six touchdowns in 44 career games.

His baseball family fully supported his decision to play another game.

"My family always played football," Trey said. "My dad played in high school (Cincinnati Moeller), my granddad played (Donora, Pennsylvania, 20 miles south of Pittsburgh) and my uncle Craig [Griffey] played at Ohio State. My dad always told me if I have love for a sport to stick with it, and I did."

Trey's professional life began with the Indianapolis Colts in May 2017. He was released two months later and picked up by the Miami Dolphins that same year. The Dolphins released him last fall and the Steelers signed Trey to a contract in January.

Trey had four catches for 44 yards in the preseason. He also played on special teams and had two tackles. Trey prepared himself best for his season from the classroom and examples on the field.

"I tried to learn from the veterans," Trey said. "I got to see Antonio Brown every day. You see the way Darrius Hayward-Bey plays and from the way Ben Roethlisberger throws the ball. Learning from the vets is a great thing."

Extra

Trey's grandfather, Griffey Sr., grew up 27 miles south of Pittsburgh in Donora, Pennsylvania, the same hometown as Stan Musial. 

But the Griffey legend may have never transpired if Griffey Sr. had followed his original dream to play college football.

Griffey Sr. signed to play wide receiver at Marshall in West Virginia. But he learned later, during his senior year in 1969, that his girlfriend was pregnant with Junior. Griffey Sr. needed money. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds, as a 29th-round pick, and got married. A year later, members of the Marshall football team perished when its plane crashed in 1970.

How concerned are we about Ohio State's defense? Buckeyes football analysis

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Ohio State gave up nearly 400 yards of offense and three touchdowns of 49 yards or more to Oregon State. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As good as Ohio State's offense was in its 77-31 win vs. Oregon State on Saturday, there have to be some questions about the defense.

The Buckeyes allowed 396 yards of total offense to the Beavers and gave up 17 points in the third quarter alone. Oregon State also had touchdown plays of 49, 80 and 78 yards.

Ohio State did have a very different looking defense on Saturday. The Buckeyes had two sophomores starting at linebacker in Baron Browning and Pete Werner. Jordan Fuller was out due to a hamstring injury, which forced Jahsen Wint into the starting lineup next to Isaiah Pryor.

So is there cause for serious concern? Or could this be a one-off because of new starters and the absence of a captain in the secondary?

We discuss that in the video above. After you watch, remember to subscribe to the Ohio State Football on cleveland.com channel on YouTube.

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