Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

Browns hire Rob Chudzinski: Reaction on social media

0
0

Where were you when you heard the Browns hired Rob Chudzinski as their head coach and what did you think? Read the initial reaction from NFL experts as well as Browns fans on Twitter and Facebook and then tell us what you think of the hire in the comments section.

chudzinski-ap.JPG Rob Chudzinski (AP)

Where were you when you heard the news that the Browns hired Rob Chudzinski as their head coach and what did you think?

Read the initial reaction from NFL experts as well as Browns fans on Twitter and Facebook and then tell us what you think of the hire in the comments section.


Rob Chudzinski named coach of the Cleveland Browns: Good move, bad move or so-so? (poll)

0
0

Chudzinski, the Browns' offensive coordinator in 2007-08, has been the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator the last two years.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns suddenly ended their coaching search on Thursday night, when they hired Rob Chudzinski as the 14th full-time head coach since the team began as a franchise in 1946, as reported by The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot.



Chudzinski, the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator the last two seasons, worked as the Browns offensive coordinator under head coach Romeo Crennel in 2007 and 2008. The Browns went 10-6 and ranked eighth in offense among the NFL's 32 teams in 2007 due, in part, to the stunning season by quarterback Derek Anderson. The Browns went 4-12 in 2008, however, placing 31st in offense and costing Crennel and Chudzinski their jobs.



Chudzinski, 44, who was coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, interviewed with the Browns Wednesday in Cleveland. He's expected to bring former San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner as coordinator, a source said. The two are close.



A Toledo native and lifelong Browns fan, "Chud'' joined fellow former Miami Hurricanes coach Butch Davis as tight ends coach in 2004, and served as interim offensive coordinator in 2004 after Davis resigned. Chudzinski coached the Chargers tight ends -- including All-Pro Antonio Gates -- in 2005 and 2006, and then returned to Cleveland as offensive coordinator in 2007 under Romeo Crennel.


What do you think of the Browns' hiring of Chudzinski as their next head coach?




Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar receiving 'groundbreaking' treatments for brain trauma

0
0

 MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar never thought about the consequences of the helmet-rattling hits he absorbed while throwing touchdown passes and raising Super Bowl hopes at old Municipal Stadium.   He kept a packet of smelling salts stashed in his uniform pants for occasions when he was "dinged," called a few running plays until his...

Gallery preview




MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar never thought about the consequences of the helmet-rattling hits he absorbed while throwing touchdown passes and raising Super Bowl hopes at old Municipal Stadium.  

He kept a packet of smelling salts stashed in his uniform pants for occasions when he was "dinged," called a few running plays until his head cleared and knew the team trainer would always hold up two fingers for the rudimentary concussion test.  

But for the past decade, Kosar has spent sleepless, fitful nights dealing with the painful effects of at least a dozen documented concussions during a 13-year NFL career. There have been headaches, insomnia, slurred speech and persistent ringing and buzzing in his ears.  

The 49-year-old had searched unsuccessfully for lasting relief until recently finding it courtesy of a Florida-based doctor who he says is helping reverse the effects of his brain trauma.  

Kosar held a news conference Thursday in Middleburg Heights touting the "groundbreaking" work of Dr. Rick Sponaugle, who has been treating the Pro Bowl quarterback for about a month.  

"It was a gift from God to find this and to feel like this," Kosar said. "I see all the symptoms going away."  

 He hopes to raise awareness of the therapy, which the doctor says improves blood flow in the brain through intravenous treatments and dietary supplements.  

 Kosar knows there are many former players grappling with similar brain-trauma issues. He has spoken to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the therapy and the league has put Sponaugle in touch with one of its medical advisers, Dr. Elliot Pellman.  

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the correspondence. 

 "They are very interested," said Sponaugle, 57, who has spent 15 years studying the brain. "Why wouldn't they be?"  

 Kosar addressed the media on the same day ESPN reported that former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide in May, suffered from the type of chronic brain damage found in dozens of deceased players. Seau's family was informed last week the brain tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression.  

 "There are hundreds, if not thousands, of guys who are dealing with issues and pain and stuff," said Kosar, whose speech is noticeably improved from last month. "Literally, I think a lot of them are losing hope. I tried really hard to find it. This [treatment] isn't something I think a lot of guys know about, whether it's the younger kids playing or the ex-NFL players. I don't think a lot of people know there is hope for them."  

Kosar stressed he has no business interests with Sponaugle, who operates a detox and wellness center outside of Tampa, Fla. He wants to spread the word in an effort to prevent future tragedies like the one involving his friends Seau and Dave Duerson, who also committed suicide.  

 According to the ESPN report, researchers at Boston University have confirmed 50 cases of CTE in former football players, including 33 from the NFL. Kosar is not among the more than 4,000 former players suing the league in federal court, claiming it ignored a connection between football and brain damage.  

He has no regrets about playing, Kosar said, or the medical care he received during his time with the Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He believes the league is doing more to address player-safety issues and wants to do his part.  

 "I hope if there are people and players out there suffering [they now know they] have an option and something that can genuinely help them get better in a short amount of time that doesn't involve living the rest of your life in pain and agony and on medication," Kosar said.  

 "I am not trying to over-dramatize this, get attention and [make people] feel sorry for me, but it was bad and I needed to get to him when I got to him and through God's blessing it got reversed."  

 Kosar and girlfriend Tami Longaberger learned of the treatments about 16 months ago, but didn't make contact with the doctor until this fall. He was skeptical about the claims of Sponaugle, who reportedly has admitted to administering treatment for publicity in the past.  

 But Kosar said he started seeing almost immediate results. His positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which detect damage to the brain, are showing improvement. Over the past month, he has received about 15 treatments, each lasting about two hours.  

Sponaugle, who also works with patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, provided little detail about his therapy Thursday. He did reveal he has treated about 20 former and current NFL players.

The doctor likened the head trauma Kosar and other players have absorbed to an auto accident.  

"The difference, folks, is the car accident is a one-time deal when a head goes through a windshield," Sponaugle said. "Bernie had his head go through the windshield every Sunday."  

The doctor has listened to Kosar's radio interview from last month in which he became emotional and sounded incoherent at times. Kosar, who has dealt with divorce and past financial troubles, has denied he was drunk or medicated.  

 "I knew what it was and I knew why he was weepy," the doctor said. "I have seen this in [many] people." 

Kosar, who's relaunching his charitable foundation, said he feels "20 years younger" and has lost about 40 pounds since last summer. He was in good spirits Thursday, joking with reporters and telling them the ringing he once experienced "wasn't my ex-wife yelling at me."  

"I really feel blessed to be restored as far as the brain," Kosar said. "And, the trauma that was there, I almost feel like it's gone right now."   

Rob Chudzinski, new Cleveland Browns head coach: Photo gallery

0
0

Rob Chudzinski was with the Browns before as offensive coordinator under Romeo Crennel.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns on Thursday night hired former offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as their new coach. He brings a combination of NFL experience and an understanding of what it means to be a Cleveland Brown.

From Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer:

A Toledo native and lifelong Browns fan, "Chud'' joined fellow former Miami Hurricanes coach Butch Davis as tight ends coach in 2004, and served as interim offensive coordinator in 2004 after Davis resigned. Chudzinski coached the Chargers tight ends -- including All-Pro Antonio Gates -- in 2005 and 2006, and then returned to Cleveland as offensive coordinator in 2007 under Romeo Crennel.
In his first year as Browns OC, Chud helped the Browns to a 10-6 record and No. 8 ranking on offense. Four of his offensive players went to the Pro Bowl: quarterback Derek Anderson, receiver Braylon Edwards, left tackle Joe Thomas and tight end Kellen Winslow. The following year, the Browns went 4-12, plummeted to 31st on offense and Crennel was fired.

Chudzinski grew up in Toledo and was an avid Browns fan as a kid. From Mary Kay Cabot's later story:

He can still recite the starting lineup for the 1980 Kardiac Kids.
"I remember back when we'd flip the TV around in the window and go outside in the middle of winter and watch the game out there because we wanted to be there," he said when the Browns first hired him -- in 2004 as their tight ends coach. "We wanted to be part of it."
Now, he's more of a part of it than he ever dared dream as a boy.

Friday, Jan. 11 television and radio sports listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

0
0

Highlights include Cavaliers at Denver.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio listings

AHL

8:30 p.m. LAKE ERIE MONSTERS at San Antonio. AM/850

AUTO RACING

2 a.m. (Sat.) Dakar Rally, stage 7 (tape), NBCSN

BOXING

9 p.m. John Molina vs. Dannie Williams, ESPN2

11:15 p.m. Ronny Rios vs. Rico Ramos;

Daquan Arnett vs. Brandon Quarles, Showtime

GOLF

11 a.m. Volvo Champions (tape), Golf Channel

7 p.m. Sony Open, Golf Channel

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Olmsted Falls at Amherst, AM/930

7:30 p.m. Nordonia at Green, AM/1350

11 p.m. Upper Arlington at Dublin Coffman (tape), TWCS-311

MEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY

7:30 p.m. Union at Princeton, NBCSN

9 p.m. Alaska Anchorage at Minnesota, Big Ten Network

10 p.m. Nebraska-Omaha at Denver, NBCSN

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Fairfield at Loyola (Md.), ESPNU

9 p.m. Wright State at Loyola (Ill.), ESPNU

MEN'S COLLEGE WRESTLING

7 p.m. Nebraska at Michigan, Big Ten Network

NBA

8 p.m. Chicago at New York, ESPN

9 p.m. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS at Denver, Fox Sports Ohio; AM/1100

10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, ESPN


Rob Chudzinski named coach of the Cleveland Browns: What they're saying -- story links

0
0

Reaction to the Browns' hiring of Chudzinski as their coach is varied. Links to stories and reports on the move, including speculation that the Browns will go to a 3-4 defense.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns hired Rob Chudzinski as their head coach on Thursday night.

The position had been open since Dec. 31, when Cleveland fired coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert following a 4-12 record for the 2012 campaign.

Chudzinski, the Browns' offensive coordinator in 2007-08, had worked the last two seasons as the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's story on the hiring of Chudzinski, along with numerous other stories, columns, a fans' poll and photos.

Reaction to the Browns' hiring of Chudzinski is varied.

Gregg Rosenthal, writing for NFL.com, makes several points about the Browns' move, including that it's of benefit to quarterback Brandon Weeden, who had an uneven rookie season in 2012.

Rosenthal writes:


This is great news for Brandon Weeden. A week ago, the quarterback looked like an expired part that wouldn't be able to fit in a Chip Kelly offense (the Oregon coach interviewed the for Browns' coaching job). But Chudzinski offers hope to Weeden. The former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator prefers a vertical offense. Weeden was not great as a rookie, but he showed flashes and has a good arm.
Rosenthal makes another positive comment on the hire, which, of course, not all Browns fans agree with, for now:

After a trying week, this hire might actually be popular with Browns fans. Chudzinski is from the area and grew up a Browns fan. He's innovative and aggressive. If he fails, at least he's a coach that should go down swinging. You couldn't say that about Pat Shurmur, Romeo Crennel, or even Eric Mangini.
On the other hand, Jamison Hensley, writing for ESPN.com, needs some convincing that the Browns have made a wise decision. He comments (with a reference to Browns owner Jimmy Haslam):

It's a surprise and a letdown all rolled up into one confusing announcement. I'm not guaranteeing that Chudzinski will fail. I'm not saying he's a bad choice. Chudzinski simply wasn't the coach that the Browns were talking about when the search began 11 days ago. That's where the disappointment comes from.

The Browns' top priority, as Haslam put it, was hiring a strong leader. Chudzinski has as much head coaching experience as Pat Shurmur did before he joined the Browns. In talking to a people who have worked with Chudzinski, no one knows if he will be able to command an entire team. Once again, the Browns find themselves with an inexperienced head coach overseeing an inexperienced team.
And, regarding potential moves simultaneous with the hiring of Chudzinski, Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com writes on his Twitter account, with a reference to recently fired San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner:

Here's what I know on CLE situation-- Chud is HC, Norv is coming with him, Norv's son Scott Turner is too...D will move to a 3-4 scheme.
Browns hire Rob Chudzinski, story links

The Browns select Rob Chudzinski as their coach, and it looks like Norv Turner will join them as the new offensive coordinator. (By Zac Jackson, FoxSportsOhio.com)

Rob Chudzinski returns to Cleveland, where he was the Browns' offensive coordinator in 2007-08. (By Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com)

A Wednesday report on Browns coaching candidates said Rob Chudzinski's stock had dropped somewhat from a year ago, though the Panthers and second-year quarterback Cam Newton rallied late in the 2012 season. (By Josh Katzowitz, CBSSports.com)

Now, the Browns must prove they made a good decision in hiring Rob Chudzinski. (By Craig Lyndall, WaitingForNextYear)

In hiring Rob Chudzinski, Browns CEO Joe Banner makes a decision similar to one he had a part in when the Philadelphia Eagles hired Andy Reid as their coach in 1999. (By Jeff Schudel, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)

Reaction to the hiring of Rob Chudzinski. For one thing, it would be unsettling for the Browns to switch to a 3-4 defense. (By Chris Pokorny, Dawgs By Nature)

Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is hired by the Cleveland Browns as their head coach. (By Jonathan Jones, Charlotte Observer)

Rob Chudzinski is hired by the Browns. Mike Shula should replace Chudzinski as the Panthers' offensive coordinator. (By Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer)

The Browns hire as their head coach Rob Chudzinski, who was the coordinator of a Carolina Panthers' offense that ranked seventh and 12th, respectively, the last two seasons in the 32-team NFL. (SportingNews.com)

The Browns make somewhat of a surprise decision, tabbing Rob Chudzinski as their new coach. (By Mike Garafolo, USA Today)

The Browns hire a new coach, Rob Chudzinski, to be introduced at an 11 a.m. press conference on Friday. (By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal)

The Browns' search for a new coach comes to a surprising conclusion, as Rob Chudzinski gets the nod. (By Tony Grossi, ESPNCleveland.com)

Lots of bigger names had been mentioned, before the Browns hired Rob Chudzinski as their new coach. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Rob Chudzinski joins the Browns for the third time in a decade, this time as their head coach. (By Scott Petrak, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette).

Hiring Rob Chudzinski is a difficult move to gauge for now, but it has intriguing potential. (By Steve DiMatteo, Dawg Pound Daily)

Details on Rob Chudzinski's coaching history. (Orange and Brown Report)

Picking Rob Chudzinski, an offense-oriented head coach, made the most sense for the Browns. (By Vic Carucci, clevelandbrowns.com)


Rob Chudzinski, Cleveland Browns' new head coach, won't need lessons on team's storied tradition

0
0

The Cleveland Browns hired former Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski -- a lifelong Browns fan from Toledo, Ohio -- as their 14th full-time head coach.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Rob Chudzinski, the Cleveland Browns' new head coach, grew up a rabid Browns in Toledo, Ohio, where he pretended to be Ozzie Newsome out in the yard and even ate a few dog biscuits.

He can still recite the starting lineup for the 1980 Kardiac Kids.

"I remember back when we'd flip the TV around in the window and go outside in the middle of winter and watch the game out there because we wanted to be there," he said when the Browns first hired him -- in 2004 as their tight ends coach. "We wanted to be part of it."

Now, he's more of a part of it than he ever dared dream as a boy. The Browns on Thursday named Chudzinski, 44, their 14th full-time head coach. The Panthers' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons replaces Pat Shurmur, who was fired Dec. 31. He's the sixth full-time head coach since the Browns returned in 1999.

It marks Chudzinski's first job as a head coach at any level, and his third tour stint with the Browns. He served as tight ends coach under Butch Davis in 2004 and interim offensive coordinator for the final five games that season, and as offensive coordinator in 2007-08 under Romeo Crennel.

Chudzinski is expected to name former Chargers coach Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator. Turner's son, Scott, who was a Panthers offensive quality control coach the past two seasons is expected to come as well. Chudzinski was Turner's tight ends coach and assistant head coach in San Diego in 2009-10.

The Browns are also likely to switch to a 3-4 defense, a source said, which means defensive coordinator Dick Jauron is probably gone. As for a new general manager to work alongside Chudzinski, the Browns have been eyeing Kansas City Director of Pro Personnel Ray Farmer.

It's not yet known how Chudzinski, a former tight end at Miami (Fla.), feels about the Browns' quarterbacks -- Brandon Weeden, Colt McCoy and Thad Lewis. But one thing Chudzinski definitely understands is the passion of Browns fans and their urgency to get to the Super Bowl. He lived through "The Drive" and "The Fumble," "Red Right 88" and cherished the Kardiac Kids.

"The fans here are special people," Chudzinski said in 2004. "I know because I was one of them and still am.''

Pretending to be Newsome all those years served Chudzinski well. He played tight end for the Hurricanes from 1986 to '90, winning two national championships -- one in 1987 when Davis was on the staff and one in 1989. He graduated from Miami in 1990 with a degree in business administration and earned his MBA. in 1996.

For the past two seasons, Chudzinski has worked with Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2011 after being picked No. 1 overall. He became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards, while setting an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 14. Newton was named the 2011 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The team also set club records for total yards (6,237) and first downs (345), one year after experiencing franchise lows in both categories.

The sensational season earned "Chud'' head coaching interviews with the Jaguars, Rams and Buccaneers last off-season.

This time around, he beat out Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, fired Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt -- who Wednesday was brought in for a second interview -- and Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton. The Browns did not meet with Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

In his first year as Browns offensive coordinator in 2007, Chudzinski helped the Browns to a 10-6 record and No. 8 ranking on offense. Four of his offensive players went to the Pro Bowl: quarterback Derek Anderson, receiver Braylon Edwards, left tackle Joe Thomas and tight end Kellen Winslow. The following year, the Browns plummeted to 31st on offense, went 4-12 and Crennel was fired.

As the Chargers' tight ends and assistant head coach in 2010, Chudzinski helped San Diego rank first in the NFL in total offense with an average of 395.6 yards per game and second in scoring with an average of 27.6 points per game.

Tight end Antonio Gates excelled during both of Chudzinski's two-year stints on the Chargers' staff (2005-06, 2009-10). Gates made his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl in 2010, one year after producing a career-high 1,157 yards. In 2005, Chudzinski's first season as San Diego's tight ends coach, Gates registered the only other 1,000-yard receiving season of his career with 1,101 yards on a career-high 89 receptions.

The Browns' 10 victories in 2007 were their most since 1994, and Chudzinski received much credit for the offensive production.

Chudzinski spent 10 years (1994-2003) as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Miami (Fla.): three seasons as offensive coordinator, five as tight ends coach and two as a graduate assistant.

Miami won a national championship in 2001 and the next season helped the team set school records for points, total yards and rushing touchdowns. Chudzinski worked with numerous future NFL players at Miami, including wide receiver Andre Johnson, running backs Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis, tackle Bryant McKinnie and quarterback Ken Dorsey.

A three-year starter at tight end for Miami from 1986-90, Chudzinski played on national championship teams in 1987 and 1989. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1990 and added a master's degree in business administration in 1996.

He attended St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo.


Kent State's Dri Archer says he's coming back for his senior season

0
0

Senior speedster Tweets that he has some unfinished business at Kent State.

ksu-celebrate-2012-ohio-ap.jpg Dri Archer (1) and the rest of the Kent State football team celebrate a victory.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kent State junior slotback Dri Archer has decided to pass up the NFL draft and return to Kent State for his senior season.

The 5-8, 175-pound consensus All-American with the 4.2 40-yard-dash speed said via Twitter that he has some unfinished business to accomplish with the Golden Flashes.

“The decision has been made 2013 I will be in a Kent State uniform for my senior season,” he posted. “A choice had to be made and I know this is a great choice I am making by comin back to school ... I got some things to accomplish before I leave we bout to win this MAC CHAMPIONSHIP and the bowl game.”

The speedster from Venice, Fla. finished the season with a single-season school-record 23 touchdowns. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in the first five games of the season and rarely had a kick return opportunity the rest of the campaign.

Kent finished 11-3 on the season. winning the MAC East Divison title. The Flashes lost in the MAC title game to Northern Illinois in double overtime, then fell to Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.


 


Cleveland Browns defense could be 3-4, 4-3, or a mixture of both

0
0

Coach Rob Chudzinski says his team will play an attacking style of defense, and how the players line up will be up to the defensive coordinator. But hybrid schemes are becoming popular in the NFL and Chudzinski says the Browns have the versatility to do that, if they choose.

defense-taylor.jpg View full size The defensive line, featuring tackles Phil Taylor, left, and Ahtyba Rubin, right, is considered the strength of the Cleveland Browns' defense.  

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns' defense created more big plays than in recent seasons, matched up physically against its division rivals perhaps better than any time since its 1999 return and posted its best year against the run since Bill Belichick made the headband fashionable on blustery winter days.

But were the results the product of the scheme or the infusion of talent into it?

New coach Rob Chudzinski isn't ready to publicly commit to a scheme, but he believes his players are versatile enough to succeed in a 4-3 or 3-4 front. Or, a hybrid of both.

At his introductory news conference, the offensive-minded Chudzinski said the decision ultimately will rest with the defensive coordinator he hires. The Browns have spent the past two seasons operating in Dick Jauron's 4-3 scheme. A sampling of Browns defenders told The Plain Dealer two weeks ago the players preferred to keep the system intact even as they acknowledged with new coaches come new ideas.

The 44-year-old Chudzinski shared his defensive vision Friday afternoon without taking questions about specific players or coaches.

"We're going to be an attacking-style defense," he said. "We're going to create turnovers. That's what we want to do. We want to get after the quarterback and affect the quarterback's play. That's the number one thing you want to do as a defense.

"Whether that's a 4-3 or a 3-4, and nowadays there's a lot of hybrid systems out there, it will tie in more with the coordinator. I think we have the versatility of going either way."

Chudzinski spent part of Friday interviewing members of Pat Shurmur's staff interested in possibly staying. It's unclear whether he spoke to Jauron, a popular figure in the Browns' locker room, who had the club ranked among the NFL's top 10 in total defense and scoring defense a season ago.

The Browns slipped it both categories this season, but finished ninth in takeaways and 11th in sacks. Perennially porous against the run, the Browns also limited opponents to 118.6 yards per game, their best showing since 1995.

The club's defense was best exhibited versus AFC North opponents, who managed just 89 yards per game rushing. Compare that total to the 154.7 yards averaged by Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore combined from 1999-2011.

In the past two seasons, the Steelers have averaged just 13.7 points per game against the Browns.

Defensive end Jabaal Sheard, who's registered 15.5 sacks in the past two seasons, made it clear he preferred the 4-3 alignment. He's a key piece in a young defense that featured six starters age 26 or younger.

The strength of the defense is its rotation of defensive linemen, particularly at tackle with Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, Billy Winn, John Hughes and Ishmaa'ily Kitchen. Its weakness is a paucity of experienced linebackers. Switching to a 3-4 formation would seem to some observers counterproductive.

Would the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Sheard, who didn't always line up in a three-point stance, be too big to excel at outside linebacker?

Browns CEO Joe Banner sees flexibility with the roster. He certainly has plenty of flexibility with the salary cap – the Browns have the league's second-most projected space at $48.9 million.

"I think either system we play there's additional needs of talent to add to the defense to get it to the quality we want," Banner said. "But neither would require a massive revamping of the talent we have."

The Browns likely will be in the market for a cornerback, outside linebacker and another pass rusher, whether it's an end or linebacker.

Banner sees a trend in teams playing hybrid defenses, an observation that was mentioned often during the coaching interview process.

"This is what Chud said to us and frankly this was consistent with all the interviews we did," Banner said. "Every offensive coach we interviewed we ask them, 'What is the most difficult thing to play against?' And the answer in all of those cases was these hybrid 4-3, 3-4, which made it more difficult to know what you were going to be against on any given play.

"So I think it's clear to say that's the way the league is headed. We happen to be lucky to think we have a significant number of players that can fit into either a 4-3 or 3-4 and then leave the coordinator the option of being one of these hybrids or committing to either direction."

Cleveland State basketball struggles, but Zips soar: State of NE Ohio sports

0
0

As the New Year gets rolling, Cleveland State men's basketball faces a difficult road, but the Akron Zips have a chance of running the table in the Mid-American Conference.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Some New Year's notes and observations around the local college sports scene.

grady.jpg Cleveland State forward Tim Kamczyc (33) and Bowling Green'€™s Chauncey Orr (21) battle for the rebound with Anton Grady (15) in the first round of the pre-season NIT in Ann Arbor, Mich., in November. CSU won this game, 79-73 in overtime, but Grady'€™s injury is one reason CSU is only 9-8 so far.  

Cleveland State: The loss of Butler combined with some less than stellar play throughout the Horizon League leaves little interest in the fortunes of the struggling CSU Vikings. This was going to be a retooling season to begin with for head coach Gary Waters, but injuries to arguably CSU's two best players, 6-9 sophomore Anton Grady (knee) and 6-5 freshman Junior Lomomba (foot), have slowed growth.

Combined with overall team youth, the Vikings (9-8, 1-2) could be facing a rare losing season, considering three wins have been over non-Division I teams (Alabama-Huntsville, Notre Dame College, Rio Grande).

With Butler now in the Atlantic 10 Conference, upcoming games at 4:30 p.m. today at home with troubled Detroit (10-5, 2-0), and in February with neighboring Youngstown State (9-6, 1-1) is about all the marquee value the HL schedule has to offer. The challenge now for CSU is to regain its competitiveness. It has lost six of nine games and the smallest margin of defeat is 16 points.

On the Horizon: Wright State (10-4, 3-0) took advantage of playing its first three conference games at home; now the surprising Raiders must go on the road for four straight, including stops at Valparaiso (12-5, 2-1), Detroit and YSU, all projected ahead of WSU in the preseason poll.

Detroit, the defending HL Conference Tournament champs, seems to have recovered from the internal scandal involving alleged improper relations between former Athletic Director Keri Gaither and former assistant basketball coach Derek Thomas. On Oct. 31, both Gaither and Thomas suddenly resigned. Another former assistant basketball coach, Carlos Briggs, said his firing came after he reported Gaither and Thomas to others at Deroit

Akron Zips: What does Akron's 65-43 victory over Western Michigan to start off Mid-American Conference play mean? It could mean the Zips 10-4, 1-0) are about to embark on the first ever undefeated MAC hoops season in the history of the league. Understand, WMU (8-6, 0-1) entered the game with the best RPI (No. 60, RPIRatings.com) in the league by a long shot. Akron was next at No. 97.

Yet this blowout victory -- Akron's fifth in six games by 16 points or more -- came on a night when Akron scored 13 points below its scoring average of 78. Considering all but one team in the league, Ohio (10-5, 1-0), is in the midst of some form of rebuilding, and the Zips could go unscathed the rest of the way.

Kent State: The Golden Flashes (9-6, 0-1) took a big hit with its opening MAC home loss to Toledo (5-7, 1-0). Kent now must go on the road for its next two games, at Ball State and Buffalo, before returning home next Saturday to play Akron. An 0-4 MAC start looms unless Kent can pull off one or two road upsets.

The Flashes will get a boost with the pending return of 6-8 freshman Chris Ortiz (foot). Kent was on a three-game winning streak earlier this season that began with Ortiz moving into the starting lineup ahead of still struggling Darren Goodsen. But how productive Ortiz will be, and how soon he could return to the starting lineup, is uncertain. Kent is 4-4 since Ortiz has last played.

MAC basketball: The league changed its schedule pattern this season, going away from playing division games to start and end the season, with the six cross division games in the middle. Now all games are spread throughout. That led to a lot of traditionally poor MAC West teams pulling upsets against Eastern Conference teams on opening night.

Along with Toledo over Kent, Central Michigan topped Bowling Green and Northern Illinois took out Miami. The only Eastern Conference victory in a cross-division game was Akron beating the Broncos.

MAC Football: The MAC recently released the conference games for each team for 2013, and did no favors for the Zips or the Golden Flashes. Akron will play six of the seven 2012 MAC teams that participated in bowl games, including division champs Northern Illinois and Kent. The Flashes will play five, including Northern Illinois.

Meanwhile Ohio continues to be served the MAC's annual cupcake schedule as the Bobcats will play only two MAC teams (Kent, Bowling Green) that finished the 2012 regular season with records above .500. The Bobcats have not played three teams from the tougher MAC West in the regular season since 2006. OU has only played MAC West powers NIU once (2006) in that span and Toledo (2007, 2008) twice.

Late Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell is a Hall of Fame finalist for the second time

0
0

Modell was the last owner to win a major championship in Cleveland, but moved the Browns in 1995

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Art Modell died in Baltimore in September. He could be immortalized in Canton come August.

The late Browns owner, who led the franchise to its last NFL championship before incurring the city's wrath for relocating it to Baltimore, is among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The announcement was made Friday morning about an hour before a lifelong Browns fan, Rob Chudzinski, was named the franchise's new coach.

In Northeast Ohio, news of Chudzinski's hire overshadowed the rollout of HOF finalists, which includes Modell for the second time. He also made it to the group of 15 in 2002, but did not garner the 80 percent approval from the committee of media members that select the inductees.

The class of 2013 will be decided Feb. 2 in New Orleans on Super Bowl Eve with induction scheduled for Aug. 3 in Canton.

Bitterness for Modell lingers in the city where he won the first of his two league titles in 1964 with the Browns. The franchise was the only host team on opening day this season not to observe a moment of silence for Modell's death -- at the family's request -- for fear of crowd reaction. The Modells, however, were a happy lot on Friday.

"We obviously feel it's well-deserved and we're very excited and now we just get to sit on pins and needles for all kinds of reasons between now and the Super Bowl," son David Modell told the Baltimore Sun.

Modell needs to be among the top-five "modern era" finalists for consideration from the 46 media members. Among his stiffest competition is, ironically, the first player Modell's franchise drafted -- offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden -- after it arrived in Baltimore in 1996.

It is a strong field of nominees that includes defensive linemen Warren Sapp and Michael Strahan, running back Jerome Bettis, receivers Tim Brown and Cris Carter, and coach Bill Parcells.

Other finalists are: guards Larry Allen and Willie Shields, receiver Andre Reed, defensive end Charles Haley, linebacker Kevin Greene and cornerback Aeneas Williams, along with San Francisco owner Ed DeBartolo Jr.

There also are two "senior" nominees, former nose tackle Curley Culp and former linebacker Dave Robinson. The HOF class can consist of no more than seven members.

Modell represents the most polarizing figure in the group. He won NFL titles in Cleveland and Baltimore (2001), hired the first minority team executive in Ozzie Newsome, and his three decades of service to the league's broadcast committee enriched fellow owners and contributed enormously to the game's popularity.

He also yanked the heart from Cleveland and Browns fans in 1995 as the financially strapped Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore rather than sell the team to someone who would have kept the franchise here. That decision remains unpardonable in the eyes of some.

Chicago Tribune writer and HOF voter Dan Pompei told The Plain Dealer in September about the conflict confronting selectors.

"(Modell's) passing makes it a good time to re-examine his candidacy," Pompei said. "He left a huge imprint on the game, and one can't write the history of the league without mentioning him.

"But there is more to making the Hall of Fame, and we have to consider everything in Modell's case."

Anderson Varejao about to fade out of NBA statistical leaders: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider

0
0

Now that he's recovering from surgery, Varejao will no longer appear among the NBA's rebounding leaders.

incavs-varejao.jpg View full size The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Anderson Varejao's energy, defense and rebounding for at least the next six weeks.  

Denver -- The last vestiges of Anderson Varejao's All-Star-caliber season are fading away.

The Cavaliers' center had successful surgery to repair a split in one of his quadriceps muscles on Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic and is expected to be out six to eight weeks.

As of Friday, however, his smiling face and curly hair still showed up atop the list of the league's top rebounders on NBA.com.

That will end today.

There are two ways a player qualifies to be included among the league leaders. First, the league requires a player to play in a certain number of his team's games. Since the Cavs played their 38th game on Friday at Denver, that number is 33. Varejao has played in only 25 games.

The league also allows players who have accumulated certain totals in various statistical categories to be listed in the league leaders. For 38 games, a player needs 371 rebounds. Varejao has 361, which was the exact number needed for 37 games. That's why he still appeared among the league leaders on Friday.

The same scenarios explain why Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving doesn't appear among the league leaders. He has played in only 26 games, so he falls short of the 33 required through 38 games.

Through 37 games, he had 610 points, short of the 632 the league requires to be listed among the league leaders. The qualifying number of points through 38 games is 649, so Irving would have to score 39 against the Nuggets to qualify.

Let Pargo Dunk: Cavs guard Jeremy Pargo has launched a Twitter campaign, #LetPargoDunk, to get into the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Game in Houson. Using the Twitter handle @DontHa8Pargo, he has featured clips of himself dunking. To watch, go to youtube.com/watch?v=5q9633pc0hw.

Of course, Cavs fans got to see the real thing when he dunked against Atlanta on Wednesday.

Even though the league doesn't let fans vote for the dunk participants, Pargo thought the publicity campaign might catch on anyway.

"I've seen guys over the years do it and it came out good for them," he said. "It's something we talked about as a team. Guys were willing to help. Hopefully it works. I don't know if it will work."

The league typically announces the Slam Dunk field about 10 days before the event. This year, All-Star Saturday Night is Feb. 16 in Houston.

"I think he would be good at it," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "I think it's good you have some guys who want to be in it, because there's so many guys in the league right now that are dunkers who don't want to be in the dunk contest. Hopefully, they'll give him some serious consideration.

"He's got a way of being entertaining. . . . He's got an array of dunks, and at 6-1 or 6-2, he can fly. I think he'd be good at it."

Executive changes: The Cavs and Quicken Loans Arena announced that Len Komoroski was named CEO of the organization, which also includes the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL), Cleveland Gladiators (AFL) and Canton Charge (NBADL). Komoroski is also a principal in Rock Gaming, which operates Horseshoe Casino Cleveland.

Komoroski will continue to oversee all business operations and business-related endeavors for the Dan Gilbert family of sports and entertainment interests in Ohio. Komoroski was formerly president of the franchise, serving in that capacity since early 2003 when he joined the business.

Kerry Bubolz has been named president of business operations and, along with executive vice president/chief financial officer Mozelle Jackson, will be in charge of day-to-day business operations and strategy. Bubolz was formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer, and also joined the Cavaliers in early 2003. Bubolz and Jackson will continue to work directly with Komoroski.

Cavs General Manager Chris Grant will continue to lead all basketball-related matters with respect to the Cavaliers and the Charge, working directly with Gilbert and the ownership team.

Shaker Heights holds off St. Edward in ice hockey, 4-3

0
0

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Shaker Heights senior defenseman Jonathan Greenburg knew what was coming. When you are the visiting team and have a two-goal lead against vaunted St. Edward going into the third period, your defense had better be in order. It was for the Red Raiders on Friday night at Serpentini Winterhurst Arena in Lakewood as they held on...

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Shaker Heights senior defenseman Jonathan Greenburg knew what was coming. When you are the visiting team and have a two-goal lead against vaunted St. Edward going into the third period, your defense had better be in order.

It was for the Red Raiders on Friday night at Serpentini Winterhurst Arena in Lakewood as they held on for a 4-3 victory in a very competitive Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League Red North West Division game.

"We had to keep our composure," said Greenburg, teamed with junior Max Yauch on the back line. "We had to win our battles down low. We've had guys stepping up and everyone is playing their role."

The Raiders (14-4, 5-2) showed their depth as four different players scored, with senior goaltender Eric Sterin making some clutch stops during a frantic final period.

Four minutes in, St. Edward failed to clear the puck from its zone and it cost the Eagles as Shaker Heights senior Connor Siwak jammed the puck home after a scramble in front the of the net.

The Eagles (10-10-2, 2-3) used some good stick work to draw even as senior captain Gabe Lampron fed a pass from behind the net to junior Tyler Harkins, who was on the money with his wrist shot to beat Sterin with 6:49 left in the period.

But it only took the Raiders a little more than a minute to regain the lead. Once again keeping the puck alive in the Eagles' end, senior wing John Longman got control to the left of St. Edward sophomore goaltender Justyn Gillis and back-handed it into the wide open side of the net.

The Eagles drew even 32 seconds into the second period as Lampron bested Sterin to the goaltender's glove side.

But once again the tie lasted for a little over a minute. Shaker Heights senior Joey Yoder put a shot on net that went in off Gillis' pads for the 3-2 lead the Raiders would not give up.

"I had a defender on me and it got over the lower pad to the goalie's left side," said Yoder. "Coach [Mike Bartley] told us to put shots on net and once in a while those will go in. We got up in their end and that gave guys a chance to shoot it."

Taking advantage of a penalty, the Raiders upped their advantage to 4-2 as senior Jacob Shick got the power-play goal as he found an opening while stationed between the circles.

The Eagles got the game's final goal two minutes into the third period when senior Connor King used the crossbar to score from a tough angle. But no matter the pressure they mounted the rest of the way, the Eagles were denied the equalizer.

"We knew we had to play well in the defensive zone in the third," said Bartley, whose club has won three straight. "We had a good penalty kill [in the third]. Right now we are just trying to tweak some things."

With their overall record now even, the 11-time state champion Eagles are trying to put themselves on a roll as tournament time approaches. They have been to the state title game the past two seasons.

"We needed to play with desperation for three periods," said St. Edward coach Troy Gray. "Against Sterin, you've got to get traffic in front of him. We didn't work as hard in the second period and it cost us."

St. Edward won, 2-1, when the teams met last month.

 

Brecksville beats Berea, 76-71, in boys basketball

0
0

BEREA, Ohio -- Even in January, they open the gym doors at Berea High. The natatorium down the hall pumps out enough humidity to start a rain forest. "It's the hottest gym I've ever played in," Brecksville senior Mark Chrzanowski said after he scored 31 points and the Bees sweated through a 76-71 victory over the host Braves.

BEREA, Ohio -- Even in January, they open the gym doors at Berea High. The natatorium down the hall pumps out enough humidity to start a rain forest.

"It's the hottest gym I've ever played in," Brecksville senior Mark Chrzanowski said after he scored 31 points and the Bees sweated through a 76-71 victory over the host Braves.

The open doors were a metaphor for Berea (5-5, 4-1) in a first-place basketball showdown against defending Southwestern Conference champion Brecksville (9-1, 5-0).

Berea, with a team every bit as good as its 2011 district championship squad, had a chance to make a big statement in the SWC.

The Braves also had the doors wide open for a dramatic come-from-behind win, but could not close the deal.

"Brecksville played a great game and came out ready to play," Berea coach Darren Collins said. "They took away our strength, which is to attack."

Despite missing center Mike Tyler, who was on a football visit to Stanford, Brecksville looked unbeatable during a 21-2 first half run that gave it a 25-10 lead early in the second quarter. Six straight points by Berea junior guard Alex Brown stemmed the tide and Berea went into halftime down 10, 35-25.

"We were flat and came out with no energy and we had to pick it up at halftime. We got a little more aggressive and started boxing out and had more energy in the second half," said Brown, who scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime.

"They had their run early. I knew, eventually, we were going to get our run, too."

Brown, Alex Horner and Anthony Dobbertin ignited a 14-2 run that pulled the Braves to 65-62 with 1:55 to play.

Berea missed a pair of 3-pointers, but Dobbertin's banked-in 3 kept the Braves close at 70-67.

Tim Tupa, who hit four big free throws down the stretch, sank two for a 72-67 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Brown made two free throws and a steal and layup by Devin Posey (13 points) made it 72-71 with 24 seconds left.

Coming out of a timeout, Brecksville turned to the football tandem that scorched numerous teams this fall. Quarterback/forward Tommy Tupa, in his second game back from torn thumb ligaments, surprised Berea with a nearly full-court pass to his main receiver, Tyler Tarnowski, who caught the ball in stride and hit the layup for what proved to be the clinching basket with 18 seconds left.

"Every time we play here it's like this," Brecksville coach Steve Mehalik said. "Darren (Collins) had those kids playing so hard. That's a great basketball team. We just made one more play than they did."

Brecksville survived a 17-of-32 night at the line. Chrzanowski made 8 of 15 from the line, but his 31 points were a career high and he had three 3-pointers.

"He's the best player in Northeast Ohio that nobody knows about. We call him the silent assassin," Mehalik said. "He doesn't do anything fancy, but before you know it, he's got 20 points and 10 rebounds and we're like, 'Why didn't we give him the ball more?'

"He's old school. He hit some big shots for us."

 

Brecksville beats Berea, 76-71

0
0

BEREA, Ohio -- Even in January, they open the gym doors at Berea High. The natatorium down the hall pumps out enough humidity to start a rain forest. "It's the hottest gym I've ever played in," Brecksville senior Mark Chrzanowski said after he scored 31 points and the Bees sweated through a 76-71 victory over the host Braves.

BEREA, Ohio -- Even in January, they open the gym doors at Berea High. The natatorium down the hall pumps out enough humidity to start a rain forest.

"It's the hottest gym I've ever played in," Brecksville senior Mark Chrzanowski said after he scored 31 points and the Bees sweated through a 76-71 victory over the host Braves.

The open doors were a metaphor for Berea (5-5, 4-1) in a first-place basketball showdown against defending Southwestern Conference champion Brecksville (9-1, 5-0).

Berea, with a team every bit as good as its 2011 district championship squad, had a chance to make a big statement in the SWC.

The Braves also had the doors wide open for a dramatic come-from-behind win, but could not close the deal.

"Brecksville played a great game and came out ready to play," Berea coach Darren Collins said. "They took away our strength, which is to attack."

Despite missing center Mike Tyler, who was on a football visit to Stanford, Brecksville looked unbeatable during a 21-2 first half run that gave it a 25-10 lead early in the second quarter. Six straight points by Berea junior guard Alex Brown stemmed the tide and Berea went into halftime down 10, 35-25.

"We were flat and came out with no energy and we had to pick it up at halftime. We got a little more aggressive and started boxing out and had more energy in the second half," said Brown, who scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime.

"They had their run early. I knew, eventually, we were going to get our run, too."

Brown, Alex Horner and Anthony Dobbertin ignited a 14-2 run that pulled the Braves to 65-62 with 1:55 to play.

Berea missed a pair of 3-pointers, but Dobbertin's banked-in 3 kept the Braves close at 70-67.

Tim Tupa, who hit four big free throws down the stretch, sank two for a 72-67 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Brown made two free throws and a steal and layup by Devin Posey (13 points) made it 72-71 with 24 seconds left.

Coming out of a timeout, Brecksville turned to the football tandem that scorched numerous teams this fall. Quarterback/forward Tommy Tupa, in his second game back from torn thumb ligaments, surprised Berea with a nearly full-court pass to his main receiver, Tyler Tarnowski, who caught the ball in stride and hit the layup for what proved to be the clinching basket with 18 seconds left.

"Every time we play here it's like this," Brecksville coach Steve Mehalik said. "Darren (Collins) had those kids playing so hard. That's a great basketball team. We just made one more play than they did."

Brecksville survived a 17-of-32 night at the line. Chrzanowski made 8 of 15 from the line, but his 31 points were a career high and he had three 3-pointers.

"He's the best player in Northeast Ohio that nobody knows about. We call him the silent assassin," Mehalik said. "He doesn't do anything fancy, but before you know it, he's got 20 points and 10 rebounds and we're like, 'Why didn't we give him the ball more?'

"He's old school. He hit some big shots for us."

 


Rob Chudzinski declines to discuss Brandon Weeden: Cleveland Browns Insider

0
0

The new Browns' coach did not discuss any players at his introductory news conference, but Chudzinski's vertical passing game would seem to be well-suited to Weeden's skills.

inbrowns-weeden.jpg View full size Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden would seem to be well-suited to run Rob Chudzinski's vertical passing game offense.  

BEREA, Ohio -- New coach Rob Chudzinski declined to comment on whether or not Brandon Weeden will be his starting quarterback.

The Browns will likely bring in at least one other quarterback to compete for the job, whether through the draft, trade or free agency, a source said. They also have Colt McCoy and Thad Lewis under contract for 2013.

"I don't want to get into specific players right now, any of the players on the roster," said Chudzinski. "I've seen a little bit and until I get the full look at the 16-game schedule and have the opportunity to see that with our staff, I'm not going to comment and be premature."

Chudzinski described his offense as a "vertical, downfield passing game and a balanced offense. ... We're going to focus on running and throwing the ball and doing whatever we need to do to win."

The vertical passing game should be welcome news for the big-armed Weeden, who can run such a scheme providing he can improve his accuracy on the deep ball. Chudzinski got the best out of a similar passer in 2007 with Derek Anderson, who made the Pro Bowl that year. Anderson went 10-5, throwing 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He also earned a career-high 82.5 rating. They were all by far his best career numbers.

"Everywhere Rob has been the quarterback has gotten dramatically better," said Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. "(He'll) develop that young talent so that we can put the kind of points on the board that will win games and be fun to watch."

Chudzinski was credited with borrowing some plays from the Auburn playbook to emphasize Cam Newton's running and passing skills in Carolina.

"The thing is adjusting to who you have and what you do," he said. "The personnel groups you use may be a little bit different from year to year. And those adjustments I believe are the key to being successful on a year-to-year basis and finding roles for players that you have is critical."

Chudzinski is also willing to use players in creative ways, which would be good for Josh Cribbs if the Browns re-sign him. His contract is up in March and he sounded resigned to being gone after the Pittsburgh game.

"If a guy has something he can do (that's) special, to find a role for him is important," said Chudzinski.

Banner on Lombardi: CEO Joe Banner was asked if the NFL Network's Mike Lombardi has been involved in the coaching search. "Mike hasn't been involved," said Banner. "I pick the brains of a lot of people and call lots of people [to ask] 'Do you know so and so?' I'm not going to get into who exactly I did that with. I did it with a lot of people."

Lombardi, who worked with Banner in Philadelphia, is a candidate to become the Browns' top personnel executive. The team has started the interview process now that Chudzinski is on board.

Rivera on Chud: Panthers coach Ron Rivera, issued a statement through the team on Chudzinski getting the Browns job: "I am very happy for Rob and appreciate the foundation he laid for our offense over the last two years. It is an opportunity for him to return home where he began his NFL coaching career and there is no reason to think that he will not be successful. No one works harder and he will bring great creativity and imagination to Cleveland."

Mentor beats Garfield Heights in boys basketball

0
0

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Rarely does it hit 55 degrees in Cleveland in January, and rarely does the Mentor boys basketball team lose three games in a row. So the Cardinals' 76-63 victory against host Garfield Heights came as no great surprise. It just kind of followed the nature of things Friday.

Mentor's Kent Berger grabs a rebound in front of Garfield Heights' Shamar Glover in the first half. - (Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Rarely does it hit 55 degrees in Cleveland in January, and rarely does the Mentor boys basketball team lose three games in a row.

So the Cardinals' 76-63 victory against host Garfield Heights came as no great surprise. It just kind of followed the nature of things Friday.

Stepping into the bright lights for the first time this season -- their soft schedule to this point did them no favors -- the Bulldogs found it difficult to deal with Mentor's diverse and relentless offense and lost for the first time since early December.

The victory lifted Mentor, ranked fourth in The Plain Dealer Top 25 and 12th in the initial statewide poll by the Associated Press, into a tie for second place in the Northeast Ohio Conference's Valley Division with the Bulldogs, ranked No. 6 by The Plain Dealer.

Each team is 2-1 and one game behind leader Shaker Heights, which slipped by Medina on Friday. It also left each team with a 9-2 mark overall as the halfway point of the season draws near.

While leading scorers Caleb Potter (15.4 points per game) and Conner Krizancic (13.6) came close to matching their season averages, it was senior guard Brody Nelson and senior forward Jeff Foreman who were the difference.

The 6-4 Nelson scored a season-high 24 points, while Foreman, one of two returning starters from last season, scored all 13 of his points in the second half.

"We've been waiting for Jeff and Brody to take over a game," said coach Bob Krizancic. "I thought it was going to happen. I just didn't know when."

Bob Krizancic called the victory a major swing in his team's season.

"This was huge," he said. "It was one of the most important wins we've had in a long, long time. It was a gutsy performance."

The Cardinals repeatedly burned the Bulldogs with sharp passes to players breaking to the basket and harassed them in the backcourt.

"We worked hard on taking the ball to the basket after losing to Shaker," said Nelson, whose 24 points were matched by Garfield's Richard Parker. "We needed more ball movement and less dribbling."

Said Foreman: "We talked about playing without fear and taking it hard to the basket."

Oddly, the Bulldogs, who also got 12 points from senior Robert Hurst, had eight 3-pointers -- with Parker netting seven -- to Mentor's seven. Usually, Mentor has the upper hand on treys. Both teams were proficient from the foul line, with Garfield making 11 of 14 and Mentor 21 of 29. Mentor made 24 of 51 field-goal attempts to 22-of-54 for the Bulldogs.

Mentor scored the first seven points of the game, but the Bulldogs caught up thanks to Parker's 3-point shooting. The lead changed hands several times throughout the half. It was tied, 40-40, when Foreman scored with less than three minutes left in the third quarter, and the Cardinals never relinquished the lead. They had a five-point bulge heading into the final eight minutes, pushed it to nine on baskets by Nelson and Potter and were able to keep a safe distance.

"Our players have to play," said Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson. "We just didn't make many shots."

Shaw's boys basketball team wins seventh straight game with 56-52 victory over Bedford

0
0

BEDFORD, Ohio - Shaw guards Cordell Smith and Thomas Austin made the difference in the fourth quarter Friday night. Smith said there was one more key in Shaw’s 56-52 Lake Erie League victory at Bedford: “It just came down to the team that wanted it most,” said Smith, who led all scorers with 25 points. “We gave it our...

Shaw guard Cordell Smith led the Cardinals with 25 points in Friday's win over Bedford. - (Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer)
BEDFORD, Ohio - Shaw guards Cordell Smith and Thomas Austin made the difference in the fourth quarter Friday night. Smith said there was one more key in Shaw’s 56-52 Lake Erie League victory at Bedford: “It just came down to the team that wanted it most,” said Smith, who led all scorers with 25 points. “We gave it our all. We just came out and did what we had to do to execute and win the ball game.”
It was the seventh consecutive win for Shaw, after the Cardinals started the season with a five-game losing streak. The winning streak looked in jeopardy as Bedford shrugged off the absence of two starters to take a 43-38 lead early in the fourth quarter. Four lead changes and three ties followed, the last at 52-52, before Austin scored the game’s last four points. His driving layup gave Shaw the lead with 39 seconds left and his two foul shots wrapped up the scoring with 14 seconds left. "We came out on top, but it was a nail-biter,” Shaw coach Steve Chandler said. “The guys definitely came to play.” Shaw improved to 4-3 in the LEL. “I knew coming into the season we were going to come into our own come January,” said Chandler, a first-year coach. “We had so many new guys on the team. Just gelling as a team, that’s the biggest attribute to our seven-game winning streak — making the commitment to the team concept and coming on as a team.” Austin finished with 19 points. Aaron Beidleman led Bedford with 14 points. Myron Prewitt scored 13. Bedford (6-5, 3-4) was playing without 6-9 senior Dawud Fisher-Grace, who suffered an arm injury Tuesday against Euclid, and 6-1 senior forward Carl Jeffery, who was in the hospital with a high fever. “You could tell down the stretch,” Bedford coach Matt Miller said. “We had two freshmen and three sophomores. The only two guys that played last year were Mike [Smith] and Chris [Carter]. The other guys, it’s all their first year playing varsity. They were battling and fighting for 3½ quarters and I think it finally caught up to us.” Neither team could take control for long throughout the game. Shaw’s biggest lead was 14-8 late in the first quarter on a 3-point shot by Austin. Bedford’s five-point lead early in the fourth quarter came on a Mike Smith foul line jump shot. Shaw took a lead away from Bedford midway through the second quarter when Cordell Smith hit three consecutive 3-point goals. 
Bob Migra is a freelance writer in Westlake

Cleveland Cavaliers start fast, but can't hang on in loss to Denver Nuggets

0
0

Kyrie Irving scores 28 points, but the Nuggets score nine of the final 11 points for a 98-91 victory.

cavs-lawson.jpg View full size Dion Waiters of the Cleveland Cavaliers fouls Denver's Ty Lawson in the first quarter.  

DENVER -- To hear the Cavaliers tell it, their problems on Friday night started long before Ty Lawson's driving layup with 1:48 left launched the Denver Nuggets to a 98-91 victory at Pepsi Center.

As it has so many times this season, the problem started as soon as the Cavs returned from halftime, this time with a 56-45 lead.

"We came out in what I call our cool mood," coach Byron Scott said as his squad dropped to 9-29. "What happens in this league, being cool gets your [butt] kicked, basically.

"Excuse my French. That's how we came out and that's what we got."

Cleveland is 8-12 when it starts the third quarter ahead, and Scott cannot figure out why.

"I have no idea, besides the fact that we're still young and dumb and don't understand exactly what we've got to do in the third quarter," he said. "It happens over and over and over. Like I told them, I'm tired of us giving games away. That's what we did tonight.

"[The Nuggets] came out a lot more aggressive, and we were on our heels the rest of the half. If we would have matched their aggressiveness, maybe it would have been a different story."

After leading by 11 in the first half, the Cavs were outscored in the second, 53-35. They were outrebounded, 30-15. They were outshot, 47.5 percent to 32.5 percent.

"This is game 38," Scott continued. "Somewhere, it's got to hit home that you can't come out and play soft to start the third quarter when you played so well the first half. You've got to come out and play that way again. Somehow, from a psychological standpoint, maybe you've got to trick yourself into thinking you're down 15 or 20 points."

Veteran Luke Walton has seen this before.

"We used to have that problem in L.A., but we were old in L.A. and it took awhile to get our legs going," he said. "This [locker room], that's wrong. We're supposed to come out ready to run. It's inexcusable."

Gallery preview

Kyrie Irving had 28 points, despite being so sick that Scott sent him back to bed when he got on the bus for the shootaround.

"I felt like crap," Irving said after the game.

Certainly the result didn't make him feel any better.

Danilo Gallinari had 23 points for Denver, and made a 3-pointer that gave the Nuggets a 94-89 lead that clinched the victory with 34.9 seconds left.

Former Ohio State player Kosta Koufos had a career-high 21 points for Denver (22-16).

Before the game, Scott was worried about how his players would start. That was the least of his problems.

Cleveland led by 10 points in the first quarter before settling for a 30-23 lead heading into the second. Tristan Thompson, who finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, made 5 of 8 shots for 10 points and had four rebounds in the first quarter.

Irving had eight points, as did Dion Waiters, who came off the bench and finished with 18 points. The Cavs limited the Nuggets to 36.4 percent shooting and forced nine turnovers.

The Cavs' defense wasn't quite as good in the second quarter, but their offense was better. Cleveland made 11 of 18 shots (61.1 percent) in the second quarter, while Denver hit 9 of 20 (45 percent). By halftime, Waiters had 14 points and Irving had 12 points and seven assists.

Denver coach George Karl feared just this sort of start by his team, which came into the game with a 12-2 record at home.

"I hope we play with more urgency than we have in the last couple home games and not take it to the fourth quarter," he said before the game.

The Nuggets got back in it before that, using an 11-2 run to cut the Cavs' lead to 62-61 with 5:43 left in the third quarter. Denver was within 74-72 before Irving made two free throws with 13.1 seconds left to bump Cleveland's lead to 76-72 heading into the fourth quarter.

Nordonia knocks Green from ranks of unbeaten, 74-72

0
0

Nordonia boys basketball coach Matt Cash lives five minutes from Green High School. He is a 1997 Green graduate.

Austin Marciniak has his shot blocked by Nordonia's Eugene Coleman in the first quarter. - (Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal)

Nordonia boys basketball coach Matt Cash lives five minutes from Green High School.

He is a 1997 Green graduate.

His wife is a Green graduate.

His mother and father graduated from Green. His dad is a member of the Green Hall of Fame.

But don't think Cash got too warm and fuzzy Friday after his visiting Knights (10-2, 7-0 Suburban League) spoiled the undefeated season of Green (10-1, 6-1), 74-72, and took sole possession of first place in the conference.

"It's nerve-racking and there are a lot of emotions," Cash said.

Is it bittersweet, even a little bit?

"I don't know," Cash said. "I just want my guys to win."

Two seniors stepped up in a big way for their respective teams, playing in front of a near-capacity crowd.

Guard Nick Piotrowski had a career-high 31 points, including seven 3-pointers, in leading the defending champion Knights, ranked 15th in The Plain Dealer Top 25, to their 21st straight Suburban League win since rejoining the conference in 2011-12.

"That's the best performance I've seen an opposing player have in our gym in 15 years," said Green coach Mark Kinsley.

Piotrowski admitted to Cash earlier in the week that his legs were tired after a 73-71 loss to Twinsburg. Against the Bulldogs, ranked No. 17 by The Plain Dealer, he was fresh and supremely confident.

"[As] soon as a couple [of shots] dropped, I just kept shooting and they just fell," Piotrowski said. "Some of those shots I threw up, I had no idea how they went in."

His sizzling game came on a night when Nordonia's leading scorer, 6-6 senior center Chris Scott, struggled.

"It was a great win for us because our 20-point, 15-rebound-a-game guy didn't play well," Cash said.

Scott finished with eight points and three blocked shots.

Piotrowski was matched by Green's Dan Fanelly, who popped in 17 third-quarter points on his way to 31. He added 10 rebounds.

Kinsley's halftime speech, with Nordonia leading, 40-39, motivated Fanelly.

"He reiterated how important every quarter is and how much you are going to remember it," the 6-6 forward said. "It hit me hard."

Nordonia took a 72-65 lead on Piotrowski's 3-pointer with 3:38 to go, but Green rallied when Fanelly sank two free throws and sophomore Austin Marciniak connected on a 3-pointer to make it 72-70.

Scott hit two free throws, but Fanelly answered with a layup to pull the Bulldogs within two, 74-72.

The Knights missed the front end of two one-and-one free throws in the final 22 seconds, but Fanelly's desperation heave at the buzzer missed.

"What hurt us were the turnovers," Kinsley said. "We just gave up too many that led to easy baskets."

Green turned it over 23 times to Nordonia's 16.

Seniors Dameon Luster and Eugene Coleman had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Nordonia.

Senior center Josh Pritchard and Marciniak each had 14 points for Green.

Jeff Brewer is a freelance writer in Green.

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images