TheSportsPaddio.com Ohio Sports Insider
August 16th, 2009
www.thesportspaddio.com SPORTS FORUM
11-24-09
Ohio state Buckeyes
New College Gear at ESPNShop.com!
For a second straight year the Basketball Buckeyes have lost a former prized recruit. Last year the Buckeyes lost PG Anthony Crater who decided to transfer because of playing time, now SG Walter Offutt is following Crater’s lead. Offutt was expected to get more playing time this season after playing very rarely last season. Given his limited minutes and the prospect of a talent infusion coming in with next years recruiting class, Offutt is probably making a good move for himself.
10-02-09
Cleveland Browns
NFL Gear for 2009 at ESPNShop.com!
What a week for the Cleveland Browns.
1. They get totally humiliated by the Baltimore Ravens on the field.
2. Brady Quinn is out and Derek Anderson is back in at QB
3. Every person is America is taking shots at head coach Eric Mangini
The Browns are a bad football team period. Mangini inherited this mess, just as he inherited a terrible Jets team 4 years ago. He led those Jets to 1 playoff appearance and another winning season, all while developing a very solid group of players.
Look for the Browns to make more changes than just the QB change.
1. Look for both Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie to see more time on the field. Massaquoi will be starting within the next few weeks.
2. Whether Jamal Lewis is healthy or not Jerome Harrison is going to get his playing time increased. The coaches have been impressed with the way Harrison has played and practiced since returning from his injury.
3. Brandon McDonald will be benched, but will still play in Nickel situations.
4. David Vekuine and Alex Hall will see more action as the defense needs to get them on the field. They both have pass rushing skills that are much needed.
9-23-09
Ohio state Buckeyes
New College Gear at ESPNShop.com!
Let’s take a look at how the TSP see’s the final spots in the Buckeyes 2010 recruiting class filling out.
****Christian Bryant CB- The TSP recruiting experts think Bryant is a lock to be in this class
***Latwan Anderson S- Look for Anderson to be in Columbus when all is said and done
*** John Shaw CB-He has had the Buckeyes at the top of his list for some time.
****Matt James OL - Ohio State is this kids best option and he will be a Buckeye in the end.
***** Lamarcus Joyner DB- One of the best players at any position available. This comes down to Ohio State vs Florida State and the Buckeyes land this incredible athlete in the end.
***** Jordan Hicks LB- The best player in the state of Ohio will end up choosing between Ohio State and Texas. In the end he picks the Buckeyes.
9-7-09
Ohio state Buckeyes
New College Gear at ESPNShop.com!
Ohio State heads into their huge game vs. the USC Trojans as 6.5 point underdogs. Wow hard to imagine the Buckeyes being that big of a dog in the “Shoe”, but the line seems about right when you factor in last years dominance for USC and both teams week one performance. The more film I watch on Matt Barkley, the more impressed I am with him. This will however be an interesting test for him as it will be his first game where a hostile and large crowd are totally against him. I think he wil handle it well, but with any freshman, you just never know for sure until they actually do it.
Count me as one who was impressed with what I saw from Terrelle Pryor against Navy. TP stayed in the pocket when allowed and hit the open man. He also showed off his mobility when pressured to move around in the pocket and make things happen.
Buckeye fans have to be concerned with the offensive line, as they looked average at best vs. a small Navy defensive line. You would have thought that with such a size advantage the offensive line would be able to create better running lanes and push than they did. The offensive line also was unimpressive in pass protection, which does not bode well for the USC game and their stable of athletes that can pressure the QB.
The Buckeyes defense is very thankfull that they won’t have to face a triple option again any time soon. The Buckeyes defense should look better against a more traditional offense.
8-30-09
Cleveland Browns
Brady Quinn is the Browns starting QB. Eric mangini won’t say this, but the qb battle is over. The Browns will wait to the last minute to announce, to keep week one opponent the Minnesota Vikings guessing on who they will face.
Jamal Lewis is looking more and more like a player who is done. Lewis will start the season as the starting RB, but look for James Davis to take more and more carries as the season plays out.
Ohio state Buckeyes
With the season opener less than a week away the Buckeyes have suspended OT Mike Adams for the first two games, for the breaking of team rules. Adams was a very highly touted recruit who has not lived up to his hype since arriving in Columbus.
Cleveland Indians
Get Authentic Indians Team Gear Now at Shop.MLB.com!
Andy Marte and Matt Laporta are making a strong case to be solid contributors to the 2010 Cleveland Indians. Laporta has raised his batting average to .296 and is looking very comfortable at the plate and in the field. Marte is also looking comfortable at the plate. He is batting .289 and is getting big hits with men in scoring position. The Indians may have waited for Marte to develop and now may reap the benefits.
8-24-09
Cleveland Browns
Some thoughts on the Browns
NFL Gear for 2009 at ESPNShop.com!
Joshua Cribbs is underpaid and deserves to have his contract renegotiated. Cribbs is easily one of the top 3 players on the (Joe Thomas, Shaun Rogers) on the Browns roster. He is also one of the few game changers this team has. The new regime of GM George Kokinis and head coach Eric Mangini have to realize now how valuable Cribbs is to this team, and must try to keep him happy for the future.
The Browns may have finally caught a break at the running back position. Sixth round pick James Davis is looking more and more like the heir apparent to Jamal Lewis as the starting RB. Davis could finally put to rest the teams search for a young RB for the future. Let us remember some young RB’s that Browns fans had high hopes for, that failed miserably. Travis Prentice, Ben Gay, William Green, James Jackson, all brought some level of hope, that was quickly dashed by their lack of ability.
Yes, Derek Anderson had a solid game against the Lions. I still say that Brady Quinn is the leader, and will be the starter when the regular season starts.
8-20-09
Cleveland Browns
The TSP Browns Depth Chart
NFL Gear for 2009 at ESPNShop.com!
OFFENSE
QB - Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Brett Ratliff, Richard Bartel
RB - Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison, James Davis, Noah Herron
FB - Lawrence Vickers, Charles Ali
TE - Robert Royal, Steve Heiden, Martin Rucker, Aaron Walker, John Madsen
WR - Braylon Edwards, Mike Furrey, Josh Cribbs, Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie, David Patten, Lance Leggett, Jordan Norwood
LT - Joe Thomas, Isaac Sowells
LG - Eric Steinbach, Rex Hadnot-inj ,Dustin Fry, Fred Weary
C - Hank Fraley, Alex Mack
RG - Floyd Womack, Ryan Tucker, Kurt Quarterman
RT - John ST. Clair, George Foster
DEFENSE
LDE - Kenyon Coleman, C.J. Mosley, Santonio Thomas
NT - Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin, Melila Purcell, Adam Hoppel
RDE - Robaire Smith, Corey Williams, Louis Leonard
LOLB - David Bowens, Alex Hall, Phil Hunt
LILB - Eric Barton, David Veikune, Leon Williams
RILB - D’Qwell Jackson, Kaluka Maiava, Beau Bell
ROLB - Kamerion Wimbley, Titus Brown, Marcus Benard
CB- Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, Rod Hood, Coye Francies, Brandon Anderson, Corey Ivy, Hank Poteat, Gerald Lawson
S - Abe Elam, Brodney Pool, Mike Adams, Bret Lockett, Nick Sorensen, Hamza Abdullah
P - Dave Zastudil
PK - Phil Dawson
LS - Ryan Pontbriand
8-19-09
Cleveland Indians
Get Authentic Indians Team Gear Now at Shop.MLB.com!
Matt Laporta is back! With Trevor Crowe injured and going on the DL, the Indians have called Laporta back to the big club. Laporta was batting .299 with 17 homeruns and 60 RBI at triple A Columbus. Laporta is also showing a fine eye at the plate with a .388 on base percentage.
In his first go around with the Indians, Laporta sat the bench regularly, and was never given a decent shot at showing what he could do. This time better be different! Eric Wedge has no excuse not to play this top prospect every day for the rest of the season.
8-18-09
Cleveland Indians
Get Authentic Indians Team Gear Now at Shop.MLB.com!
The Indians signed first round draft pick Alex White before MLB deadline. Here is the TSP Scouting report on Alex White.
Class in 2009: Junior
Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 195 pounds
Strengths: White is a power pitcher who features a fastball in the 93-95 mph range, that tops out at 96-97 mph. His best secondary pitch is his late breaking slider, which he can throw for strikes and really works well against right handed hitters. White has added a split finger to his arsenal to help against left handed hitters.
Weaknesses: White at times can get a little wild, and sometimes lacks command. He must gain more consistency with his arm slot in which he pitches from, as it varies at times.
8-17 09
Cleveland Browns
The time has come for the Browns to give Brady Quinn the starting QB spot and let him start getting the majority of reps with the first team offense, to get more comfortable with that unit. It is time to see if Quinn can be the QB for now and the future, or if he another player this organization has missed on with a first round draft pick.
It is also time to let Josh Cribbs play as the number 2 WR opposite of Braylon Edwards. This team needs it’s playmakers on the field, and Cribbs is easily one of the top weapons the Browns have. Cribbs is still a developing WR, but he has come far enough to play a key role in this offense, and will provide a spark when he touches the ball in the open field.
8-16- 09
Cleveland Browns
Profootballtalk.com is reporting that the Carolina Panthers may have interest in Browns DE Corey Williams. They sent their GM to scout Williams Saturday in Green Bay. Williams has really struggled with the switch from a 4-3 DT to a 3-4 DE. Williams is much better suited playing in the 4-3 defense.
Ohio state Buckeyes
When Jake Stoneburner was being recruited by Ohio State, there were some who saw him as a WR and some who saw him as a TE. Stoneburner who is now 6-5 and 250 pounds is now very much a TE. Stoneburner now has a chance to do something not seen often in recent year in Columbus, and that is to be an actual receiving threat in the passing game, from the tight end position.
College Colors Sweepstakes - Win an ESPNShop.com gift card! Contest runs 84-94
Cleveland Browns
The Browns defensive line has been a pleasant surprise since training camp began. Shaun Rogers is still the anchor, but the players around him are stepping up. Kenyon Coleman has established a hold of one of the DE spots, while a rejuvenated Corey Williams and a healthy Robaire Smith have been waging a tight battle to start opposite of Coleman. C.J. Mosley and Ahtyba Rubin have added nice depth to a line that should be a strength of the 2009 Browns defense.
Cleveland Indians
The TSP top 10 Cleveland Indians Pitching Prospects
- RHP Hector Rondon
- RHP Carlos Carrasco
- LHP Nick Hagadone
- LHP TJ House
- RHP Jason Knapp
- RHP Jeanmar Gomez
- LHP Kelvin De La Cruz
- RHP Bryan Price
- RHP Connor Graham
- LHP Scott Barnes
Keep in mind the moment first round pick Alex White signs, he automatically jumps into the top 5!