Monday, April 30, 2012

Video of Illinois High School Pitcher Hits A Bird -

Illinois High School Pitcher Hits A Bird Why Cleveland must part ways with McCoy The old saw about backup QBs being the most popular guy on a losing team isn't going to help Brandon Weeden, should he take over as a starter in Cleveland. It's especially true if the perception exists that last year's tough, likeable boy-next-door No. 1 quarterback had no substantial help and is now paying the price for it. That's why Colt McCoy can't be part of the Browns' 2012 plans. Sorry. Doesn't matter if he comes cheaply or even willingly. Doesn't matter if he's a good teammate or a capable Plan B in case of injury. Can't happen. Keeping McCoy around muddles the bold move made in drafting Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round. Johnny Damon to join Indians Tuesday Indians outfielder Johnny Damon, who's been working himself into game shape in extended spring training, is expected to join the team on Tuesday in Chicago, tweets Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. If that's the case, then Damon will arrive in time for the three-game series with the White Sox that begins that same night. The Tribe could certainly use him. Grady Sizemore is out until at least early June after undergoing back surgery during spring training, and Shin-Soo Choo is presently sidelined with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, left fielder Shelley Duncan badly needs a left-handed platoon partner and is already looking overexposed as a regular. Damon isn't much with the glove these days and should never be allowed to face a lefty, but he can help the Indians. The 38-year-old Damon is coming off a season in which he hit .261/.326/.418 with 16 home runs as the primary DH for the Rays. He needs 277 hits to reach 3,000 for his career.
NFL Draft Grades Cleveland Browns: I don’t mind Cleveland going all-in to get Trent Richardson at No. 3. Heck, I don’t even really mind reaching for QB Brandon Weeden at 22. I’m not sure what happened after that, though, as the Browns took OT Mitchell Schwartz when they needed a receiver, then tanked picks on DT John Hughes (87) and WR Travis Benjamin (100). Grade: C-plus

Friday, April 27, 2012

NFL Draft Round 1 Winners and Losers -RG3's Socks From Draft Night

BCS 4 Team Play-Off HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) -- College football is on the verge of finally having a playoff, its own version of the final four. For the first time, all the power brokers who run the highest level of the sport are comfortable with the idea of deciding a championship the way it's done from pee-wees to pros. And the way fans have been hoping they would for years. "Yes, we've agreed to use the P word," Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said Thursday. They want to limit it to four teams. That's for sure. Now they have to figure out how to pick the teams, where and when to play the games and how the bowls do or do not fit in. The new postseason format would go into effect for the 2014 season. As for the 14-year-old Bowl Championship Series, it's on life support. Any chance that it survives past the next two seasons? "I hope not," said Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive, who pitched a four-team playoff four years ago but was shot down at this same hotel beachside hotel. "This is a seismic change for college football," BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said after the 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director wrapped up three days of meetings in south Florida. That Hancock actually used the word playoff when describing what was being considered alone signaled a shift in thinking for the BCS. In a memo leading up to these meetings, the term "four-team event" was used to describe creating two national semifinals and a championship game. Hancock said the commissioners will present a "small number" of options for a four-team playoff to their leagues over the next month or so at conference meetings. He estimated that between two and seven configurations are being considered. It'll be up to each conference to determine which plan it likes best. The commissioners will get back together in June and try to come up with a final version, and eventually the university presidents will have to sign off on it. Hancock has said they'd like a new format ready for approval by July 4. And he warned that if no agreement is reached, the fallback could be sticking with an overhauled version of the old system, which aims for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 championship game. But that's a longshot. "It's great to get to a point where there seems to be general consensus that a four-team, three-game playoff is the best route to go," Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford said. "The next challenge obviously is figuring out a format that brings consensus where we can truly make that work. The more this narrows, the more challenging it gets." The first step is figuring out the where and when. The when should be easy. The commissioners all agree the college football season needs to wrap up as close to Jan. 1 as possible. That would mean semifinals soon after Christmas and the title game within a few days of the calendar flipping. "One of the goals is to make the postseason a celebration of college football," Slive said. "And to focus in on a reasonable time frame that is consistent with a reasonable bowl season. And then be able to have a championship game and semifinals at a time and a place that would allow us to really celebrate college football at a time when people are thinking about college football, which is in and around the end of December and early January." Where is the best place to celebrate college football? That figures to be a heated debate. Slive has made it clear he's not a fan of playing semifinals on campus, a plan the Big Ten has presented and the Pac-12 supports. "I'm a big proponent of it," Scott said. "That was the choice we made in our conference with our championship game. Collegiate atmosphere. Guaranteed sellout. We've said all along preserving the regular season is important. What better way to emphasize the importance of the regular season then having a chance to earn a home game? It's a proven NFL model." Slive prefers playing the games at neutral sites, the way the NCAA basketball tournament does. That leads to the question: How do the bowls fit in? The national championship game has shifted between the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose bowl sites during the 14 years the BCS has been in existence. First, the bowl itself was the championship game. Then the BCS moved to a five-game model in which the championship was played after the bowls but at one of those four stadiums. The commissioners are considering allowing the bowls to be involved, but not necessarily calling the three playoff games "bowls." The Fiesta Bowl would be fine not hosting a bowl in certain years, if it can host a playoff game. On the other hand, the Rose Bowl would prefer to just be the Rose Bowl, sticking with its traditional matchup of Big Ten champion vs. Pac-12 champion on New Year's Day. But those league champions will often be heading to the playoffs in a new format. "They definitely want to be part of the system," Scott said of the Rose Bowl. The commissioners won't even get into how they pick the teams until after they have presented a format to the presidential oversight committee. "The whole topic of selection and who would get in is something that we've really parked for now," Scott said. "We realize that's going to require a whole lot more debate and study." Among those debates: Slive prefers the four top-ranked teams regardless of conferences in the playoffs. Scott likes the idea of taking the top four conference champions as a way of moving away from the subjectivity of polls that dominant the current BCS standings. Much to be decided, but at least everybody is talking the same language: playoffs. "I've always tried not to use the dreaded P-word," Slive said. "But now we're all using it. So what the heck?" RG3's Socks From Draft Night
NFL Draft Round 1 Winners and Losers NEW YORK -- With money not being a factor in making first-round draft selections, Radio City Music Hall turned into a trade center. Eight draft-day trades were executed. The surprising thing was how fast the first round moved. It was over in three hours. With so many teams talking, you'd figure the first round would have gone four hours, not three. Who were the winners and losers in those trades? Winners 1. Minnesota Vikings: Vikings general manager Rick Spielman proved to be the shrewdest among the wheelers and dealers. He was able to get three additional picks from the Cleveland Browns and still get the player the Vikings wanted -- left tackle Matt Kalil. The process started by getting the word out that they wanted to draft either Kalil or cornerback Morris Claiborne. The idea was to convince the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who started with the No. 5 pick, that they might be left with Claiborne if the Vikings selected Kalil and the Browns selected running back Trent Richardson. He also got word out that other teams were interested in picking No. 3. Unlike the Bucs, the Browns knew the Vikings wouldn't take Richardson; they have Adrian Peterson on the roster. Although the Vikings didn't get a second- or third-rounder, the acquisition of a fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round pick gave them even more flexibility in this draft. That upped their draft total to 13 picks. As the round developed, the Vikings were able to move back into the first round in a deal with the Baltimore Ravens to get safety Harrison Smith. The Vikings came out with Kalil and Smith, and have 10 more choices over the final two days of the draft. It doesn't get much better than that. 2. New England Patriots: Too often in past years, the Patriots got a little too cute. They'd trade a choice for a future first-rounder. They'd trade back and acquire more draft choices than they had roster spots for rookies. On Thursday, Bill Belichick made two wise trades, and finally got a pass-rusher (Chandler Jones from Syracuse) and a quality inside linebacker (Dont'a Hightower of Alabama). Those were significant and telling moves. It shows the Patriots might be moving back into a 3-4 defense, but now they can do it with two young linebackers who can rush. Jones is quick from the outside. Hightower can rush from the inside. The Patriots have only two remaining draft choices, but the two trades cost them only two fourth-round picks. 3. St. Louis Rams: Trading out of the top six is usually a bad idea. But when you have as many holes as the Rams, you have to consider it, particularly when the Jaguars traded ahead of them and took wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Of the eight trades, the Rams were the only team to get a second-round pick, and they got it from the Dallas Cowboys. They now have three second-round choices for Friday, and two first-rounders each in 2013 and 2014, thanks to the pre-draft trade with Washington. The Rams filled a key defensive need by getting defensive tackle Michael Brockers. In a deep receiver draft, the Rams now can concentrate on getting wide receiver help. If they don't use some of those extra seconds on receivers Friday, they will be placed among the losers in Friday's column. Losers 1. Seattle Seahawks: When Luke Kuechly went to the Carolina Panthers at No. 9, you knew the Seahawks would bail on the No. 12 pick and trade back. The problem is whom they selected at No. 15. A lot of teams didn't have LB Bruce Irvin in the first round. Some didn't have him in the second round. Pete Carroll felt having Irvin along with an additional fourth- and a sixth-round pick was better than staying at No. 12. The Seahawks would have been better served by continuing to move back and get more picks. If they are right on Irvin and his motor, great. But if they are wrong, they didn't get value back for their trade. 2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I liked their move to trade from the second round and get into the first to grab running back Doug Martin. What I didn't like was trading down with Jacksonville two spots and losing the chance to take Claiborne. Claiborne has the look of a future Pro Bowl cornerback. Those players are hard to find. Instead, the Bucs got safety Mark Barron and a fourth-round choice. A Pro Bowl corner is worth more than a safety and a fourth-rounder. Barron should be great, but taking him at No. 7 is a little high for a safety. Barron would have to be Ronnie Lott to justify the selection. In a division that has Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, you need quality corners. Cover 2 can take you only so far these days. 3. Denver Broncos: John Elway has a win-now philosophy. That's why he acquired Peyton Manning, but Manning has only a short window. The Broncos traded back from picks No. 25 and No. 31, but they passed on some pretty good players -- Hightower, Martin, Smith and some others. This could work out if the Broncos get tight end Coby Fleener and some help at defensive tackle. The Broncos start the second day of the draft with the No. 35 pick. The net gain of two fourth-rounders might not have justified trading out of the first.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Video of ESPN Anchor - BCS Seriously Looking at Play-Offs - Michigan's Dirty Little Secret

ESPN anchor didn’t like suggestion that she was flirting with Wes Welker BCS brass work on whittling down options for postseason format HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) -- When Bowl Championship Series officials leave the beachside hotel where they've gathered to hammer out the future of college football's postseason, they want to have the choices narrowed down to two or three. STAPLES: Three questions will determine change The 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director met Wednesday for about eight hours to discuss overhauling how a champion is determined and possibly implementing a four-team playoff. It was the fourth such gathering this year. They reconvene Thursday and BCS executive director Bill Hancock said they all agreed it's time to start crossing items off the list. "I think that's what everyone wants to do. Get down to two, maybe three," he said. "I think we're making good progress on that. I think we're going to make it." One thing is clear: "The status quo is off the table," Hancock said. Though he cautiously added they have not ruled out making over the current system that guarantees only a No. 1 vs. No. 2 championship game. But all signs point toward that being unlikely, and that by the 2014 season the BCS as fans have known it will be gone. "I would say there is an expectation that there will be significant change," Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said. Delany and his fellow commissioners arrived in south Florida with four options to discuss, but much of the focus has been on a four-team playoff with two national semifinals and a title game. That model comes with many variables, such as where the games will be played, how the teams will be picked and how the bowls fit in - if they do at all. The role of the bowls represents a potential obstacle. Specifically, the Rose Bowl. On Tuesday, bowl executives from the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose met with the conference commissioners to give their input and answer some questions about how their games could work in a new postseason system. An option being discussed could force those traditional bowls to give up holding their games in years in which they host a semifinal or championship game. That could mean a year without a Rose Bowl, which has been played every year since 1916 - most of those games matching the champions of the Big Ten and Pac-12. "We feel like we have something very special and unique in college football," Rose Bowl spokeswoman Gina Chappin said. "We went into the room with the intention of reaffirming what we are." The Big Ten and Pac-12 don't just play in the Rose Bowl, they're partners with the game. Delany and Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott have made it clear that protecting that lucrative partnership is a priority. "I just want to make sure that the changes that we make are evolutionary," Delany said. "That they support the regular season. That they're from a Rose Bowl perspective, that they sustain that tradition. That we're also able to produce something that the public appreciates and supports. "You want to control change. You want to have evolution, not revolution because you don't know that the unintended consequences will be." Delany and Hancock insisted the Rose Bowl won't stand in the way of change. "Everybody is going to have to make some changes," Hancock said. "Everybody recognizes the importance of the Rose Bowl." There have also been discussions about playing semifinals on campus sites and having only the championship game at a neutral site, like a college football Super Bowl. That idea was pushed by the Big Ten, which has long desired getting teams from warmer climates on its frozen turf for big games. But there are concerns that playoff games on campuses could be logistical nightmares and the idea doesn't seem to be gaining support. "I think maybe it has more disadvantages than advantages," Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive said. "One of the disadvantages is I think when you're trying to determine who's going to play for the national championship, what's the competitive environment in which you put a team to play for the national championship. "That's not to say that I wouldn't listen to it." The full group hasn't even started talking about a new model for revenue distribution, which Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson predicted would be "contentious." How willing Delany and Scott are to consider options that could minimize the importance of the Rose Bowl will be pivotal in determining what proposals the commissioners take with them when they leave Florida. "How it ends up," Delany said, "to be determined." The end is near, though. Hancock said that the commissioners would like to be able to present a new format to the presidential oversight committee for approval by July 4. Maize of Lies — Michigan's Dirty Little Secret Finally Rises By Tony Gerdeman Everything that you thought you knew about the "Maize and Blue" is officially a lie, and has been for years. Only now, through information gathered during a three-hour The-Ozone investigation Wednesday after supper spanning both Google AND Twitter, do we see just how outright and bold this lie is. Uniple sources made The-Ozone aware Wednesday evening of one of the great deceptions in modern American sports—the University of Michigan's beloved color of "Maize" is, in fact, called "Sun", and not "Maize". A July 18, 2010 piece appearing in The Michigan Daily, which is the University of Michigan student newspaper, details the deception, which began in 2007 when the athletic department signed an apparel deal with Adidas, thus ending their relationship with Nike. "Nike also copyrighted the color 'Maize,' so Adidas actually had to make a new version of our school color, now known as 'Sun'..." That's right. "Sun". How they have managed to keep this kraken of deceit a secret for so long is a testament to their will, as well as their duplicitousness. How can the University of Michigan continue to call itself the "Maize and Blue" when the very company making their apparel calls Michigan's yellow hue "Sun"? It's almost as sad as a husband who "leaves for work every day" to keep up appearances with his wife even though he was fired from his job months earlier. How Deep It Went The-Ozone's investigation reveals a five-year pattern of half-truths and deceptions, spanning two athletic directors and three head coaches. According to sources who didn't want to be named for fear of retribution from the University's "Colorati", the lying doesn't just stop with the administration. Hundreds of athletes and thousands of students are also indelibly tied to this lie with no desire to break their own personal "UMerta". It is one thing to accept a lie, it is another to revel in it and even market it as this University has. Since when is it okay to embrace a lie? Is that what is being taught at the University of Michigan these days? Not only is the athletic department neck-deep in this fallacy, but so is the student body and apparently the faculty as well. It is a "diag of dependence", with each liar depending on the other to keep up the ruse. While it's disgusting, their ability to stick to the deception without fail is simply remarkable. The person who programmed these automatons should be given the Nobel Prize in Scientific Achievement. And then thrown in prison. Will Ann Arbor Discover Trouble? Despite our three-hour investigation, we were unable to find a single representative from Adidas or Nike who would speak with us. The same goes for officials from the University of Michigan. Granted, it would have helped had we contacted any of the three, but sometimes during an investigation we're not able to "investigate" every little detail. Still, if Michigan continues to falsely call "sun" "maize", then you have to wonder how much longer Nike will tolerate it. While we have had no sources tell us that Nike is upset with Adidas and Michigan, we have also had no sources tell us that they aren't. The University of Michigan Needs to Unwrap Its Present It's time to stop living in the past, Michigan. It's time to start waking up to the present. Make today a new morning. A new "sun" rise, if you will. It's time to ditch the "maize", since it's not even the color that you are wearing anymore. Adidas gave you $60 million for a reason, and it's time to embrace your prodigal "sun". Sure, it's terrible now, but "The Sun and Blue" will eventually have a ring to it. Hell, "The Maize and Blue" was equally terrible in its infancy, and through its adolescence, and then of course on into adulthood, but we got used to it, didn't we? Give sun a chance. Maybe try it in a new fight song. "The Ol' Sun and Blue" Trollying forward, man prancers we Proudly running, a galloping few We try our best, a failing quest Because we are the Sun and the Blue And just repeat that like six times. My guess is that you'll get used to it pretty quickly.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Indians hand Royals 12th consecutive loss -

Indians hand Royals 12th consecutive loss, 4-3 CLEVELAND (AP) -- Kansas City manager Ned Yost insists the Royals are playing too well to have lost 12 straight. The Royals matched their third-longest losing streak in team history Tuesday night when Cleveland's Derek Lowe allowed one run over six innings in the Indians' 4-3 win. "We were one hit shy, but golly we were into it to the very end," Yost said. Kansas City scored once in the ninth inning and had the go-ahead run at the plate against closer Chris Perez , who got his seventh save when he got Jeff Francouer to bounce into a game-ending forceout. "One hit away, that seems to be the name of the game right now," Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas said. "It looks bad, 12 in a row, but we're playing good baseball, playing the game the right way. We just need to find a way to get that one hit that breaks it for us." The Royals also lost 12 straight in 1997 and 2008. Kansas City lost 13 straight in 2006 and had a team-record 19 consecutive losses in 2005. "We'll break through," Yost said. "I find it hard to believe we've lost 12 in a row, the way we are battling to the very end. That's a good sign with a young team." The Royals have been outscored 73-44 during the streak, though five of the losses have been by one run. Cleveland built upon a recently completed 7-2 trip by returning to Progressive Field and earning their second home win in six games. They did it with starting center fielder Michael Brantley resting a sore right wrist until he was used as a defensive replacement. Manager Manny Acta said right fielder Shin-Soo Choo left in the ninth with a tight left hamstring and will be evaluated Wednesday. Lowe (3-1) gave up eight hits and struck out five. The right-hander used a good sinker to get nine outs on grounders as he bounced back from a 4-1 loss at Seattle in which he walked six without a strikeout on April 18. In addition, the pitcher's home in Florida was recently burglarized. Among items taken were his 2004 World Series ring, earned with the Boston Red Sox. The losses were estimated at $90,000. "It was obviously a tough week," Lowe said. "Anytime you have something like that happen and not being there, it's tough. That's what law enforcement is there for. Major League Baseball knows about it. The good thing is there's nothing you can't replace. Luckily, no family members were there." Jack Hannahan had a two-run double in Cleveland's three-run fifth against Jonathan Sanchez (1-1), who struggled to command his fastball. Beforehand, the Royals continued to try anything to get out of their funk. On Monday, they vented frustrations in a closed-door pregame meeting in which voices were raised in anger. Before opening a three-game series in Cleveland, players gathered around a clubhouse television to play a baseball video game. That didn't help either, though Yost liked the idea. "It was good to see them relaxing and enjoying themselves," Yost said. "That's a good sign. Our kids need that right now. "When they step on that field, they're playing the game extremely hard. They're all trying to break out of this slump. We're trying to get them to try easier. We get runners on base and our numbers drop pretty dramatically." Mitch Maier had an RBI single for Kansas City in the fourth and doubled home a run in the eighth. Overall, the Royals went 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Royals are 13 for 73 (.178) in that situation over their last eight games. Sanchez hit Indians leadoff batter Jason Kipnis in the hand with his fifth pitch. Kipnis eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Santana to put Cleveland ahead 1-0. On April 14, Sanchez hit Choo with a pitch. Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez retaliated the next inning by plunking Moustakas, leading to a brief bench-clearing scuffle. Gomez drew a five-game suspension and was suspended. Hannahan and Acta also were ejected and fined. A year ago with San Francisco, Sanchez broke Choo's left thumb with a pitch. The Royals acquired him in a trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera in November. Sanchez walked the bases loaded in the second, but got Kipnis on a first-pitch popout, followed by a double-play grounder by Asdrubal Cabrera . "We've seen that before, Sanchez getting out of bases-loaded jams," Yost said. "He had no fastball command, but a good breaking ball. He starts to command that fastball and he's going to be in great shape." The left-hander also loaded the bases with walks in the fifth. One run scored on a sacrifice fly by Shelley Duncan . Hannahan followed with a double to right-center to make it 4-1 and finish Sanchez. Sanchez walked seven over 4 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and four hits. He threw 115 pitches, only 56 for strikes. Kansas City closed to 4-3 in the ninth. Chris Getz doubled and later scored on a groundout by Billy Butler . Notes: Cleveland went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base. ... Indians DH Travis Hafner walked twice. He has reached by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 16 of his last 23 plate appearances. ... Hannahan made a diving backhand stop to rob Francoeur of a hit in the fourth. ... Yost expects OF Lorenzo Cain (left groin strain) to return Friday. Cain has been on the DL since April 11. ... Cleveland's Aaron Cunningham started in center field, moved to left and played right field the final inning when INF Jason Donald went to left field, his first appearance in the outfield in the majors.
April has been quite a month for Ohio State recruiting. [Head coach] Urban Meyer and his staff have gained eight commitments to the Ohio State recruiting class of 2013, with one of the top defensive end prospects in the country -- Joey Bosa of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- adding his pledge [Monday]. ... [The] Buckeyes have 13 for '13, headed toward a class that likely will number about 20 come February. In the past two weeks, OSU also has landed other prize recruits. J.T. Barrett of Wichita Falls, Texas, is rated by one recruiting service as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback prospect; Alex Anzalone of Wyomissing, Pa., is a premier linebacker recruit; and Marcus Baugh of Riverside, Calif., is among the best tight ends nationally.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tuesday's NFL Mock Draft Board - Ohio State Spring Game 2012 Thoughts -

Here is a look at 10 Things We Learned during Meyer’s first spring game at Ohio State. Brandon Castel theozone.net
1. Meyer is a little bit nuts. Before things even officially got started Saturday, Meyer put some of his top players to the test in front of thousands of Ohio State fans. The Buckeyes came together at midfield for what they call the “Circle Drill,” which pits two players against each other in a battle of strength…and will. That’s hardly an entirely new concept. The Buckeyes used to have a “Hoot-n-Holler” drill that was somewhat similar, but I’m not sure how many times Jim Tressel ever had his quarterbacks get in the ring like Meyer did Saturday with Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton. Braxton Miller Photo by Dan Harker 2. Braxton Miller is a little bit good. One of the most interesting aspects of Saturday’s Spring Game was the fact Braxton Miller couldn’t use his legs to make plays. That is hardly unique to these type of scrimmages, but we have seen have much that can mentally change the way a quarterback plays. Much like Terrelle Pryor, Miller’s most dangerous weapon is his legs, but we saw him throw the ball with confidence Saturday. He went 4-4 on the opening drive before Carlos Hyde walked into the end zone, and Miller connected on his first six passes, and seven of his first eight to start the game. He threw the ball with confidence and he found the open man. Even his interception to Adam Griffin was a ball that got away from him and sailed over the head of tight end Nick Vannett. 3. Playmakers are starting to emerge. At the start of spring, I wasn’t really sure who was going to make plays for this offense in the passing game. Neither was Urban Meyer. No one had more than 14 catches a year ago, which is even worse than it sounds. I thought Jake Stoneburner would be pretty good in this offense, but I wasn’t sure what to make of the guys around him. I’m starting to get sure. I really like what we have seen from guys like Philly Brown and Devin Smith this spring. Meyer seems to falling hard for Jordan Hall, and Carlos Hyde is a guy who could have a big year in Ohio State’s tight zone-read running game. Add in guys like Chris Fields, who actually had a nice day Saturday with five catches for 72 yards, and Mike Thomas, and this team might actually have some guys who can play on offense. Michael Thomas Photo by Jim Davidson 4. Thomas is going to get a chance. It’s the spring game, so let’s keep that in mind when talking about freshman wideout Mike Thomas. He would hardly be the first player to have a monster performance in the spring before fading in the fall. Bam Childress and Taurian Washington co-authored the book on it, but Thomas is going to get a real chance to make an impact. He looks like a kid who has all the tools to play receiver, and they were on display Saturday. Not only did he catch 12 passes for 131 yards, but they were not all easy catches. He does know how to get open, but he also has the ability to go up and get the ball at its highest point. He has developed an obvious relationship with Braxton Miller, and Thomas is a big, quick receiver who could blossom as a freshman at Ohio State. Keep in mind he is actually a year removed from his senior year of high school. 5. This was not the real Urban Meyer offense. Just the fact Meyer planned to throw the ball 75 percent of the time on Saturday meant that we were not going to get a true glimpse of what this offense is going to look like in the fall. Meyer and his offensive staff have emphasized that this is going to be a run-first offense with a lot of power football. We didn’t see much of that Saturday. We also didn’t see much of the perimeter running game, or the quick passing game that Miller has been working on in practice. We didn’t get to see Miller work with Jake Stoneburner or Philly Brown, and of course Jordan Hall was held out with a sprained foot. Things are going to look a lot different in the fall, but it was cool for fans to get a glimpse of some the players who will be on the field this fall, even if they didn’t get to see many of the plays. John Simon Photo by Dan Harker 6. John Simon is going to have a monster year. Watching John Simon pace up and down the sidelines Saturday was like watching a caged lion at the zoo. The fact Luke Fickell didn’t have to tackle him to keep him off the field is almost a victory in itself. Simon is clearly the best player on this team, and all indications are that he is actually a much better player than he was even last fall. Meyer was asked why Simon didn’t play much in the Spring Game, and his response was that he doesn’t need to. They have also taken that approach on a number of winner-loser days in order to give the offense a chance. 7. The three freshmen LB’s are going to have opportunities in the fall. It was almost crazy to see how little depth Ohio State had at linebacker Saturday. With Curtis Grant and Storm Klein both sidelined by injury, the Buckeyes barely had enough guys to put a defense on the field. They had to move quarterback Ross Oltorik to linebacker just to give them enough bodies. Grant, Ryan Shazier and Etienne Sabino are penciled in to start the season, but it will be interesting to see what happens when the freshmen hit the field in the fall. Luke Roberts is already in the two-deep, but David Perkins, Camren Williams and Jamal Marcus will all have a chance to compete for playing time. It is the one position where Ohio State absolutely cannot afford an injury in the fall unless one or two of those freshmen is ready to play. Urban Meyer participates in the singing of Carmen Ohio Photo by Dan Harker 8. Meyer is going to embrace Ohio State traditions. And why wouldn’t he? It only makes sense, but it was good to see Meyer singing Carmen Ohio with the players in the south end zone Saturday. He talked about hearing Hang On Sloopy and how he wants to embrace Ohio State traditions. That is music to the ears for Buckeye fans everywhere. 9. Meyer isn’t afraid to put his kicker on the spot. One of the more unique moments in Saturday’s Spring Game was the moment where Meyer stopped practice to put the pressure on kicker Drew Basil in front of 80,000 fans at Ohio Stadium. Basil had nailed a 41-yard field goal in the north end zone when Meyer made him line it up again. Basil connected on the second 41-yard kick, so Meyer moved him back four yards to set up a 45-yard try. Basil had that kick blocked by either Adam Bellamy or Garrett Goebel, so Meyer made him kick it again. Basil came through, hitting a 45-yard field goal, but Meyer wasn’t done with him. He moved it back again, to 53 yards, and after Basil hit monstrous kick from that distance, Meyer made him try a pair from 58 yards. Basil missed both, but it was a great opportunity for him to kick with the pressure on. Urban Meyer puts a little added pressure on Drew Basil in front of over 80,000 in Ohio Stadium Photo by Jim Davidson 10. This spring was a big success for Meyer and his staff. He may never admit it, because Meyer is a perfectionist, but this spring—and off-season really—had to go about as well as he could have hoped. Not only did the players buy in to Mickey Marotti’s off-season workout program, but they were able to pick up enough of the offense in 14 practices to make Saturday’s Spring Game look respectable. They obviously still have a long ways to go, but if Meyer felt confident enough in his running game that he wanted to focus on the passing game, that bodes well for Ohio State. This program will always hang its hat on the running game. They still need some playmakers to emerge, but guys are starting to show some promise, and that’s really all Meyer could have hoped for this spring. 5 Thoughts From Spring Game 11 Warriors.com the new culture We've seen and heard enough during Urban's short tenure to know things are significantly different compared to the previous regime but how impressive was it to finally see so much of those difference on display yesterday? A few things in particular about UFM's leadership that blew me away included: •Starting the event with the old Hoot and Holler drill was a stroke of genius. Clearly, UFM is hell bent on creating constant intensity on the field and apparently, even in the stands. I guess it shouldn't have been too shocking to see this since practice often starts with the same drill but to pull that out to ignite the fans (and players) was fun to watch. And how about those matchups? Simon vs. Mewhort, Shazier owning Sabino, Stoney vs. Boren, then when you think you've had your fill coach pits Braxton against Kenny G? If Tress were running that drill, he'd wrap Braxton in bubble wrap and ship him to Dayton first (not hatin', just sayin'). Also, that drill alone showed why Coombs was an insanely awesome hire. •Another move I liked occurred when UFM interrupted the action early in the 2nd quarter to stage a quick pressure FG session. The crowd really got into it and Basil, who we thought might not play, got to get some legit long FG practice in the 'Shoe. Basil made 4/7 connecting from 41, 45, 45 and 53 while getting one blocked (45) and missing two from 58 yards (H/T: Svo-bro-da). Just a subtle little snippet but I really liked how Urban orchestrated the action, even standing right behind the holder for each quick to examine the speed/location of the snaps, the placement and the protection up front. The guy thinks of everything. •A small nugget but again showing what a thinker he is, I found it interesting that UFM dictated that all the QB's wear a knee brace on their lead leg since that is the one most susceptible to getting injured when stepping into a throw as defenders approach low. •I also appreciated his willingness to let his star QB play in an effort to develop. Sure, the QB's were heavily protected by the pressure/sack rules but he let Miller run the show for a lot longer than maybe some other coaches would've. ISO: Playmakers Meyer has said all spring that he's still in search of some playmakers. He listed Philly Brown and Jordan Hall as his players closest to earning that status but is still begging for skill players to step up as major homerun threats. While he wasn't really involved in any big gainers, Thomas was sensational hauling in 12 passes for 131 yards. It would've been nice to see him chew up more YAC with some broken tackles but there's no question he's got game as Meyer said he and Philly Brown are the top two receivers currently. He did have a nice run after catching a sideline route from Braxton on the 2nd Scarlet possession of the 2nd half. Seems like this kid will see plenty of action come fall. He almost had a spectacular TD catch late as he snared a Miller throw on the right side of the endzone but came down with his right foot about 10 inches out of bounds. He also had Bradley Roby beat late and Roby was forced to take a PI to avoid a nice gain. At 6'2", 200 lbs, I got a Michael Jenkins vibe from Thomas. I'll take that. Philly Brown was the guy Meyer had been praising this spring though I personally am a bit reluctant to believe the hype. Playing with Guiton the Gray unit, Philly came on late and finished with seven catches for 90 yards. Similar to Thomas, I just didn't see the shake I typically think a true game breaking receiver should have especially for his size. I don't mean to imply he doesn't add value, I'm just not sure he'll emerge as a game breaking player this fall. One of the few disappoints related to the spring game came, for me, when the draft was held because I really wanted to see Devin Smith on the same team as Miller. Smith didn't make a lot of noise today with Guiton but he did have a nice 28 yard TD catch on a crossing route cutting the Scarlet lead to 10-7. I expect this kid to be one of the top three in receiving yards by the time the horn sounds on the 2012 campaign but the WR corps seems so wide open it's hard to gauge what will happen. Chris Fields had some grabs and Evan Spencer didn't play due to injury and he's another guy that Meyer has spoken highly of at times. All in all, Thomas was the kid who made the strongest impression today but this unit must continue to evolve and is need of some guys creating more separation from the rest of the pack so Miller can work on timing and cohesion to build a trust he could never find last year with so few opportunities. braxton continues to grow Miller is going to be a beast in this offense. Finally taking advantage of his strengths, the hybrid offense of UFM and Herman employed an uptempo pace, roving pockets and a short passing game to put Braxton in position to succeed - and that was without the kid being able to use his legs to make defenders look drunj in space. Going exclusively no-huddle, Miller was on fire early connecting on seven of his first eight attempts including two decent gainers to Fields. While I'll never profess to being a QB coach (though my credentials might rival Siciliano's) I tried to focus on Miller's lower half and it appeared that he was a little more stable at his base and subsequently more proficient at stepping into his throws. He did have a couple poor throws including one to Fields on 3rd and 24 setting up a FG and a 10-0 lead, a high throw on the run over the head of Vannett for an INT and his worst attempt of the day occurred when he tried to force a ball through double coverage near the goal line when he was already late in deciding on that particular receiver. Still, there's so much to be excited about as Miller finally looked comfortable running an offense suited to his emerging skill set. He finished 24/31 for 258 yards and one INT. He was also victimized by three drops. How dangerous is this kid going to be when he can actually use his legs in addition to his arm? I think all Buckeye fans are foaming at the mouth pondering that question. philosophical viagra I've already touched on a few items UFM has installed that has the players and fanbase feeling frisky but the number one win in nabbing Meyer is the installation of an offense that wants to put pressure on the defense. The no-huddle was so quick that it cut down OSU fan/writer tweets by roughly 40% (not verified). Seriously, the offensive tempo was so electric that the two offenses combined to run 27 plays in the 600 seconds of 1st quarter action. Or basically, one play every 22 seconds. Schematically, Ross has been training our brains for weeks on what to expect but to physically see all those five wide sets, unique formations and shot gun looks (which we admittedly saw a bunch last year) was fun. Above those developments, what really caught my eye was all the short crossing routes to both receivers and tight ends. Those are the types of plays that create mismatches and get burners in space not to mention keep a defense honest in the middle of the field, hopefully freeing up the deep ball after enough success underneath. Vannett, despite some early drops, had a field day in the middle of the defense while Thomas and Fields also found room between the line and linebackers. Miller looked very confident with those throws and didn't telegraph them as to keep the DL from batting down balls. Again, I can't wait to see how those plays are enhanced when the attack can also add the wrinkle of Miller's legs. don't forget about the bullets Today was really about continuing the development of what was an abysmal offense a season ago but even while featuring mostly basic sets and playing without Simon, Hankins, C. Grant and Barnett, among others, the Bullets still had their moments. Specifically, Ryan Damn Shazier (7 tkls) is on his way to being the breakout player in the conference. He was all over the field and brought wood on more than a few occassions, most notably when he lit up Bri'onte Dunn on 4th and 1 to halt the Gray's first possession of the 2nd half. Two plays earlier, he had pasted Dunn (I think?) in the hole to wow the crowd. Adam Bellamy was a factor early on with a sack, a near sack before Miller juked him hard, and a blocked FG during the Basil marathon. I've always liked the kid's motor and he's one of many guys Fickell can rotate up front to wear down opposing offensive lines. Roby got beat by Thomas once leading to a PI but he also brought lumber on a few occassions showing again he's the best all-around corner on the team. Bottom line, the Bullets may not have grabbed the headlines today but UFM has plenty of confidence this unit will, come fall, be playing at a level miles above what fans were forced to watch a season ago. That's good enough for me. How top 2012 NFL Draft prospects ranked as high school recruits Andy Staples si.com 1. Indianapolis: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford Hometown: Houston Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Four-star In June 2007, the Houston Stratford High star narrowed his choices to Purdue, Northwestern, Stanford, Virginia and Rice. Sound as if Luck was under-recruited? He wasn't. Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M wanted him, too. He just happened to be an Elite 11 quarterback who wanted to play at an elite academic school. Luck's commitment legitimized the recruiting chops of then-Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, who at the time had yet to coach a game on The Farm. Of course, Harbaugh had to first be talked out of chasing Terrelle Pryor and Landry Jones before turning his attention to Luck and one other Texas quarterback. 2. Washington: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor Hometown: Copperas Cove, Texas Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Four-star Meet the other quarterback Harbaugh ultimately considered for the 2008 class. (Think the coach knew what he was doing?) But another rising star coach already had Griffin in his sights. In September 2007, Griffin committed to Houston coach Art Briles. After Briles left the Cougars a few months later to take over at Baylor, Griffin followed, committing in December 2007. Tennessee also recruited Griffin, and that sound you hear is palms slapping foreheads across the Volunteer State as fans imagine what might have happened had RG3 gone to Knoxville. Here's an even more interesting alternate history: Griffin had some contact with LSU, but the Tigers backed off after taking a commitment from Aldine, Texas, quarterback Darron Thomas. Thomas wound up going to Oregon -- which had also recruited Griffin -- after LSU decided to take Jordan Jefferson. Imagine Griffin at either place. He might have matched up with Cam Newton in the BCS title game after the 2010 season, or he might have given LSU a far more dynamic offense against Alabama in the BCS title game after the 2011 season. 3. Minnesota: Matt Kalil, OT, USC Hometown: Corona, Calif. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Five-star Any school in the nation would have loved to take Kalil, but only one school had a chance. After watching his older brother, Ryan, dominate at USC, Kalil planned to be a Trojan as soon as coach Pete Carroll offered. Carroll offered in October of Kalil's junior year, and Kalil committed on the spot. 4. Cleveland: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama Hometown: Pensacola, Fla. Class: 2009 Rivals.com rank: Five-star Then-Florida coach Urban Meyer -- whose team had just won a national title -- spent six hours at Richardson's home the week before National Signing Day in an attempt to sway the Sunshine State's top-rated player to flip from Alabama. But despite the best efforts of Meyer and LSU's Les Miles, Richardson donned a houndstooth hat on Signing Day and pledged to roll with the Tide. Two national titles later, he's the most coveted back in the NFL draft. (Crazy side note: Richardson was the No. 2 back in the 2009 class behind Bryce Brown, who left Tennessee and then Kansas State and who will spend the weekend hoping to hear his name called in any round.) 5. Tampa Bay: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU Hometown: Shreveport, La. Class: 2009 Rivals.com rank: Three-star The man with a Quiet Storm DJ's name wasn't a big name in recruiting circles. A high school option quarterback who thought he'd play receiver in college, Claiborne didn't have a lot of schools projecting him as a cornerback. Not that he would have minded; Claiborne didn't really care what position he played if it got him to one of the schools he liked. Nebraska and Texas A&M joined the ranks of Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech in pursuit of Claiborne, but Claiborne committed quickly when LSU offered in November of his senior season. 6. St. Louis: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State Hometown: Ardmore, Okla. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star Blackmon grew up a Texas fan, but he probably had no chance to play at Texas. The Longhorns know most of their targets by February of a prospect's junior year, and Blackmon didn't turn heads until his senior season. That year, Blackmon caught 14 touchdown passes and also scored six special teams touchdowns and four touchdowns on interceptions. That piqued the interest of a few Big 12 schools. In the end, Blackmon chose Oklahoma State over Missouri and Colorado. 7. Jacksonville: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina Hometown: Rock Hill, S.C. Class: 2009 Rivals.com ranking: Four-star Gilmore's commitment on Oct. 14, 2008 marked a turning point for the Gamecocks. They had struggled to land the Palmetto State's best prospects, who tended to go either to Clemson or outside the state's borders. When Gilmore picked South Carolina over Alabama, it signaled the start of a new era in South Carolina recruiting. A few months later, the Gamecocks would turn receiver Alshon Jeffery. In 2010, they grabbed tailback Marcus Lattimore, the state's top prospect. In 2011, Gilmore helped South Carolina recruit former South Pointe High teammate Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney was the nation's top-ranked recruit. 8. Miami: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M Hometown: Big Spring, Texas Class: 2007 Rivals.com ranking: Three-star Tannehill's father, Tim, played at Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders didn't recruit the 6-foot-4 quarterback out of Big Spring High. Instead, Tannehill decided between TCU and Texas A&M. Once he got to College Station, he played receiver until the middle of the 2011 season, when coach Mike Sherman benched Jerrod Johnson in favor of Tannehill. Even if he had never moved back to quarterback, Tannehill probably would have his name called in this draft. But that call might not have come so early. 9. Carolina: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State Hometown: Yazoo City, Miss. Class: 2009 Rivals.com ranking: Four-star Three years and 50 pounds ago, Cox ran the anchor leg of the 4 X 100 relay for Yazoo City High. That's not so out-of-the-ordinary in SEC country. Some of the league's best defensive tackles left high school as tall, lean athletes. What made them special is that they didn't lose speed as they put on weight. Mississippi State coaches projected Cox correctly, but so did another staff known for putting defenders in the NFL. After Sylvester Croom and his staff were fired in Starkville, Cox gave serious thought to flipping on his commitment. Alabama coaches had never stopped recruiting Cox, and they convinced him to make an official visit to Tuscaloosa in January 2009. The visit didn't sway Cox, and he opted to stick with Mississippi State. Once in Starkville, the 245-pounder began eating. Hamburger steak smothered in gravy was his favorite. "I would load it down a little bit," Cox said in a 2010 interview. "Then I'd go back, get some more, load it down a little bit. In between, I would drink some milk." The gravy-soaked hamburger and milk did Cox's body good enough to become a first-rounder. 10. Buffalo: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame Hometown: St. Paul, Minn. Class: 2008 Rivals.com ranking: Five-star College coaches flocked to Cretin-Derham Hall to see Floyd, then a 6-foot-3 star with room to grow. Floyd also checked out Florida, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin before finally deciding on Notre Dame, where he thought he would rack up catches and yards in coach Charlie Weis' offense. He was half right. He spent his final two seasons playing for Brian Kelly. 11. Kansas City: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College Hometown: Cincinnati Class: 2009 Rivals.com ranking: Three-star Like Luck, Kuechly chose his finalists based on U.S. News and World Report rankings instead of Associated Press poll rankings. Boston College, Duke, Stanford and Virginia got official visits. Boston College felt most comfortable to Kuechly, who attended St. Xavier, a Jesuit high school. There was a brief anxious moment when BC unexpectedly fired Jeff Jagodzinski, but when Kuechly found out defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani would be elevated to head coach, he kept the Eagles out front. Kuechly committed in January 2009. He began tackling everything in sight soon after. 12. Seattle: Melvin Ingram, DE/LB, South Carolina Hometown: Hamlet, N.C. Class: 2007 Rivals.com rank: Four-star The Butch Davis staff had just taken over at North Carolina in early 2007, and the Tar Heels made one last run at Ingram, then a 224-pound linebacker. Ingram took an official visit to Chapel Hill, but he remained solid to South Carolina. Fifty pounds later, Ingram turned into a stud defensive end/touchdown machine. 13. Arizona: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford Hometown: Bellevue, Wash. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star Oregon State, Washington and Washington State wanted DeCastro, but he committed to the Cardinal in May 2007. Still, he wanted to make sure he had made the correct choice. So he visited Washington in December 2007. The fact that the hometown team couldn't sway him only served to reinforce DeCastro's belief that something special was going on down at Stanford. He was correct. His class changed the program. 14. Dallas: Mark Barron, S, Alabama Hometown: Mobile, Ala. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Four-star The biggest question surrounding Barron in high school was what position he would play in college. He starred at tailback at St. Paul's, but he also wowed recruiters as a receiver, safety and linebacker. LSU coaches told Barron to pick a position. Alabama coaches said they saw him as a safety. Ultimately, Barron chose Alabama. He took a late visit to Auburn, but the Tigers didn't really have a chance to flip Barron, who would be joined in Tuscaloosa a year later by St. Paul's quarterback AJ McCarron. 15. Philadelphia: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina Hometown: Kinston, N.C. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Four-star Coples enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., for his senior year to help shore up his academics. The plan worked. Coples qualified, and he chose North Carolina over Florida State, N.C. State and Tennessee. 16. New York Jets: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis Defensive tackle Dontari Poe was a two-star recruit whose only offer came from Memphis. Douglas Jones/US PRESSWIRE Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Two-star Wooddale High coach Cedric Miller discovered Poe playing the bass drum in the school's band and asked the jumbo percussionist tojoin the football team. Though Poe developed into a dominant high school player, his grades scared off elite schools. His options were Memphis or ... Memphis. Now, Poe will have to prove he isn't just a combine wonder after failing to dominate in Conference USA. 17. Cincinnati: Courtney Upshaw, DE/LB, Alabama Hometown: Eufaula, Ala. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Four-star Like Cox and Ingram, Upshaw is another weight-gainer who didn't lose a step. Upshaw left Eufaula High at 220 pounds and finished his college career as a 265-pound quarterback-seeking monster. Upshaw had offers from Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and others, but he never seriously considered any school besides Alabama. 18. San Diego: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa Hometown: Parkston, S.D. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star Iowa and Nebraska each wanted Reiff, and they both got him. But Iowa got him first and last. Reiff committed to the Hawkeyes in April 2007, but by the fall, he wondered if he had made his choice too early. So he visited Nebraska for the Cornhuskers' game against USC and decided he wanted to play in Lincoln. Nebraska fired Bill Callahan's staff six weeks later, and Reiff reconsidered. In December, he committed to Iowa again. 19. Chicago: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor Hometown: Pittsburg, Texas Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star Like most top prospects in Texas, Wright committed early. In March of his junior year, he chose Texas A&M. But that commitment wouldn't last. Wright, who played quarterback and starred on the basketball team at Pittsburg High, decommitted in May. He opened his options to schools that wanted him as a receiver, and despite interest from Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arkansas, his only official visit was to Baylor. 20. Tennessee: Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois Hometown: Akron, Ohio Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star Mercilus liked three schools: Illinois, Michigan and Ohio State. The problem? He only had an offer from one of them. After a December 2007 official visit to Champaign, Mercilus chose the Illini. At the time, Illinois was about to play in the Rose Bowl. Mercilus never got close to Pasadena, but his breakout season as a redshirt junior may have vaulted him into the first round. 21. Cincinnati: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama Hometown: Gadsden, Ala. Class: 2009 Rivals.com rank: Five-star Texas doesn't often venture outside the Lone Star State for players. Nor do the Longhorns typically leave scholarships open for anyone. But Texas wanted Kirkpatrick badly. That was a testament to how good the class of 2009's top-ranked cornerback was at Gadsden City High. Kirkpatrick took official visits to Texas and Florida, but in the end, he elected to stay close to home and win two national titles at Alabama. 22. Cleveland: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford Hometown: Los Angeles Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star Martin always wanted to go to Stanford, but he wasn't sure his grades and test scores would make the cut at the (academically) highest ranked school in the FBS. So Martin originally committed to another classroom powerhouse. In June 2007, he pledged to UCLA. But in January 2008, Stanford coaches informed Martin that he had made it through the admissions gauntlet. He immediately accepted their scholarship offer. 23. Baltimore: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama * Projected trade with Detroit Hometown: Lewisburg, Tenn. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Four-star The jumbo linebacker was a perfect fit for Nick Saban's defense, and Hightower committed to the Crimson Tide in November 2007. His other finalist? Vanderbilt. Still, Hightower's commitment didn't deter Tennessee from trying to convince him to remain in his home state. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, Hightower wasn't interested. 24. Pittsburgh: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin Hometown: Waukesha, Wis. Class: 2008 Rivals.com rank: Three-star As a svelte -- for a Wisconsin offensive lineman -- 279-pound high school junior, Zeitler narrowed his options to two schools. He could stay close to home and play for the Badgers, or he could go to Michigan. Zeitler stayed in America's Dairy Land and won two Big Ten titles. 25. Denver: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU Hometown: Houston Class: 2009 Rivals.com rank: Four-star Even when Houston and Texas A&M were the main schools pursuing him before his junior season began, Brockers was hoping for an offer from LSU. He got it, and he jumped on it. Brockers committed to the Tigers in February of his junior year, becoming the first commitment in a class that included Claiborne, defensive end Sam Montgomery and receiver Rueben Randle. 26. Houston: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU Hometown: Bastrop, La. Class: 2009 Rivals.com rank: Five-star Randle didn't choose the Tigers nearly as early as future teammate Brockers. The nation's No. 2-rated prospect milked the recruiting process until the very end, choosing LSU on National Signing Day. Randle also took official visits to Alabama and Oklahoma and considered Tennessee and Auburn, but in the end, the pull of his home state team was too strong. 27. Cleveland: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State * Projected trade with New England Hometown: Edmond, Okla. Class: 2002 Rivals.com rank: Zero stars Don't blame the recruitniks for this oversight. Star rankings were in their infancy when Weeden graduated from Santa Fe High. (For perspective: Facebook wouldn't launch for two more years.) Football coaches shied away from Weeden because of his success on the mound. The New York Yankees picked the right-handed pitcher in the second round of the 2002 draft. After an injury-plagued minor league career, Weeden decided to give football another shot. Now, he'll take the Chris Weinke career path and enter a league where most of the five-year veterans are younger than him.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Cleveland Browns Draft Needs - 2012 NFL Draft Big Board -



2012 NFL Draft Big Board: Finalizing Top 50
By Rob Rang


1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford*: Due to his prototypical combination of size, arm strength, accuracy and intelligence, Luck's pro-readiness has often been compared to Peyton and Eli Manning. In reality, he's an even more impressive prospect than either of them due to his significantly better mobility and overall athleticism. For Luck to enjoy remotely close to the same success in the NFL as these two future Hall of Famers, he'll need the good fortune of health and talent around him. But Luck is every bit as good as advertised and not only will be the first pick of the 2012 draft, he deserves to be.

2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor*: In most years, Griffin would be the unquestioned No. 1 overall pick. He possesses a combination of straight-line speed and accuracy on the deep ball that has drawn comparisons to Eagles' star Michael Vick and frankly, RG3's leadership traits make him an ever safer pick than the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 draft. Forget what Donovan McNabb says, Griffin is an ideal fit in the Washington Redskins' current offense under Mike Shanahan's offense, and with more talent around him, could enjoy more immediate success than Luck.

3. Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal*: Any doubts as to which of the top three junior offensive tackles would rise above the rest ended with an impressive all-around combine effort from Kalil. He isn't an elite OT prospect in the mold of Joe Thomas or Jake Long, but isn't far off.

4. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama*: Considering how the running back position has been devalued in today's NFL it would be easy to rank Richardson lower. The reality is, however, Richardson's elite talent transcends trends. He is an elite talent blessed with size, burst and incredible power who will make an immediate impact. He's also a reliable receiver out of the backfield and a terrific pass blocker, making him a true three-down threat.

5. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU*: As if a dominating 2011 season in which he was recognized as the nation's top defensive back with the Jim Thorpe Award didn't demonstrate his athleticism clearly enough, Claiborne erased any concerns about his straight-line speed by clocking in at 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his March 22 pro day. The bigger news that came from the workout was that Claiborne had to undergo surgery on his wrist to repair a torn ligament, which is of more concern than reports of a low score on the Wonderlic test. The injury won't keep him from playing next season and neither should impact his draft stock.

6. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford*: In terms of consistent dominance, there hasn't been an offensive or defensive lineman I've graded higher thus far this season than DeCastro. Only the fact that he plays guard may keep him out of the top half of the first round.

7. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State*: Blackmon answered questions about his straight-line speed by running in the low 4.4s as part of an impressive showing at his March 9 pro day. Scouts had some reservations about his speed but certainly can't knock the two-time defending Biletnikof Award winner's production with the Cowboys.

8. Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State*: Cox didn't earn nearly the media attention for his spectacular combine workout as Memphis' Dontari Poe, but unlike the Tigers' star, the strength (30 repetitions of 225 pounds) and athleticism (4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash) Cox showed in Indianapolis consistently shows up on tape. He's my top-rated defense tackle because of his scheme-versatility and the fact that he's the best pass-rusher of this year's top defensive tackles.

9. Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College*: Like Luck, it is easy to get caught up in the intangibles that Kuechly brings to the position, but at the combine he proved much faster and more explosive than most scouts had given him credit for. He finished second in the entire country in tackles as a true freshman in 2009 and led the nation in stops (both solo and total tackles) each of the past two seasons. Kuechly isn't flashy but he's a remarkably safe prospect who will operate as the quarterback of a defense for a decade.

10. Mark Barron, SS, Alabama: Instinctive, physical and a significantly more reliable open-field tackler than he was early in his career, Barron has established himself as the unquestioned top safety of the 2012 draft. He was clocked at an impressive 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his March 29 pro day and excelled in positional drills, according to scouts in attendance.

11. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU*: Like his LSU teammates Claiborne and wide receiver Rueben Randle, Brockers significantly improved his workout results at his March 22 Pro Day after a Combine workout that, frankly, was disappointing. Brockers will likely be drafted within the top 20 picks of the 2012 draft not because of his current ability but because of the significant upside his frame, strength and versatility indicate he has.

12. Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: Let's be clear. Coples is not only the most physically gifted defensive lineman in the 2012 draft, he's also the most talented senior prospect, regardless of position. At a shade under 6-6 and 281 pounds physically-speaking, he'll earn first round grades from scouts working for 3-4 and 4-3 clubs, alike. Coples has developed a me-first reputation, however, and doesn't play with enough snap to snap consistency to earn the top five grade from me that his talent obviously warrants despite the fact that he enjoyed a dominating week in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl.

13. Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama: I will be the first to admit that Upshaw lacks the lateral agility teams are looking for in a coverage linebacker. However, due to his incredible power and refined hand technique, he's arguably the safest pass rusher in this year's draft. Some call him a 'tweener. I believe he can be successful as a 4-3 defensive end or as a 3-4 rush linebacker -- and will prove it as a rookie.

14. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: Say what you will about Wright's disappointing combine workout, he proved his speed during his pro day workout and most importantly, was a consistent playmaker throughout his career.

15. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: While Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill has received all of the attention for his perceived jump up draft boards over the past month, in reality the fastest ascending prospect in the draft may be Gilmore. A lanky athlete whose athleticism and physicality make him a fit in either a press or zone scheme, Gilmore has overtaken Alabama's 'Dre Kirkpatrick as the clear-cut No. 2 cornerback in the draft, behind LSU's Morris Claiborne.

16. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: In registering a 4.47 second 40-yard dash at 6-3, 220 pounds Floyd provided an emphatic answer to concerns about his size/speed combination. Floyd wasn't the consistent big-play threat that Blackmon or Wright were in college but his game may project best to the NFL.

17. Melvin Ingram, DE/LB, South Carolina: Blessed with extraordinarily light feet for a 6-2, 276-pound man, Ingram's impressive agility made him a star at defensive tackle for the Gamecocks in 2011. As he proved at the combine, his athleticism may be good enough, in fact, to make the transition to defensive end or even outside linebacker in the 3-4 in the NFL. That said, his short arms (31 inches) will make him much easier to block at the NFL level and Ingram has struggled a bit with durability. Also, scouts would be wise to remember that Ingram started just 13 of the 51 games he played with the Gamecocks.

18. Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia: Measuring in at 6-5 and 346 pounds at the Senior Bowl, Glenn nonetheless demonstrated surprising agility in Mobile, boosting his chances at remaining at left tackle. While good outside, he was even better at left guard as a junior and may be best served moving back inside in the NFL. If he played with greater intensity Glenn could rank among the elite offensive line prospects in the 2012 draft.

19. Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa*: Reiff was a standout left tackle for Iowa but after appearing at the combine to be a bit less athletic (5.23 seconds in the 40) and weaker (22 reps at 225 pounds) with relatively short arms (33 1/4) some believe his NFL future lies inside at guard. That said, some were concerned about Joe Thomas' relatively short arms (32 1/2) but that hasn't stopped the former No. 3 overall pick from emerging as arguably the game's elite left tackle for the Cleveland Browns.

20. Dontari Poe, DT/NG, Memphis*: Producing a workout that has earned comparisons to that of Baltimore Ravens' star Haloti Ngata's when he left the University of Oregon, Poe's scheme-versatility and unbelievable upside have scouts excited. Poe isn't as explosive on tape as his eye-popping athleticism might lead you to believe, however, as he too often raises his pads on contact, negating his own strength. Someone will gamble on him early based on his upside, but Poe remains precisely that -- a gamble.

21. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama*: Kirkpatrick answered concerns about his speed at the combine (4.51), but the greater test came in the interview rooms with scouts. Some NFL decision-makers were less than impressed with Kirkpatrick's answers, which could cause the lanky cornerback to slip a bit on draft day.

22. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: In terms of physical talent, there is no denying that Tannehill has the tools to warrant a first-round pick. The 6-4, 225 pound quarterback has a strong arm, good touch and obviously rare athleticism for the position considering that he earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors as a receiver in 2009 and was clocked at 4.61 during his March 29 pro day. More importantly, he again dazzled scouts with his arm talent. With just 19 career starts at quarterback, however, Tannehill is understandably lacking in the finer techniques of the position and, as such, may struggle if thrown into the fire as a rookie.

23. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford: Despite the fact that he was still limited by the high right ankle sprain that kept him from participating in the Senior Bowl and the combine, Fleener distanced himself from the other tight ends in the 2012 draft in approximately 4.45-4.50 seconds. Those are the times scouts had for the 6-6, 247 pound All-American at his March 22 Pro Day. Better yet, Fleener demonstrated quick feet, impressive body control and soft hands in pass catching drills. For NFL teams searching for the next Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski, Fleener's the guy from this draft class.

24. Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois: Mercilus' staggering production (16 sacks, nine forced fumbles) at Illinois in 2011 was a function not only of his own talents but also an aggressive scheme that often gave him favorable matchups. While his statistics were inflated, the athleticism Mercilus demonstrated in workouts since this time argue that he has more upside than I've previously given him credit for. As one of several pass rushers capable of lining up at defensive end in the 4-3 or outside linebacker in the 3-4, I fully expect him to be drafted higher than my ranking indicates.

25. Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse: Were it not for a knee injury that robbed him of five games in 2011, Jones might compete for the top spot among defensive ends in this draft class. The 6-5, 266 pound Jones lacks the elite burst and flexibility to ever be a 10-plus sack producer in the NFL but he boasts an impressive array of moves and is a high-effort player who shows up against the pass and run, alike.

26. Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State*: Worthy measured in a bit smaller (6-2, 308) than expected at the combine and wasn't particularly impressive there in drills. He was much better at his pro day, however, and was the primary reason why the Spartans led the Big Ten in both run and total defense. I have some reservations about his snap to snap consistency but Worthy is a tough run-stuffing presence on the inside with uncommon burst to penetrate gaps and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

27. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford*: While each of the rest of Stanford's "Fantastic Four" prospects met or exceeded expectations at their March 22 pro day, Martin, frankly, was a disappointment. It is hard to argue with the success he's had protecting Luck's blindside over the past three seasons, but demonstrating less athleticism than expected during drills, some have concerns that he doesn't possess the feet to remain at left tackle in the NFL. Worse, with just 20 repetitions in the bench press, some worry that Martin might struggle at right tackle. I'm moving him down my board but still believe that he'll ultimately hear his name called in the first round.

28. Nick Perry, DE, Southern Cal*: As had been anticipated, Perry enjoyed one of the combine's most impressive all-around performances showing speed (4.64), strength (35 reps) and explosiveness (38.5"). He led the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks in 2011 and may just be scratching the surface of his potential.

29. Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State: McClellin made a name for himself as a terror off the edge for the Broncos (20.5 career sacks) but it wasn't until he made the move to outside linebacker at the Senior Bowl that his true versatility was shown. Possessing the athleticism, technique and work ethic necessary to be successful in any scheme, McClellin is quietly among the safer prospects in the 2012 draft.

30. Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson: At 6-4, 270 pounds Branch has the size and athleticism to intrigue 4-3 and 3-4 teams, alike. Like South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Branch's tape is a bit inconsistent but there is no denying the burst and flexibility he possesses and that these traits project very well as an NFL pass rusher.

31. Doug Martin, RB, Boise State: Due to their greater straight-line speed, some will point to Miami's Lamar Miller or Virginia Tech's David Wilson as the back likely to follow Richardson. Martin, however, is a more natural runner, demonstrating the vision, lateral agility, balance and burst to be a feature back in the NFL.

32. Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama: Massive and instinctive, Hightower ranks as the top inside linebacker in the draft by some clubs -- ahead of Kuechly due to the greater "pop" he'll provide as a run-plugger. Hightower is making a late charge up draft boards due to the fact that during film review scouts have noticed how much faster Hightower was in the second half of last season than the first -- a sign that he's recovered fully from the torn ACL which ended his 2009 season after just four starts.

33. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: Despite earning All-SEC accolades in 2011, Randle didn't post eye-popping numbers as a junior (53 catches for 973 yards and eight touchdowns). He's been a standout in the conference since signing as an extremely highly touted prep prospect and has made significant gains each year. Those who questioned his downfield speed after showing just ho-hum speed (4.55) were silenced when Randle was clocked in the low 4.4s on two attempts at the 40-yard dash at his March 22 Pro Day.

34. Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi: The vast majority of the pre-draft hype regarding the 2012 offensive tackle class has focused on the talented trio of junior left tackles Matt Kalil (Southern California), Riley Reiff (Iowa) and Jonathan Martin (Stanford). Massie lacks the light feet to operate on the blindside, but he's the elite right tackle in his draft and is battle-tested, having started all three years of his career at right tackle against quality SEC competition.

35. Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall: Curry was every bit as productive against Conference USA talent as one might expect from a possible first round talent, recording an eye-popping 77 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, seven forced fumbles and three blocked kicks as a senior. There is some question as to if the 6-3, 266 pound Curry has the agility and recognition to handle converting to outside linebacker in the 3-4 but if 4-3 teams are willing to overlook his less than ideal size, they'll certainly be happy with Curry's natural pass rush skills and high-revving motor.

36. Devon Still, DT, Penn State: Still's talent has been obvious throughout his career but until a breakout senior season in which he earned recognition as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year it simmered below the surface. Still's inability to play in the Senior Bowl (sprained toe) was disappointing and for some will re-energize concerns about his consistency and intrinsic motivation.

37. Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin: Stanford's David DeCastro gets what little attention an offensive guard is going to get in a draft as QB-heavy as this one, but Zeitler is a legitimate first round candidate in his own right. Durable, physical and technically-refined, he's an immediate NFL starter from a program well known for producing quality blockers.

38. Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut: Reyes has been a standout throughout his career with the Huskies but really boosted his stock with an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. Demonstrating the quickness and power there to translate well as a defensive tackle in the 4-3 or as a defensive end in the 3-4 alignment, Reyes' versatility and intangibles (two-time team captain) stand out at a position considered one of the 2012 draft's most talented.

39. Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska: Athletic, instinctive and incredibly productive, David is one of the relatively sure things of the 2012 draft. The problem is, at "just" 6-1, 233 pounds, the All-American is likely limited to only one role in the NFL -- the WILL or weakside linebacker position for a 4-3 team. That fact will likely push David into the second round, though I'm confident he'll quickly prove to be a standout.

40. Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson: At 6-2, 314 pounds, Thompson lacks the length and versatility of some of the other top-rated defensive linemen, but his squatty build and excellent power (35 reps) make him a quality run defender.

41. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State: At 6-7 and 323 pounds, Adams certainly looks the part of an NFL offensive tackle. He's flashed the ability to dominate while playing left tackle for the Buckeyes and has the light feet and long arms to remain at this all-important position in the NFL. Inconsistency, injuries and poor off-field decisions have marred what should have been a noteworthy career at Ohio State and as such I have reservations that Adams' pro career, like his collegiate one, could leave his team wanting more.

42. Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska: A sprained knee and torn pectoral muscle limited Crick to just five games in 2011 but the 6-4, 279 pounder entered the season with first round grades from some scouts after having proven during an All-American campaign a year earlier (70 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks) that he wasn't just riding Ndamukong Suh's coattails. Crick isn't the fearful pass rusher than his statistics would indicate but does have the size, strength and tenacity that teams operating out of the 3-4 scheme are looking for at the five-technique defensive end position.

43. Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson: The 2011 Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end, Allen is actually a better all-around player than Stanford's Coby Fleener but at just 6-3, 255 pounds and possessing below average straight-line speed (4.89), he's more of a traditional tight end than the receiving specialists so en vogue in today's NFL. Allen won't out-run many NFL defensive backs to the end zone, but like former NFL standout Alge Crumpler, Allen should enjoy a long, productive career as a Do-Everything type.

44. Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State: At 6-4, 311 pounds and possessing the quick feet and nasty demeanor that every offensive line coach is looking for, Silatolu ranks as one of the most intriguing blockers of the 2012 draft class. Nonetheless, he's a significant projection who may need a year before he can be expected to contribute, as Silatolu's level of competition at the Division II level did him no favors. Silatolu also will be faced with the challenge of switching from left tackle to guard.

45. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech: Having rushed for a school-record 1,709 yards in his only season as Virginia Tech's starter, there is lot to like about Wilson. He's a tough runner who keeps his legs churning through contact and has true breakaway speed. He has only average vision, however, which leads to his dancing at the line of scrimmage too often and may need to be substituted early in his career on third down due to below average pass blocking skills, at this time.

46. Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame: Smith joins Alabama's Mark Barron as the only two traditional safeties I see as worthy of top 50 consideration. While not as smooth as the Alabama star in coverage, Smith is a reliable open-field tackler with excellent size (6-2, 213) and the instincts to make plays against both the run and pass.

47. Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech: Boasting arguably the elite all-around workout of the combine, Hill possesses an almost unheard combination of size (6-4, 215), straight-line speed (4.36) and explosiveness (11-01 broad jump). He's very much a work in progress as a route-runner and hands-catcher having come from a run-oriented offense while at Georgia Tech but deserves top 50 consideration on upside, alone.

48. Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia: The NFL is a sucker for proven pass rushers and, frankly, so am I. There are plenty of red-flags with Irvin, not the least of which is his rough upbringing and the fact that at this point he provides little other than his ability to harass quarterbacks. Other than quarterbacks, however, there isn't a position more valued in today's NFL than pass-rushers and Irvin -- due to his explosive burst and lateral agility -- just might be the most gifted of this year's class.

49. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana: Draft enthusiasts know that North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins has first-round talent and may only slip out of the draft's initial frame due to off-field concerns. Montana's Johnson finds himself in a similar predicament. The 6-2, 204 pounder may lack elite speed (4.61) but he possesses enough of it, as well as the physicality and ball skills to prove a star in a press cover scheme. Johnson may not wind up hearing his name called in the top 50 on draft day, but if he can stay out of the trouble in the NFL, I believe he could quickly develop into a standout.

50. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers: There are plenty of receivers in the 2012 draft with greater speed and natural playmaking ability than Sanu. But for my money few are safer NFL prospects than the former Rutgers star, who left the Big East as the career record holder with 210 career receptions despite entering the draft with a year of eligibility remaining. The 6-2, 211-pound Sanu has the bulk and physicality to play immediately at split end as well as move inside. That versatility will get him onto the field early in his career. His toughness and dedication will keep him there







Draft team needs: Cleveland Browns

Bad enough that the Cleveland Browns were awful last season, losing nine of their final 10 games. But they were lifeless, too, eclipsing 14 points in that span just once ... in a 23-20 loss to Cincinnati.

New coach Pat Shurmur was supposed to revitalize the Browns, but they won fewer games and scored fewer points than the 2010 club that got Eric Mangini cashiered. Granted, five of their final seven defeats were by no more than six points, but you don't impress anyone by being close -- not when you haven't made the playoffs in eight years.

So the heat is on Shurmur and the organization to demonstrate they're on the right path; that they know how to make the Browns interesting, complete and successful ... and good luck. They're in a division with three playoff teams, and the only thing that seems for sure there is that Cleveland is fourth-best.
Again.

QB: Colt McCoy returns as the starter, with the Browns saying they have complete confidence in him. Not so fast. It was the Browns who pushed Washington in the RG3 Sweepstakes, with St. Louis eventually dealing its first draft choice -- second overall -- to the Redskins. Shurmur says he supports his quarterback, but there better be more progress with McCoy than there was a year ago. He didn't throw many touchdown passes, his completion percentage declined and the Browns couldn't find the end zone with a GPS. That wasn't McCoy's fault. The guy has no playmakers around him. But he should heed the warnings attached to that flirtation with Robert Griffin III. Seneca Wallace returns as the backup, but the Browns could use a young QB to start grooming, and maybe it happens in the middle of this draft.

RB: Let's get this one out of the way up top: The running game stinks and has stunk for most of the time since the Browns returned to the NFL. Last year was no exception, with Cleveland ranked 28th in rushing and 21st in yards per attempt. Peyton Hillis is gone, which leaves Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya as the top two backs -- and, yes, that's a problem. It's the primary reason most mock drafts have Trent Richardson penciled in as the Browns' first choice at the fourth overall spot. Richardson is one of the most gifted players in this draft, and the Browns need gifted running backs like Levi needs Strauss.

WR: People tell me that McCoy isn't the answer at quarterback, but how can anyone make a judgment based on the talent -- or lack of it -- around the poor guy? Receiver is no exception, with Greg Little the best of a mediocre bunch. Mohamed Massaquoi, who suffered a concussion for the second straight season, and special-teams star Josh Cribbs complete the top three, and let's be honest: There's not a franchise wide receiver in there. But there could be with the Browns' second pick, 22nd overall. If there's one thing Cleveland needs as much as someone to carry the ball, it's someone to catch it. It had its chance a year ago but passed on Julio Jones when Atlanta made it an offer it couldn't refuse. Now it needs to find that talented wideout -- and fast.

TE: Some of the most reliable sets of hands are at this position, with Benjamin Watson and Evan Moore two of McCoy's favorite targets. That's the good news. Now the bad: Both finished the season on injured reserve, with Watson's catches dropping from 68 to 37. Alex Smith is a decent reserve, but he's coming off a shoulder injury.

OL: The Browns have three offensive linemen -- Joe Thomas, Alex Mack and Jason Pinkston -- who didn't miss a snap in 2011. In fact, they haven't missed a snap in their pro careers, while guard Shawn Lauvao played 95 percent of the snaps last season. So that's good. But this isn't: Pinkston leaked too often in pass protection, allowing a team-high 10 QB hits, according to Profootballfocus.com, while Lauvao committed a club-high 11 penalties. The right side of the line is the concern, with Oniel Cousins taking over at right tackle -- and now you understand why the Browns are looking at Matt Kalil. Though the Southern California star was at left tackle his final two seasons in college, he has played on the right side -- and coupling him with Thomas would give the Browns bookend tackles capable of protecting McCoy. Cleveland needs depth here, as well as a right tackle.

DL: With the additions of free agents Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker, the Browns think they're set at defensive end. Rucker would start on the right side, while Jabaal Sheard -- who led the team with 8½ sacks -- starts on the left. Parker would be a backup. The Browns think they're set inside, too, where Philip Taylor was impressive before wearing down in his rookie season, but they ranked 30th vs. the run -- and that must improve. If there's a need here it's for more depth.

LB: D'Qwell Jackson was one of the year's best feel-good stories, with the middle linebacker returning from two lost seasons to lead the team in tackles and finish second to Detroit's Matt Stafford in Comeback Player of the Year voting. Scott Fujita is one outside linebacker, but he finished on IR for the second straight season, and with him turning 33 this month you have to wonder about his durability. Chris Gocong can play either outside spot ... and did last season after Fujita was hurt, with Kaluka Maiava taking over for Gocong. Depth has been an issue here in the past, and it is now -- with Cleveland looking for someone with speed on the outside.

DB: New secondary coach Tim Hauck takes over a unit that excelled last season, with Cleveland the league's second-ranked pass defense. Cornerback Joe Haden is the top defensive back, often locked on the opponent's best receiver, while Sheldon Brown makes up for his lack of speed with experience. Safety T.J. Ward comes off a foot injury that kept him out of most of last season, while Usama Young replaces Mike Adams at free safety. Dimitri Patterson is an effective nickel back, and Buster Skrine, while raw, has so much speed he could one day replace Brown.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Pat Summitt Steps Down - Little-Known Baseball Facts

SIMPLY THE BEST NO MATTER WHAT SPORT OR GENDER: PAT SUMMITT





Pat Summitt's final season both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring
Ann Killion
si.com

Pat Summitt is no longer the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.
That is going to take some time to sink in. It's unfathomable to think of Tennessee without Summitt.
But everything that's happened in the past eight months surrounding Summitt has been unfathomable.
A coach cut down in her prime. The epitome of strength and fight, weakened and debilitated as her last season wore on.
Summitt, one of the most impactful coaches that sport -- any sport -- has ever seen, announced Wednesday that she is stepping down. She will assume the role of Head Coach Emeritus. Her longtime assistant Holly Warlick, who took on the public role during last season, will become head coach.
Ever since Summitt announced in August that she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, the season took on the feel of a farewell tour.
This moment became increasingly inevitable, day by heartbreaking day.
The progress of Summitt's disease was undeniable. By December -- just four months after her public declaration -- when her team came to visit Stanford, she was holding onto the press table to steady herself. The dragon lady sideline persona was missing.
And missed.
It's been heart-wrenching to witness, even from afar. I can only imagine the pain suffered by those closest to Summitt -- her assistants, her players, her son, Tyler. We saw a glimpse of it last month, on the night that Tennessee's season ended -- a night that many suspected would be the last for Summitt -- when Warlick broke down in tears in the postgame interview. Her pain was so sharp, it took my breath away.
By then the next announcement was obvious. Summitt would have to step down, for her own health, and also for the program that she loved and created with her own strong hands. There were too many questions, too many distractions, too many tears. It wasn't what anyone wanted.
But Summitt -- who bravely decided to continue coaching despite a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's -- accomplished so much in these last few months. For those who have never been touched by the horrible disease, she put a face on it. She showed the world the devastating effects. We watched her deteriorate, this proud, fierce, compassionate woman who ruled her sport for so many years.
There were moments of love and outreach along the way. Public, like when her bitter rival Geno Auriemma hugged her at the women's Final Four. Private, as when a respected sports journalist asked to thank her for all her access over the years and found himself breaking down in tears, with Summitt comforting him.
Summitt was honored as SI's Sportswoman of the Year in December and in Denver at the Final Four. She is stepping down just weeks before the 40th anniversary of Title IX. She reshaped the athletic hierarchy, becoming the winningest coach -- male or female -- in history. She put an early face on women's athletics, women's strength and determination.
And she put a face on something more this year.
Her legacy was already as rich and deep as any in sport. In the past eight months, she has added a deeper, human layer. Pat Summitt has showed us how to win. How to lose.
And how to fight.



Pat Summitt steps aside as coach
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pat Summitt is stepping aside as Tennessee's women's basketball coach and taking the title of "head coach emeritus," with longtime assistant Holly Warlick being promoted to replace the sport's winningest coach.
The 59-year-old Summitt will report to the athletic director and help the women's program she guided to eight national titles. She said she supports Warlick, her assistant for 27 years and a three-time All-American who played for Summitt, as her replacement and wants to ensure the stability of the program.
The move comes less than a year after Summitt's diagnosis with early onset dementia-Alzheimer's type.
"I've loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role," Summitt said.
"I want to help ensure the stability of the program going forward. I would like to emphasize that I fully intend to continue working as head coach emeritus, mentoring and teaching life skills to our players, and I will continue my active role as a spokesperson in the fight against Alzheimer's through the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund."
Tennessee has scheduled a news conference Thursday afternoon in Knoxville with Summitt and Warlick.
Tennessee vice chancellor and athletic director Dave Hart called Summitt "an inspiration to everyone."
"It is extremely difficult to adequately express what Pat Summitt has meant to the University of Tennessee, the sport of basketball, and the growth of women's athletics nationally," Hart said. "She is an icon who does not view herself in that light, and her legacy is well-defined and everlasting. Just like there will never be another John Wooden, there will never be another Pat Summitt."
In a statement, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma praised Summitt, with whom he often had a testy relationship as the two coaches battled for recruits and wins in women's college basketball's biggest rivalry.
"Pat's vision for the game of women's basketball and her relentless drive pushed the game to a new level and made it possible for the rest of us to accomplish what we did," Auriemma said. "In her new role, I'm sure she will continue to make significant impacts to the University of Tennessee and to the game of women's basketball as a whole.
"I am thrilled for [Warlick] as this opportunity is well-deserved and Pat will be a huge asset to her moving forward."
Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer also credited Summitt for building the women's game throughout her career.
"Words cannot adequately describe the extraordinary career that Pat Summitt has had in the world of basketball," VanDerveer said. "She is a model of class and courage, and I don't think that enough can be said for just how much Pat has accomplished in building and elevating women's basketball to its current heights. Pat is Tennessee Basketball."
Duke men's coach Mike Krzyzewski called Summitt "a pioneer in basketball."
"Her amazing career accomplishments are among an elite group of leaders. Very few people leave a lasting legacy in their chosen professions and coach Summitt has done just that at the University of Tennessee and in women's basketball," Krzyzewski said in a statement. "She raised the level of commitment, pride and notoriety of her sport. I am honored to call her a friend."
Warlick, who came to Tennessee as a scholarship track athlete, walked on to the basketball team as a point guard and led the Lady Vols to the AIAW Final Four three times. She is the first new women's head coach at Tennessee since Summitt succeeded Margaret Hutson in 1974.
"I'm very thankful for all Pat Summitt has done to prepare me for this opportunity," Warlick said. "She is my coach, mentor, and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program."
Hart said Warlick had earned and deserved the opportunity to take over the program from Summitt, saying she grew tremendously as a coach during the just-completed season.
"Under unique circumstances, the job she did away from the glare of the lights and crowds was as impressive as the job she did during game action, " Hart said. "Her mentor will be available for insight and advice, but this is Holly's team now."
Summitt revealed her diagnosis on Aug. 23, 2011, after a few months of trying to come to terms with dementia, which had caused her problems with memory loss both on and off the court during the previous season. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that destroys cognitive abilities over time.
With the blessing of university chancellor Jimmy Cheek, the Hall of Fame coach said she planned to continue coaching as long as possible. She also wanted to show the world that it was still possible to function, even in the face of dementia and Alzheimer's. She had been going about business as usual.
But with a need to devote more attention to managing her health, Summitt handed over more duties to her longtime assistants. This season, Warlick, as associate head coach, took the lead during games and handled postgame interviews, while the entire staff did the bulk of the recruiting and management of practices.
Even with Warlick and assistant coaches Mickie DeMoss and Dean Lockwood carrying a larger load, Summitt continued to leave her mark through guidance and motivation with her trademark icy stare, even if she did wear the look more infrequently.
Summitt's diagnosis came during one of the Lady Vols' most disappointing stretches -- by Summitt's lofty standards, anyway. Tennessee hasn't won a national championship since 2008 and hasn't even reached the Final Four, which matches the longest such drought in program history.
Tennessee's five seniors were a part of the team that lost in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament, the only time in school history the Lady Vols had bowed out on the first weekend.
Those seniors promised they would win a ninth national championship this season not just to change their legacy and to honor Summitt, but as center Vicki Baugh put it, "We're playing for everyone who has Alzheimer's."
They just couldn't get back to the Final Four, and the group of seniors wound up the first Lady Vols to miss the Final Four. They lost to eventual champion Baylor and Brittney Griner, a player Summitt couldn't convince to come to Knoxville, in the regional final.
At the women's Final Four in Denver earlier this month, Summitt received a standing ovation at halftime of the Baylor-Stanford national semifinal during a ceremony honoring current and former coaches of the U.S. women's Olympic team. Summitt led the 1984 team to a gold medal in Los Angeles.
Earlier that day, she had talked with and hugged Auriemma, for years her fiercest coaching and recruiting rival.
Auriemma said they talked about Summitt's foundation that supports Alzheimer's research and education, and the health of the Tennessee coach.
"She pretty much expressed that she's doing great and she feels good, that she's under great care, that she's being taken care of by the best people," Auriemma said at the time. "It was only a couple minutes, but I had told her that I'm sure that once the NCAA tournament is over, we'll get a chance to talk a little bit more."

“Pat's vision for the game of women's basketball and her relentless drive pushed the game to a new level and made it possible for the rest of us to accomplish what we did. In her new role, I'm sure she will continue to make significant impacts to the University of Tennessee and to the game of women's basketball as a whole. ” -- UConn coach Geno Auriemma

It's unlikely anyone will come close to matching Summitt's accomplishments in women's basketball, which has seen more parity in the past decade.
Summitt's career ends with a 1,098-207 record, 16 regular-season Southeastern Conference championships and 16 SEC tournament titles.
During her time, Tennessee never failed to reach the NCAA tournament, never received a seed lower than No. 5 and reached 18 Final Fours.
Her impact reaches beyond wins and losses. Every Lady Vols player who has completed her eligibility at Tennessee has graduated, and 74 former players, assistants, graduate assistants, team managers and directors of basketball operations are among the coaching ranks at every level of basketball.
On the same day Summitt stepped aside, her son, Tyler Summitt, confirmed he has accepted a full-time assistant coaching position with the Marquette women's basketball team. Tyler played for the men's basketball team at Tennessee the past two seasons as a walk-on.


Little-Known Baseball Facts

Baseball, as we know it, has been around since the mid-1800s, but its roots date back to at least the 18th century and perhaps even further. Now the game is an integral part of the American fabric, right up there with Mom and apple pie. Little League has been bringing organized baseball to our youth since 1939, college baseball has been around for over 150 years, and the National League brought us our first major league game in 1876. More than 200,000 professional games have been played since. With all of that history and all of those baseball games being played at all levels, baseball trivia is almost as popular as the game itself.

There is a seemingly bottomless well of baseball facts, and many are common knowledge to Americans of all ages. Everybody knows that Roger Maris holds the Major League Baseball record for home runs in a season with 61 (don't get me started on the steroid era in MLB). We all know that with 27 pennants to their name, the New York Yankees have won the World Series more than any other team. We practically come out of the womb knowing that the Chicago Cubs haven't won a championship since Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House.

But if you really want to impress the kids at the dinner table or while throwing the ball around in the back yard, try laying some of these little-known baseball facts on them.

Who played in the first game in Major League history?

On April 22, 1876, the Boston Red Caps beat the Philadelphia Athletics by a score of 6-5 in the National League. This might lead you to believe that the predecessors to the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics participated in this game, but that would be incorrect.

The Boston Red Caps began their existence in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings and were later known around town as the Beaneaters, the Doves, the Rustlers, the Bees, and the Braves. In 1953, the team relocated to Wisconsin and became the Milwaukee Braves. In 1966, they headed south and became what we know today as the Atlanta Braves.

The Athletics, meanwhile, were booted out of the National League in 1876 after failing to play a full slate of 70 games. The American League Philadelphia Athletics were conceived in 1901 and are the ancestors of our current Oakland A's.

Who played in the first college baseball game?

Amherst beat Williams, 73-32, in a 25-inning game on July 1, 1859, in Pittsfield, Mass. Back then, the game continued until 100 runs had been scored.

In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives declared Pittsfield as the birthplace of college baseball by way of U.S. House Resolution 1050. It's unclear how many of those members of Congress actually attended the Amherst-Williams game.

How many players have won the Little League World Series, the College World Series, and MLB's World Series?

Ah, trick question! The answer is none. Amazingly, only two players have participated in all three events, and neither one has emerged victorious all three times.

Ed Vosberg played for Tucson, Arizona, in the 1973 Little League World Series and was runner-up to Taiwan. Vosberg then played for Arizona in 1980 when they won the College World Series, and he was a member of the 1997 Florida Marlins, who won the World Series.

The other player is Jason Varitek, who played for Altamonte Springs, Florida, in the 1984 Little League World Series and was runner-up to South Korea. Varitek then played for Georgia Tech in the 1994 College World Series, won by Oklahoma. He won two World Series--2004 and 2007--with the Boston Red Sox which, as we now know, is not the same franchise as the Boston Red Caps.

What famous baseball player made it to the majors by being traded for a suit?

Denton True Young made his major league debut in 1890 after being traded for a suit of clothing.

I know what you're thinking. "Denton True Young?! You said he was famous!"

Well, Young was pitching for a minor league team in Canton, Ohio, when he destroyed the fences at the ballpark with his fastball. His teammates nicknamed him "Cyclone" since the fences looked like a cyclone had come through, and that nickname was quickly shortened by reporters to "Cy."

Cy Young went on to an illustrious 22-year career in the majors that resulted in his enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and he is the namesake for the award given annually to each league's best pitcher.

Not a bad return on an investment of a suit.

Who are the shortest and tallest players in MLB history?

When 26-year-old Eddie Gaedel suited up for the St. Louis Browns on August 19, 1951, and had an official at-bat, he became the shortest player in MLB history, standing 3 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 65 pounds. Gaedel wore No. 1/8 on his jersey and was walked on four straight pitches --all of them high-- in his only plate appearance.

The tallest player in MLB history is current New York Mets pitcher Jon Rauch, who stands at 6-foot-11 --or just a shade under two Gaedels tall.

(Your child might be tempted to answer this question with retired pitcher Randy Johnson, but the "Big Unit" is "only" 6-foot-10.)

Now, don't you feel smarter?