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Sunday, October 2, 2011
Berea High School cross country runners strong at Cloverleaf Invitational
Bereas cross country team had a pair of first place finishers in the Cloverleaf Invitational, and the Braves boys team finished in fourth place in overall team standings.
Source: http://blog.cleveland.com/newssun/2011/10/berea_high_school_cross_countr_3.html
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How natural disasters blew through FEMA?s budget, in one graphic
As Congress battled over whether to offset additional FEMA funding, the disaster response agency has been busily responding to a record number of natural disasters. Via design firm Digital Surgeons, here?s a very cool infographic showing where the money has gone - and why this year?s budget ran out early.
Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=a15ce5fa4187a1e824e61cdd373edc09
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Offensively-hapless Ohio State largely inept in 10-7 home loss to Michigan State
Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller was ineffective, along with the entire OSU offense, and eventually replaced by Joe Bauserman.
View full sizeMichigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard (left) outwrestled Ohio State's Devin Smith for an acrobatic interception late in the second quarter Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. MSU safety Trenton Robinson followed the play. The Spartans' defense totally dominated the Buckeyes in the 10-0 MSU victory. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Forced into a tough situation by suspensions, a coaching change and injuries, the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday made everything look exactly as tough as it is. And maybe worse.
An anemic, one-dimensional offense couldn't take advantage of Michigan State's attempts to keep the Buckeyes in the game, and Ohio State's final 10-7 loss wasn't a true indication of how far below their recent standard the Buckeyes are playing. The Buckeyes avoided their first home shutout since 1982 only by scoring on a desperate touchdown pass with 10 seconds to play.
Ohio State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) couldn't run consistently, couldn't stop the Spartans' aggressive pass rush and could barely even attempt a passing game to counter the blitzes. Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller gave way to fifth-senior Joe Bauserman, the starter for the first three games, in the fourth quarter, complicating an agonizing defeat.
Ohio State's only choice as a team is to hope that the return of three suspended offensive starters for the primetime road game at Nebraska next week will fix something.
"Without those guys, we've still got to be a team," sophomore safety Christian Bryant said.
Saturday wasn't close to good enough.
"It's just hard when nothing is working for you," junior fullback Zach Boren said.
All week, Ohio State planned for the attacking defense of MSU head coach and former defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio, and OSU coach Luke Fickell said after the loss, "I don't know that they did a lot to surprise us offensively."
Yet the Buckeyes looked unprepared, allowing pressure up the middle and off the edges while giving up nine sacks. The Buckeyes gained a total of 178 yards, an average of 2.8 yards per play, and 30 of their 64 snaps went for no gain or negative yardage.
And they couldn't stop, or wouldn't try to stop, Michigan State's basic plan.
Miller finished 5-of-10 for 56 yards with an interception before Bauserman came in down 10-0 and went 7-for-14 for 87 yards, including the touchdown to Evan Spencer, in the final 15 minutes.
"It was frustrating at times. It seemed like there were guys everywhere," senior center Mike Brewster said of the MSU defense. "Even sometimes when we had good protection, it seemed like they would break free after four seconds. There's not much to say, I guess."
What, typically, is the answer to that kind of defensive pressure?
"You've got to pass the ball," Brewster said. "You've got to get them out of there. That's really the only thing you can do. Pass the ball and hopefully that will draw them back a little bit."
Miller, clearly, isn't prepared to read complex defensive looks, or make quick decisions under pressure. Few, if any, true freshmen quarterbacks are. So he hesitated at times, and when he didn't throw, he wasn't able to do anything to hurt Michigan State as a runner, gaining five positive yards but absorbing 32 negative yards on the ground.
But Ohio State's game plan did little to help Miller's cause. It featured few short, quick passes and few of the misdirection run plays or screens that might cause the Spartans to put on the breaks a bit.
Missing those suspended players -- receiver DeVier Posey, running back Dan Herron and tackle Mike Adams -- as well as injured receiver Corey "Philly" Brown and departed quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive coordinator Jim Bollman's plan seemed to point exactly at what the Buckeyes didn't have.
"I think we should have done a couple quick routes," junior running back Jordan Hall said. "When they're in man, do a couple quick routes and get the ball out faster."
"It just got to the point where they started bringing seven or eight guys and just playing the run," running back Carlos Hyde said. "We couldn't pass the ball, so they just played the run. It my opinion it was more than we could handle.
"Right now, I feel like people are just thinking, 'They can't pass,' so they stack the box."
Hyde, who carried five times for 33 yards, was so frustrated, he forgot the Buckeyes got on the board. "I know our guys are capable of scoring points. It's frustrating we couldn't score," he said.
It felt that way. Practically for both teams.
Michigan State receiver B.J. Cunningham was the lone spark as the best offensive player on the field, with nine catches for 154 yards. His 33-yard touchdown in the first quarter was nearly all the Spartans needed. His 52-yard catch in the third quarter also helped change field position, and that led eventually led to Dan Conroy's 50-yard field goal.
Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins allowed the Buckeyes to hang around, with two interceptions, and several other close calls, among his 250 passing yards. The Spartans had 321 yards to Ohio State's 178.
Though the defense kept the Buckeyes in the game, it wasn't enough to win it.
"Of course it hurts. But we'll get after it, trust me," Bryant said. "Our offense has got some work to do. They've got some work to do. But they'll get better."
Just like after the 24-6 loss to Miami in week three, it's hard to imagine that it could get worse.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2011/10/hapless_ohio_state_shut_out_at.html
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A final with a difference
Barry Coughlan
MUNSTER and Leinster A Schools met in an interprovincial game at Musgrave Park this week and it was a break with tradition.
In years gone by, these two teams would have had representatives from a mere handful of well known schools; in Munster probably the likes of Newtown School, Waterpark, Midleton College and Bandon Grammar, in Leinster schools such as St Columba’s, Newpark or Sandford Park.
The ground rules have changed and there were no less than 30 schools represented, with both showing the colours of 15; each and every one of the players looked comfortable in possibly unfamiliar surroundings, and it might even be appropriate for some to go on to play at a higher level.
Leinster backs coach Ian McKinley, whose professional rugby career came to an unfortunate end in recent weeks – he lost the sight of one eye – is a former Leinster Schools A player (St Columba’s) and he welcomed the development where youngsters from a variety of schools not known for their rugby prowess have been given a chance to shine.
“It’s a brilliant development,” he said, “because it gives young lads in the weaker section of schools something to aspire to. I came through these ranks but only three or four schools formed the backbone of the team. I suppose it shows that the game is developing through the province and that can only be a good thing.
“Some people have already come through different routes, Shane Horgan and Sean O’Brien for instance; there is now an avenue for many more. You would be surprised too how good some of them are and I’m sure at least a couple of them will come through down the line to make their mark.”
Eoin Cahill of Shannon and Bruff fame is the Munster coach and he explained how so many schools were represented this year. “We contacted all of the schools in the province and asked them to put forward names of the guys they considered to be their best players. We then got together for a couple of trial matches and that’s how we came to produce this team.”
After successive victories over Connacht and Leinster, it appears the schools were totally honest in their appraisal of students and Cahill admitted that a number of players were unlucky to be excluded: “In some cases it was almost a toss of a coin.”
Munster beat Leinster 30-11 although it was a closer issue than the score line suggests for a long spell. Ultimately, the game was won with the aid of a powerful pack and some brilliant individualism.
Cahill delighted in the ability of the pack to show traditional Munster attributes and said: “You could see the forwards played in a traditional Munster manner, getting struck into the opposition from the start, and with certain individuals sticking out by the way they way they took on ball.”
But Munster also boasted a half back partnership of real quality in scrum half Jaco Oosthuysen and Tip Delaney from what could not be described as well known rugby academies – High School CBS Clonmel and Pobalscoil Corca Dhuibhne respectively!
Oosthuysen’s low centre of gravity, powerful frame and exciting turn of speed helped yield him two excellent tries and Delaney, apart from shrewd distribution, proved capable of kicking goals, even under pressure.
Cahill is excited for both and for centre Ben Mitchell, whom he said had played full back in the trials but had settled brilliantly into the middle of the field after being considered, on the basis of height, for the second row!
But the coach is looking further and noted: “We’ve put together a good bunch of guys, we’re expanding our influence and hopefully we’re going to have players come through thick and fast from now on.”
And for the record, Leinster had representatives from: Sandford Park, Ard Scoile Na Tridnoide, St Pats Navan, Newpark, De La Salle Wicklow, Dunshaughlin CC, Abbey CC, Colaiste Bhruide, Mount Temple, Gorey CC, Ashbourne CC, Good Counsel, Wilsons Hospital, St Columba’s and East Glendalough.
Munster’s players came from: Bandon Grammar, Newtown School, Vocational School Abbeyfeale, Midleton College, High School CBS Clonmel, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhbuibhne, Villiers, Limerick, St Annes CC Killaloe, CBS Sexton Street, John The Baptist, Hospital, Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh, Pobailscoil Youghal, St Nessans CC, De La Salle, Waterford and St Clements.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/ym16-4Gj4pM/post.aspx
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Cleveland Browns defenders keeping a wary eye on Tennessee's Johnson, Hasselbeck
The Browns defense will face two of its biggest challenges to date: Titans running back Chris Johnson and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
View full sizeStar receiver Kenny Britt may be lost for the season, but the Browns' defense remains concerned about the performances of Tennessee QB Matt Hasselbeck (8) and running back Chris Johnson.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' young defense is developing quite a swagger, but there's two guys coming to town Sunday that could make it stagger: Titans running back Chris Johnson and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
Hasselbeck -- coached by Mike Holmgren for 11 seasons -- is arguably off to the best start of his 13-year career in a new system in Tennessee. And Johnson -- the NFL's leading rusher over the last three years -- is a ticking bomb. Johnson -- who held out 35 days for a blockbuster $53 million deal -- is averaging just 2.1 yards per carry, hasn't rushed for more than 54 yards this season and has yet to score a touchdown.
"He's been waiting to have a breakout game," said defensive end Jabaal Sheard. "Nobody wants to be the team that lets this guy run wild."
Browns running backs coach Gary Brown, who once rushed for 1,000 yards for the Oilers in half a season, knows it's just a matter of time.
"If you look at all the great ones, everybody hits slumps in sports," he said. "It just happens that Chris Johnson's is in the beginning of the year. But I guarantee you this: Elite players like that find ways to get things done, and I'm sure he will -- not this week, though."
"We know it's coming," said safety T.J. Ward. "We just don't plan on letting it be this weekend."
What makes Johnson so special is his speed, timed at 4.24 in the 40 when he was at the NFL combine in 2009.
"That guy has a tremendous blend of world-class speed and tremendous vision," said Brown. "He may be the fastest guy in the whole league. Even if you have him boxed in, he's dangerous. As football fans, we have to embrace that type of guy and know that what we're seeing is rare."
Johnson, whose 98 yards on 46 carries are tied for 37th in the NFL, told Tennessee reporters that he's not in sync with his line. The Titans are last in rushing, and the Browns are 29th against the run.
"I've been running behind this line for three years, so I have confidence in them and I'm sure they have confidence in me," he said. "We just have to get on the same page and keep working."
Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Month, figures the Titans will lean heavily on Johnson now that premier receiver Kenny Britt is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
"He's got his legs up under him now and we're looking for him to get a lot of touches, whether it's on screens or the classic stretch plays," said Jackson. "You don't think a guy with that frame could run between the tackles, but he does great. He has great vision and all it takes is one play. Anyone who's rushed for 2,000 yards [in 2009] is special."
Said Scott Fujita: "He's great at getting to the edges and then finding that cut-back hole and darting through it."
Jackson hinted the Browns will devote a spy to the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year. "We'll have special eye out for him," he said. "We know if we contain him we increase our chance of winning."
Cornerback Sheldon Brown has his own theory on Johnson's slow start.
"I don't think you need to run that well when you're throwing the ball around the field like that," he said of the Titans. "Matt Hasselbeck is playing phenomenal football. Right now, (any) of us can line up in their offense, run routes, get open, he'll hit us. That's how comfortable he is within the scheme, the system, he knows what he's doing. What's impressive is the short amount of time they've had to work together."
Hasselbeck, who ran the West Coast offense in Seattle until arriving in Nashville and working with coordinator Chris Palmer, is eighth in the NFL with 932 yards, and seventh with a 102.2 QB rating. He's thrown five TDs and only two interceptions -- but three of those TD passes went to Britt.
"He's playing lights out," said Jackson. "Any good quarterback in rhythm, you've got to try move him off the spot and get as many guys on him as possible."
Said Jabaal Sheard, part of defense that's second in the NFL with 11 sacks: "This is probably the best line we'll face all year. They barely give up sacks. But I'm hungry as ever. I want to get to the quarterback and I'm looking for another win."
On Twitter: @marykaycabot
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/10/cleveland_browns_defenders_kee.html
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