Reviewing the tape-Second half Stampede

Truth be told,I missed the first half of Ohio State's showdown with Penn State.
Other than the Minnesota game that was televised nowhere locally,it was the first Buckeye game that I had missed in years,but I had good reason (A terrific Ham and Oyster dinner) and I made it home for the second half and that was far more pleasurable to watch as the Buckeyes scored 35 of the 38 points that they scored then and allowed the Nittany Lions to score none in a 38-14 romp over Penn State.
Ohio State continues to be one of the three teams (Wisconsin and Michigan State) tied for the Big Ten title and will attempt to stay that way after this Saturday's trip to Iowa City and the Hawkeyes.

Buckeye Leaves

1) Nice to see Penn State passer Matt McGloin fire two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns this week after his behavior about comments by ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit.
Like it or not (often I think commentators go way over the line),commentators in the studio are asked for their opinion and they give it-that is the nature of the job.
It is one thing to use these things as fuel,another to fire back publicly.
To do so makes you seem immature and unable to handle the pressure of various issues that high profile athletes must control.

2) Ohio State made big plays happen in the second half,both skillful and lucky.
The Devon Torrence pick six was very skillful as he tipped the ball himself multiple times before finally grabbing it and racing to the end zone.
Tremendous hand-eye coordination by Torrence...

3) The long pass to Dane Sanzenbacher was lucky as Penn State had perfect double coverage on the play and these things cannot be blamed on the PSU secondary,but Sanzenbacher gets tons of credit for hustle as he continued his route and put him in position to make the play that broke the game open...

4) Player of the game goes to Boom Herron.
I have never been totally sold on Herron as a feature back,but he seems to be rounding into the best choice for now as he rumbled for 190 yards over the tattered Lions defense.
Herron is the difference maker in this offense as when he gets rolling,things become opened up for the rest of the offense....

5) I didn't think Terrelle Pryor played well or poorly,but I do think that the pressure for playing against Penn State works against him at times.
There has to be tons of behind the scenes things going on during the week and that cannot help anyone play their best.

6) Fox will have the Big Ten title game starting next season and the following five beyond that.
I have nothing against Fox coverage,but I do think that networks that don't show the regular games and then jump in for post season contests usually come off far less smooth than the networks that show the games every week.

Photo Credit-Marvin Fong-Cleveland Plain Dealer

Beantown Whitewash

Not a ton to write about in the New Jersey Devils trip to Boston and resulting 3-0 loss to the Bruins.but I have a few thoughts.
Obviously no Devil goals to add,so lets move to the next Devil game in Toronto Thursday night.

Hell Raisers

1) I don't blame the result of the game on this note as officials do not score goals against you,but they were horrible on this evening.
The call that hurt that most wasn't even the worst call (although still pretty awful) as Adam Mair took advantage of a Bruin misplay in the Boston zone with the Devils down a man and tried to sneak the puck by Tim Thomas.
The type of play that happens in a game ,oh 10 times a night between the two teams in hockey.
Thomas takes offense at this effort and leaps on Mair like Mair committed the cardinal sin of trying to score.
Whistle blows-Penalty on Mair! For Interference!?
Boston now has a five on three,Michael Ryder scores and the band plays on.....

2) But,that wasn't the worst call.
Jason Arnott picked up a minor for boarding,when he actually delivered a hit/check that is commonplace and added a tripping minor for not touching anyone as Blake Wheeler added a Ric Flair bump to his repertoire and drew the penalty.
I am not saying these calls cost the game,but still-call the game correctly!

3) If there was a flashlight sized ray of light in this one,it was the penalty killers as the Devils killed off five of six penalties allowing only the Ryder five on three goal.
The Devils even killed off a four minute double minor on Mattias Tedenby for a high stick,so at least that was strong.

4) Tedenby just missed starting the game off with a bang as he was unable to score near the net on two chances seconds into the game.
Tedenby led the team with five shots on goal and obviously didn't score,but simply put-one cannot put the puck into the net without shooting it on the net.

5) Patrik Elias commented after the game on the lack of respect that teams are giving the Devils defensemen in the offensive zone and he is correct.
Andy Greene is the best of the veterans and he is just average and Matt Taormina was showing potential there,but is injured for the time being.
This is an issue,but I don't see it being any larger than it has been since Scott Niedermayer left.
It looms larger because the team is losing and the offense is struggling so much than in the past.

6) I have no idea what the fans behind John MacLean in the photo are doing,but I noticed them during the game.
How they can enjoy a game wearing those things is beyond me,besides they look like they are wearing a huge condom over their entire body...

Photo Credit-AP Photo

A win at home!?

I realize that this is late by a few days,but I'll mix in the latest in Devils news to go with the Devils come from behind 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Ilya Kovalchuk gunned the game winner into the net by Devan Dubnyk on a overtime powerplay (4) to lift the slumping squad to their first win at home all season.
Devils goals also to Alexander Vasyunov (1),Brian Rolston (1) and Mattias Tedenby (1 Power Play).
The Devils are in Boston tonight as they attempt to win back to back games for the first time all season,

Hell Raisers

1) Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game winner on his only shot of the game,but the goal was set by Kovalchuk's drawing a penalty in the extra session on Dustin Penner for tripping.
Penner had little choice and that made the difference in the game.


2) I don't see the lack of effort in Kovalchuk's efforts,I see lots of that,but I do think that Kovalchuk is struggling mentally and hopefully Friday's goal can help get the sniper back on track.

3) Brian Rolston returned in the win and as noted above scored a goal.
Rolston is way overpaid for his production right now,but still can be a huge help to the team in the absence of Zach Parise.
The wily veteran just needs to get back into playing shape.

4) I thought both rookie wingers played very well with Alexander Vasyunov and Mattias Tedenby each scoring their first goal in the league.
Vasyunov seems to be settling in nicely with Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac,while Tedenby's speed is a nice fit with veterans Jason Arnott and Patrik Elias.
The Devils would be wise to keep these two around as long as their play continues at this level.

5) The Devils will be without Jamie Langenbrunner tonight for the second game in a row with the dreaded "upper body injury".The word is that the injury is a neck or shoulder issue.

6) Just as the Devils add a player from injury they then lose one.
Matt Corrente returns from a broken hand,but Matt Taormina will be back in Jersey with an MRI on an ankle injury.Corrente brings a more physical brand of play,but Taormina will be missed with the man advantage.

7) Of all the good things in the win,I liked this the most-The Devils never led until the game ended and yet they kept digging in.I know the Oilers aren't a very good hockey team,but the Devils could have packed in on either of the two goal deficits and they did not.
That was good news.

Well,I have gotten some things finished.
Still will have Ohio State-Penn State,tonight's Devils visit to Boston and a cleaning of the inbox over the day or so to come.

Photo Credits
Pau; Bereswill-Getty Images

Pirates hire Clint Hurdle

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally tabbed their new bench boss in former Colorado skipper Clint Hurdle.
Hurdle had been the hitting coach with the Texas Rangers since being fired by the Rockies.

Pittsburgh apparently had Hurdle either at or near the top of the list of potential managers after a flurry of interviews immediately following the seasons end,but a Hurdle interview would cause the process to stop until the Rangers were eliminated from the post season.

I like the hire even though Hurdle only had one winning season in his Colorado tenure,he is used to rebuilding programs as the Rockies needed renovating from the ground up and he is supposedly an excellent teacher of the fundamentals,which lord knows the Pirates could use.
Hurdle is also a manager that is used to dealing with a limited pitching staff as the Rockies weren't exactly loaded with aces on the mound in the time that he was in Denver.

Pittsburgh also adds a manager with intensity with the addition of Hurdle as the Pirates have not had a manager with fire since Lloyd McClendon,who for all of his warts as a manager,intensity and passion were not problems.
I recall seeing a Hurdle temper tantrum when he managed against the Suns with I believe a Mets team,although I am not sure on that and he will not be afraid to argue such as Jim Tracy and John Russell were,that's for sure.

All considered,I really like the hire and I fail to see who the team could have hired that would be any better considering the limitations of finances and the lack of success recently.
Now,lets watch the upcoming GM meetings and see if the Buccos make any moves there!

Progress isn't always measured in wins

I have ended the work gauntlet and hopefully can get caught up with things.
With a bit of luck today,I'll get to either or both of the Devils rally over Edmonton and Ohio State's huge second half in their win over Penn State.

The Cleveland Browns could have won their game yesterday over the powerhouse New York Jets and some would argue that with a play or two at the right time,they should have won.
Unfortunately,coulds and shoulds are not the same as did and the Browns lost with seconds to go in overtime to the Jets 26-20.
Cleveland travels to Jacksonville next week and I am interested to see how they bounce back from such a heartbreaking defeat.

Brownie Bits


1) First off,I understand Eric Wright hasn't earned a ton of goodwill from us this year and his Mr.Softee act on the game winning pass to Santonio Holmes was painful to watch,but before we blame everything on Wright on the play,T.J. Ward missed a tackle as well.
One must be fair,so I blame both players for whiffing on the play.

2) The play that I am furious at Wright about was the pass to a injured Jerricho Cotchery,who looked like he could not move and found a way to avoid Wright and make a catch for a big Jets first down.
There is no reason at all for Wright not to make that play and keep an obviously injured player from making a play.
Laziness or poor play-you make the call.

3) Three huge injuries in this one as Scott Fujita,Sheldon Brown and Josh Cribbs all left the game with injuries and did not return.
All are big losses,but Brown might be the biggest,even though he isn't the best player of the three.
Cleveland was forced to use Mike Adams at corner after Brown left and Adams is more of a safety.
Why the Browns are carrying so few corners is a puzzle that I still cannot see the logic in..

4) Some are questioning the long pass from the end zone in OT when three run plays would have likely ended the game with a tie.
I am not one of them as I give the team credit for playing to win and if the pass hits,the Browns would have likely won the game.

5) It is still early,but I have a feeling that the Browns have indeed found their QB.
Colt McCoy driving the team down the field late in the game to force overtime answered a huge question for me and McCoy can do nothing but learn from the experience of playing in late game pressure situations and overtime.
I am getting pretty close to sold....

6) The Chansi Stuckey fumble in overtime was a huge dagger to the hopes for a win,but Stuckey was fighting for extra yards and one cannot hassle the effort,even though the more prudent course might have been to get out of bounds.
The issue for me on the play was Brian Robiskie not recovering the ball.
Robiskie looked to me to be trying a dive on the side for the recovery instead of just falling on the ball.I blame Robiskie far more than Stuckey on the play.

7) The Browns still have many needs for next year,someone to rush the passer would be nice and another corner is a must,but to me the obvious first rounder should be a wide receiver.
These guys are so bad that Darrelle Revis is the elite cover corner in the game and the Jets used him to cover a tight end.
Cleveland needs at two new pass catchers and maybe three.
Colt McCoy will not continue to develop without them...

8) The defensive line missed a few chances to sack Mark Sanchez and could have changed the game,but I cannot be too harsh on them considering the amount of time that the defense was on the field in second half play.
The miracle was that this game went to overtime at all..

9) Liked the onside kick call in the first quarter.
Everything was done right and the ball just skittered out of bounds.
The Jets were fooled,the ball just bounced away.Things happen.

10) Anyone wish that Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll had tried some gambles in those losses to Tampa,Kansas City or even Baltimore?
Some of the things tried recently might have won one of those games....

Photo Credits-Scott Shaw-Cleveland Plain Dealer

Pigskin Pickin Machine-Joe Friday version

Ohio State over Penn State 30-13
Oklahoma over Texas Tech 24-12
Game of the Week:
Fresno State over Nevada 42-40


NFL
Jets over Browns 13-10
Cardinals over Seahawks 28-20
Game of the Week
Patriots over Steelers 21-17

Boxing
Antonio Margarito over Manny Pacquiao Split Decision

Reviewing the tape-Pounding the Pats!!

The Cleveland Browns clicked up a win that I believe might have been the biggest and most impressive since their return to the NFL in 1999 last Sunday with a steamrolling of the New England Patriots 34-14.

Brownie Bits

1) Impressive? That wasn't the word for it.
The Cleveland Browns bullied and plundered the 6-1 New England Patriots and did what they pleased.
For whatever one thinks of Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll, on this day, one cannot complain.
Win against the Jets this Sunday, and even more will move into their corner.
That (to my surprise) seems very possible as the Jets aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut.

2) This was total domination in all three facets of the game as the offense used daring and muscle to physically beat up the Pats defense, the defense confused Tom Brady with a dazzling variety of fronts, blitzes, and coverages, and the special teams were strong as well, using a pop-up kickoff to gain possession.

3) Peyton Hillis ran for 184 yards, and what I love most is the willingness to run between the tackles and run over people.
That usually doesn't make for career longevity, but it does make you a memorable fan favorite...

4) Colt McCoy ran for a touchdown and gave even more hope that he could be the eventual quarterback.
McCoy made plays when needed, yet didn't force things and make the type of error that can change a game.
Against the Saints, the Browns won despite McCoy; on this day, the Longhorn was a contributing factor in the win...

5) What a crazy call by Brian Daboll with the Josh Cribbs handoff to Chansi Stuckey for a rushing touchdown that crushed the stunned New England defenders.
That play was the pivotal one of the game to me...

6) McCoy's toss to Evan Moore downfield that Moore hauled in with a great catch was a step forward in setting the tone of the game early as well.
The Moore catch set up Peyton Hillis and his first TD run.
Why Moore isn't a larger part of the offense with receivers this weak still baffles me.

7) Ahtuba Rubin had the only sack of Tom Brady, but the barrage of Browns kept Brady off balance all day, and Rob Ryan gets plenty of credit for that.
I think the Browns can do the same to Mark Sanchez, but the wild card is REX Ryan.
Can he anticipate his brother's thinking for this week's game?

8) I am often critical of Abram Elam,but Elam played well in the game.
Often times Elam is a less-than-strong tackler, which is the opposite of the reputation that he brought to town, but Elam was very solid in this one.

9) Tons of credit to the beef up front as Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach were knocking Patriots off the ball on every run.
Both had their struggles at times this season, but both were huge last Sunday.

10) How much did Bill Belichick have to hate the post-game handshake in this one?
Shaking the hand of the man he despises most in Mangini in the one city in the country that doubts his genius had to be difficult for him....

11) I realize that this is crazy, but keep this in mind-IF (and a huge if it is) the Browns could get by the Jets this week, Cleveland would be 4-5.
The Browns then have the easiest run on their schedule all season- 4-4 Jacksonville,1-7 Carolina,4-4 Miami,0-8 Buffalo, and 2-6 Cincinnati, a 4-1 run through that would put the Browns at 8-6 with the Ravens and Steelers coming to Cleveland.
I still think that is optimistic, but conceivable.
Only with a win over the Jets, though,3-6 might be too big a hole to dig out of ....
A guy can dream, can't he?

Photo Credits
Handshake_John Kuntz-Cleveland Plain Dealer

Hillis-Joshua Gunter-Cleveland Plain Dealer