Buckeyes hold off Hawkeyes 34-24, Bradley Roby ejected for targeting
October 19, 2013Preseason rolls on, Cavs fall to Pacers 102-79
October 20, 2013Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com
I keep waffling back and forth between “oh crap, the Browns are facing Aaron Rogers” and “hey, the Packers are pretty banged up, we got a shot.” “With Randall Cobb out at least eight weeks and James Jones also banged up, the Packers are thin at wide receiver. Even if Jones does suit up, he will not be at full health. That leaves the Packers with Jordy Nelson, Jarrett Boykin, and rookie Myles White, who was just activated from the practice squad. Boykin possesses a good skill set, but is largely unproven. He was targeted just six times as a rookie last year and he played only 10 snaps this season heading into last week. Meanwhile, Nelson has been one of the best receivers this year. Averaging 96.8 yards per game and 17.9 yards per reception, Nelson has earned his +8.7 pass grade. Nelson has been especially effective deep (20-plus yards) downfield, where he has been targeted 11 times and has caught eight for 277 yards.
Tasked with covering Nelson is the Browns’ Joe Haden. He is an excellent cover-corner and has had a notable start to the season. He is allowing 47.7% of passes thrown his way to be completed and just one completion every 12.6 snaps in coverage on average. When receivers are able to make the grab, Haden is holding them to just 2.2 yards after the catch. His 0.77 yards allowed per coverage snap ranks 10th in the league among cornerbacks. With Aaron Rodgers looking Nelson’s way often, it won’t be an easy day for Haden — however, Haden has proven he can cover any receiver in the league.” [Matt Claassen/Pro Football Focus].
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I imagine covering LeBron would be a pain in the butt for most secondaries. “The timing of James’ most recent comment is interesting, even if by pure coincidence. The Heat enter the 2013-14 season in search of their third consecutive title, and James has the opportunity to secure a third consecutive Finals MVP award. Bulls legend Michael Jordan announced his (first) retirement in October 1993 after leading Chicago to three straight titles and winning three straight Finals MVP awards. Jordan then briefly pursued a career in professional baseball, chasing his own childhood love for the sport as well as his father’s dream that his son would be a Major League Baseball player.
When Jordan walked away from basketball the first time, he said that “the desire just isn’t there” because he “[didn’t] have anything left to prove.” His agent David Falk later said that baseball was “like an adult fantasy camp” for his client and that Jordan was pursuing the sport for “the fun and challenge.” Jordan has said in interviews that he gained a new mental strength from his baseball struggles, and that he finally acquired perspective on his basketball abilities by stepping away from the game.
James’ comments on the subject of football — brief and wistful as they are — don’t necessarily suggest that he would pursue the sport for the reasons Jordan eventually sought refuge in baseball. Indeed, with Jordan’s Greatest Of All Time legacy hanging over his every move, James seems as locked into his NBA standing as ever.” [Ben Golliver/Sports Illustrated].
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A win is a win is a win. Sure, it was ugly. Sure, the Big Ten might stink. But Urban Meyer is still undefeated. “The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2, 1-1) came calling to Columbus Ohio to take on the Buckeyes (6-0, 2-0), and they came with a fight in them. Both teams traded body blows on the way to a 34-24 final score. Braxton Miller led the way with his passing game, throwing 22-27 for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns while running 18 times for 102 yards. His counterpart, Jake Rudock, connected on 19-34 for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns with an interception.
The real difference was in the running game, as Carlos Hyde again put together a powerful performance. His 24 carries for 149 yards was a continuation of his great game in Northwestern. To it he added the first two running touchdowns scored against Iowa this season. In the passing game, Devin Smith and Corey “Philly” Brown each scored a touchdown and put up 72 yards a piece. Iowa’s key playmakers included RB Damon Bullock (10 carries, 55 yards), RB Mark Weisman (10 carries, 52 yards), and TE Jake Duzey (6 receptions, 138 yards, 1 touchdown). [Buckeye Battle Cry].
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Ohio State-Iowa in GIFs [Land-Grant Holy Land].
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We have photographic evidence that Andrew Bynum has been playing basketball. “Bynum’s living with a target on him and there’s good reasons. Inside those complex knee braces and within the skin has been: A dislocated left kneecap. Right medial collateral ligament tear. A lateral meniscus tear. And most troubling, indications on an MRI that some doctors interpreted as a degenerative condition, with the word “arthritis” whispered through the media. For a 25 year old, it’s a f*****g NBA death sentence if it’s true.
The Cavaliers let longtime Athletic Trainer Max Benton go this offseason, opting for a more progressive outlook regarding the health of players. They created the new position “High Performance Director” for former US Ski Team Strength and Conditioning Coach Alex Moore. Moore’s focus is expansive including rehabilitation, nutrition, physical therapy, strength and conditioning. He oversees not only a trainer, but also a “performance scientist”. If Bynum throws down his first dunk in a game, and if Bynum can stay healthy enough to play in back to back games in an NBA schedule, Alex Moore’s team is going to get credit.
Bynum deserves credit already. He hasn’t yet played in a game, but he’s playing in 3 on 3 drills, and his mobility and conditioning is getting closer to that goal. Bynum is obviously working very hard and is very focused. For a person who’s effort in returning to basketball after missing the entire 2012-13 season, was widely and loudly maligned, it’s worth not just noting, but if you believe that the effective return of Bynum is the difference between possibly making the playoffs and having a chance at winning a playoff series, it’s also becoming irrationally and unequivocally excited about. ” [Cleveland Jackson/Stepien Rules].
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A super mega edition of Lazy Sunday on the Tribe’s offseason. “To start, they need to figure out whether Ubaldo will pick up his end of his option (which he won’t, unless he’s crazy). After he declines it, I think they need to figure out if he’ll sign for a reasonable #, or if they just offer him the qualifying tender and move on with a draft pick. I think that’s the most likely scenario. As good as he was in the 2nd half this year, that delivery still has a lot of moving parts, any of which can break down at any point and he turns back into 2012 Ubaldo. I just think he’s better off being someone else’s risk, especially at the $$ he’ll command on the open market. Everything hinges on that decision though, and with the remote chance that the Big U will offer a big “hometown” discount for the team that kept giving him chances until he got himself right, that scenario has to be given a little bit of time to play itself out.
