Baver Talks OSU vs. Maryland & Dead Schembechlers Announce New Single: "Harbuagh to Hell"

Before diving into this week's Baver Bag, we just received a press release from the Dead Schembechlers announcing a new single - "Harbaugh to Hell" - to be available Halloween on I-Tunes. Click here for details.

Colin: Cardale taking that long coverage sack right before the half was again shades of Kent Graham. He is obviously talented, but how to do you feel he is progressing as a QB and a team leader?

Baver: I like Cardale, and as long as he is under center, I am pulling for him. But he’s not progressing well, and leadership probably isn’t his strongest trait. That said, you can’t dump all of OSU’s offensive woes on him. The game-day coaching isn’t doing Cardale any favors and the wrong routes that the WR’s continue to run have made Cardale look worse. The coaches shrunk the playbook for Cardale during last year’s so-called trilogy, and the results were, of course, better than fine. The opponents weren’t prepared for Cardale nine months ago, but they are now, while the playbook remains scaled back. The limited playbook is designed to protect Cardale and to reduce mistakes. If OSU minimizes mistakes, there is no one on the schedule that can beat them until late November. Unfortunately though, the Buckeye offense is still making mistakes at an alarming rate (117th in the nation out of 127 teams in turnovers committed), with 13 TO’s in 5 games.

Colin: With the loss of Corey Smith, the WR receiving core takes another hit. Overall, what grade would you give the WR's, and are they the weakest position group on the team?

Baver: Grading by Ohio State’s standards, I’d probably say a “D.” I mentioned the wrong routes above; it’s frustrating beyond belief, with Curtis Samuel being the biggest offender. I guess what saves them from an “F” is the mounting injuries, as you mentioned. Smith and Noah Brown are gone for the year, and injuries seem to have derailed the careers of James Clark and Johnny Dixon. Weakest position group? I think the WR group is neck and neck with (can’t believe I am saying this) the QB position right now.

Colin: Who exactly is calling the plays at this point?

Baver: It’s my understanding that co-OC Tim Beck took over the primary play-calling duties from Ed Warriner after the Northern Illinois game. Warriner is on the sidelines during games, while Beck is calling the plays from upstairs.

Colin: If the playoff were today and you could choose the four teams, who do you think are the best four right now regardless of current ranking?

Baver: Alabama, Baylor, TCU and I really don’t know. I had Ole Miss in there a week ago, and was surprised Florida ransacked them last Saturday. I think Alabama is clearly the best team in the country right now, despite having a loss, and after that Baylor and TCU are neck and neck. After those three, there are probably 8 or so teams bunched up, with Ohio State being one of those teams.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks to date and games and lines you will be watching this week.

Baver: 9-5-1 against the spread on the year, a good start. As bad as Maryland is, I think you take the 33 pts against the Bucks. I see a 42-13 type of score. I’ll say take the Illini catching 11 at Iowa. Iowa is definitely an improved team and may win the B10 West, but I see a letdown after their big win in Madison. Tempted to say take Sparty with their spread down to 14 right now at Rutgers, but with Michigan State having Michigan on deck, I’d say stay away from that game. Instead, take Georgia in a bounce-back game, giving 3 at Tennessee. Must win game for Georgia and they are better than they played against Bama.

THE NCP TACKLES COLIN’S BROWNS QUESTIONS FOR WEEK FOUR

Following last week's debacle against the Oakland Raiders, many questions about the 2015 Browns remain unanswered.  This week, Colin and the NCP try to unravel the mystery.

Colin:  While plenty of fans are itching to see Johnny Football get behind center, have you noticed not a single teammate has stepped up to endorse him as the starter?  Sounds like the locker room agrees with the coaches on this one.  Thoughts?

Big$: When I need to know David Arquette’s thoughts on Taylor Swift’s dating life, I go to TMZ. As it relates to the NFL, they aren’t a go-to for pertinent locker room info.  I assume they cornered Johnny and Travis Benjamin, offered them swag, massaged their egos, and bam!  Lame quotes appeared.  Johnny has yet to prove he can operate an NFL offense without relying on improvisation.  If a player disagrees with the coaches on who starts, they need to spend more time in the film room.

Colin:  It appears the almost as dysfunctional Raiders are starting to pull away from the Browns. Seems they have figured out that throwing the football is how you win in today’s NFL. Finding a QB is hard, playmaking receivers are everywhere, except in Cleveland. How is this possible? Who have we missed on?

Big$: Ray Farmer relies on “the Seahawks don’t have superstar receivers!” excuse. Well if Ray was truly seeking to follow the Seattle blueprint, Justin “the-anti-Richard-Sherman” Gilbert would have been buried on his draft board. The Browns have adopted the hilarious “play like a Brown” motto and it has led to ignoring the need for playmakers. There is not one player on the Browns roster that requires the special attention of a defense, and I think both Pettine and Ray are to blame.

Colin:  Who does LeBron start for this week?

Big$:  I’m over the Johnny- mania.  I’m starting The King at Q.B. If any self-respecting Clevelander can support Johnny over LBJ in anything other than a skins game, that’s their own issue.

Colin:  Any chance the North Coast sneaks a win on the West Coast?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  There is always a chance, my friend, but it's going to take vastly improved efforts on both sides of the ball.  The biggest challenge is going to be on the defensive side.  San Diego has one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Phillip Rivers, and he is clicking with a corps of receivers that is as strong as any in the league from top to bottom.  The Charger offense is averaging nearly 300 yards per game through the air and rank fourth in the league in total offense, at 402 yards per game.  Cornerbacks Joe Haden and Tremon Williams really need to step their game up this week for the Browns to have any shot of slowing down the Chargers, especially with safety Tashaun Gipson questionable for today’s game with a groin injury and nickelback K’Waun Williams out with a concussion.  San Diego also has a threat on the ground with rookie running back, and former Wisconsin standout, Melvin Gordon.  The Browns have already made running backs Chris Ivory and Dexter McCluster look like Walter Payton this season and rank dead last in the league in rushing defense.  To have any shot at winning today, the Browns have to do a better job of controlling the line of scrimmage and get pressure on Rivers up the middle. 

The good news is that the Chargers defense is not that great either.  They are nearly as bad at stopping the run, giving up 135.7 yards per game.  It is time for the Browns’ high-priced offensive line to earn those paychecks and open up lanes for Isaiah Crowell.  The Chargers have not had much success pressuring the quarterback this year either and rank last in the league with just one sack.  If McCown has time to execute the Browns’ quick-strike passing game, the offense can put some points on the board.  Sure, the Raiders may end up being a halfway decent team this year, but losing to them at home has to leave a terrible taste in Cleveland’s mouth.  I foresee some redemption blowing in on the oceanfront.  Browns win 23-20.

Does Cardale Remind You of Kent Graham? Baver Answers Colin's Questions

Colin: I'm no football expert but sometimes Cardale reminds me of, gulp, Kent Graham. He has the huge arm but it tends to look a lot like backyard football out there. 1) After 3 games, do you get the sense he really knows what is going on? and 2) Does it even matter?

Brent: Compared to former OSU starting QBs, no; Cardale doesn’t seem to get it. And as of right now, no; it doesn’t matter. He’s been solid against the Bucks’ formidable opponents because the coaches have had a definite game plan in those games. But when the Bucks have faced Bliss College and the like, they have experimented more; Cardale seemed lost in those games. I am happy though with the baby steps taken against WMU.

Colin: Could Washington push Bosa to be a higher pick in the NFL draft? How many guys from this defense do you see playing on Sunday?

Brent: Adolphus is probably not a top 20 pick, but could be a 1st rounder. Bosa should be a top 5 overall pick if he keeps his nose clean. Bosa, Adolphus, Lee, and Bell definitely play on Sundays. Perry, Raekwon, and Apple should stick on NFL rosters, with Raekwon and Apple possibly going 1st round. Jury is still out on Lewis and Conley, with each having only a few starts to date. I think maybe 50/50 on Powell making an NFL roster. Schutt doesn’t have a future in the NFL.

Colin: Indiana gave us some trouble last year before Jalin Marshall almost single handily won the game for the Bucks. What do you expect this weekend in Bloomington?

Brent: They’ve given OSU trouble several times in recent years. Seems the Bucks always overlook them, but with things not going quite as planned the last 3 weeks, I think Ohio St will pick up the pace this week. I don’t think the Hoosiers keep Ohio State under 40 pts, as IU doesn’t play D and the Bucks will take another step forward on offense. I do expect Indiana to score a few pts; they have some players on O. I like the Bucks laying 21; Bucks win 41-17.

Colin: #2 ranked MSU doesn't look very scary. Unranked Michigan suddenly looks terrifying. Those who forget history are bound to repeat it. Are you getting nervous about Harbaugh and company with that sweet spot right after OSU v MSU?

Brent: Honestly? Yeah. I figured Harbaugh would field a solid team by year’s end, but didn’t see them playing this well, this early. Ohio State has not won by more than 11 points in Ann Arbor since before both of us were born… you have to go back to 1961. Sparty doesn’t look good right now, but I expect Dantonio and his boys to eventually get it going. As soft as OSU’s overall schedule is, finishing with Sparty and Michigan back to back is tough sledding.

Colin: What other teams around the country are impressing you?

Brent: I watched most of that Bama-Ole Miss game, and although Bama should have won the game, that’s a good Ole Miss team. Their WRs are so hard to match up with. If Bama gets by Georgia this Saturday, I could see Bama or Ole Miss in the playoff. If I'm Ohio State, those are probably the two teams I would least want to face down the road. Had Notre Dame not lost 6 starters to injuries, I think they were on their way to running the table in the regular season.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks so far and what games and lines will you be watching this week?

Brent: 2-0-1 against the spread last week, 8-3-1 ATS on the year. Took the Bucks giving 3 TDs against Indiana, as mentioned above. Other than Ohio State, I’ll go the underdog route, as the dogs have been good to me. I loved Iowa getting 8 at Wisky, but that line has dropped to 6.5. I will still take the Hawkeyes, as Ferentz seems to have awoken with his job possibly being on the line. And this is not a great Badger team. I’ll go against Northw’n again, taking Minnesota getting 4 in Evanston. Like the Wis-Iowa game, this looked like a better play before the spread dropped; but NW’s offense is very bad and of course faces a tough Gopher D.

Best footage of Kent Graham we could find is below. Remember that 1991 Team?

Going for Two with The North Coast Posse…. Browns v Raiders

This week Big $ of the N.C.P. goes for two by serving up two nuggets of Faygo-soaked hot air relating to your frustrating yet addictive Cleveland Browns. follow @northcoastposse

1) It's no secret that I firmly believe the following :

- Johnny Manziel is a joke.

- Jimmy Haslam spent his years with Pittsburgh cooking up rebate scams (and delightful pizza recipes, love myself a pilot j supreme) rather than learning the secrets of building a championship franchise.

- Ray Farmer is a joke

So when you add up those tidbits, it's pretty clear that I find the current state of the Browns regrettable at best. With that said, even if Johnny started all 16 games with a run-down D. Bowe as his primary target, I never, ever would of predicted a 0 win season. The NFL is constructed to ensure that even the blindest of squirrels find 3-4 nuts per year.

So our visually impaired furry friends unearthed a nut against a fully discombobulated Titans team last week. Is it better than a loss? Sure. Did the Browns do everything in their power to try and throw the game away in the second half? You bet. However, the Titans' will to lose was just too strong on that day. I don't think the playground football scheme of having Benjamin run to the Buick Regal and look up is going to work moving forward. I still think a 4-5 win game season is on the horizon.

2.) For most Browns fans, the team (and I use that term loosely) is a slight distraction to the b.s. involved with everyday life. To Mike Pettine, it's his livelihood. It has been easy to question several situations and/or decisions made by this coaching regime, however I am certain that when it comes to breaking down film, Pett is 100 times more adept than any of us armchair q.b.'s. That win by Johnny was low-hanging fruit for his adoring masses, but the tape doesn't lie. I have a hard time believing that any man that has worked his way to a professional head coaching spot could grade Johnny positively on his weekend flag football warrior-esque performance last Sunday. He doesn't protect the ball, and is useless in the pocket. Keep in mind, Titans coordinator, grumpy old man Lebeau, made a cult hero out of NFL castoff Tim Tebow as well (in the playoffs no less). Mike Pettine is not going to attach his professional future to Johnny as long as there is a serviceable alternative, and if you blame him for that you're in need of therapy.

So sit back and enjoy week 3 everybody (unless you're in Central Ohio, where the Bungles game has taken network t.v. precedence).

Have the Buckeyes Lost Their Edge? Their Fans, Too? Baver Answers Colin's Questions

Click here to read previous Baver Buckeye Bag.

Colin: Obviously repeating as champions is very difficult. A big part of the problem is that everybody loses their edge. This goes for fans, too: it's like winning the lottery and then just a year later complaining if you don't win it again. The Shoe seemed pretty chill considering we were uncomfortably close to a historic upset. Is there any way to get the edge back or is this part of repeating?

Brent: So far, this team looks much like Urban’s ‘09 Gator team, a team that was defending nat’l champs, returned 18 starters, and was a big favorite to repeat. That team finished in the Top 5, but got waxed by Bama in the SEC title game and was clearly a notch down from the ’08 Gator team. Too early to conclude that this 2015 Buckeye team will suffer the same fate. I have to think Urban learned a lot from his ‘09 team. Whether they win it all or not, Urban will get this team playing A LOT better than they are playing right now.

Colin: That might have been Ohio State's worst offensive performance of the past 50 years. Forget the turnovers, we couldn't move the ball anyway. What the hell is going on?

Brent: Too many issues to cover in this short space, including: motivation, play calling, QB play, O-line play, WR blocking, and coaches not being in sync with one another. I don’t think Urban felt they could lose either of the last 2 games and used these games as a giant drawing board. With the offense being as bad as it’s been the last two weeks, I don’t think Urban can afford to do that again.

Colin: What gives with running the hurry up through the entire 4th quarter in a tight game when the defense has been on the field constantly? The read option has been the bread & butter of the OSU offense for the past 3 years. Why were the coaches so reluctant to turn the game over to JTB and EE and let them play a two-man power running game to push the smaller Huskies off the field and chew some clock?

Brent: Inexplicably, the Buckeye offense can’t crack a 3-man defensive front right now. They caught UNI in a 4-man front being unable to substitute, as the Bucks were running hurry-up on their first drive of the 2nd half…..a drive that led to OSU’s only offensive pts of the 2nd half, a field goal. But the up-tempo pace was ineffective the rest of the game, as UNI was able to get back into their 3-man front. Perhaps the thought was that JTB and the offense would eventually get in a groove with the hurry-up, but it never happened. As for the read option, that’s a good future topic if/when the Bucks QB battle is truly settled.

Colin: In your opinion, was poor offensive play-calling or poor execution the bigger problem last week?

Brent: Hard to answer that one, as one feeds off the other. But I think it’s fair to say that this team has proven offensive talent that other schools would die for.….so…..I think the majority of the blame falls on the coaching staff.

Colin: Who would you start at QB this week?

Brent: JTB. He’s played badly coming off the bench, but I have always thought he gives Ohio State their best chance of winning.

Colin: Vegas has to be confused. We were 33 points under the under last week. What happens this Saturday against the Fighting Broncos of Western Michigan?

Brent: I’d say Northern Illinois is 4 or 5 points better than WMU on a neutral field, so the Bucks could be in another one of “those” games. But I think you’ll see reasonable improvement out of the offense and Cardale. WMU can’t run the ball, nor can they stop the run. On kickoffs, the Bucks need to contain Darius Phillips, who is one of the best KR’s in all of CFB. I don’t expect WMU to score more than 10 pts against the 1st team Buckeye D. The call: Ohio State 34 WMU 10.

Colin: Give us a recap of your picks from last week and what games and lines will you have your eye on this week?

Brent: 2-1 last week against the spread, same as each of the two wks prior, so 6-3 on the year ATS. As mentioned above, I think the smart money is on WMU getting 31.5 against our Buckeyes. Urban could cover this spread if he really wanted to, but I still think Ohio St will be doing more experimenting on offense…just not as much as last week. I’ll take the much beleaguered “Bert” and the Hogs catching 7 against A&M, in a bounce back game for Arkansas. And I’ll take Ball State +20.5 against Northwestern; this is usually the point in the season when a hot starting Wildcat team shows you that they are still Northwestern.

LET THE MANZIEL ERA BEGIN (AND END SOON)

The NCP tackles Pencil Storm’s Questions Following Browns’ Week One Disaster. follow@northcoastposse

1. You said last week that this could be the worst two QB's an NFL team has brought into the regular season in league history. After week one, this painful reality is already upon us. How in the hell did Ray Farmer let this happen? With quarterback play this poor, I pity the rest of the team. There is nothing they can do to overcome 4 turnovers. Is there any hope?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  I honestly thought Josh McCown looked good in the first drive.  In complete control of the offense, he led the Browns 91-yards on an opening drive of approximately 10-minutes.  Of course, that was before he got ear-holed as he dove for the end zone, fumbled the ball, and left the game with a concussion.  McCown has not been cleared to play yet, and the Browns officially named Johnny Manziel the starter on Friday.  If he continues to start, I think the season will be even more of a dud than previously expected.  The NCP’s take on Manziel has always been that he is just not an NFL quarterback, and Farmer’s thought process in drafting him remains material for an episode of NBC Dateline.  It deserves a two-hour special creepily narrated by Keith Morrison. 

I would love to see a Johnny-led squad lineup in the sandlot against Brett Favre’s team in a Wranglers commercial, but he does not have the arm strength to QB the Browns.  Outside of the 54-yard bomb he threw to Travis Benjamin, Manziel struggled to get the ball downfield, particularly on out routes.  With a running game that was anemic in Game 1, opposing defenses will likely stack the box and force three-and-outs ad infinitum if Johnny cannot stretch them by going over the top.  To your question, there is little any team can do to overcome four turnovers (five, if you count safety Tashaun Gipson’s fumble after his second-quarter interception), let alone a team whose starting QB is on the sidelines.  Throw in 109 yards in penalties, and you are not going to win, even against league dregs like the Jets.

That said, there is hope.  There is always hope.  The defense played toothlessly last week.  They had no pass rush, did not control the line of scrimmage on running plays, and got beat in the defensive backfield.  This week they play at home against the Titans, who were one of the worst teams in the league last year and are starting a rookie quarterback in Heisman-trophy winner, and national-championship loser, Marcus Mariota.  There is no more prime opportunity for redemption.  If the Browns can also avoid turnovers and run the ball with some effectiveness, they can be competitive, at least.   I am expecting a big turnaround.  Browns win in a tight one.

2. Who should LeBron replace in this week's starting line up?

Big $: Due to my well documented disdain for ole Johnny, it would be too easy to throw LBJ in as signal caller. In all honesty, I’d probably prefer a 2 man system of K. Love (for his sweet touch) and Kyrie (read option ball skills and elusiveness) if I was going to summon a C-Town cager to lead the offense. With that said, it almost becomes comical when you use the names Gary Barnidge and LeBron James anywhere near each other in a paragraph relating to athletics. I would without question, trot The King out at T.E. (you’re welcome, Johnny).

3. Vegas had the Browns preseason over/under win total at 6.5. After week one, if you had to bet all your gold chains on the over or under now, where would you put the line?  What is a realistic win total for this group of dawgs?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  Granddad used to say, “Vegas was not built by losers.”  The handicappers in the desert certainly know the game better the alleged experts that flap their gums on TV each week.  What surprises me though is that the magic number is too high.  Last year, Vegas had the same over-under for the Browns, but the schedule was much more favorable.  This year, the NFC South teams have been replaced on the schedule by the NFC West, which has a chance to produce four teams with winning records.  Throw in games against an improved AFC West, as well, and the season looks kind of bleak.  The first three games are against teams that finished at the bottom of the league last year—the Jets, Titans, and Raiders.  These all appeared winnable on paper at around 12:59 p.m. last Sunday, but if the Browns lose the next two, it is hard to see many other wins down the line.  I think an over-under of 4.5 is more realistic.

4. If he were still on the squad, would you prefer T. Pryor starting over Johnny Football this week?

Big $: To be fair, I’d start Richard Pryor over Manziel (disturbing self-awareness is a trait more beneficial than anything in JFF’s repertoire). At this point, first-round Jonathan has failed to beat out two UDFA’s on the wrong side of 30. If Josh McCown didn’t attempt to live out his wildest Elway Super Bowl helicopter ride daydream, JFF would still be chilling on the sideline thinking of clunky one-liners about Merril Hoge’s formal wear. T.P. isn’t here but A.D. is, and he took some 1st team reps this week. In a perfect world, Austin Davis’s NFL resume would have earned him the right to start over Johnny, but alas Berea may be the antithesis of said perfect world. So let it be noted that I have officially put in for transfer from #hoyerswarriors to #AustinsArmy. Big $ loves ya A.D.!!!!

5. Something positive to take away from this loss right? Right?

K-Dubs, the Soldier: After a loss as disheartening as last week’s game, you really have to get out the Hubble Telescope to search for some positives.  At the very least, before he got knocked for a loop, both figuratively and literally, Josh McCown looked very good in leading the offense down the length of the field.  I know the Browns Faithful are not unanimous in supporting McCown, but the offense clicked when he was under center, even though big-name, free-agent wideout Dwayne Bowe sat out with a bad hamstring and the offensive line under-performed.  If McCown can come back from his concussion and stay healthy, I think the Browns can put points on the board this season.  Once he got carted off the field, though, the one bright spot was the special teams.  Punter Andy Lee averaged 54 net yards per kick, including a booming 61-yarder.  His leg should prove to be quite a weapon in field-position battles.  Rookie placekicker Travis Coons kicked a 48-yard extra-point (which was the longest in NFL history) and registered touchbacks on 2 of 3 kickoffs.  The return game also appeared improved.  Upgrading here was critical, as the failure to properly field punts cost the Browns a few chances to win games last year.  I have heard (but have not seen) that the Browns’ D is going to be among the best in the league.  If we do see a re-emergence of the Dawg Defense, the improved special teams could help snatch a few W’s along the way.

6. What do you expect from the opener this weekend?           

Big $: My general nausea over the state of the Browns probably steals the mystery from guessing who I believe will win most Browns games. So rather than stating who I expect to win or lose, I will say that I expect that this will be the second week that an ex-Brown will enact revenge on his former employer.

Last week Buster Skrine uncorked a year’s worth of watching a snot-nosed, silver-spooner make a mockery of his professional opportunity when he attempted to decapitate Johnny Manziel. One can only imagine that a guy like Skrine who clawed his way into the NFL harbors some ill will towards a guy like Johnny who was probably throwing up money signs when he checked down in 7 on 7 drills.

This week, I expect that the recently jettisoned Terrance West may be looking to seek retribution for not only being traded after a mildly successful rookie campaign, but also for the smack that was talked on his way out. Keep an eye on #35 this week as he may be playing with a couple of boulders on his shoulder.

Big $ and K-Dubs the Soldier are the North Coast Posse and they cover Browns football for Penciltorm.