College Football Power Rankings - Pryor and Adams Nursing Injuries for the Buckeyes

Pryor’s Knee Okay, Adams’ Shoulder in Question
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes scored 10 touchdowns in Saturday’s 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan, but only one of them left Ohio State fans holding their collective breath.
It wasn’t the 53-yard scramble from quarterback Terrelle Pryor on Ohio State’s opening drive of the game, or even the 20-yard touchdown pass to Pryor on a trick play from tailback Jordan Hall.
Instead, it was the 31-yard touchdown pass from Pryor to wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher on the team’s second drive. It was the first of four touchdown catches for the senior from Toledo, but few watched him cross the goal line.
Just as Pryor released the pass, he took a blow to the left knee from Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Brad Ohrman, who had come through clean on the left side. He kept his eyes glued to his target, who was now celebrating in the end zone, but Pryor was a little slow to get up and center Michael Brewster rushed over to help him off the ground.
“It’s cool. It was a little sore after,” said Pryor, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on that same knee during the off-season.
“I’m just glad I had that knee brace on.”
Maybe the most disturbing part of the play was that left tackle Mike Adams, the man in charge of protecting Pryor’s blindside, didn’t seem to block anyone on the play as Eastern Michigan got a free shot at Ohio State’s star quarterback.
On Wednesday, Pryor cleared the air about the missed block.
“I felt like it was a clean block, but what happened was Mike Adams separated his shoulder on that play,” he said of his 2008 classmate.
“Once you separate that shoulder, you can’t do anything about that.”
It allowed Ohrman, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman, to get exactly the kind of shot on Pryor that Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel and quarterbacks coach Nic Siciliano want to avoid. Had Pryor not been wearing the protective knee brace, something he started doing midway through spring ball, the hit could have put an end to his season and the Buckeyes’ national title chances.
Instead, Pryor went back out there Saturday and threw three more touchdown passes on his way to tying the school record with six total touchdowns. As for the hit, it’s now a thing of the past.
“His shoulder slipped out, so the guy got in free. It’s football,” Pryor said, shrugging it off.
“He said sorry. He apologized and I accepted. It’s not a big deal. Weird things happen. Something silly like that, a lot of guys get injured making cuts and stuff like that. It’s a blessing to even be playing this sport so you just try to get back up and keep playing.”
The hit might not be a big deal from Pryor’s vantage point, but a shoulder injury that allows clean shots at the quarterback is certainly something the staff will be concerned with. A highly-touted U.S. Army All-American out of high school, the 6-foot-8 Dublin Coffman product played in only four games as a true freshman before he was lost for the season with a foot injury.
Adams also suffered a shoulder injury during his freshman campaign, and he re-aggravated it the following spring, requiring offseason surgery. It wasn’t a complete tear, and offensive line coach Jim Bollman said that Adams could have played with the injury had it happened during the season, waiting until after the season for surgery.
He was replaced by senior Andrew Miller on the series after the Pryor hit, but returned to his left tackle spot on the following one. Miller, who had not played with the first-team offensive line in the first three games of the season, got at least one more series with the ones against EMU as he and Adams rotated much like they had during spring practice.
Miller started the first three games last season at left tackle, but fell out of competition with Adams this fall because of an elbow injury that occasionally limited the strength in his left arm.
“My elbow deal is pretty good. I practiced with an elbow brace and all that stuff throughout the week,” the 6-foot-6, 290-pound tackle said.
“It is just a fatigue kind of thing. If it starts to wear down and I don't have that brace on come game day it is pretty fatigued.”
That could leave the Buckeyes with two left tackles who are less-than 100 percent heading into Big Ten play—especially with sophomore Marcus Hall taking a redshirt—but Miller doesn’t think the elbow will be a problem.
“I have been able to figure out a system between anti-inflammatory (medications), rest, and rehab,” Miller said.
“So come game day I don't necessarily need to wear the brace. It isn't anything that is slowing me down at all.”
The question, however, will be how much the shoulder injury slows down Adams, who had established himself as the fifth guy on an offensive line that returned four starters from last season.





NCAA Football Power Rankings September 30, 2010
1 Last Week: 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)
Arkansas made the Crimson Tide bleed Saturday. Now all those aspiring Rockys know college football's Ivan Drago isn't a machine. Still, it was astounding how quickly Alabama closed that wound and took over when necessary in Fayetteville. The offense got cute for a while -- with near-disastrous results -- but when it mattered most, offensive coordinator Jim McElwain fed Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Juggernaut Trent Richardson and let the line maul defenders. If Alabama never gets any cuter than that the rest of the way, it may not matter. Quarterback Greg McElroy could hoist a sign declaring "I'm handing this one to Ingram through the four hole," and only a handful of defenses would have the personnel to stop the Tide's forward progress.
Last game: Beat Arkansas, 24-20
Next game: Saturday vs. Florida

2 Last Week: 2 Ohio St. Buckeyes (4-0)
Saturday's touchdown pass from tailback Jordan Hall to quarterback Terrelle Pryor might not even be the best pass Hall has ever thrown to his former Jeanette (Pa.) High teammate. (That would be this one, or perhaps the 28-yard touchdown pass Hall threw to Pryor in the 2007 Class 2A state title game.) No matter where the pass ranks, it's simply another reminder that Sweatervestball is a lot more fun this season than it used to be. And it's about to be unleashed upon the Big Ten.
Last game: Beat Eastern Michigan, 73-20
Next game: Saturday at Illinois

3 Last Week: 3 Boise St. Broncos (3-0)
Barring a letdown of epic proportions, the Broncos will go 12-0 after dispatching Virginia Tech and Oregon State. Will that be good enough to make the BCS title game? Who knows? Now Boise State must wait, avoid slipping and hope the dominoes fall in a precise pattern.
Last game: Beat Oregon State, 37-24
Next game: Saturday at New Mexico State

4 Last Week: 4 Oregon Ducks (4-0)
The Ducks gave up 597 yards to Arizona State. That's positively mind-blowing. Even more mind-blowing is that they still won by 11. Not all of the Sun Devils' seven turnovers were unforced errors, so Oregon's defense deserves some credit for stiffening when needed most. But mark this down: If Stanford's offensive output comes anywhere near 597 yards Saturday, the score will be quite lopsided, and the Ducks' national title hopes will suffer a serious blow. But if Oregon plays better defense between the 20s and scores a few more lightning-strike touchdowns, the Ducks can beat the team that might be the top challenger for the Pac-10 title.
Last game: Beat Arizona State, 42-31
Next game: Saturday vs. Stanford

5 Last Week: 5 TCU Horned Frogs (4-0)
I'm not sure why the rest of the Associated Press Poll electorate and the coaches suddenly decided to leap Oregon over TCU -- I did it after Week 1 -- but the Horned Frogs needn't worry. If the power conference teams knock one another off and TCU can win out, the Frogs may be the ones doing the hopping. Boise State's win against Oregon State was more or less comparable to TCU's. Fairly or unfairly, that's how Boise State and TCU will be judged against one another. The difference is that if TCU wins out, it also would have a win against Utah on its résumé (or vice-versa if Utah beats the Frogs and wins out). Unless Virginia Tech surges and saves the perception of Boise State's schedule, the Mountain West's marquee matchup on Nov. 6 may be the deciding factor between the would-be BCS busters.
Last game: Beat SMU, 41-24
Next game: Saturday at Colorado State

6 Last Week: 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0)
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini sounded like the losing coach after his team's lackluster effort Saturday against South Dakota State. "Obviously, I'm not pushing the panic button because this is the same football team that went out to Washington last week and played pretty good football," Pelini said. "You have to have consistency. For us to show up like that at home today, I'm embarrassed. Like I said, it's my fault." Fortunately for the Cornhuskers, they still won. Now they have some extra time to prepare for a Thursday night special in the Little Apple against tailback Daniel Thomas and Kansas State.
Last game: Beat South Dakota State, 17-3
Next game: Oct. 7 at Kansas State

7 Last Week: 11 Florida Gators (4-0)
The Gators sputtered on offense with a quarterback better suited for a pro-style scheme than for Coach Urban Meyer's spread option. Then Florida found a freshman backup quarterback who can run like a bull, giving the Gators the between-the-tackles running threat they needed to open up the rest of the offense. Any of this sound familiar? Let's not project the career of Tim Tebow onto Trey Burton after one great game. After all, while Burton is officially Florida's backup quarterback, he also plays fullback, tight end and receiver. Burton could have a far more negative experience in Tuscaloosa on Saturday than he did in a six-touchdown breakout against Kentucky in The Swamp this past weekend. Still, if Burton's emergence helps the Gators' offense diversify to complement a playmaking defense, Florida may not have as much trouble reloading as we thought it would in the post-Tebow era.
Last game: Beat Kentucky, 48-14
Next game: Saturday at Alabama

8 Last Week: 15 Stanford Cardinal (4-0)
This week's Told You So doesn't come in the form of an e-mail. It came in person from Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck at the Pac-10's media event in New York in July. Luck had read my column about the delightfully cryptic messages on Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh's Twitter feed, but Luck regretted to inform me that I had guessed wrong on one. On June 23, Harbaugh wrote that he dreamed of the Greek god Kairos gliding across the field. I guessed this message had to do with a lanky receiver prospect who had recently committed to the Cardinal. Luck set the record straight. Luck told me that on the night Harbaugh sent the tweet, a Stanford professor had offered a lecture on Kairos, the god of opportunity -- or, more specifically, of the opportune moment. Maybe it's time to bring that professor in for a pep talk. Because Stanford's moment will come Saturday in a game moved to East Coast prime time to showcase the Pac-10's two best teams so far.
Last game: Beat Notre Dame, 37-14
Next game: Saturday at Oregon

9 Last Week: 8 Arizona Wildcats (4-0)
You didn't need binoculars to see Arizona's Saturday struggles coming a mile away. Cal, which isn't a bad team, had just been embarrassed on national television by Nevada. Arizona had just beaten Iowa for its biggest nonconference win in years. Motivated opponent plus hangover equals letdown. The good news for the Wildcats? They survived thanks to a three-yard touchdown pass from Nick Foles to Juron Criner with 1:11 remaining. Now, the Bear Down Bunch has a week off to calm its nerves and get back to normal. If the Wildcats hope to win the Pac-10 title, they'll have to learn to refocus better after big wins.
Last game: Beat Cal, 10-9
Next game: Oct. 9 vs. Oregon State

10 Last Week: 9 Oklahoma Sooners (4-0)
It would be easy to blame Texas for the tepid anticipation for this year's Red River game, but the Sooners also nearly gagged one away on Saturday. Oklahoma is one of the tougher-to-gauge teams in college football. The Sooners looked unstoppable against Florida State on Sept. 11, but they have looked quite mortal against Utah State, Air Force and Cincinnati. So it's impossible to guess which Oklahoma team will show up at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.
Last game: Beat Cincinnati, 31-29
Next game: Saturday vs. Texas in Dallas



No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois
AWAY LOCATION HOME
CHAMPAIGN, IL
Oct. 2, 12:00 PM ET
Big Ten Network

It was the Terrelle Pryor show last week in a 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan, as the junior quarterback scored six touchdowns. The Buckeyes' Big Ten-opening trip to Champaign, Ill., will be their first venture outside the cozy confines of the Horseshoe, where they'll face a 2-1 Illinois team coming off a bye week. It's not an inhospitable setting for Ohio State, which hasn't lost at Illinois since 1991.

College Football TV Schedule - Reds Clinch -

2010 College Football TV Schedule: Week 5

Thursday, Sept. 30 Network Time (ET)
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State ESPN 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 1 Network Time (ET)
Brigham Young at Utah State ESPN 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 2 Network Time (ET)
Ohio State at Illinois BTN Noon
Louisiana-Monroe at Auburn ESPNU Noon
Miami (Fla.) at Clemson ESPN2 Noon
Vanderbilt at Connecticut ESPN3 Noon
Northwestern at Minnesota ESPN Noon
Kentucky at Mississippi ESPN3 Noon
Kansas at Baylor FSN Noon
Florida State at Virginia GamePlan Noon
Alcorn State at Mississippi State ESPN3 Noon
Temple at Army CBS CS Noon
Ohio at Eastern Michigan ESPN3 Noon
TCU at Colorado State MTN 2 p.m.
Tulane at Rutgers ESPN3 2 p.m.
Idaho at Western Michigan ESPN3 2 p.m.
Navy at Air Force Versus 2:30 p.m.
Texas vs. Oklahoma ABC 3:30 p.m.
Wisconsin at Michigan State ABC 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee at LSU CBS 3:30 p.m.
Michigan at Indiana ESPNU 3:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech at NC State ABC 3:30 p.m.
East Carolina at North Carolina ESPN3 3:30 p.m.
Florida International at Pittsburgh ESPN3 3:30 p.m.
Duke at Maryland ESPN3 6 p.m.
UTEP at New Mexico MTN 6 p.m.
Georgia at Colorado FSN 7 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at South Florida ESPN3 7 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest ESPNU 7 p.m.
Louisville at Arkansas State ESPN3 7 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette at North Texas ESPN3 7:30 p.m.
Florida at Alabama CBS 8 p.m.
Boise State at New Mexico State ESPN3 8 p.m.
Stanford at Oregon ABC 8 p.m.
Washington at USC ESPN2 8 p.m.
Notre Dame at Boston College ABC 8 p.m.
Marshall at Southern Miss CBS CS 8 p.m.
Penn State at Iowa ESPN 8:05 p.m.
Nevada at UNLV MTN 10 p.m.





Congrats to the Cincy Reds!!!3. The Reds walk off with the NL Central.

Batting in the ninth inning of a tie game, rightfielder Jay Bruce belted a home run over Great American Ballpark's centerfield fence. When Bruce touched home plate, the Reds didn't just beat the Astros 3-2 on a walk-off home run but secured their first postseason trip since 1995.
Despite the dramatic headline-grabbing playoff-clinching moment, it was the performance of Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez that ought to have excited fans most. The Reds won the Central primarily by bludgeoning opponents with their offense's NL-leading 768 runs, but that style of play doesn't always succeed in October.
The Reds don't have a true ace, just a hodge-podge of pitchers who'd be Nos. 2-4 starters on any other team. While Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto are having fine seasons and will presumably start the first two games of the NLDS, manager Dusty Baker has question marks after that -- Travis Wood has likely earned a start, but he's a rookie with fewer than 100 career innings, making the recent re-emergence of Volquez confidence-inspiring.
Volquez has returned from Tommy John surgery, a 50-game drug suspension and even a minor-league demotion for ineffectiveness that lasted into September. But Since his return to the majors he's delivered four straight quality starts, including Tuesday's outing of six innings, two runs, eight strikeouts and one walk. Overall in his last four starts he's thrown 27 2/3 innings with 31 strikeouts and a 1.95 ERA.
Power pitching plays in the postseason, and Volquez has the most electric stuff on Cincinnati's staff, with a 9.6 K/9, nearly two strikeouts per nine better than the second-highest rate on the team, Homer Bailey's 7.8.

Cavs Moving On - Buckeye Football EMU Recap

10 Things We Learned From Tressel’s Highest-Scoring Game
By Brandon Castel
Brandon's always right on with his articles. If you get a chance head over to theozone.net and read all of his work. Simply fantastic!
1.73 is a lot of points. Rarely has Tressel been accused of running up the score. In fact, his Ohio State teams had only topped the 50-point mark four times in over nine seasons before their 73-point outburst Saturday. They scored 15 more points than any other Tressel-coached OSU team, and became just the third OSU team in the last 60 years to score more than 70 points. The last time it was done was 1996 when the Buckeyes had David Boston, Orlando Pace, Pepe Pearson and a defense that allowed 131 points all season. It takes a lot of scoring to get to 70 points, and the Buckeyes only got three the cheap way. They had one Devin Barclay field goal and 10 offensive touchdowns, including six by Pryor.

2. Tressel wants this team to feel good. There are some years when it seems like Tressel is intentionally trying to hold his team back from busting the flood gates. He doesn’t seem to go for the jugular against lesser opponents because he seemingly doesn’t want his team to think too highly of itself. This is not one of those seasons. This team is good. Very good. Tressel knows it and he wants his players to know it. It reminds me of the 2006 season the way they are rolling over teams with no regard. That ’06 was a confident bunch, and they needed the confidence to beat Michigan 42-39 in the “Game of the Century,” but by the bowl game they were too confident.



3. Terrelle Pryor is going to re-write the record books. Don’t look now, but Pryor is shooting up the record books in just about every conceivable category. With his four touchdown passes Saturday, he moved past Greg Frey (37) for fifth place on the all-time list with 40. He needs 18 more to break Bobby Hoying’s all-time school record. He could break that this season, and by next year he could set the mark so high that no one will touch it for another 50-100 years.
More impressively, he passed Joe Germaine and Pete Johnson (56) for fourth on the all-time touchdowns list with 58. Assuming he stays for his senior season, which he has said he plans to do, Pryor would have 22 more games in a Buckeye uniform, including two assumed bowl games. By the time it’s all said and done, he might be at the top of the list in just about everything. He will likely pass Craig Krenzel for 9th on the all-time passing yards list next week. It won’t be long before he cruises past Troy Smith and he could be as high as fifth on the all-time list by season’s end. It might be a long-shot for him to catch Art Schlichter for the all-time record, but second place is within reach.
But that’s not all. His 3,089 career rushing yards rank seventh in school history, ahead of guys like Carlos Snow, Michael Wiley and Raymont Harris. By the end of the 2010 season, it’s possible that only Archie Griffin and Eddie George will have more career rushing yards than Pryor. If he somehow manages to rush for 1,000 yards this season, Pryor would pass Eddie for second-place on the all time list.


4. The OSU defense is not invincible. Despite the fact they allowed a late touchdown against the Hurricanes, Ohio State’s defense had been nearly perfect in the first three weeks. When they weren’t turning teams over, they were forcing three-and-outs or even scoring points of their own. It looked like this OSU defense might go down as one of the best in school history, but Saturday definitely poked holes in the armor.
Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said after the game that it was good to have some teaching points because they haven’t had many as of late, but there’s no way anyone on the team can be happy allowing three long touchdown drives to a team that has lost 16 games in a row. Someone close to the team said before the game that the coaching staff felt EMU had a better offense than Ohio, and they proved it. Quarterback Alex Gillett did a great job selling the play-fake and OSU couldn’t rotate their defense fast enough to make him pay for throwing the ball down field.
The Buckeyes still won the game by 53 points, but they had to score 10 touchdowns to get there.


5. Secondary is a major concern. If there’s one area of the defense that draws special attention after this game it has to be the secondary. Starting corner Devon Torrence suffered a hip pointer against Ohio and barely practiced this week. Then Chimdi Chekwa left the game with back spasms and the Buckeyes almost gave up a long touchdown on the very next series. The No. 3 corner, Travis Howard is out with a shoulder injury and Donnie Evege could miss the rest of the season with a dislocate elbow.
Redshirt freshman Corey Brown looks like he has a bright future, but he and Dominic Clarke got picked on a little bit today while Chekwa was out; enough so that they put Chekwa back in the game in the fourth quarter. Making matters worse, Orhian Johnson seemed lost on a few plays and didn’t rotate to help over the top the way C.J. Barnett had been doing before he went down with a knee injury.
Chekwa’s health has to be a major concern right now. He has had issues with his hips, his hamstrings and now his back. If he can’t stay healthy, the Buckeyes could have major issues in the secondary.


6. Dane Sanzenbacher is underappreciated. There will be some surprised people around the country tonight when they watch highlights of the Ohio State game and hear that a guy named Dane Sanzenbacher caught four touchdown passes. He wasn’t highly thought of coming out of high school, but you can bet he is highly thought of around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
“I think that guy might be the most impressive guy on the team, in my mind,” center Michael Brewster said.
All of about 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Sanzenbacher always seems to be where he is supposed to be, and more importantly, where Pryor needs him to be.



7. The word is out on Berry and Hall. There is no way anyone can deny what Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry can bring to this football team. What used to be rumor and speculation has now been seen with our own two eyes and the product is good. If the Buckeyes want to stick with the horses they rode in on (Saine and Herron), that’s fine because both of them bring something to the table, but they better find a way to get Hall and Berry some action as well. They are both big plays waiting to happen, and they don’t need perfect blocking to get it done. Ultimately the grind of the Big Ten season will probably thrust one of them into the rotation, but these guys are too good to wait on an injury.

8. Stoneburner or no Stoneburner, tight end is part of the offense. Would you believe that three tight ends caught passes Saturday and not one of them was named Jake Stoneburner? Ohio State’s starting tight end left the game in the first half after rolling his ankle, but his backups caught four passes for 36 yards. Although he is 6-foot-8, Red Fragel is not nearly the same kind of weapon that Stoneburner is, but it’s clear that Pryor feels comfortable throwing the ball to the tight ends, something he did very little of before the Rose Bowl.

9. Special teams not fixed. Anyone who thought what they saw out there Saturday meant the special teams worries were a thing of the past should re-watch the game as soon as they finish reading this column. Just because the Buckeyes did not have a kick blocked or allow a big return touchdown doesn’t mean they have things under control. They might be headed in the right direction, but there were a few times where Eastern Michigan had a lane. Corey Welch averaged over 20 yards on seven kick returns and Ryan Downard took his punt back 27 yards. If that’s not enough, Drew Basil had to make two tackles on kick coverage and Ben Buchanan had to make one on his only punt of the game.


10. Basil does have the leg. Yes, Brian Rolle blocked an extra point, but the best thing to happen for OSU on special teams this week was kick offs. Basil still had a few ducks that were caught around the 10 yard line, but he also had three touchbacks. Right now, the freshman is inconsistent, and that is probably how it’s going to be for a bulk of the season. The good news, however, is that we know now that Basil has the leg to boot the ball to the back of the end zone. Once he learns how to do it consistently, it’s going to be a tremendous weapon for the Buckeyes.




Mo Williams puts LeBron James in Past

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Surrounded by cameras and familiar faces Mo Williams hadn't seen in months, Cleveland's guard looked up, stretched his arms out to both sides and announced what the world has known about the Cavaliers since a fateful decision this summer.
"There is no LeBron in this building," Williams said Monday, his voice carrying across the practice floor of Cleveland Clinic Courts. "Whether we believe it or not, he's not coming back. This is who we've got. I don't see the big TNT trailers, the ESPN trailers.
"This is what we've got. This is the hand we're dealt, and we have to play the best we can."
Like it or not, the Cavaliers are moving on without LeBron James.
For the first time in eight seasons, James, who revived the Cavs and carried them closer than they've ever been to an NBA title, was not at media day Monday as the Cavaliers embarked on a new -- and daunting -- era minus their homegrown superstar.
James was in Miami, where the two-time MVP's talents will be on display this season with Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
His departure rocked Cleveland, the Cavaliers' franchise and their fans, who are still struggling with the separation.
Williams was particularly troubled by James' decision to leave. Teammates for two seasons, Williams was so hurt that he reportedly considered retirement.
In an interview with Yahoo! Williams said he lost some of his love for the game and thought about walking away from it.
"That's how bad it got," Williams said in the story. "I contemplated it. I really sat down and envisioned life after basketball. I really saw myself not playing."
In his first comments since the article was published, the 27-year-old Williams, who has three years and $26 million left on his contract, backtracked on talk of quitting anytime soon.
"At some point, you have to think about what you're going to do after you play," he said. "It makes no sense for me with three years left on my deal to give money I've felt I've earned back. It don't make sense, and the article wasn't even about me retiring. It kind of got blown out of proportion."
Williams explained that he had posted a comment on his Twitter account that may have been taken out of context, complicating matters. What is perfectly clear is that Williams was deeply affected by James' decision and experienced the same sense of loss and betrayal as any fan.
"I felt the same exact pain," said Williams, who will be limited in training camp by a groin injury. "I feel the same love for this organization and this team as they do. So yes, it was a time where I felt their same pain. But at the same time, when you get here and get around this organization and the new team and the new coaches, you feel excited. You get to turn things around and start something new."
New was in abundance as the Cavaliers convened for the first time since losing to Boston in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Summer of LeBron changed everything.
Coach Mike Brown was fired and replaced by Byron Scott, who has turned teams far less talented than the one he inherited in Cleveland into winners and is excited about the Cavs' upside. General manager Danny Ferry decided not to renew his contract, and assistant GM Lance Blanks left for Phoenix's front office.
Center Shaquille O'Neal left after one season for Boston and guard Delonte West, whose off-the-court problems hindered the Cavaliers more than they will acknowledge publicly, is also wearing Celtics green.
These Cavs are not the same Cavs, and GM Chris Grant said any perceived post-LeBron hangover is unfounded.
"We're looking forward to moving forward," he said.
Maybe, but there's no escaping a look back in the rearview mirror.
Shortly after James announced his decision during a now infamous hourlong TV special, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert accused the 25-year-old of quitting on his teammates.
Williams was asked if James quit.
"No," he said. "This game is too competitive to quit. We ain't playing checkers. This is basketball. You play this game long enough and anybody who's competitive understands no matter what's going on with you, people don't just quit. I don't care who you are."
Although their national profile has lessened in the aftermath of James's exit, the Cavs believe they still can compete at a playoff level. For months, they've read the unflattering predictions they're about to slide back among the league's also-rans.
Scott finds the negative talk inspiring.
"I kind of love that," he said. "I've been an underdog my whole life. In my conversations with guys this summer, they felt the same way and that's a good thing. So hopefully we can bring that into training camp and it's going to carry over into the season.
"We're going forward. We're moving on. It's a new era."



OSU's Terrelle Pryor Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
From Big Ten Press Release

Pryor accounted for six touchdowns to help lead Ohio State to 73 points against Eastern Michigan, the most points for the Buckeyes since 1950.
The junior quarterback completed 20 of 26 passes (76.9 percent) for 224 yards and four touchdowns, rushed seven times for 104 yards (14.9 yards per carry) and another touchdown and also hauled in a 20-yard scoring toss. He matched a career high with four scoring strikes and all four went to wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, just the second time in school history two Buckeyes have hooked up on four scoring tosses in a single game.
Ohio State’s 73 points rank ninth in school annals and are the most for the Buckeyes since tallying 83 points against Iowa in 1950. Pryor earns his first weekly offensive accolade.

LAST OSU OFFENSIVE POW: RB Chris “Beanie” Wells on Nov. 10, 2008.

College Football Wrap-Up

Tracking the Heisman Candidates Sept. 26, 2010
1 Denard RobinsonQB | MichiganNext Game: 10/2 at IND
Early signs out of Michigan Stadium were that Robinson was well on his way to producing another dizzying stat total. Indeed he was, that is, until an awkward fall sent him to the sideline with a knee injury. Wolverines fans can exhale, as the injury doesn't appear too serious. He still scored two touchdowns and rushed for 129 yards in less than 10 minutes.
WEEK 4 VS. BOWLING GREEN
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
226.0 60 0 0 100.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
129 2 25.8
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
162.0 731 4 1 71.3
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
688 6 8.7


2 Kellen MooreQB | Boise StateNext Game: 10/2 at NMSU
Boise State dispatched Oregon State 37-24 at home in the Broncos' final game against a team from a BCS conference. Moore once again led the way with an efficient if not overwhelming performance, passing for 288 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The road gets considerably lighter for the Broncos from here on out.
WEEK 4 VS. OREGON STATE
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
196.6 288 3 0 70.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-1 0 -0.5
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
168.1 873 8 1 65.3
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-21 0 -3.5


3 Ryan MallettQB | ArkansasNext Game: 10/9 vs. TA&M
For the better part of four quarters, Mallett looked the part of a serious Heisman contender. Then things went horribly awry against Alabama. His two fourth-quarter interceptions spelled doom for the Razorbacks in their loss to the nation's top-ranked team, and an opportunity for a historic upset went wanting.
WEEK 4 VS. ALABAMA
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
137.6 357 1 3 65.8
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-7 1 -2.3
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
173.0 1438 10 5 68.8
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-10 2 -0.7


4 Terrelle PryorQB | Ohio StateNext Game: 10/2 at ILL
The Buckeyes scored on their first six drives in a 73-20 rout of Eastern Michigan, and Pryor himself accounted for six touchdowns -- four passing, one rushing and one receiving. It was the highest point total for an Ohio State team since 1950. Big Ten play begins next week with a visit to Illinois.
WEEK 4 VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
200.1 224 4 0 76.9
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
104 1 14.9
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
167.2 939 10 2 66.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
269 3 6.3


5 Andrew LuckQB | StanfordNext Game: 10/2 at ORE
A pair of interceptions -- his first of the season -- weren't enough to slow down Stanford in a 37-14 win over Notre Dame. It was Luck's least convincing performance of the season, but the win kept the Cardinal unbeaten ahead of next week's pivotal Pac-10 clash at Oregon.
WEEK 4 AT NOTRE DAME
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
119.7 238 1 2 59.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
23 0 5.8
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
169.5 912 11 2 62.7
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
163 1 9.6






AP Top 25 September 27th, 2010
RK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS
1 Alabama (57) 4-0 1496 1
2 Ohio State (2) 4-0 1431 2
3 Boise State (1) 3-0 1356 3
4 Oregon 4-0 1276 5
5 TCU 4-0 1269 4
6 Nebraska 4-0 1158 6
7 Florida 4-0 1132 9
8 Oklahoma 4-0 1095 8
9 Stanford 4-0 891 16
10 Auburn 4-0 858 17
11 Wisconsin 4-0 852 11
12 LSU 4-0 804 15
13 Utah 4-0 790 13
14 Arizona 4-0 722 14
15 Arkansas 3-1 721 10
16 Miami (FL) 2-1 597 19
17 Iowa 3-1 503 18
18 USC 4-0 466 20
19 South Carolina 3-1 406 12
20 Michigan 4-0 396 21
21 Texas 3-1 374 7
22 Penn State 3-1 199 23
23 North Carolina State 4-0 163 NR
24 Michigan State 4-0 146 25
25 Nevada 4-0 120 NR

Dropped from rankings: West Virginia 22, Oregon State 24
Others receiving votes: West Virginia 62, Florida State 51, Missouri 51, Air Force 32, Kansas State 27, Oklahoma State 24, Clemson 9, UCLA 9, Oregon State 7, Northwestern 4, Houston 3

Intersting Article on Prince James

WHO'S YOUR DADDY!!!!!!!

This guy claims to be LBJ's dad. What do you think??????



BUCKEYES KICK OFF AT 3:30 SATURDAY!
ALL MADDEN FANS, THE NEW UPDATE IS AVAILABLE NOW THAT FIXES A LOT OF THE GAMES PROBLEMS!




ESPN columnist: 'Black protectionism' insulating LeBron
Sick of these guys always bringing race into question whenever one of their own falls on his face. Prince James is receiving everything he deserves for how he handled the situation in Cleveland. So, cry all you guys want. He is hated!
By now you've heard of LeBron James is the sixth-most hated athlete in the nation. His new Q-score rating -- that statistic from the fun folks at the Q Score Company that gauges an athlete's popularity -- is in the dumpster. LeBron's stats, as taken soon after The Decision on ESPN, fell like a safe ... everywhere, that is, except in the black community. In his column today on ESPN.com, Vincent Thomas examines this, throws around the term "black protectionism," and asks the very valid question: Why aren't Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger among America's top 10 most hated athletes? Yeah, why aren't they? Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco are in there, but not Roethlisberger? Doesn't that strike you as just a tad racist?
Thomas:
You've probably heard about his plummeting Q rating (the industry standard for measuring an athlete's familiarity and appeal). According to The Q Scores Co., for non-blacks, LeBron's positive Q rating went from 18 percent in January to 10 percent in September and, more telling, his negative Q rating went from 24 percent to 44. Nearly half of the non-blacks in this country don't like the dude. Meanwhile, LeBron's positive Q rating among blacks went from 52 percent in January to 39 -- a noticeable drop -- but his negative Q rating barely budged, going from 14 percent to 15. Among African-Americans, says The Q Scores Co. executive vice president Henry Schafer, the shift in opinion was mostly to neutral.
The general, expressed sentiment of African-Americans has been, "I may not have agreed with how LeBron carried the whole free-agency thing, but I'm not gonna hate the man." The more America shuns LeBron, the more Black America retreats to his corner. In fact, as America hates LeBron more and more, Black America's collective hug embraces LeBron tighter and tighter. It's called black protectionism.
Thomas goes on to give other examples of black athletes who are or were disliked by Americans as a whole, yet embraced by the black community. Here, I think he trips himself. He lumps Michael Vick, Mike Tyson, Hank Aaron and Jack Johnson together, and they don't really go together. First, you can't compare eras; America was a very different country in the early 20th century, and even in 1973, than it is now. Vick and Tyson are generally loathed because of what they did, not who they are. Aaron was hated by some because of naked racism, mainly in the south; he was threatening a white man's hallowed home run record. Even his haters would admit that he actually did nothing wrong.
Also, that infamous photo of Cavs fans burning the LeBron jersey? One of those dudes is black.
The term "black protectionism" has been around for a while. Thomas:
Katheryn Russell-Brown coined the term in the immediate aftermath of the O.J. Simpson trial. She remembers watching the split-screen reactions of Simpson's not guilty verdict, seeing what she recalls as white-hot rage from white people and unbridled jubilation from black people. In her book, "Protecting Our Own: Race, Crime, and African Americans," she defines black protectionism as, "the response by large numbers of the black community to allegations that a famous black person has engaged in a criminal act or ethical violation. The response is protective in that it denies, excuses or minimizes the charges."
This is conditioned behavior. Black male history in this country began with the slave trade, lynchings, wrongful deaths and wrongful imprisonments. The experience has bred a skepticism. "Why do you hate this black man?" And it has bred a defense mechanism. "Leave this black man alone." There also remains a success gap in America, even as more African-Americans succeed. The ones who make it often get cub treatment from the "mama bear" of the community.
Kobe Bryant has had trouble rehabilitating his Q rating, as former rape allegations seemingly will dog him until the day he dies. LeBron, IMO, will have an easier go of it. One or two titles in Miami, and he'll be popular again. But why is he so universally hated now, and Favre is not? That's the interesting question.

John Glenn High School's Aaron Bates Completes the Best TD of the Year

Faking it
Get well, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio (2). And thanks for the inspiration. The fabulously nervy fake field goal you called to beat Notre Dame 34-31 in OT convinced The Dash to make this week's column an Ode to Fakery.
From Jay Gatsby to Meg Ryan ("I'll have what she's having"), America has always been fascinated by a good faker. Occasionally we are outraged (see: Jeter, Derek). Sometimes we are saddened, like by Kevin Hart (3), the Nevada high school player who in 2008 fabricated a scholarship offer from California and staged a commitment ceremony.
But we are never bored. Someone who can pull off a really good ruse is not dull.
And quite frankly, until Saturday The Dash was convinced Dantonio was dull. But clearly, underneath that buttoned-down exterior is a man with a gambler's soul. He may not be Chris Petersen (4) when it comes to embracing football gadgetry, but that was as brassy a fake kick as The Dash has seen in college ball.
When Dantonio ordered up "Little Giants," as the pass from holder/punter/former high school quarterback Aaron Bates to tight end Charlie Gantt is called in the Spartans playbook, there had to be a collective puckering on the Spartans sideline.
Given the second-guessing that accompanies every decision in modern football, calls like the one Dantonio made are not easy.
"They're always great when they work," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops (5), who has some memorable fake kicks on his résumé. "I've been on the other end, where they don't work and you look like a knucklehead."
And the stress level when you've made such a call, and you're waiting to see it executed?
"Your heart's in your stomach," Stoops said.
Maybe that was the problem for Dantonio, who suffered a mild heart attack after the Notre Dame victory. Fortunately, he is expected to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, his physical problems overshadowed the call of a lifetime.
"I made the call 'Little Giants' and I said a little prayer," Dantonio said Saturday night.
The annexation of East Lansing ensued.
The Dash ranks that play among the coolest fake kicks ever. It didn't carry the weight of the Saints' onside against the Colts in the Super Bowl, but it's worthy of inclusion in the newly constructed Dash Fake Kick Hall of Fame.
Other inductees in the Faker's Hall (style points, stakes, creativity, risk, and impact of the play all are factored in):





Dear Big Ten: All three phases, guys

This has the makings of a good year in the Big Ten. It looks stronger at the top than it has been in quite some time, and solid in the middle as well. But the league has gotten off to a strangely inept start in special teams. Among the many kicking-game problems in the Midwest:

Ohio State (34) ranks 117th nationally in net punting, in no small part because it surrendered an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown against Miami. The Buckeyes also are last in the league in kickoff coverage, in no small part because they gave up a kickoff return touchdown to the Hurricanes as well.

Iowa (35) lost to Arizona on Saturday largely because it gave up a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, had a punt blocked to set up a touchdown and also had an extra point blocked.

Wisconsin (36) surrendered a kickoff-return touchdown to Arizona State and another return to the 1-yard line. At least the Badgers made the tackle there on the final play of the first half, or they would have lost to the underdog Sun Devils. On the positive side, Wisconsin also blocked an extra point in a one-point victory.

Michigan (37) ranks last in America in punt returns. The Wolverines have made just 1 of 5 field goals. And they had a punt blocked Saturday by Massachusetts.

Minnesota (38) gave up a kickoff-return touchdown to USC on Saturday.
With results like that, the rest of America is going to go back to questioning the league's collective speed. If you don't like it, Big Ten, then tackle a kick returner or two in space. Or break a few returns (the league has returned only one punt and one kickoff for scores).




NCAA issues suspensions for North Carolina's Burney, Williams
This is getting very old! Leave these kids alone! Let them play, they have already cost their teammates too much. Sick of this from the NCAA!
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The NCAA suspended North Carolina defensive back Kendric Burney six games and safety Deunta Williams four games on Wednesday for receiving improper benefits.
Both players must also repay benefits to become eligible, though the school plans to appeal the length of the suspensions.
In a news release, the NCAA said Burney received $1,333 in benefits while Williams received $1,426 in benefits. The school said Burney must repay $575.19 and Williams must repay $450.67 to charities of their choice.
Both players have sat out the first two games for the winless Tar Heels (0-2), which count toward their suspensions. The status of 10 other players remains in question as North Carolina prepares to travel to Rutgers. Among those players are NFL prospects Marvin Austin -- who has been suspended indefinitely for breaking team rules -- and Robert Quinn on defense, top receiver Greg Little and tailback Ryan Houston.
Both Burney and Williams were among six underclassmen who decided to return for their senior seasons instead of entering the NFL draft.
"If and when they come back, they'll certainly be welcome additions," coach Butch Davis said during his radio show Wednesday night. "They're good kids, and certainly you would love to (expedite) a lot of these other things and try to get some kind of resolution as quick as possible, but it's good to kind of get some clarity at least on those two young men."
The NCAA visited Chapel Hill in July focused on whether Austin and Little received improper benefits from agents, but that probe expanded to include possible academic misconduct involving a tutor last month.
Athletic director Dick Baddour called the length of the suspensions "unduly harsh" and hopes to have an appeal heard by next week.
"The timeliness is important and I'm sure the NCAA will work with us to help us get a response as soon as possible," Baddour said.
In a news release, the school said the benefits included trips to California, Atlanta and Las Vegas for Burney, and two trips to California for Williams. Most of the benefits associated with Burney came from someone who the NCAA said qualifies as an agent, while most of Williams' benefits were violations of a rule preventing athletes from receiving "preferential treatment."
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the person who qualified as an agent in Burney's case is Chris Hawkins. The former North Carolina and Marshall defensive back paid $1,000 for the jersey of Georgia receiver A.J. Green in a transaction that led to Green's recent four-game suspension. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NCAA probe is ongoing.
Page Pate, an Atlanta-based attorney representing Hawkins in a pending drug case, said in an e-mail he had not discussed the issue with his client and had no comment.
Hawkins has said he is a collector, not an agent. Last week, Baddour said Hawkins had been around the players and the program "periodically" over the years, but is no longer welcome around the football facility.
Baddour said the California trips were to visit a former North Carolina player who had befriended both Burney and Williams. Both players paid for their travel, but the NCAA ruled "there were expenses they are still responsible for, and that's what they're paying back."
Thirteen players sat out the opener against LSU, with only tailback Shaun Draughn being cleared from that group so far.
Baddour said the remaining cases are being evaluated individually and are at different stages of the process, though NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said the governing body has ruled on all reinstatement requests made by the school so far.
"We're as anxious as anybody to get resolution and we're pushing to resolution," Baddour said, "but they're all on a different kind of timetable."
Earlier Wednesday, an attorney for former assistant coach John Blake confirmed that Blake had met with the North Carolina Secretary of State's office in their probe of whether the state's sports agent laws were broken.
Wade Smith, one of Blake's attorneys, said Blake was interviewed in response to a subpoena, though he declined to say when or comment further.
Blake resigned earlier this month after his friendship with California-based agent Gary Wichard came into question amid the NCAA review. Investigators also subpoenaed Austin and interviewed him earlier this month.
A spokeswoman with the Secretary of State's office declined to comment, citing the office's ongoing probe.

NFL Power Rankings - NFL Draft Risers and Sliders

Locker's draft stock takes a dive

Week 3 on the college football schedule featured several outstanding performances from underrated prospects on both sides of the ball. But one high-profile quarterback found his stock sinking after a third straight poor outing. Here are the risers and sliders for Week 3. (*Denotes underclassmen)

SlidersJake Locker/QB/Washington: Locker started the season with uninspired performances against BYU and Syracuse before an awful showing against Nebraska last Saturday. He completed just four of 20 passes for 71 yards and had a pair of interceptions. Locker has forced the ball into coverage while trying to rely on his arm strength to make plays this season. His decision-making has been suspect at times. There's time for the senior to turn around his play, yet there's no denying he has hurt himself in the eyes of NFL scouts in the early going of the 2010 campaign.

Greg Lloyd/LB/Connecticut: Lloyd did lead the Huskies with seven tackles during the loss to Temple. However, for the most part he looked stiff, struggled in coverage and also had several tackles broken.

Justin Houston*/LB/Georgia: Houston has done well this season when lined up in a three-point stance, yet NFL scouts project the junior to outside linebacker. He's struggled playing in space, is slow to react, shows poor instincts and misses assignments.

Risers
Colin Kaepernick/QB/Nevada: The Wolfpack signal-caller was a one-man show on offense, leading Nevada to a 21-point victory over Cal by accounting for 329 total yards and five scores. Kaepernick must continue to improve his passing mechanics, but his decision-making and command of the offense against one of the Pac-10's best defenses impressed NFL scouts.

Ronald Johnson/WR/USC: The Trojans leading receiver is dependable and has big-play potential. He's averaged five receptions a game this season with four touchdown grabs, including a 53-yard score in the win over Minnesota last Saturday. Scouts gave Johnson a late-round grade entering the season, yet many feel he could move into the draft's initial 60 selections if he continues his present pace.

Torrey Smith*/WR/Maryland: The Terrapins offense was anemic in the loss to WVU, except for Smith. The junior receiver finished with 149 receiving yards on just three receptions with two resulting in touchdowns. Smith, also a game-breaking return specialist, is a true vertical threat who has NFL size and home-run hitting speed.

Jock Sanders/WR-RS/WVU: The multi-purpose Sanders produced in a variety of ways during the Mountaineers' border-war victory over Maryland. He made six receptions for 86 yards, added another 10 yards running reverses and averaged 23 yards on three punt returns. The senior nicely projects as a specialist for the next level and will be asked to line up in the slot, carry the ball on occasion as well as handle return duties.

Eric Hagg/S/Nebraska: The Cornhuskers defensive backfield is loaded with next-level talent and it's easy to overlook Hagg, one of the most dependable players in the secondary. He's a complete safety who combines outstanding instincts, toughness against the run and ball skills in coverage. Hagg's stat line in the win over Washington was not eye-popping -- one tackle, one interception and a pair of passes broken up. Yet his ability to stay away from mental errors and play smart, aggressive football each week has impressed scouts.

Jaiquawn Jarrett/S/Temple: He led Temple's big-pay defense from the secondary. He's a heat-seeking missile from his safety position, delivering devastating blows while also displaying discipline with cover assignments. Jarrett lacks classic safety size yet plays big and gets the most from his talents.

Brook Reed/DE/Arizona: Reed was a force in the Wildcats' upset victory over ninth-ranked Iowa on Saturday. The senior led the Wildcat defensive line with five tackles while also registering 1.5 tackles for loss and an equal number of sacks. An intense competitor, he gets every ounce from his 6-foot-2½, 255-pound frame. While his measurables limit his upside, love his football smarts and competitiveness. Reed is the type of prospect who could move north on draft boards if he continues to play at a high level this season and punches out a few solid performances at the Senior Bowl and combine.

SLEEPER ALERT -- Nate Irving/LB/North Carolina State: Irving sat on the sidelines last year rehabilitating serious injuries he sustained during a summer auto accident. He has not lost speed, making plays sideline-to-sideline, just as he did early in his college career. He's a versatile defender and can line up at a number of linebacker spots.

Notes
• Auburn junior Nick Fairley, a Week 2 riser, turned in another impressive performance this weekend. The defensive lineman finished with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and four quarterback pressures in the comeback victory over Clemson.

• Pittsburgh senior Greg Romeus, a Week 1 slider, had been struggling with a back injury. Now comes word the star defensive end had back surgery to repair a herniated disc. Romeus hopes to return before the season ends, but prevalent back issues could raise red flags for NFL teams.

• West Virginia cornerback Brandon Hogan was suspended indefinitely last week after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence. This is Hogan's second run in with police in five months as he pleaded guilty to urinating in public in June from an incident that occurred last April. The senior was graded as a potential third-round pick by NFL scouts yet could now go undrafted because of his checkered past.




NFL Power Rankings: Week 3
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Saints 2-0-0 New Orleans will find out Reggie Bush's value while RB recovers from injury (Sando)
2 (2) Packers 2-0-0 It doesn't matter who plays running back if the passing game and defense continue to dominate (Walker)
3 (7) Texans 2-0-0 They have two wins that mean more than a 2-0 record (Kuharsky)
4 (5) Colts 1-1-0 The Colts' rebound was encouraging, but the Giants weren't smart (Kuharsky)
5 (10) Steelers 2-0-0 With a punishing defense, it's scary to think how good the Steelers will be when QB Ben Roethlisberger returns (Walker)
6 (11) Jets 1-1-0 See what happens when things get easier for Mark Sanchez? The completions start coming (Clayton)
7 (15) Dolphins 2-0-0 With games against the Jets and Pats in the next two weeks, the Dolphins can find out where they are in the AFC East (Clayton)
8 (3) Ravens 1-1-0 Averaging 10 points per game just isn't going to cut it (Walker)
9 (4) Patriots 1-1-0 Bill Belichick won't let the Pats panic after losing a road game against the Jets (Clayton)
10 (13) Falcons 1-1-0 Depth at running back took a hit without production slipping at all (Sando)
11 (17) Bengals 1-1-0 The Bengals have won eight straight division games -- that will keep you in the hunt (Walker)
12 (22) Bears 2-0-0 The Bears are one of several surprise 2-0 teams. (Walker)
13 (12) Chargers 1-1-0 Their beatdown of Jaguars was right response to loss in Kansas City (Kuharsky)
14 (14) Redskins 1-1-0 Mike Shanahan can't blame Albert Haynesworth for losing the game against the Texans (Clayton)
15 (9) Titans 1-1-0 Invisible offense had seven turnovers against the Steelers (Kuharsky)
16 (18) Eagles 1-1-0 Vick is popular with teammates and players respect him. But where does this leave Kolb?(Clayton)
17 (8) Cowboys 0-2-0 Too bad they can't show past Cowboys seasons on the Cowboys Stadium big scoreboard ... thus far, the Cowboys haven't deserved the big screen (Clayton)
18 (6) Vikings 0-2-0 Vincent Jackson, anyone? How about Tarvaris Jackson? (Walker)
19 (16) Giants 1-1-0 Eli Manning wishes he doesn't have to play the Colts for eight more years, not four (Clayton)
20 (23) Chiefs 2-0-0 But for the Bucs, they'd be biggest surprise to this point (Kuharsky)
21 (28) Buccaneers 2-0-0 Say goodbye to that two-game win streak with Steelers visiting Sunday (Sando)
22 (25) Broncos 1-1-0 Visit from Indianapolis will be a big gauge of status (Kuharsky)
23 (20) 49ers 0-2-0 Alex Smith finally led a key fourth-quarter drive, but it wasn't enough against Saints (Sando)
24 (19) Cardinals 1-1-0 Shaky pass protection is putting Derek Anderson's health on the line (Sando)
25 (24) Jaguars 1-1-0 The Jags' secondary is crumbling as the team prepares to face Philadelphia QB Kevin Kolb. (Kuharsky)
26 (21) Seahawks 1-1-0 Matt Hasselbeck's protection has been there, but QB faltered in Week 2 (Sando)
27 (27) Raiders 1-1-0 Hardly smooth in win over Rams, a team they should beat (Kuharsky)
28 (26) Panthers 0-2-0 Switching to rookie QB in Week 3 with John Fox likely in final year (Sando)
29 (29) Lions 0-2-0 The Lions are fun to watch, but they probably won't win many games (Walker)
30 (32) Browns 0-2-0 The Browns lack the talent to compete for four quarters (Walker)
31 (31) Rams 0-2-0 Rams have squandered golden opportunities against Cardinals, Raiders (Sando)
32 (30) Bills 0-2-0 A quarterback change won't fix what's wrong with the Bills (Clayton)

Ohio State Depth Chart and Power Rankings

Ohio State Football
Official Eastern Michigan Game Depth Chart
Still the same running backs. I think if you couldn't get it done against Marshall, Miami, Ohio, then it is time to give some of your other 5 star recruits a couple of hand-offs. I bet they could get 100 yards against E. Michigan. I am talking about Jamal Berry! Get the man some touches and quit blaming the offensive line!
Changes from last week are in Bold

Offense Defense
Pos. Num. Name Ht., Wt., Cl. Pos. Num. Name Ht., Wt., Cl.

QB 2 Terrelle Pryor (6-6, 233, Jr.) DE 43 Nathan Williams (6-3, 260, Jr.)
14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr.) 98 Solomon Thomas (6-5, 226, Jr.)

FB 44 Zach Boren (6-0, 252, So.) DT 72 Dexter Larimore (6-2, 310, Sr.)
49 Adam Homan (6-2, 238, So.) 52 Johnathan Hankins (6-3, 335, Fr.)

TB 3 Brandon Saine OR (6-1, 219, Sr.)
DT 54 John Simon (6-2, 270, So.)
1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr.) 93 Adam Bellamy (6-4, 295, RFr.)

TE 11 Jake Stoneburner (6-5, 245, So.)
DE 97 Cameron Heyward (6-5, 288, Sr.)
88 Reid Fragel (6-8, 260, So.) 53 Garrett Goebel (6-3, 281, So.)

WR 12 Dane Sanzenbacher (5-11, 180, Sr.) WLB 51 Ross Homan (6-0, 227, Sr.)
80 Chris Fields OR (6-0, 185, RFr.) 11 Dorian Bell (6-1, 225, RFr.)
10 Corey Brown (5-11, 170, Fr.)

MLB 36 Brian Rolle (5-11, 218, Sr.)
WR 8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 213, Jr.) 32 Storm Klein (6-2, 230, So.)
5 Taurian Washington OR (6-1, 181, Sr.)
17 Grant Schwartz (6-0, 210, Sr.) SLB 42 Andrew Sweat (6-2, 238, Jr.)
55 Jon Newsome (6-3, 219, So.)
LT 75 Mike Adams (6-8, 300, Jr.)
55 Andrew Miller (6-6, 288, Sr.) CB 5 Chimdi Chekwa (6-0, 190, Sr.)
3 Corey Brown (6-0, 189, RFr.)
LG 65 Justin Boren (6-3, 320, Sr.)
77 Connor Smith (6-4, 313, Sr.) FS 7 Jermale Hines (6-1, 216, Sr.)
8 Aaron Gant (6-0, 206, Sr.)
C 50 Mike Brewster (6-5, 293, Jr.)
71 Corey Linsley (6-2, 298, RFr.) SS 19 Orhian Johnson (6-2, 203, So.)
8 Aaron Gant (6-0, 206, Sr.)
RG 70 Bryant Browning (6-4, 313, Sr.)
74 Jack Mewhort (6-6, 288, RFr.) CB 10 Devon Torrence (6-1, 200, Sr.)
18 Travis Howard (6-0, 190, So.)
RT 76 J.B. Shugarts (6-7, 297, Jr.)
78 Andrew Norwell (6-5, 308, Fr.) Star 26 Tyler Moeller (6-0, 210, Sr.)

2 Christian Bryant (5-9, 178, Fr.)


Specialists
Pos. Num. Name Ht., Wt., Cl.

K 23 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr.)
24 Drew Basil (6-1, 200, Fr.)

KO 24 Drew Basil (6-1, 200, Fr.)
23 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr.)

P 17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, So.)
39 Derek Erwin (5-10, 203, So.)

LS 96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr.)
56 George Makridis (5-11, 236, RFr.)

H 14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr.)
39 Derek Erwin (5-10, 203, So.)

PR 7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So.)
10 Corey Brown (5-11, 170, Fr.)
8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 213, Jr.)

KR 7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So.)
4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, RFr.)
3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr.)
1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr.)




College Football Power Rankings - Week 3
RK (LW) TEAM REC PTS COMMENT
1 (1) Alabama (18) 3-0 498 Rumors of Mark Ingram falling in the backfield pecking order appear greatly exaggerated after he turned in 151 yards and two TDs in Alabama's 62-13 rout of Duke. His return is just in time too, with a visit to Arkansas on Saturday.
2 (2) Ohio State (2) 3-0 481 The Buckeyes haven't lost to a team from the state of Ohio since 1921 (Oberlin) and Ohio wasn't going to end that streak. Terrelle Pryor completed a school-record 16 consecutive passes as OSU cruised to a 43-7 win.
3 (3) Boise State 2-0 447 Boise State started turning on the style points in the first half -- that's how comprehensive its 51-6 rout of Wyoming was. A prime-time opportunity awaits the Broncos on Saturday, as Oregon State pays a visit to Boise.
4 (5) Oregon 3-0 427 One thing is certain: At the rate the Oregon offense is going, no mascot will be in better shape than the Duck. Oregon turned in another offensive demolition job in a 69-0 win over Portland State. Pac-10 play begins Saturday at Arizona State.
5 (4) TCU 3-0 425 TCU scored early and often in a 45-10 blitz of Baylor, with Ed Wesley rushing for 165 yards and a couple of touchdowns. The 35-point win was the ninth time in 10 games the Horned Frogs have won by at least 27 points.
6 (9) Nebraska 3-0 396 Washington will have nightmares about Nebraska's visit for some time to come after the Cornhuskers whipped UW, 56-21. Three different Nebraska players rushed for over 100 yards, including super frosh Taylor Martinez, who accounted for four TDs.
7 (7) Texas 3-0 377 The Longhorns will be happy to leave Lubbock behind after grinding out a 24-14 win. The offense is still a work in progress, but it will have time to develop as long as Texas' defense remains as dominant as it was against Texas Tech.
8 (6) Oklahoma 3-0 375 OU won its 33rd straight home game -- longest active streak in the nation -- but it was hardly a walk in the park. The Sooners needed to convert a couple of first downs late to be able to run out the clock against a pesky Air Force team in a 27-24 win.
9 (13) Arkansas 3-0 293 The numbers were always going to be there for Mallett in Arkansas' high-octane offense, but he showed plenty of mettle engineering a game-winning drive in a hostile environment in Athens. A visit from the top-ranked Tide looms large.
10 (11) Florida 3-0 290 It's beginning to sound redundant -- another win, another unconvincing performance. UF's longest play from scrimmage against Tennessee came on a faked punt that set up the go-ahead TD. How long can the Gators continue to rely on Jeff Demps on offense?
11 (12) South Carolina 3-0 272 Dare it be said the Gamecocks look the strongest of any SEC East team after three weeks? It's hard to find a rival on offense, at the very least. Steve Spurrier has perhaps his best opportunity to challenge for an SEC title since he's been in Columbia.
12 (21) Arizona 3-0 270 Arizona took Week 3's marquee matchup, holding off Iowa 34-27 in Tucson. The Wildcats tightened the screws after the Hawkeyes stormed back, earning a signature win against a national title contender. Pac-10 play begins on Saturday with a visit from Cal.
13 (10) Wisconsin 3-0 254 Bret Bielema has started 3-0 in each of his five seasons at the Wisconsin helm, but it didn't come easy for the Badgers in a 20-19 win over Arizona State. A TD-saving tackle from Shelton Johnson and a blocked PAT by Jay Valai saved the day.
14 (16) Stanford 3-0 250 The Cardinal earned their first 3-0 start since 2001 and did so in style with a 68-24 win over Wake Forest. Andrew Luck tossed four TD passes and rushed for another score. Stanford visits Notre Dame on Saturday before opening Pac-10 play against Oregon.
15 (17) Auburn 3-0 216 It was a tale of two halves against Clemson. Auburn looked in danger of being blown out of its own building against its mascot brethren. But an inspired effort in the second half and a gut-wrenching mistake by Clemson in OT sealed a come-from-behind win.
16 (14) Utah 3-0 210 History bodes well for Utah. Since 2000, it has started 3-0 twice. Both times (2004 and 2008), it finished undefeated. QB Jordan Wynn sat out again against New Mexico, but he wasn't needed as Terrance Cain passed for 248 yards and 3 TDs in a 56-14 win.
17 (8) Iowa 2-1 176 In a strange way, it seemed Iowa had Arizona right where it wanted it. Despite their obvious struggles early, the Hawkeyes appeared to be on their way to another dramatic win -- the kind that became their trademark in 2009. They came up short in the end.
18 (18) LSU 3-0 166 As LSU's offense continues to find its footing, the Tigers continue to rely on other weapons in their arsenal to carry them through. The defense had five INTs and K Josh Jasper broke his own school record with five FGs in a 29-7 win.
19 (15) Miami (FL) 1-1 165 Miami was off this weekend. The Hurricanes return to action on Thursday night (ESPN, 7:30 ET) against Pittsburgh.
20 (20) USC 3-0 130 USC earned a 32-21 road win at Minnesota but the Trojans continue to confound more than they convince. The decision to go for a two-point conversion after each TD (all three failed) provided some head-scratching moments.
21 (19) Michigan 3-0 92 Losing to FCS Massachusetts at home would have been a devastating blow after Michigan's promising start. Denard Robinson helped ensure there was no repeat of Appalachian State in 2007 with a 345-yard, 3-TD performance in a 42-37 win.
22 (26) West Virginia 3-0 62 Maryland made things interesting late but never really threatened WVU in a 31-17 win. QB Geno Smith continued to impress, completing his first 10 passes in a 268-yard, 4-TD performance. A visit to LSU is next.
23 (22) Penn State 2-1 59 The defense was impressive in a 24-0 win over Kent State but the offense -- especially Evan Royster -- left much to be desired. Royster found the end zone for the first time this season but has rushed for only 110 yards through three games.
24 (41) Michigan State 3-0 31 The excitement of Michigan State's thrilling OT win over Notre Dame was tempered by the news that Mark Dantonio suffered a mild heart attack shortly after the game.
25 (28) Florida State 2-1 30 The defense redeemed itself after a disappointing performance against Oklahoma the previous week in Florida State's 34-10 win over BYU. ACC play begins on Saturday against Wake Forest.
Others receiving votes: Oregon State (28), Nevada (20), Pittsburgh (18), Clemson (11), Air Force (10), Missouri (6), Oklahoma State (4), Boston College (4), Kansas State (3), Fresno State (2), Texas A&M (1), North Carolina State (1)

College Football Wrap-Up

Time to get Jaamal Berry some carries
Out of all of the things this season, I believe this from Brandon Castel's 10 Things we learned. I have been saying this all pre-season and every game.
Another guy who has shown he can be factor for the Buckeyes offensively is tailback Jaamal Berry. The redshirt freshman has looked good as a kick returner this season, but it’s time to get him some more carries out of the backfield. The speedster out of Florida is averaging a team-high 9.4 yards per carry this season. He only has 11 carries, all of them late in the game, but that’s almost a first down every time he touches the football. Herron and Saine are good backs, but neither is a star. They combined to rush for 75 yards against Ohio on 21 carries while Berry had 23 yards on his four carries. That’s not saying he can average 9.4 yards a carry for the season or that he is better than Saine or Herron right now, but he can make plays and he brings a different element to the position.


Solich Impressed by Pryor’s Progress
OU Coach Calls Pryor “Dream QB”By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS — Frank Solich didn’t get a chance to see much of Terrelle Pryor when he visited Ohio Stadium two years ago. After Saturday, he’s seen about all he ever cares to.
“I thought Pryor had a great game doing what he does best, that's controlling his offense, making throws that need to be made, running the way he’s capable of running, scrambling and picking up first downs and big plays while scrambling,” said Solich, who led Ohio University to the MAC East championship last season.
“So that in itself was something going in that we knew we had to control that we were not able to do that.”
Pryor was just a freshman when the Bobcats nearly stunned the Buckeyes in Columbus back in 2008, but there would be no upset bid this time around. With Pryor leading the way for the offense, No. 2 Ohio State overwhelmed their neighbors from Athens 43-7 in a truly one-sided affair.
It was the OSU defense that set the tone with five turnovers and a safety, but Pryor completed 76 percent of his passes against the OU defense thanks in large-part to a school-record 16 straight completions.
That alone was enough to catch the eye of Solich, who grew up in Cleveland before attending the University of Nebraska, where he was an All-Big Eight fullback and co-captain of the Huskers’ 1965 team.
“He was talented when he arrived, and I think they have honed that talent. I think the staff has done a great job getting him to get better game after game. He's shown that improvement now this year,” Solich said of Pryor’s steady improvement.
“He always was good, but he can hurt you in any way. I think that's a tribute to him and his work ethic, developing what he needed to develop in the off-season to make himself even better than what he was, and what he was really good.”
Although Columbus and Athens are just 70 miles apart on route 33, Solich had not been given a close-up look at Ohio State’s 6-foot-6 quarterback until Saturday. Like the rest of the country, he watched from afar as Pryor grew from a mistake-prone freshman in 2008 who cost his team a big game against Penn State, to the calculated field general who has defeated four top-12 teams in the last seven games.
It wasn’t until he saw it for himself from the sideline Saturday, however, that Solich realized just how much Pryor has progressed as a passer since he arrived at Ohio State with all that hype two falls ago.
“It's hard when you're not working with a guy every day and we didn't play him last year so you just see clips of him, but you've got to be impressed with his ability to throw the ball,” Solich said.
“He hit a lot of seam routes against our zone coverage. He stood in the pocket well, he's mature in terms of standing there, taking a hit and throwing it and knowing when to scramble. He's everybody's dream at quarterback.”
With Solich watching helplessly, Pryor completed 22 of his 29 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters of work. He also ran the ball eight times for 25 yards and another score where he scrambled outside the pocket and beat the Ohio safety to the corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.
“He's just one of those guys who makes plays, somehow or another,” OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.
“One time we were looking to throw one deep and there was nothing there and he pulled it down and ran for a huge run. Whenever he has the ball in his hands, he made some great throws, great plays in that aspect of the game, and certainly last week and this week running the ball.”
For the season, Pryor is completing 63 percent (51-of-81) of his passes (up from 57 percent last year) for 715 yards. He has just two turnovers in the 117 plays he’s been directly involved in, including none against 12th-ranked Miami last week. But his two interceptions against Ohio are still stuck in his craw.
“We got better from a team standpoint but those two picks are unacceptable, but we're over that,” Pryor said.
“(Tressel) knows I was very pissed about that. I was mad. I was mad after the first one. That was just a stupid, stupid throw. The second ball I kind of got hit as I let it go. I still should have got down to my check-down. I think I played stupid on those two passes. I played very dumb.”
That is some harsh criticism for a quarterback who has the Buckeyes averaging over 41 points per game through three contests in 2010. He ranks second in the Big Ten in passing yards—behind Northwestern’s Dan Persa—and is tied for the conference lead in touchdown passes (6) with Persa and Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi.
Those numbers aren’t good enough for Pryor when he turns the ball over, and neither are the 16 straight completions.
“But as we've been saying all along, Terrelle is a film guy, he's a study guy, he'll be happy when he has 29 straight and that's all we've called,” Tressel said.
“That's just his nature and that's why you love working with him because he loves to work.”


Heisman Watch

Denard Robinson
QB | MichiganNext Game: 9/25 vs. BGSU
Massachusetts put quite a scare into the 100,000-plus strong at Michigan Stadium, but the Wolverines had enough firepower to stave off what would have been a shocking upset. Robinson accounted for 241 yards passing and 104 yards on the ground with three touchdowns to lead the way for Michigan in a 42-37 win.
WEEK 3 VS. MASSACHUSETTS
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
248.9 241 2 1 71.4
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
104 1 6.1
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
158.6 671 4 1 69.7
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
559 4 7.6

Kellen Moore
QB | Boise StateNext Game: 9/25 vs. ORST
Wyoming never really stood a chance, and the Broncos turned on the style points before the first half was over in a 51-6 rout. Moore passed for 370 yards and two touchdowns as Boise State racked up 648 yards on offense. Another prime-time opportunity awaits with a visit from Oregon State on Saturday.
WEEK 3 AT WYOMING
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
185.6 370 2 1 66.7
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-1 0 -0.5
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
156.8 585 5 1 63.2
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-20 0 -5.0


Terrelle Pryor
QB | Ohio StateNext Game: 9/25 vs. EMU
He might not be pleased about the two interceptions he threw, but Pryor had little else to be unhappy about in Ohio State's comfortable win over Ohio at home. Pryor and the Buckeyes picked apart the Bobcats with ease, as he completed a school-record 16 consecutive passes and scored three touchdowns.
WEEK 3 VS. OHIO
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
152.9 235 2 2 75.9
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
35 1 4.4
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
15.6 715 6 2 63.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
165 2 4.6


Ryan Mallett
QB | ArkansasNext Game: 9/25 vs. ALA
The numbers were always going to be there for Mallett in Arkansas' high-octane offense. But leading a winning drive against a conference foe in a hostile environment is the stuff of which Heisman candidacies are made. The Razorbacks' win over Georgia set the stage for a titanic clash with Alabama on Saturday.
WEEK 3 AT GEORGIA
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
190.4 380 3 0 63.6
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-4 0 -2.0
2010 SEASON
PASSING
RAT YDS TD INT CMP%
186.5 1081 9 2 70.0
RUSHING
YDS TD YPC
-3 1 -0.3


Week 3 Polls
AP Top 25
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Alabama (53) 3-0 1492
2 Ohio State (5) 3-0 1435
3 Boise State (1) 2-0 1333
4 TCU 3-0 1280
5 Oregon 3-0 1238
6 Nebraska 3-0 1175
7 Texas (1) 3-0 1164
8 Oklahoma 3-0 1114
9 Florida 3-0 1044
10 Arkansas 3-0 903
11 Wisconsin 3-0 803
12 South Carolina 3-0 739
13 Utah 3-0 703
14 Arizona 3-0 663
15 LSU 3-0 654
16 Stanford 3-0 606
17 Auburn 3-0 600
18 Iowa 2-1 482
19 Miami (FL) 1-1 472
20 USC 3-0 414
21 Michigan 3-0 291
22 West Virginia 3-0 258
23 Penn State 2-1 198
24 Oregon State 1-1 75
25 Michigan State 3-0 45
Dropped from rankings: Houston 23
Others receiving votes: Air Force 44, Nevada 41, Pittsburgh 40, Florida State 40, Fresno State 35, Missouri 30, Oklahoma State 22, Clemson 14, North Carolina State 14, Georgia Tech 14, James Madison 8, Kansas State 4, Arizona State 3, California 3, Northwestern 3, Notre Dame 1, Temple 1, Texas A&M 1, Houston 1
Complete Rankings »


USA Today Poll
RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Alabama (55) 3-0 1470
2 Ohio State (3) 3-0 1410
3 Boise State 2-0 1291
4 Texas 3-0 1251
5 TCU 3-0 1188
6 Oregon 3-0 1181
7 Nebraska (1) 3-0 1135
8 Florida 3-0 1092
9 Oklahoma 3-0 1060
10 Wisconsin 3-0 884
11 Arkansas 3-0 846
12 LSU 3-0 801
13 Utah 3-0 693
14 Auburn 3-0 655
15 South Carolina 3-0 612
16 Arizona 3-0 610
17 Stanford 3-0 541
18 Iowa 2-1 463
19 Miami (FL) 1-1 418
20 Penn State 2-1 335
21 West Virginia 3-0 315
22 Michigan 3-0 255
23 Michigan State 3-0 125
24 Missouri 3-0 123
25 Oklahoma State 3-0 103
Dropped from rankings: Houston 23, California 24
Others receiving votes: Nevada 58, Florida State 56, Oregon State 53, Pittsburgh 30, Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 17, Northwestern 15, Air Force 15, Boston College 12, Fresno State 7, Houston 7, North Carolina State 7, Temple 5, Texas A&M 4, Kansas State 4, Texas Tech 2, Virginia Tech 2,

NHL 11 Review

NHL 11 Review

Hockey doesn't get a lot of love in the United States. I have no idea why, but that's the way it's been for ages. Still, that hasn't stopped EA Sports from churning out one of the most consistently great sports franchises around with its NHL line of games. If you're a hockey nut, rest assured that NHL 11 is no slouch. It packs a cool, super-deep dynasty mode in the form of Ultimate Team, it adds some great gameplay tweaks and refinements and delivers all of this with a layer of polish that has been missing from past games.
For those unfamiliar with the NHL series, the franchise has hinged on delivering a true-to-life hockey experience for the past few years. It was one of the first games to develop a control scheme that used the right analog for stick controls like dekeing and shooting, it pioneered Be A Pro where you command a single player throughout his entire career, and its online hockey leagues were some of the first of their kind.

For hardcore gamers, there's the new EA Sports Ultimate Hockey League (EAUHL) which uses the Ultimate Team trading card system (each player card is a player on the ice) to deliver its team building mechanic. Players are dealt a pack of starter cards and are sent to build up their fledgling team of all-stars from there by either earning in-game currency through their play on the ice or by purchasing them with real world money. The setup is pretty dense and shouldn't be traversed by those not willing to delve into some seriously minute details, but hardcore hockey fans are going to get a kick out of it.
The depth of Ultimate Team and EAUHL is exhaustive. If the community catches on, it could actually be the largest and most expansive dynasty mode ever seen in a game. Player cards are taken from the list of leagues (there are more than 10 total) that have been added to this year's game, and you'll also have to contend with managing coaching cards, training cards and contract cards (which govern how many games a given player can be used), not to mention making sure your team's chemistry is kept at a high level. It's probably a little too dense for its own good, but those who can get their heads around it could have a long, fun experience, especially when taking the game online and competing for supremacy against the masses in the EAUHL.


Of course, there's also the standard Be A GM (single-player franchise mode), Be A Pro (single-player career mode), Playoff Mode, Tournament Mode, and Practice Mode which haven't been touched up all that much. That doesn't mean that they don't still deliver their content at a very high level (they do), but they clearly haven't seen the attention that I expect. Be A Pro still has those annoying framerate hitches that pop up whenever the puck is fed into the corners, and Be A GM still has that strange cell phone system during the draft that rewards or takes away your phones (which translates into the number of trade offers you'll receive) depending on your reputation.
It's a disappointment that so much attention went to Ultimate Team, a game mode that has been seen in FIFA and Madden over the last few years, when hallmark modes such as Be A Pro and Be A GM went relatively untouched. Thankfully EA Sports also invested in some great gameplay tweaks that push the package in the right direction.

EA claims that the most requested feature coming off of last year's game was the inclusion of broken sticks, and it's a big part of NHL 11. They might happen just a bit too often, but the result is cool. Seeing a guy snap his stick mid-shot and then make a perfect pass with his skate is very cool--and pulling it off is just as hard as it should be. Likewise, skating around stick-less just looking for someone's face to wreck with a bone crushing hit is also great fun. Sort of like being a hockey mercenary.
Speaking of checks, EA Sports has installed a new realtime physics engine that does a nice job of emulating real world physical interactions. It isn't perfect as sometimes player models are a little slow to react to hits, but when it works properly the results can be awesome with both vicious hits and the little ones that are just enough to dislodge players from the puck.
There have also been some smaller, more under-the-hood, changes made to NHL 11. First, the speed has been ratcheted back a few notches from last year. I think it's a little unrealistic and could deter some true hockey aficionados, but it does a lot in the way of allowing players to have the time to pull off cool looking dekes and precision passes.

Making those tough passes requires a bit more strategy in NHL 11 than it has in past games. This year, in order to whip a pass at the feet of your target with any kind of speed, you're going to have to hold the pass button for a half-second longer than normal. The result is a passing system that demands a bit of foresight to make fast, accurate passes. It definitely takes getting used to, but the end result is a system that feels more authentic than in past NHL games. I just wish that they had delivered a new passing tutorial to teach you the new system instead of hiding the instructions in the settings menu.
All-in-all the gameplay in NHL 11 is the most fun I've experienced from the series. Strategy and planning play a larger role in this year's game which makes for a different experience than has been afforded in the past. Some might be perturbed by the lack of speed and new passing system, but I think both lend themselves to delivering the NHL experience to a wider audience of fans.
As always, one area where NHL excels is the presentation of the sport. The atmosphere in the different arenas in the game is great and making it to the playoffs only accentuates the excitement level. It's also cool to watch how the electricity in the arena dissipates when you venture down to one of the many lesser (non-NHL) leagues in the game. Gary Thorne and Bill Clement deliver another great performance, even if a few of their lines were heard in last year's game. It's great to hear a sports game with actual interaction between the commentators, something that is missing in other EA Sports titles. Their excitement really comes through when you score an impressive goal. And while I appreciate the notion of user-controlled celebrations after a score, they were clearly an after-thought in NHL 11 and don't add much to the experience.


Visually this year's installment performs better than NHL 10 on the ice with great player details that don't take a knock despite the improved physics. In fact, the entire package actually runs better than it has in recent years with a framerate that doesn't falter during simple cutscenes as they did in NHL 10. Still, it's a shame to see framerate issues pop up inexplicably in Be A Pro mode.
The amount of gameplay in NHL 11 is staggering when looked at as a full package. There are essentially two franchise modes – Be A GM and Ultimate Team – and a single-player career mode in the form of Be A Pro. Most of the modes are pulled from NHL games of the past, and that's a real bummer, but that doesn't mean that the content isn't still fun. When you factor in the huge amount of depth offered by the EA Sports Ultimate Hockey League and the other online features, like Online Team Play, NHL 11 becomes an even more attractive package.

Closing Comments
NHL 11 is a great hockey game any way you slice it. If you’re looking for a great online experience, you can find it here. If you’re looking for great solo play, there’s plenty to be had. Heck, if you just want to jump into the playoffs and make a run at the cup, you can do that, too. Despite the fact that a lot of the modes have been ported over from last year and Ultimate Team has been seen before in other EA Sports games, NHL 11 still delivers a slew of gameplay improvements and a truckload of content that should please the many hockey fans out there.

IGN Ratings for NHL 11 (PS3).
Rating Description
out of 10 Click here for ratings guide
8.0 Presentation
Classic EA Sports menu designs work well with the in-game style. Ultimate Team can be a bit dense to navigate, though.
8.5 Graphics
The framerate hitches in Be A Pro are annoying, especially when compared to the fluidity of the core game. Player details are kept at a high level and the atmosphere in-game is great.
9.0 Sound
The atmosphere of each game is great, especially in the playoffs. The commentary is as solid as ever and you can feel each big hit rumble through your speakers.
8.5 Gameplay
Some are going to be turned off by the toned down speed on default settings, but the new passing and checking go a long way. AI is solid, less some strange goalie play.
8.5 Lasting Appeal
It might be tough for some to get into Ultimate Team, and there isn’t much else that’s new, but there’s a lot of content to be had, especially when you take the game online.
8.5
OVERALL Great


Artificial intelligence has also been noticeably ramped up in NHL 11. Players seem to know what they're doing this year. Positional play is still absolutely vital to cover attacking forwards. As in the previous two games, you have to have some working knowledge of hockey to play the game effectively at the default difficulty level. Get out of place by trying to throw big hits or by cherry-picking, and the computer-controlled squad will make you pay. Teammates are also smart. They set up good breakouts now, so you spend a lot less time bottled up in your own end than you did in last year's game. Power plays and penalty kills are also effectively run. You can play locked to a position as though you were playing real hockey and not be frustrated, because the AI passes the puck astutely and uses you most of the time when you get open. That said, it's not perfect. Computer players still hold onto the puck a little too long. So at times players don't shoot when they clearly should, they ignore a linemate in the open, or they stickhandle longer than would be advisable, causing them to miss out on great scoring chances. Don't let this scare you off, though. The issue isn't too bad, and players pull off at least three brilliant moves for every time they wreck a scoring chance by dithering.
Most of the modes of play have been held over from last year. You can still play seasons, tournaments, and playoff runs for the Stanley Cup, or go online for some silky-smooth, lag-free action on the virtual ice with single quick games and whole online leagues. The biggest addition to the roster of game options this year is the Hockey Ultimate Team, where you assemble a club and compete against the CPU or against other players online in the EA Sports UHL. This is something of a convoluted blending of an arcade sports game and a collectible card game, similar to previous modes in Madden and FIFA. You earn EA pucks through success on the ice, and then use this in-game currency to buy packs filled with cards representing players from all over the world, along with consumable cards such as contract extensions, training skill buffs, coaches, arenas, and more. So you set your lineup and then apply training cards to players to buff their skills, contract cards to players to lengthen their time with your club, and so on. Cards can also be traded and put up for auction.

Hockey Ultimate Team could well become an obsession, because it's hard to resist the lure of buffing your club constantly through new pack buys. The game is also pretty challenging, since you not only need to build a great team, but also come up with cards to improve player skills and keep your team together and to mix lines up to enhance chemistry. Of course, if you run out of EA pucks earned in-game, you can pony up real cash and buy more. Good packs are pricey, and EA pucks are earned pretty slowly when you're just playing games, so the temptation will be there to break out the credit card and buy your way to a great team.
Another welcome new feature is the addition of the Canadian Hockey League, with all of the teams and rosters from the major juniors. This is arguably most noteworthy in Be a Pro, where you create a player and guide him to NHL stardom, because you can now start off at the junior club of your choice and improve your NHL draft position by playing the Memorial Cup tourney. It's a cool addition, since you can get a real thrill out of helping a fave team like the Peterborough Petes win the Mem Cup. But it has probably got limited appeal, being geared for those hardcore hockey fans who follow the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL. Of course, you can also play full seasons with the CHL teams, just as you could in previous years with clubs from pro leagues. Be a GM mode has been improved this year with tweaks to the AI and the addition of unrestricted and restricted free agents. These changes make for a better management sim, although the CPU still doesn't seem to understand the salary cap. Teams will frequently refuse deals that they flat-out have to make to get under the cap, and the game itself will step in and stop trades in the summer that would result in a club going over the cap, even though teams in the real NHL are allowed to exceed the cap by up to 10 percent in the offseason.
Presentation is just about the same as it was last year. The game looks fantastic on both the 360 and the PS3 (the visuals are slightly better on the 360, due to more jaggies on the PS3, but the difference is minor)--very close to an actual TV broadcast. Players look like their real-life counterparts, animations are dead-on right down to the way that players cruise around and twirl sticks after whistles, and the crowd is appropriately raucous. Clips while waiting for face-offs are a bit annoying, mainly for how they never seem to show the plays you want to see. You'll wait for an instant-replay look at that fantastic scoring chance you just had, only to see something that happened 10 minutes ago or a close-up of the goalie looking up at the clock.



Rink audio effects are outstanding, putting you right in the middle of a crowd thrilled at every little thing that happens on the ice. Commentary and color from Gary Thorne and Bill Clement are more up and down, though. They mix up accurate observations about things like goalies stupidly playing the puck in traffic with bizarre raves about odd-man breaks that aren't actually happening. The soundtrack is an equal blend of satisfying and annoying. Fresh tunes from modern bands like Airbourne and Megadeth share space with arena songs that have been assaulting your ears for decades, like The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop," Black Box's "Strike It Up," that "Ole" song that the Montreal Canadiens have been beating to death, and (shudder) Europe's "The Final Countdown." At least you can set up custom soundtracks and ignore the bad stuff.
One of the best things about NHL 11 is how the realism constantly takes you by surprise no matter how long you play. Many arcade sports games reveal more flaws with every hour that you play. Here, the good stuff just keeps coming. Just when the game starts to feel a little predictable, something happens that you've never seen before, like a crazy deflection leading to a goal or an AI player showing off highlight-reel moves. Say hello to the new standard by which hockey games are measured.