Bleacher Report - Articles by Robert Rozboril

Eric Wedge Fired: Cleveland Indians Go Back to the Drawing Board

Robert Rozboril — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:10:18 -0400

The recent firing of Indians' skipper Eric Wedge is not a shock to many after the Tribe finish the 2009 season over 90 losses, their worst record since 1991.

However, the way this season unfolded is surprising when you consider the club's strong finish in 2008 leading to high hopes for the 2009 campaign.

Cleveland's dismal season can be largely accredited to its lack of veteran leadership and some questionable front-office moves, such as trading 2008 Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

Lee was the second Cy Young pitcher to be traded by the Indians in two years.

Wedge had success with his young cast of characters in 2007, making an impressive playoff effort before falling short against the Red Sox. Unfortunately, the team that took the field in 2008 looked nothing like that of 2007.

Every time it seemed Wedge had something going, there was a trade or injury that seemed to trigger a negative affect that hampered the Indians' success.

Some blame the team's lack of success on Wedge's focus on team chemistry over talent. The problem with this theory is that Wedge can't control who the front-office signs and trades. He can only manage the players he's given.

Wedge outlasted a number of other managers around the league during his time and justifiably. It is sad to see him go.

Wedge will finish his career with the Indians with a .496 winning percentage and with the respect of most Indians' fans.

The only way the Indians will improve as a team is if they bring in a manager with the ability to revitalize a team the way Mike Hargrove did in the '90s.

Hargrove took over the team in 1991, when they finished 57-105, and by 1995 was managing one of the best teams in baseball.

Cleveland Indians Demostrate What Not To Do With a Dismal Pitching Staff

Robert Rozboril — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:54:32 -0400

What do you do when your team has one of the worst ERA's in baseball, are near the bottom of their division, yet have one of the best pitchers in the majors to keep some dignity alive for the pitching staff?

If you're the Cleveland Indians, you trade him.

That's right, this week the Indians traded reigning Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies.

With the trade, the Indians gain minor league prospects Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. They also lose their only starter with an ERA under four.

The moving of C.C. Sabathia last season was viewed by many as a mistake, but had merit as it freed the organization of his enormous salary.

Cliff Lee, on the other hand, makes a fairly typical salary of right around $4 million a year. This information eliminates team finance as possible reasons for the move.

The trade raises the question: Who does Cleveland have that can step up and fill the void in the rotation left by Lee?

Carl Pavano seems a likely place to look, seeing as he has been fairly consistent since rebounding from a terrible first start this season. He has posted a respectable 8-8 record, but with a 5.66 ERA so far in 2009.

Pavano is a veteran, and if he is to be the new ace, he needs to show some leadership in that rotation.

Aaron Laffey has shown some promise this season in the starting roll. He is the only Indians' starter with a winning record at 4-3 in 14 starts this year with The Tribe.

Laffey is a left-hander with a good assortment of breaking balls to keep hitters off balance while he's on the mound.

One pitcher the Indians refuse to give up on is Fausto Carmona. The hard-throwing righty has been plagued by injury and sent to the minors multiple times in his short career.

While having a power arm in the rotation can be a plus, Carmona's inconsistency and health problems simply don't make him a good prospect for a Cleveland pitching staff that is already struggling for stability.

Jeremy Sowers was great in his rookie year, with a 7-4 record and a relatively low 3.57 ERA in 2006. Since then, however, he has suffered a sophomore slump that has lasted into his junior and senior seasons with the Indians.

Sowers has yet to produce an ERA under five and has a combined 8-22 record from 2007 to the present.

While he has shown good poise at times as a starter, Sowers is more likely to have success out of the bullpen than in the starting rotation.

As it stands, the Indians severely lack adequate pitchers who can pick up the slack. Having a solid player who can show the others how to get the job done is a key to building a winning team.

The trade of Cliff Lee will likely be viewed with regret by the team's management down the road.

On The Spot: Some Poignant Questions For Josh Cribbs

Robert Rozboril — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:28:59 -0400

Wide Receiver Joshua Cribbs will be a Cleveland Brown in 2009.

This seems probable considering the fact that Cribbs is attending this week's voluntary mini-camp. Cribbs threatened to hold out for a new contract and did not participate in team activities last week.

Cribbs did, however, have a sit-down discussion with head coach Eric Mangini during that time. Whatever was said and/or negotiated clearly did some good, as the fan-favorite Cribbs returned to the field.

The following are a series of questions that may dwell in the minds of some fans right now as well as sports writers (myself included). We start with a few "ice-breakers" and then move right in with some that are more personal, heavy-hitters:

1. Who is your greatest inspiration in life and football?

2. What is your favorite part about playing with the Browns in Cleveland? Least favorite part?

3. Are you satisfied with your role with the Cleveland Browns?

4. Do you feel that, as far as your contract goes, you are being treated with the respect that you deserve and that what you bring to the table is being met equally on the other side as far as compensation?

5. When you sat down with Eric Mangini last week, what did it seem he was he most concerned with? Your contract? Your role with the team? Your relationship with him and the players?

6. What did Eric Mangini say to you that you found most helpful and/or hurtful to your current situation with the team?

7. Do you feel your recent contract situation has at all affected your relationship with any of your teammates even a little? How so?

8. Are there any other teams that have perked your interest in the past few months? Which ones? Why?

9. You've been a fan-favorite in Cleveland since 2005, do you worry at all what the fans think of your actions off the field?

10. How long do you see yourself staying with the Browns? How long do you see yourself wanting to continue playing for the Browns?

11. Who do you feel is the best prepared draftee for the Browns in 2009?

12. Do you feel any competition from rookie WR's Brian Robiskie or Mohammed Massaquoi?

13. What are your goals for yourself in the 2009 season? How are you preparing to meet those goals?

14. How has your relationship with Eric Mangini gone since he was hired as Head Coach of the Browns? Do you foresee it getting stronger as the year goes on?

15. Do you feel confident that the Browns will be a better team in 2009? Why or why not?

There's almost no doubt that there are other questions that some would want to drill Josh Cribbs about. Anyone that has one to add, feel free to comment.

The Shot: Jordan? No. LeBron!!!!!

Robert Rozboril — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:14:21 -0400

Do you remember this?

Now, if you watched the replays of LeBron James hitting the final shot of Friday night's game against Orlando, do you notice anything familiar? You should.

To understand the magnitude of LeBron James' last second, game-winning, 3-point shot against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, you have to look at what Michael Jordan did to the Cavs in Game 5 of the 1989 playoffs to squelch their chances of winning.

With exactly one second left on the clock in Friday's game, James took the inbounds pass at the top of the 3-point arch, leaped, aimed, and fired a dagger into the heart of the Orlando faithful.

The same brand of heartbreak that has plagued Cleveland sports for decades was finally served to one of its team's opponents.

Never mind the game winning 3-pointer by Orlando's Rashard Lewis in Game 1 and the floater by Hedo Turkoglu that put the Cavaliers under the gun in Game 2 before LeBron's miracle jay.

If the Cavaliers can get their act together and win this series and bring a championship to Cleveland in 2009, we can finally replace this image with that of LeBron James.

Cleveland Browns: Over 16 Reasons To Be Proud to Be a Browns Fan

Robert Rozboril — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:40:03 -0400

As a franchise, the Cleveland Browns have one of the most notable legacies in all of sports. Sixteen Hall of Famers have been immortalized in Browns orange and white in the team's history that dates back to 1945 when Paul Brown was named Head Coach. The hardships that have plagued the team in recent years fail to represent the true greatness that the franchise once embodied. From losing seasons to quarterback controversies and the myriad of failed Head Coaches, the team has looked almost nothing like those of decades past. But for the die-hards who continue to keep faith that one day the team will return to greatness, the sixteen-plus legends that compile this list (in order of their induction to the Hall of Fame) remain a testament to what the team once was and can be again.....

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How Will The Browns' Draft Picks Fit Into The Team's Gameplan?

Robert Rozboril — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:40:34 -0400

After finishing 2008 ranked near the bottom of the league in offense (31st) and defense (26th), Eric Mangini and his coaching staff need to find a way to fill all the holes in the Browns' game.

One great move for Cleveland was picking up the Center Alex Mack out of Cal in the first round. Mack should be a considerable improvement over the aging Hank Fraley.

The Browns have taken several steps toward building a solid offensive line over the past several seasons, including the additions of players such as guard Eric Steinback and tackle Joe Thomas in 2007. Thomas went to his second straight Pro Bowl in 2008.

If tackle Ryan Tucker can get healthy and stay healthy in '09, Mangini will have one less aspect to worry about in the Browns' offense.

Moving on to the receivers, we find the virtual antithesis to old butterfingers, Braylon Edwards, in the sure-handed Brian Robiskie. The Browns' second pick in the 2009 draft will hopefully bring some much needed reliability when it comes to actually holding on to the ball and making first downs.

Robiskie has some big shoes to fill with the absence of Joe Jurevicius, after no contract agreement was able to be reached with the former Browns receiver.

Flying in under the radar is WR Mohamed Massaquoi out of Georgia. The former Bulldog caught 58 passes for 920 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior year. He also had a streak of 33 consecutive games with a reception to end his college career.

Massaquoi could be a player to watch for in 2009.

The Browns' dismal defense will also be seeing some new faces in the upcoming season.

David Veikune out of Hawaii, though smaller than most linebackers at 257 lbs, is a quick, agile back with tremendous awareness, which earned him the honor of second-team All-Western Athletic Conference in 2008.

Kaluka Maiava, a linebacker out of USC, has the sort of low-key yet determined demeanor that could make him a plus for the Browns.

His versatility in college enabled him to play all three linebacker positions, which could make him a valuable guy to have on the bench just in case any of the starters should go down.

The Browns' secondary is liable to see some improvement, despite its already solid base made up by DB's like Brodney Pool and Eric Wright.

Defensive back Don Carey, out of Norfolk State, brings with him quick hands and a good head on his shoulders. The four-year starter had the chance to go to Yale but turned it down simply because of financial reasons.

When this cornerback/safety was asked what position he preferred in an interview with the Browns media, he responded: "I do whatever the coach asks, I'll be the first one to volunteer for anything."

Sixth round pick Coye Francies has been called arguably the most underrated cornerback in the draft. He is not an imposing individual but his athleticism makes up for it in a big way.

Franchies was an All-American at American River College in 2005, when he made 11 interceptions. He then transferred to OSU where he continued his success.

One weakness to consider is Franchies' inexperience, having only played one full season of Division I football.

Running back James Davis out of Clemson could provide an explosive second option behind Jamaal Lewis when it comes to the Browns' running game.

Despite the fact that his stats tailed off in his senior year at Clemson, Davis could still be an exciting point of interest come preseason.

With no prominent QB's acquired in the draft, expect Brady Quinn to be starting for the Browns come the regular season, although Derek Anderson should keep his shoulder loose. This controversy may continue well into 2009.

All in all, the Browns are poised to be a better team than they were last year. Once again they have the talent to work with. Now it's up to Eric Mangini and company to try and mold them into something that looks like an NFL football team.

Son Of a Coach Poised To Make a Difference For The Browns

Robert Rozboril — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:09:45 -0400

Ohio native Brian Robiskie is set to make his NFL depute this fall. The 6'3", 209lb. WR was the second pick for the Cleveland Browns in the 2009 draft.

Brian Robiskie is an talented young receiver with sure hands and high football IQ that is attributed to his father, Cleveland Browns' receivers' coach and former Raiders' running back, Terry Robiskie.

When Brian Robiskie came to Ohio State as a freshman in 2005, he was a star return man for the Buckeyes' special teams. It wasn't long before he was making a name for himself as a receiver.

As a junior at Ohio State, Brian Robiskie led the Buckeyes with 55 catches for 935 yards and averaged 17 yards a catch. He also accumulated eleven touchdowns that season.

He was an ESPN first team Academic All-American with a 3.50 GPA in marketing in 2007. This shows that Robiskie has the brains to match his braun.

As a senior, Robiskie made 42 catches for 535 yards and eight touchdowns. An impressive week of practice before the Senior Bowl assured scouts that Robiskie was the real deal.

Robiskie was thought by many scouts to be the most NFL-ready WR of the 2009 draft.

If Robiskie has one weakness it would be him lacking the ability to be a player who can be the difference maker for his team. Then again, the Browns have already seen the drawback to having a player who's only talent is making big plays with Braylon Edwards.

The fact that Robiskie seems to be more of a fundamentally sound reciever than a game breaker could make him a healthy addition to Cleveland. Afterall, big plays mean nothing if a team can't make the small ones.

Brian Robiskie played high school football for Chagrin High School in Ohio where he excelled on the field. During this period, Brian also worked as a ball boy for the Browns.

"I think there's a real upside to those former ball boys," said Browns' Head Coach Eric Mangini who is also a former Browns ball boy. "They just end up being very successful."

After playing for Ohio State and signing with the Browns, a reporter asked Brian how he felt about playing all of his football in Ohio in an interview posted on the Cleveland Browns' official website. "I wouldn't have it any other way," said Robiskie.

Brian Robiskie definitely has the goods both mentally and physically that could make him a valuable asset for the Browns receiving core.

Can the "Man-Genius" Right the Ship for the Browns?

Robert Rozboril — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:34:21 -0400

The Cleveland Browns have had their share of Head Coaches since the team's return in 1999 with none yielding consistently positive results. Eric Mangini is the man who now hopes to change that as he takes the helm in 2009.

Mangini has 14 years of NFL coaching experience with the Jets, Patriots, Ravens, and Browns. He's also obtained three Super Bowl rings.

Mangini's coaching career began in Cleveland in 1995 as a coaching assistant. When the franchise moved to Baltimore at the end of the '95 season, he did as well.

From 1997-1999 Mangini worked as the defensive quality control coach for the New York Jets before going to New England in 2000.

As DB coach for the Patriots, Mangini saw the team's defense improve from 20th in the NFL to ranking among the top ten for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

When Mangini took over for Romeo Crennel as Defensive Coordinator in 2005 the Patriots defensive rank dropped to 26th in the NFL according to nfl.com. This is the worst the defense has rated since 1995 when the team finished 6-10. In spite of this fact, New England won the Super Bowl in '05.

After Mangini left for New York the following year, New England's defense ended the 2006 season ranked sixth in the NFL with Dean Pees managing the defense. This was statistically their best defense of the decade until the next year when they ranked fourth.

As Head Coach for the New York Jets from 2006-08 Eric Mangini compiled a mediocre 23-25 record with one playoff berth as the Wild-Card in 2006.

The Jets finished 9-7 in 2008 with a roster that featured seven Pro Bowlers. However, this wasn't enough to get them to the postseason.

The defense-minded Mangini managed a team that was 28th in points allowed and 24th in yards allowed in 2008. On offense the Jets ranked 16th averaging 331.7 yards a game.

Are these the numbers that are supposed to suggest that Eric Mangini is the coach the Browns have been looking for? It's hard to say for sure, but it seems to me the answer is no.

The Cleveland Browns have a lot of improving to do before they can even be called mediocre. If any coach is to turn the Browns into a contender, it needs to be someone who is an effective leader and is consistant.

The Browns' situation is one that Mangini is not used to. The team has no established method for success and an ongoing quarterback controversy that never seems to end!

Mangini is accustomed to teams with a solid quarterback on his previous teams. Uncertainty in that area could inhibit his chances for success.

This doesn't seem to be the kind of environment Mangini will be comfortable operating in with his coaching experience mostly as part of established teams that may or may not only have a few puzzle pieces missing. In Cleveland, the pieces are scattered.

While Mangini had some success in New York with the Jets, he is not a proven leader. This seems evident given the stats from his brief stint as the Patriots' Defensive Coordinator.

As far as the Browns defense is concerned, it's likely the new coach will have no problem adjusting to Cleveland's playbook as it is centered around the 3-4 formation which Mangini has a lot of experience with from his previous teams.

Mangini could do good things for the Brown's secondary as he did in New England. The Patriots' DBs were among the league's leaders in four defensive categories including pass deflections and interceptions with Mangini as their coach.

Eric Mangini has had success as a specialty coach but not as a leader. In order for the Browns to win with him running the show, they need all the pieces in place and well orchestrated. This is not the case.

The Jets were an average, no-thrills team before Mangini took over and still are today. There is no reason to think that he will have any significant impact on the Browns this year or any time soon.

Butler Defeats Cleveland State for Horizon League Title

Robert Rozboril — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:53:41 -0500

No. 23-ranked Butler seemed to be the favorite to win Saturday's Horizon League Championship game versus unranked Cleveland State. However, the Vikings gave them a run for their money and kept things interesting down to the final minutes.

Butler was electric, shooting 56 percent from the field, led by Willie Veasley, who contributed 16 points for the day.

But Cleveland State stayed right with them, relying on tight defense and some aggressive shooting of their own. Norris Cole led the charge on offense with 17 points, while J'Nathan Bullock crashed the boards for 12 rebounds to lead both teams.

Butler definitely left the door open for the Vikings most of the game. As lights-out as the Bulldogs were in the paint, they looked like they were shooting blindfolded from three-point range and the free-throw stripe.

The Vikings, on the other hand, shot better from long-range than down low! Collectively, they were 41.2 percent from three-point land and 40.4 percent on field goals. They also made 77.8 percent of their free-throw opportunities.

Cleveland State also turned to their bench a lot more than Butler, accounting for eight points in 45 minutes of play compared to Butler's bench, which only yielded two points in 24 minutes on the court.

This game was Butler's to lose and they very easily could have if the Vikings had taken better advantage of the Bulldogs' mistakes. However, this is not the case and Cleveland State will just have to try and capture the Horizon League Title next year.

Lebron Hearts N.Y.

Robert Rozboril — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:50:30 -0500

James dazzled last night at Madison Square Garden! He posted a triple-double with 52 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. His performance against the Knicks was voted by sports fans as even more impressive than Kobe Bryant's when he put up 61 points earlier this season.

As prevelant as Lebron's performance was, so was his light-hearted demeanor. James could be seen at many points throughout the game laughing, smiling, and giving fist-taps to stars on the sideline such as Jay-Z. He seemed right at home playing in "the garden" and in New York.

For Cleveland fans, this is a disturbing thought. Speculation has been going on for some time that the Knicks may try and aquire James from the Cavs as soon as his contract runs out at the end of next season. Some fans are convinced it's all just rumors while others seem to think the move is inevitable.

James makes no secret about his love for New York. He has said how much he enjoys the nightlife and has been seen sporting a New York Yankees cap while attending Indians' games in Cleveland. He has also described playing in Madison Square Garden as being like performing on stage.

The Cavaliers have done virtually everything they can to build a team around LeBron with several weapons such as Mo Williams and Ben Wallace so James doesn't have to go it alone on the court. It has definitely paid off.

The Cavs are dominating the Eastern Conference this season and show no signs of letting up anytime soon. If James decides to leave Cleveland, it won't have anything to do with the caliber of his team.

The Knicks, on the other hand, are terrible and have been for years. The idea that James might leave a winning team like the Cavs for a collection of stiff like the Knicks seems absurd to many fans. But then again, where were the Cavs before King James began his rule?

The future of James in either city is going to depend on whether he decides he'd rather continue playing for his hometown team, playing just 45 minutes Akron where he grew up, or whether the draw of the Big Apple pulls him in enough that he can't resist jumping ship.

Why Joe Flacco Is Overrated

Robert Rozboril — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:17:05 -0500

The bird is the word! The Ravens are being labeled as the team no one wants to play this year, and it seems that their 13-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans adds to that aura of dominance.

Joe Flacco will now go down in history as the first rookie QB to win two NFL playoff games, and he's not done yet.

He's already been compared to Ben Roethlisberger, but if you take a closer look at how the Ravens have played this season, you might see why that notion may be a bit premature.

Baltimore has been a force this season. That much seems certain. But should so much credit be given to Flacco for their success?

The Ravens run the ball more than any other team. They were ranked fourth in rushing (averaging 148.5 yds a game) in the NFL, while in passing they ranked a dismal 28th (averaging 175.5 yds a game).

With that in mind, one has to think Flacco owes his soul to running backs Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee, who in my eyes are the true keys of the Ravens dominance.

Let's also not for forget the defense. I don't think anyone questions the fortitude of Ray Lewis and Co. when it comes to that side of the ball.

Flacco may be as capable as any rookie quarterback to ever enter the league, but if you ask yourself how he'd fare without the exceptional level of support he gets, it might leave you thinking twice about how good he really is.

I want to see what happens when he is in a position where guys start leaning on him and not the other way around. Then maybe we'll find out what he's really made of.

Duke Embarrasses Xavier at The Meadlowlands, 82-64

Robert Rozboril — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:06:30 -0500

Embarrassing. That is the only word for Xavier's performance in the first half against Duke as the final score, 82-64, does not tell the story of this game.

Everything was falling for the Duke offense as they surged to an 18-1 lead to start the game off. Jon Scheyer and Brian Zoubek led the charge for Duke and didn't let Xavier have anything in the paint.

Xavier did not hit a single field goal until about five minutes into the game.

Despite having a better record than No. 6-ranked Duke (9-1) coming into the game, the No. 7-ranked Xavier (9-0) looked outmatched and couldn't get anything going offensively. They also turned the ball over 10 times in the first half alone which Duke capitalized on several times.

The half ended with Duke up 55-24; not at all the type of score one would expect with these two teams playing each other.

Xavier came out in the second half looking like a team on a mission. They opened the half with a 7-0 run. Finally, the Xavier players looked like they had woken up and decided to play some basketball in the second half as they showed significant improvement over the first.

Xavier outscored Duke by 13 points in the second half but it was not nearly enough as they fell 82-64.

Scheyer played a huge part in the blowout for the Blue Devils scoring 23 points and shooting 5-for-7 from three-point range.

Duke dominated this game from the start never gave the Musketeers a chance to get back in it.

Xavier is going to want to work hard to put this game far behind them.

Navy-Wake Forest: Demon Deacons Avenge Earlier Loss, Take EagleBank Bowl

Robert Rozboril — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:21:07 -0500

The Wake Forest football team avenged an early season loss to Navy with a 29-19 victory over the Midshipmen in the first annual EagleBank Bowl Saturday in Washington, D.C.

The Demon Deacons entered the game hoping for a better outcome after the sloppy first meeting of thes two teams back in September, in which Wake turned the ball over six times and lost, 24-17.

Navy took a 13-0 lead early on before Wake was able to get anything going offensively.

About halfway through the second quarter, cornerback Alphonso Smith picked off Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada at Wake's 2-yard-line. That interception gave him the all-time ACC record for most interceptions in a season, with 21.

Wake then took the ball 98 yards behind the strong, physical running of Kevin Harris, who bulldozed his way down field. The drive ended with Josh Adams forcing his way into the end zone for a touchdown to make the score 13-7. It stayed that way going into the second half.

Success continued for the Demon Deacons in the third quarter as the "Big Three" of quarterback Riley Skinner, Adams, and fellow running back Kevin Smith plowed their way down field once again and took the lead, 14-13, on Adams' second touchdown of the day.

Navy came back in the fourth quarter and marched down the field on a drive that ended with a two-yard run by Kaheaku-Enhada for a touchdown to put Navy back on top, 19-14.

The two-point-conversion pass by Kaheaku-Enhada was almost picked off in the end zone and left the door wide open for Wake Forest to take the lead right back.

They did just that on the next drive ending with a reception in the end zone by Wake wideout Ben Wooster. The Demon Deacons then gave Navy a free lesson in converting two-point conversions and took a three-point lead, 22-19.

Navy responded with an 80-plus-yard kickoff that would have given them great field position had it not been for a holding penalty that brought them back to their own 27-yard line. They managed no points on the drive.

The Navy defense held up and forced Wake to punt on their next possession with four minutes to play.

Now it was Wake Forest's turn to show some defensive muscle as they forced Kaheaku-Enhada to scramble and then fumble with two minutes left in the game.

Wake Forest recovered and went on to score once more to make it 29-19.

Navy took over and got into field-goal range with 33 seconds remaining. The attempt fell no good and made any idea of trying an onside kick and a miracle comeback all but pointless.

Linebacker Aaron Curry, who had a big day on defense, got Wake Forest's head coach Jim Grobe with the Gatorade bath as the clock ran down, and Wake celebrated its win of the first-ever EagleBank Bowl.

Arizona-Gonzaga: Wildcats Break Up Bulldogs' Perfect Season

Robert Rozboril — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:41:41 -0500

Gonzaga entered the US Airways Center in Phoenix undefeated with all but two wins by 20 points or more. This did not deter Arizona from giving them a run for their money.

The first half was a battle with both teams showing their defensive strength throughout while struggling to score somewhat with the tight NBA-style rim. They went to the half with Arizona up 37-36.

Arizona's Jordan Hill racked up three fouls in the first half but didn't collect another until more than 10 minutes into the second.

Hill had a huge second half. He brought the Arizona offense to life while maintaining an intimidating presence on defense. At one point, an FSN announcer compared Hill to Suns forward Amare Stoudemire.

The Wildcats shot out to a nine-point lead early on in the half, powered by Hill and Nic Wise. Both topped 20 points on the day.

Gonzaga came back though and showed why they are ranked No. 4 in the country. Behind the strong play of Austin Daye, they tied the game at 62 with less than five minutes to play.

But Arizona was not to be denied, as they held off the Bulldogs and pulled out a 69-64 victory in front of their home crowd.

Cheers rang out from the fans, many of whom held signs dedicated to former Arizona head coach Lute Olson, who retired in October.

Interim head coach Russ Pennell is only supposed to be keeping the seat warm until the end of the season, but after a win like this, he may have bigger ideas.

The Cavs Are Not A One-Man Team

Robert Rozboril — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:46:23 -0500

Last night, the Cavaliers and Pacers match up at Quicken Loans Arena set the stage for one of the brightest stars in Cleveland to shine. Not LeBron James, but Anderson Varejao.

The 6'11" 260-pound Brazilian lit the fuse that sparked the Cavs offense in the second quarter of last night's game, shooting 6-6 from the field. He helped to propel the Cavs to a 14-point lead at the half.

When Varejao first came to the Cavaliers in 2004, he was noted for being a strong defensive force off the bench while leaving something to be desired on offense to say the least.

This year however, 'Wild Thing' is shooting .624 percent, while maintaining his role as a defensive presence.

Other big play-makers for Cleveland Friday night included Mo Williams(17 points), Daniel Gibson(14 points), Delonte West(14 points, seven assists), and Zydrunas Ilgauskas(17 points, eight rebounds).

Hmmm...does it seem like someone is missing from this list? Could it be King James? Could the player who has been hailed as the man who single-handedly carries the Cavaliers into contention every year possibly have had an off day where he is not even worth mentioning among the key players in a victory for his team?

Get real. James played strong as usual and posted a double-double with 11 assists and a season-low 11 points.

If this game showed anything it's that the Cavaliers success is not solely dependant on the performance of one player. The reason they are in first place and winning games by huge margins as they have been is their ability to gel and play together as a team.

They have the talent to compete with any team whether James is in or not and they seem to be utilizing it in a way that they were unable to grasp last season.

The Pacers may currently be in the cellar of the central division, but they have still managed wins against some strong teams, including the Celtics and Lakers. Point being, this game was by no means a gimme for Cleveland.

In the first quarter it looked as if Cleveland had their work cut out for them as the Pacers couldn't miss, while the Cavaliers' players just hoisted long-range jumpers that weren't falling. Rushed shots led to countless bricks (enough to build a cathedral) and they ended the quarter with a slim 21-20 lead.

It is this mentality that hurt them last year and will need to continue to squelch this year to keep up their winning ways.

The way the Cavs played from the second quarter on is why they are in first place. As long as King James isn't left to lead the charge alone, a championship will remain within reach.

Arkansas Fights Back to Upset LSU

Robert Rozboril — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:46:26 -0500

Both teams entered this week's game wanting a win after each suffered disappointing losses the previous week against Mississippi State (Arkansas) and Ole Miss (LSU). LSU hasn't lost back-to-back games since 2002.

The Razorbacks came out charging, with freshman Nathan Dick at QB filling in for his brother Casey, who suffered a concussion in last week's loss against Mississippi State. Another freshman, RB Dennis Johnson, ran in an opening-drive touchdown to give Arkansas an early lead.

The first quarter was all Arkansas, with Nathan Dick putting up a nearly flawless performance. LSU couldn't seem to get anything going offensively.

But in the second quarter, the Tigers roared back and blanked the Razorbacks 20-0, making the score at the half 23-14 with LSU on top.

The Hogs' offense simply fell apart in the second quarter. Their defense, while managing to be somewhat successful against the run, couldn't seem to stop the onslaught brought on by LSU's offense, led by freshman QB Jordan Jefferson.

Jefferson's strong arm and ground mobility proved to be a constant headache for Arkansas defenders all afternoon, as he ran the ball almost as much as he passed it.

LSU's blitz effectively shut down Nathan Dick, simultaneously eliminating Arkansas's running game. The Razorbacks only managed three yards of total offense in the second quarter.

In the third, the Tigers added one more touchdown to extend their lead to 16. They would not score another point.

The Razorbacks went to the QB they turned to all year, Casey Dick, to attempt a comeback. He rose to the occasion.

On Arkansas's second possession of the half, C. Dick threw a strike to freshman WR Jarius Wright for a huge touchdown for the Hogs.

LSU had no answer on offense and thanks to some costly penalties charged to the Tigers' defense, Arkansas soon found themselves back in the red zone where they managed a field goal to make the score 30-24, LSU.

Later, with over five minutes left in the game, the Razorbacks elected to go for it on fourth down inside the 30-yard-line and came up empty. This could have been a crucial play, had LSU capitalized on it.

The Razorbacks turned around and stopped LSU with more than two minutes left to score. Some effective short passing plays set up Casey Dick for what ended up being the game-winning touchdown pass with just 21 seconds remaining.

Arkansas picked up the extra point to put themselves ahead 30-31.

However, Arkansas still had to kick off one last time and there was the ever-dangerous return man, Trindon Holliday, who racked up big return yards all day, lurking deep for LSU.

This is likely why Arkansas's kicker decided to squib the kickoff, resulting in good field position for the Tigers, rather than bombing it deep into Tiger territory.

This decision set LSU up for a last ditch attempt to pull off a victory. After a couple of incomplete passes from Jefferson (one of which was disrupted by an official), Coach Miles made a bold move.

He sent in the field-goal unit to try a 63-yarder into the wind with two seconds left!

The kick fell short, resulting in an ecstatic Arkansas crowd and an emotional Casey Dick who in his last game as an Arkansas Razorback, led his team back from a 16-point deficit to upset a powerful division rival in front of a home crowd in Little Rock.

How Would Bill Cowher in Cleveland Change Browns-Steelers Rivalry?

Robert Rozboril — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:48:19 -0500

Talk of Bill Cowher possibly coming to Cleveland to coach the bumbling Browns is not something most fans of either the Browns or Steelers take lightly. It's no secret the two teams have had one of the most bitter rivalries in football for decades.

Cowher was born in a suburb outside of Pittsburgh in 1957 and later in life spent eight years coaching the Steelers and brought them a Super Bowl title in 2006.

With so many ties to Pittsburgh and the Steelers, why on Earth would Cowher want to come coach his former team's arch enemy? Has the NFL become so business oriented that no legacy or tradition is safe from being tarnished by it? Or has it always been that way?

It's terrible to think that this historic rivalry could possibly be so easily watered down.

Whatever the case, if Cowher were to come to Cleveland there would be no shortage of mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, you have one of the better, most successful coaches the league has ever seen. On the other hand, you have a former object of hate for die-hard Cleveland fans managing their beloved Brownies.

Then again, the prospect of Steelers fans watching as their former idol coaches their long-time nemesis against them could be an appetizing thought for some more devious members of the Dawg Pound in Cleveland.

It's anyone's guess whether the deal will take place but if it does, things should get pretty interesting in C-town.

Should Brady Quinn Have Played Sunday?

Robert Rozboril — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:10:54 -0500

Brady Quinn is done for the season after further injuring his finger, which was broken in the previous week's win against the Buffalo Bills, in Sunday's fiasco against the Houston Texans which the Browns lost 16-6.

Just as we began to hear the buzz about how the Browns' promising second-year QB finally getting his shot, he goes down.

There are many speculators who believe that Coach Crennel was too quick to pull Quinn out of the game rather than letting him play through the pain and humiliation of a poor performance in which he was not at 100 percent capacity. Many say that Crennel shows favoritism toward Derek Anderson and that's why he has given him so many more chances.

These people seem to forget that Anderson has had success for the Browns in the past, granted it was inconsistent at best.

This, I believe, is the reason Crennel was quick to defer to Anderson along with the fact of Quinn's injury.

Some would argue that a broken finger is something minor that can be played through as demonstrated in the past by QBs such as Brett Favre who, in 2003, played with a hairline fracture in his throwing thumb and kept his NFL record for consecutive starts alive.

But Brady Quinn is not Brett Favre. Quinn is still young and attempting to build his confidence on the field. He has not had the time to gain the experience necessary to retain his poise under such a restraint.

I'm not sure why I hear very few people who think perhaps it would have been smarter to rest Quinn for a week or two and let him have time to heal before throwing him to the wolves. Even after the injury, there seemed to be little concern about whether something unfortunate like this would occur and plenty of talk of how great it is to keep Quinn in the starting role.

To be clear, I am not a fan of Coach Crennel. I just don't think that pulling Quinn was as horrible an idea as some make it out to be and it wasn't just favoritism towards Anderson. Crennel said himself that the injury was a big factor in his decision to pull Quinn. Whether he should have played him at all is another story.

Unfortunately, it is now after the fact and there is the benefit of hindsight where vision is 20-20.

Is Brady Quinn the Answer the Browns Have Been Searching for?

Robert Rozboril — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:21:33 -0500

Ever since the Browns drafted Brady Quinn in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, he has been a star in Cleveland. Almost everywhere you went in the city last year you could find at least one person wearing a Quinn No. 10 jersey.

And chances are if you asked around about which player people were most excited about, you'd find more than a hand-full of his die-hard groupees singing his praises.

I've got to say, that's pretty good for a guy who before last week had never started a game in the NFL. It's especially amazing when the Browns' actual starting quarterback (at the time) was having a year that propelled him into the Pro Bowl.

That being said, Quinn has impressed so far in his first two regular season appearances for the Browns, both of which came down to the wire with one resulting in his first career win.

This seems to be enough to convince some that he may be just what the Browns have been looking for to fill that giant question mark at QB once and for all. But, when it comes to making predictions about the future, look at the past.

The Browns have had numerous starting QBs since they came back in 1999. In '99, No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch was the end all be all for the Browns. He was going to be the foundation for a budding franchise.

However, by 2004 Couch wasn't cutting it anymore so they went to veteran Jeff Garcia who did no better. Kelly Holcomb who led the Browns in the 2002-03 playoffs was also at one point thought by some to be the answer. But that didn't pan out.

After a brief stint with Trent Dilfer, Cleveland turned to Charlie Frye who was a bust and then there was Derek Anderson. He fought his way into the starting job and then there they were back in the playoff race with a Pro Bowl quarterback in Anderson. But this year, not so much.

Does anyone else notice a trend here?

Now, Brady Quinn without a doubt seems to have the tools to be successful in the NFL but the time for Cleveland fans to get their hopes up yet again is not here. It won't be here for at least a year or two if it comes at all.

He is still young and I think that Quinn will benefit from the time he's had to grow on the sidelines, which is something their last rookie phenom, Tim Couch, never had.

Although Quinn has been all right so far, only time will tell if he can be truly successful under center for the Browns in the long-run.

FYI: Some other starting QBs for the Browns over the years according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer whom I won't even attempt to list chronologically are Ty Detmer, Spergon Wynn, Luke McCown, and Doug Pederson.

Is LeBron James Tired?

Robert Rozboril — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:54:19 -0500

To anyone who’s watched LeBron James play within the past two weeks, the idea that he might be worn out from a summer playing for the U.S. Olympic team probably seems about as ridiculous as the idea of the Tampa Bay Rays making the World Series this year. Then again, we all know how that turned out.

From Nov. 5-8, James averaged 41 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, shooting 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from long range. Do these seem to be the stats of a tired ballplayer in need of rest? I don’t think so.

Back in September, the Cavs told LeBron to take some time off to "recharge his batteries," and stay away from the gym for a couple of weeks. This makes sense, seeing as King James is, without a doubt, the key to any Cavs run for the championship this year, as was the case each of the three previous seasons.

There is no question King James can rise to the occasion of trying to take the entire team on his back and sprinting full tilt towards the postseason—at least for now. But how long can he continue to put out the kinds of numbers he has been without taking a breather now and then?

The answer is simple. He can’t. This is why those situations where LeBron is off the floor, or intentionally hanging back to let his teammates take control are crucial to the team, as well as James’ longevity.

The only way the Cavaliers can hope to keep James from wearing out and bring a title to Cleveland is to play like a complete team at all times.

They need to stop having occasions where it seems as if the other players are just LeBron’s supporting crew, all watching in awe as he attempts to do it all on his own. If they can do that, there is no telling what they can accomplish.