Why Can't OSU Pass Downfield Anymore? Baver Ponders the Question.

Colin: Nobody seems to have an answer for the lack of downfield passing. Do you have a theory? Who is to blame? Who needs to step up?  Can it be fixed in time to win the Big Ten?

Baver: At this point, I think it’s three things: (1) Receivers struggle to get open, and WR coach Zach Smith’s days may be numbered here; (2) When receivers do get open, JT at times doesn’t find them or misfires; and (3) The offense is out of sync…the timing just isn’t there. Can it be fixed? Well, it can improve, and I think it will. And yeah, the Bucks can still win the Big Ten.

Colin: Is it me, or did we go from being a "tempo" team to a group that barely gets the ball snapped before the play clock hits zero? Is this by design?

Baver: The tempo has definitely slowed down, and this ties back to the offensive timing being off. They had to slow things down, partly because of this. And it also seems like there have been more audibles called this year, as defenses seem to have scouted Ohio State pretty well. Obviously it takes additional time when JT has to audible. And as the tempo has slowed, so has Ohio State’s success on offense.

Colin: Northwestern played a lot of pitch and catch with one good QB and one good WR. They sure made it look simple. Are our coaches over thinking this? And could that Northwestern QB play on Sundays?

Baver: This is sad to say, but Ohio State does not have a WR that measures up with NW’s Austin Carr, a former walk-on. Think about that for a second. And JT can’t throw the ball like Clayton Thorson, who will indeed play on Sundays. He had a very rough true-freshman year last season, but the NFL scouts still had him rated high before his sophomore season even began.

Colin: I feel like the D has played pretty well all things considered. Do you feel like they have held up their end of the bargain?

Baver: They are playing better than the offense is right now….but I am surprised at the some of the long drives they give up, seemingly out of nowhere, when they are playing well up to that point in the game.

Colin: Our tough schedule only gets tougher from here on out starting with Nebraska this Saturday night, what are some advantages/ disadvantages of this match up?

Baver: Ohio State should have success running the ball against the Huskers, but will likely have problems throwing the ball against the NU secondary, the strength of their defense. On the other side of the ball, Tommy Armstrong has a habit of imploding in big games. I tend to think the Buckeye D-line will have their best game of the year in this prime-time game, against a top-ten team in the ‘Shoe, against a banged up Nebraska O-line.

Colin: The Big Ten just announced we are going to start playing some Friday night games. Boy, that sure seems unfair to all the Ohio High School football fans that are the life blood of the OSU program. What do you think of this move?

Baver: It’s pathetic. Ohio State should never be playing on a Friday night. Michigan balked at it, so why didn’t Gene Smith do the same? He is such a sellout. I hope there is major pushback from Urban.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks and what games/lines will you be keeping an eye on this weekend?

Baver: Can’t hit much right now except Ohio State games, where I’ve hit 5 of the last 6 against the spread. I’m 12-16 on the year overall ATS. I correctly called Penn State and N’Western both covering against Ohio State, but I like Ohio State to snap back in a big way this week. Urban is downplaying it publicly, but I think he is all over these guys behind closed doors. Look for the Bucks to cover the 17 and roll Nebraska; I like Ohio State 38-17. Florida State is in a tough situational spot traveling to NC State after the thriller against Clemson, but I think Vegas has over-adjusted for that making the Noles only a 5 ½ pt favorite. Take the Noles and lay the points. And I think A&M’s is laying too many (13) at Miss. St. I like the Bulldogs and the points, and an upset wouldn’t surprise me.

One Night, Two Cities and Six Amazing Columbus Bands - by Colin Gawel

This Friday night, November 4th, 2016

Ace of Cups (Columbus, OH): The Whiles (CD Release), Ghost Shirt and Bicentennial Bear

The Pike Room (Pontiac, MI): Lydia Loveless, Aaron Lee Tasjan and Jeremy Porter & the Tucos.

The Whiles

Obviously anybody who reads Pencilstorm and/or is a fan of Watershed knows we go deep with The Whiles. Ricki C. has been a raving, slobbering fan since their first demos and still wrangles guitars for the Peppercorn brothers. I've had many a late night discussion pleading my case that Colors Of The Year is the best record to ever come out of Columbus. And I've been lucky enough to have Joe Peppercorn help out on both my solo records and the Watershed record Brick and Mortar.  And to top it all off, original lead singer Zach Prout is now my son Owen's 7th grade English teacher. 

Though the band has stayed active, this show is a release party for Mercury Ghost (Anyway Records) their first new record since Somber Honey in 2012. The word on the street is that  it could be their best yet, so needless to say, Ricki and myself are over the moon with anticipation. The band also performs their annual Beatles Marathon every Holiday season (this year it's December 10th) so this may be the last straight show of originals from The Whiles for - ahem - a while, so try not to miss it. You'll be glad you did. 

Lydia Loveless

Similar to The Whiles, Lydia Loveless' early records are so damn good they can overshadow her more recent work. And that's a shame, because although it doesn't reveal itself on the first listen, her latest record Real is her best to date and another big step forward for the talented Ms. Loveless. She and her kick-ass band have been touring since what seems like the last time the Indians won the World Series and in the process even became one of the few Columbus ensembles to perform on a national TV show. Click here to check it out.

Hot on her heels in the national sense, the pride of New Albany, Aaron Lee Tasjan has been making waves with his brand new release Silver Tears out on the very cool New West imprint. Aaron left Columbus for Brooklyn before settling into East Nashville where he has amassed a jaw-dropping resume as a side-player while simultaneously cranking out quality solo work. Don't take my word for it, check out his bio here.  The title track off his latest record is a must listen and a must watch.  Dig it here.  

Speaking of cool labels, while browsing around for this article, I realized five of the last eight 12" records I have bought were released on Columbus' own Anyway Records. One of those bands, Ghost Shirt will be making a rare live appearance to support their pals in The Whiles. I flat wore out the grooves of their last release, After the Spark, and I recommend it highly to fans of power-pop that falls not far from the Nick Lowe tree.

Bicentennial Bear is led by Miranda Sound alum Billy Peake and his talent for combining clever lyrics & clever arrangements played at stupid volumes is truly awe-inspiring. If you have never heard the song "Black Quarterbacks," I truly pity you. Click here to remedy that situation.  

OK, you got me, Jeremy Porter and the Tucos aren't from Columbus. They happen to be yet another kick-ass rock n roll band from Detroit. There is a local connection, however: Jeremy is longtime friends with Watershed producer Tim Patalan and - in fact - Jeremy added some musical parts to our last single Best Worst Night / Hey Lydia that was just released this summer. Like Lydia and Aaron, Jeremy is a touring machine who has built up quite a following around the Midwest and East Coast. Click here to check out some of the tunes. It's great stuff.

My best advice would be to try and attend one of these amazing bills in person, my next best advice would be to check them all out online and tell a friend. 

Colin Gawel thinks it's weird when guys in bands are also music critics. It's like being a baseball player and a sports writer at the same time. But he wrote this, so I guess he is weird. He owns Colin's Coffee and founded Pencilstorm. His latest video is here.

Buggy Eyes and a Big Butt, part fourteen: Movies 222-255

Pencilstorm contributor Rob Braithwaite is watching 366 movies this year, so you don't have to: Here is part fourteen of his continuing 2016 rundown......

Q&A Intro, 1-17, 18-36, 37-51, 52-66, 67-74, 75-87, 88-103, 104-120, 121-131, 132-152, 153-173, 174-187, 188-221, 222-255, 256-287, 288-314, 315-341, 342-366, Index

Ratings key:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ = I can’t see giving anything that I’ve seen once five stars
★ ★ ★ ★ = get to the theater / move it up in your queue
★ ★ ★ = “three stars is a recommendation” - The Empire [magazine] Podcast
★ ★ = if the remote is too far away, you could do worse
★ = if the remote is too far away, get someone to move it closer then throw it at the TV

222
Meek’s Cutoff (2010) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton
director: Kelly Reichardt

Go west, good people. Don’t take any wooden nickels, and be mindful of braggart guides who suggest a shortcut.

Kelly Reichardt is a master of the slow pace and low plot point count. At the very least, you will feel what it was like to have traveled cross-country in 1845. At most, you will be rewarded with a meditation on trust.

…and there’s a chance you’ll scream, “That’s it?! Bullshit!” when the end credits roll.

double feature pairing: No Country for Old Men

223
Just Desserts: The Making of Creepshow (2007) ★.5
stars: George A. Romero, Tom Savini
director: Michael Feisher

Instead of a new “loaded with hours of special features” bluray release of Creepshow, the behind-the-scenes segments have been compiled and strung together as a supposed documentary. That’s what this feels like, anyway.

There are a few interesting stories, most of which are related to Tom Savini and his special effects team. Steven King, co-creator with George Romero, is conspicuously absent. And I’d like to ask the director why he felt it necessary to include a crew member’s tale of sexual congress when talking about Hal Holbrook. See, this girl’s mother allowed her to go away with him for the wrap party, because he promised to bring back Hal’s autograph. Obviously, he didn’t get it, so he signed Hal’s name himself. A great story, right?

watch Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau instead

224
Bad Moms (2016) ★
stars: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell
writers/directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Moms are over-worked and under-appreciated. These moms aren’t going to take it anymore!

One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. I suppose it’s a fantasy for a people I don’t know, but I’m also sure it’s a working mom’s fantasy through the eyes of two dudes who really don’t know the limits of a PTA leader’s power or desires beyond lessons learned from Mallrats: Girls like the Cheesecake Factory and just want to go shopping in the stores they want to shop in.

watch Bachelorette instead

225
De Palma (2015) ★ ★ ★ ★
stars: Brian De Palma
directors: Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow

Brian De Palma is a director who impresses and baffles me in equal parts. His camera work can be as elegant as it can be contrived.

This documentary is nothing but De Palma telling stories. They are all fascinating, even enlightening. I could have listened to two more hours.

double feature pairing: Listen to Me Marlon

226
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey
director: Travis Knight

There is magic aplenty in this tale of a boy on a quest to locate his father’s armor as a shadow from the past looms.

A great animated story from someplace other than Pixar.

double feature pairing: Coraline

227
The Finest Hours (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Casey Affleck
director: Craig Gillespie

Based on the true Coast Guard rescue of an oil tanker destroyed by a blizzard near Cape Cod in 1952.

I was wrong to dismiss this when it came out earlier this year. It’s a much better story than the trailer presented. If we aren’t careful Chris Pine is going to be one of the best character actors of our day.

double feature pairing: All Is Lost

228
The Last Picture Show (1971) ★ ★ ★ ★
stars: Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd
director: Peter Bogdanovich

The story of a dying town and the people trying to break from its grasp.

Goddam. That’s a great movie.

double feature pairing: Doc Hollywood

229
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: The Beatles
director: Ron Howard

You’ve heard the stories. You’ve seen the footage. The Beatles were a big deal when they came to the States. It’s only now, seeing this, that I truly understand how the world was not ready to facilitate such fandom.

double feature pairing: That Thing You Do!

230
Bicycle Thieves (1948) ★ ★ ★ ★
stars: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lainella Carell
director: Vittorio De Sica

Struggling in post-WWII Italy, a man gets a job on account of his bicycle ownership. The bike is stolen. Let the hunt begin!

Sometimes the lowest stakes are the greatest.

double feature pairing: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure

231
The Conjuring 2 (2016) ★ ★ ★
stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson,
director: James Wan

Everyone’s favorite ghost hunters are going to London!

I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before this franchise makes its easy transformation to television. The room of articles from previous adventures are a perfectly hacky way to wrap up each episode.

Speaking of which, The Exorcist has been turned into a TV show. It’s great. Each episode so far has had some well-crafted horror beats and finds a way to surprise.

double feature pairing: The Amityville Horror

232
Sisters (1972) ★ ★ ★
stars: Margot Kidder, Jennifer Salt, Charles Durning
director: Brian De Palma

Either way this plot is summarized will ruin something about it. Why should I take from your confusion as to why you are watching a dating show at the beginning or alleviate your wonder as to where it is going?

If you know Brian De Palma’s movies, you probably have a guess. But the movie shifts again, finishing with a final shot that I couldn’t help but chuckle at, then wonder about for a couple days after.

Like is said, De Palma impresses and baffles me.

double feature pairing: Dead Ringers

233
The Program (2015) ★ ★
stars: Ben Foster, Chris O’Dowd, Jesse Plemons
director: Stephen Frears

Lance Armstrong says he didn’t take performance enhancing drugs, but he did, and now we know.

There is nothing in the script or direction that is a surprise.

watch Vision Quest instead

234
My Blind Brother (2016) ★ ★ ★
stars: Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate, Adam Scott
director: Sophie Goodhart

A brothers’ relationship is tested as the blind one trains for a charity swim while dating the seeing one’s one night stand.

It’s surprising how natural the love triangle pretzel comes together. Not so surprising is how tedious the open water metaphor is in the third act. However, the high likability of the cast makes it all worth it.

double feature pairing: Stuck on You

235
Kicks (2016) ★ ★ ★
stars: Jahking Guillory, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Christopher Meyer
director: Justin Tipping

A teen fulfills his dream of owning a pair of Air Jordans. When they are taken from him, he starts down a dangerous path to retrieve them.

It’s a well-crafted tale of the positive and destructive lessons of status and respect that are handed down through parenting and pop culture. The need for a heightened visual flourish (the astronaut) gets in the way at times.

double feature pairing: In Her Shoes

236
Night Train to Munich (1940) ★ ★ ★
stars: Margaret Lockwood, Rex Harrison, Paul Henreid
director: Carol Reed

Just before WWII breaks, the Germans hunt a scientist who developed a new kind of armor by using his daughter as bait. Eventually, they all take a train.

It’s good.

double feature pairing: Narrow Margin

237
Metropolis (1927) ★ ★ ★ ★
stars: Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Fröhlich
director: Fritz Lang

The working class is ground into the gears of the works of a futuristic city as the elite blindly go about their pampered lives. Revolution is coming.

The Wexner Center for the Arts hosted a screening with a live performance of the score by Alloy Orchestra. It was amazing. I’m sure watching it at home without a live band will be great, too. [snicker]

Nearly 90 yeas later, the visuals are still incredible, and the last third is thrilling.

double feature pairing: Dredd

238
The Magnificent Seven (2016) ★ ★
stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke
director: Antoine Fuqua

Poor townsfolk hire gunfighters to rid their lives of a bad man.

“You say cliché, I say classic” — Eddie Spaghetti

I say…cliché. Flat writing. Flat action. I flat-out don’t understand how this was screwed up.

watch Silverado instead

239
Snowden (2016) ★ ★ ★
stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo
director: Oliver Stone

Joseph Gordon-Levitt concludes his trilogy of distracting accents in this dramatization of Edward Snowden’s exposure of NSA practices.

Pretty good. Nicholas Cage was a nice surprise.

double feature pairing: Enemy of the State

240
Cronos (1993) ★ ★ ★
stars: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook
director: Guillermo del Toro

An antique dealer discovers a device that provides eternal life.

One of the more unique “vampire” stories.

double feature pairing: Ravenous

241
Under the Shadow (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi
writer/director: Babak Anvari

A mother and daughter are menaced by a ghost in 1980s Tehran.

Another in a recent line of horror movies that is a little more metaphor than practical story. Still very good.

a note:  I had to turn on the close captions because the on-demand version I rented did not have subtitles. About two-thirds through the captions were out of sync. They were about five seconds early. This made some conversations difficult to follow with the visuals. And a few potential scares were ruined by a premature “[loud bang]”. So maybe wait for the video release, which will have proper subtitles.

double feature pairing: The Babadook

242
Mascots (2016) ★ ★
stars: Parker Posey, Chris O’Dowd, Tom Bennett
director: Christopher Guest

A look behind the scenes of a mascot competition.

So much unfunny. Improvisation makes a sound now. It’s a low din of affirmation that gets louder as it’s performed more poorly.

watch Being John Malkovich instead

243
The Birth of a Nation (2016) ★ ★ ★
stars: Nate Barker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King
writer/director: Nate Barker

The ballad of Nate Parker, leader of a slave uprising in 1831.

It’s tough to separate a movie about slavery from the baked-in award talk that usually surrounds it. Has there been one that wasn’t nominated for something? This movie is more “enough is enough” than the usual “slavery = bad.” It even co-opted footage of Black Lives Matter demonstrations into its TV ads.

There is some impressive imagery. The pacing isn’t as strong. Folks agree slavery was wrong. Now, more need to see how that wrong is still effecting policies, procedures and actions today.

double feature pairing: Glory

244
Shin Godzilla (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara
directors: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi

What happens when an unstoppable force (Godzilla) meets an immovable object (bureaucracy)?

Lots and lots of meetings (but in a good way), a few laughs and some badass Godzilla action.

double feature pairing: Alligator

245
Session 9 (2001) ★ ★
stars; Peter Mullan, David Caruso, Josh Lucas
director: Brad Anderson

A HAZMAT team clears out an abandoned mental hospital.

Bad acting and ham-fisted situations tie together for an ending that wasn’t worth the trouble.

watch Shutter Island instead

246
The Accountant (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons
director: Gavin O’Connor

Savant or autistic? Either way, this guy is really, really good at accounting. And killing.

An enjoyable thriller that takes its “I wouldn’t say autism because I don’t believe in labels, but, yeah, autism” flag waving one step too far into ridiculousness.

double feature pairing: Michael Clayton

247
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2016) ★.5
stars: Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane
director: Mario Van Peebles

The USS Indianapolis is sunk on its way back to the US. Stranded for five days in the ocean, most of the crew were killed by shark attacks.

It’s a sad realization that a speech in Jaws about surviving this attack is more dramatic than anything in this movie. Maybe more focus on the scapegoat trail that occurred afterwards would have been a better way to go.

watch Jaws instead

248
Masterminds (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson
director: Jared Hess

A comedy based on one of the biggest heists in American history.

The degree to which you will like this movie depends on your feeling of the cast and how silly you like your comedy.

Kate McKinnon, Jason Sudeikis and Leslie Jones are also in it. That’s a strong six, plus Ken Marino in a role that I suspect mostly lives on the editing room floor.

Bonus: it ends with a blooper reel!

double feature pairing: Bottle Rocket

249
Money Monster (2016) ★ ★ ★
stars: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell
director: Jodie Foster

Dude lost a lot of money in the stock market. Dude takes the show host responsible for the advice hostage on live TV.

Never mind the last third as it falls into the world of fairy tales. There’s some high grade performance and direction in the moments of the stand-off.

double feature pairing: Cadillac Man

250
Certain Women (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Lily Gladstone, Kristen Stewart
director: Kelly Reichardt

Three, loosely tied stories of women living Montana.

I can’t see how to make it sound any flashier than that. Still, Kelly Reichardt has a way of making the slightest story interesting. She is able to find great actors. Lily Gladstone is terrific. There are two moments that show the passage of time in two most exquisite ways.

fun fact: Wexner Center for the Arts gave Kelly Reichardt a grant, which allowed her to perfect the sound mix and shoot the movie on film, something she didn’t have money for otherwise.

double feature pairing: Real Men

251
The Hill (1965) ★ ★ ★
stars: Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ossie Davis
director: Sidney Lumet

The guards of a WWII military prison in North Africa take discipline to an extreme.

It’s too bad Sean Connery didn’t get meatier roles. He’s pretty good in this and has one excellent scene. He excelled in other movie directed by Sidney Lumet called…

double feature pairing: The Offence

252
In a Valley of Violence (2016) ★ ★ ★.5
stars: Ethan Hawke, John Travolta, Taissa Farmiga
writer/director: Ti West

A drifter doesn’t mean to find trouble, but there it is.

I say…classic. This has everything I wanted from The Magnificent Seven: humor, interesting action, that great western feel. And it had even more! A great main theme/opening titles and animal tricks!

double feature pairing: The Road Warrior

253
The Laughing Policeman (1973) ★ ★
stars: Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern, Louis Gossett Jr.
director: Stuart Rossenberg

A police detective is gunned down in a massacre on a city bus. Why? The answer might bore you.

The Laughing Policemen was clearly chasing the tail of The French Connection. From the indulgent crime scene investigation to the “gritty” coroner scene, it wants you to know how authentic it’s being. Even the movie poster got in on the action. The tag line reads: This movie is so real it makes every other movie in the town look like a movie.

Walter Matthau’s stretch of playing something of a tough guy is a curiosity for me. It’s always great to see the piss and vinegar of Bruce Dern. Too bad the movie wasn’t interesting, or bothered to mention who the laughing policeman was.

watch The Singing Detective instead

254
The House of the Devil (2009) ★.5
stars: Jocelyn Donahue, Tom Noonan, Greta Gerwig
writer/director: Ti West

Desperate for money, a college student takes a babysitting job in a spooky house for a spooky couple.

A slow burn is all about building tension. It also relies on the ending to be worth the wait. The cast is really good. There is some effective chill. The ending needed to be more.

watch Coherence instead

255
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) ★
stars: Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh
director: Edward Zwick

The makers put little effort into making a good sequel to a really good movie. In turn, the marketing team didn’t give a shit either. So why should I bother?

watch The Presidio instead

Counters:
255/366 movies (50 movies off pace)
33/52 movies directed by women

TOP THREE

Q&A Intro, 1-17, 18-36, 37-51, 52-66, 67-74, 75-87, 88-103, 104-120, 121-131, 132-152, 153-173, 174-187, 188-221, 222-255, 256-287, 288-314, 315-341, 342-366, Index

How Can Samuel Get Just Two Carries? Baver Ponders the Question

Colin: Ok, you were at Happy Valley, what were you thinking as the OSU field goal team ran on the field before the ill-fated attempt?

Baver: When they sent the field goal unit out, I thought it was probably the right call. When the clock ran down, and they seemed to have to hurry to get the kick off, I thought they should have called time out. After watching the replay, the play-clock winding down did not seem to affect the kick. Hindsight is 20/20…I didn’t question the call before it was blocked; probably not fair for me to second-guess it after seeing the result. And I can’t remember when Ohio State has had a blocked FG returned for a TD against them. That was just one of the many things that went wrong in what was a nightmare of a Saturday night.

Colin: Did you still think we could come back down and win the game? 

Baver: I thought it was possible, but doubtful. I’m a realist. The OSU O-line had gotten their collective asses handed to them all game and their WRs were being blanketed by PSU defenders.

Colin: What took us so long to get the ball to Samuel?

Baver: This is mind boggling….it really is. Meyer said Monday that they are moving away from trying to “force” Samuel the ball. Huh? The guy had 2 carries, one of which was a 74-yard TD run. TWO CARRIES! Whoever is calling the majority of plays, be it Warriner or Urban, is absolutely shitting the bed here. It honestly makes me want to break something.

Colin: The bubble screen used to be our bread and butter to get us into 2nd and 6 while still putting pressure on the opposing D to tackle one of our superior athletes in space. Where has it been? What else is missing from this offense?

Baver: I think opposing D’s have added measures now to stop the bubble screen, but they still have to get the ball to #4 more. I don’t have as much problems with the play calling in general as much as most Buckeye fans. Two big problems that are killing this offense: (1) the O-line is regressing, and (2) The X and Y WR’s are honestly among the worst in the Big Ten at this point. Fix these issues and the play calling will look worlds better.

Colin: Is this loss a wake up call or a reality check?

Baver: Both. I think much of this young team thought it was smooth sailing after Oklahoma and it’s been anything but; I expect more sense of urgency from here on out. As for the reality check….this O-line played as if Jim Bollman was still coaching them…absolutely dominated by the PSU defensive front. I fear confidence problems potentially plaguing this O-line for a bit and the downfield passing issues are going to linger.

Colin: Northwestern comes in with a head of steam, should we be worried?

Baver: I would be very surprised if the Buckeyes got upset back-to-back weeks…they should be hungrier this week. But Clayton Thorson is a QB on the rise and Justin Jackson has been the best-kept secret in the Big Ten for a few years now.

Colin: What other games and lines will you be keeping an eye on this week? 

Baver: Northwestern +27 ½ is the play in Columbus, unfortunately I think. Still, I don’t think the game will be in much doubt; the call: Ohio State 31 Northwestern 13. At first glance, the spread looks ridiculous in Ann Arbor, with the Wolvereenies laying 24 ½ against Sparty. But Hairball is going to run this one up big time. Lay the 24 ½ if you can stomach betting Michigan….it’s payback time. State Penn has not covered the week after the Ohio State game in any of the last 3 seasons. It’s a noon kick in West Lafayette, which often magnifies big game hangovers. Take the Boilers g

WWE No Mercy - Best to Worst by Big Vin Vader

No Mercy – Best to Worst

    Another month, another SmackDown brand pay-per-view.  At least that’s what it feels like.  But that’s selling the product too short, since No Mercy this past Sunday was a pretty decent show.  Not great, or even as pleasing as Raw’s Clash of Champions, but an improvement over September’s Backlash, which honestly feels like it happened ages ago at this point.

The Best

    Hands down, the top match of the night was Dolph Ziggler against the Miz in a Career vs. Title match.  The story between the two has been building for months, notably since their previous show-stealer at Backlash.  The last few months of the Miz’s Intercontinental Title reign have been great, and in Ziggler he found a legitimate challenger to his position.  That the two have an undeniable chemistry in the ring and a great story behind their matches helps immensely.
    There were huge stakes for the match, and the crowd was captivated from the beginning.  It really seemed up in the air whether Ziggler would retire or not.  He’s a crowd favorite, and an underrated worker, but the company have never really gotten behind him.  The whole thing actually felt unpredictable, which meant every near fall ratcheted up the tension.
    The match itself was fast-paced, and both men put on a hell of a show, displaying impressive athleticism while also telling a captivating story.  The twenty-minute match was gripping throughout, with the only missteps coming near the end, when two of Ziggler’s former Spirit Squad teammates ran out to distract him, and Maryse maced him once again from the outside.  Neither interference proved to be a credible threat, and the match itself was so good that it’s pretty easy to overlook the distractions.
    The company booked the right ending, with Ziggler dropping the Miz with a superkick and snatching his fifth IC Title reign.  The crowd reaction was huge for the deserving winner, and the post-match celebration stood alongside the bout itself as the night’s best moment.

#2

    The company’s decision to move the Triple-Threat main event between John Cena, Dean Ambrose, and champ AJ Styles to the opening slot (due to the debate) paid off greatly.  The match was a very good example of the Triple-Threat format, and kicked things off on a pretty damn high note.  All three men are good-to-great workers, and with the exception of the Intercontinental match, this was the most anticipated contest of the night.
    The match started off strong, with Ambrose taking the lead, perfectly displaying how his ring work continues to improve.  Dean impressed throughout, especially after reversing a Frankensteiner into a roll-up.  Beyond that, there were a number of impressive spots throughout, namely Cena’s double German suplex on both of his opponents.  The three made the best use of the format, and the no DQ rules and incentive to run interference and score the first pin kept things interesting.
A false finish wherein both Cena and Ambrose forced Styles to tap out broke the action up and left the finish somewhat unclear.  After the two had it out for a few minutes, AJ returned to the ring and easily put his challengers down with a steel chair, retaining his title.
The finish was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying, but the right decision overall.  Having AJ as World champion is a great booking decision, and he should keep the belt for a long time.  Ambrose and Cena were credible threats, and they all put on a great match, so his reign is going along very well.  They gave the PPV one hell of a kick-off, and the crowd was fully engaged.  Unfortunately, just as I’d worried beforehand, it was tough to follow such a good match, and the crowd’s interest waxed and waned throughout the night.

#3

Alright, hear me out on this one: obviously the card was hurting without Becky Lynch’s presence, and the show really could have used another title defense.  Nobody asked for the match between Alexa Bliss and Naomi, and judging by the crowd reaction, they didn’t warm up to it at any point either.  But taken on its own terms, it really wasn’t bad at all, and I walked away enjoying it, filler or not.
Both Naomi and Alexa are incredible athletes, and provided some of the highlights of Backlash’s Six Pack challenge for the Women’s Championship.  Given that, even in place of the announced title match, the pair were a good match-up and indeed put in a fine showing.  The action was fast-paced, and both women impressed yet again with their performances.
Of course, the finish was abrupt, with Naomi pulling a reversal on Alexa to score the pin.  Alexa, as the number one contender for the title, really should have won, and the conclusion should have come about far less suddenly.  Of course, another huge problem was that the match was given just over five minutes, which meant most fans didn’t grow bored, but I wanted more.  Given all of the disappointments surrounding it, I feel it’s important to look at the action itself, and then you’ll realize that the two really did make the best of what they were given.
If things continue this way (and should Alexa regain her spot), Bliss and Becky could have some pretty damn impressive matches in the future.  Given more time and thoughtful booking, things are looking good for the SmackDown Women’s division.

#4

    Jack Swagger and Baron Corbin are stuck in the midcard, and unlikely to go anywhere else, which is unfortunate.  Of course their match at No Mercy was originally announced for the pre-show, but was moved to the middle of the main show.  While it was far from bad, it really didn’t belong on the main card, and didn’t manage to engage the way a PPV match ought to do.
    The whole thing was very physical, and the two big men were pretty fairly matched in the beginning.  Corbin took the lead quickly, however, and much of the match was a one-sided beatdown on his opponent.  It was hardly surprising then when Corbin scored the win after hitting his impressive End of Days finisher.
    Not a bad match per se, but also not the best use of time on the card.  I like Corbin though, and the sheer physicality of the match was at least entertaining.

#5

    There has been a long build-up for the feud between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt.  In fact, the whole thing should have been over by now, since their match had been announced for Backlash.  Of course, as I’ve already complained, that didn’t happen and the company teased something they couldn’t deliver.  Interestingly, and misguidedly, the match went on last and was announced as the main event, despite the status of the opener.
    The whole thing was slow, and the two wrestlers, both capable, hard workers, took their time.  Unfortunately, the pace didn’t really pick up at any point, although there was a good deal of action outside the ring.  It really just wasn’t main event caliber (Ziggler-Miz sure was though) and the crowd really wasn’t feeling it.  The feud has run its course, and really just needs to end after this.
    But here’s the good: the lights went out in the arena, and once they were restored Orton found himself face-to-face with a returning Luke Harper.  The distraction allowed Wyatt to hit a Sister Abigail and grab his first major win (on a PPV, no less) in quite some time.  Harper is by far the most impressive in-ring worker from the Wyatt Family, and things have been hurting since his injury months ago.  I’m thrilled that he’s been added to SmackDown’s somewhat thin roster, and look forward to seeing what he can do in the coming weeks.

#6

    The entire feud between Nikki Bella and Carmella has failed to hold my interest at any point.  Beginning right after Summer Slam when Carmella attacked the returning Bella, and continuing through Backlash, things have played out for a long while.  Again (story of the night?), the problem wasn’t that the match was bad—it wasn’t—it just wasn’t what people wanted to see on a PPV.  Even worse, it immediately followed the thrilling opening match, so there was little chance that the crowd would be captivated in a similar manner.
    It was somewhat slow in pace, but short enough not to overstay its welcome.  The work both women put in was solid, and nothing to be ashamed of at all.  The brawling and hair-pulling that kicked things off was physical and gave a nice touch to the grudge match.  Of course it ended the only way it was expected to, with Nikki hitting a Rack Attack 2.0 and scoring the win.  Hopefully the grudge will be laid to rest now and both women can move on.

#7

    Coming in last was yet another match that was not objectively bad, but also not what the card truly needed.  That’s right, a rematch between the Odd Couple (Heath Slater and Rhyno) and the Usos for the SmackDown Tag Titles.  It didn’t help matters that this was one of the three title matches for the night, which robbed it of some of its excitement.  American Alpha, the best tag team in the WWE right now were relegated to the pre-show while a thrown together team and their most recent challengers get the main spot.
    The Usos’ heel turn did little for them as far as crowd support; even the natural heat they were getting seems muted now.  Slater and Rhyno are at least entertaining to watch in the ring, so they had that positive.  Interestingly, Rhyno took a beating from the Usos and was made to look far more vulnerable than in the past.  Because of this, Slater got to show off some decent work, which delighted the crowd somewhat.
    The Odd Couple predictably retained their belts, which is nice and all, but they still have a shelf life as a team.  It was better than an Uso victory, and hopefully by the next PPV they’ll be out of the title picture.

Summary and Grade

    Overall the show wasn’t bad: none of the matches were terrible, even if there were a few unwanted throwaways and some questionable booking.  The card was pretty solid, and the good matches on the show made the whole thing truly worthwhile.  Most PPVs are mixed bags, and this was no different, but the big moments really were special.  It’ll be interesting to see where the brand takes things in the next month, but with Harper back, Ziggler and Styles holding the belts, and hopefully Becky’s quick recovery, I’m looking forward to where things are headed.

Call it a 63 out of 100.

The Winners
-AJ Styles
-Nikki Bella
-The Odd Couple
-Baron Corbin
-Dolph Ziggler
-Naomi
-Bray Wyatt

The Losers
-John Cena/Dean Ambrose
-Carmella
-The Usos
-Jack Swagger
-The Miz
-Alexa Bliss
-Randy Orton

Pencilstorm's 2016 NBA Preview: Part 2 - Eastern Conference by Ben Galli

Welcome to Part 2 of our NBA preview where we cover the Eastern Conference, home to your 2016 NBA World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.  You can find Part 1 here which previews the Western Conference, home to the first team to ever blow a 3-1 series lead in an NBA Finals.  

Below I rank each team from worst to first and add some predictions for the season.  I've incorporated a totally scientific Swish scale that grades each team's excitement level based on J.R. Smith emoji's.  And on to the East.

Eastern Conference

15. Brooklyn Nets

15. The Nets should be pitiful this year and they don't have a first round draft pick until 2019.  At least Brooklyn's hipsters can act too cool to care (even though they're dying inside).

14. Orlando Magic

14. The Magic traded Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova, and the just drafted Domantas "Son of Arvydas" Sabonis to the Thunder in the offseason for Serge Ibaka.  A surprising move for a team trying to rebuild.  This year brings in former Pacers coach Frank Vogel and the hopeful development of youngsters Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, and Mario Hezonja.  

13. Philadelphia 76ers

13. The 76ers have a new process.  Despite an unfortunate break with number one overall pick Ben Simmons missing at least 2 more months, Philly should see some improvement this year with 2014 number 3 pick Joel Embiid destined to turn some heads and European sensation Dario Saric finally playing in the states.  

12. Atlanta Hawks

12.  The Atlanta Hawks lost their best player to free agency in Al Horford.  Essentially replacing him with Dwight Howard who doesn't really have a reputation for winning, won't be enough for Atlanta to get back into the playoffs.

11. Chicago Bulls

11. The Bulls brought in native son Dwyane Wade to help replace native son Derrick Rose whom they traded to the Knicks.  They also signed Rajon Rondo.  With Wade, Rondo, and Jimmy Butler all probable starters, the Bulls may suffer from some chemistry issues and will be lucky to make the playoffs this year.

10. Washington Wizards

10. The Wizards brought in new coach Scott Brooks after missing the playoffs this past year.  With some tension between star point guard John Wall and his talented but injury prone backcourt mate, Bradley Beal, the Wizards still seem a piece away from the postseason.

9. Milwaukee Bucks

9. Two words:  Point Giannis.  Jason Kidd has said he will at times play 6'11 "Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo at point guard.  This 21 year old can flat out ball and could make a giant leap skyward this year.  He almost single-handedly makes the Bucks a 4 J.R. Swishes team.  The Bucks may very well struggle this year without Khris Middleton but this team will get folks excited for the next few years.  Oh and Delly.

8. New York Knicks

8. The New York Knicks are back, baby!  Well, not exactly.  They did add exciting pieces in former MVP Derrick Rose, Most Annoying Player Joakim Noah, Courtney Mills, and Brandon Jennings but they'll need to stay healthy if they want to make the playoffs.  Carmelo is entering his 14th year and time is running out for him with only a matter of years before New York becomes Kristaps' town.

7. Miami Heat

7. For the first time since 2003, the Miami Heat will not have Dwyane Wade on the roster.   It had to have been a tough call to not pay perhaps the greatest player in franchise history but Pat Riley doesn't hesitate in making ruthless choices.  With not letting Chris Bosh play due to blood clot complications, the Heatles are no more.  The Heat may miss the playoffs this year but they've succeeded for a long time under coach Erik Spoelstra so they're getting the benefit of the doubt.

6. Charlotte Hornets

6. Charlotte is going to be boring but surprisingly effective.  Kemba Walker hasn't quite reached elite status yet but he's as close to it as you can get and could make a jump this year.  Coach Steve Clifford does a good job with his personnel and it's always nice to bring Frank the Tank off your bench.  

5. Indiana Pacers

5. Larry Bird dropped the mic earlier this year when he declined to renew the contract of respected and successful head coach, Frank Vogel.  Bird believes coaches are only good for 3 years.  We'll see what Nate McMillan can do with some upgrades at point guard and forward in Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young respectively.

4. Detroit Pistons

4. The Detroit Pistons are headed in the right direction thanks in large part to coach and president Stan Van Gundy, a man whose disdain for ties and formal wear knows no peer.  No one really stands out on the team with the possible exception of Andre Drummond but the pieces are fitting together well, especially forward Tobias Harris who was picked up via trade from Orlando last year.

3. Boston Celtics

3. The Celtics are probably another superstar away from truly contending but they're on the right track after picking up Al Horford in free agency.  Brad Stevens has quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the league and Boston can scare a lot of teams.  It will be interesting to see how number 3 overall draft pick Jaylen Brown is utilized in his rookie year.

2. Toronto Raptors

2. Toronto will be in 2nd place again this year.  There's just still a significant drop off from Cleveland and every other team in the East.  The name of that drop off is LeBron James.  Toronto fans may point to the loss of starting center Jonas Valanciunas in the playoffs last year but Toronto should be pretty pleased if they find themselves in the Conference Finals again this year in a stronger East.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

1. It's the Cavs and everybody else in the East.  They didn't make any major changes to the roster besides bringing in former Duke prodigy Mike Dunleavy Jr. who should really help all around off the bench.  He can shoot and plays hard and smart.  The Cavs will still be looking to make changes to improve this team if the right deal falls their way.  It's very unlikely that LeBron James doesn't see his 7th straight trip to the Finals which is a pretty amazing feat in this day and age.

Predictions

Coach of the Year:  Erik Spoelstra

Rookie of the Year:  Joel Embiid

MVP:  Russell Westbrook  

Finals:  Cleveland over Golden State in 7 - Super teams don't always win in the first year and Golden State can't stop LeBron or Kyrie.  If Cavs get Ricky Rubio, it's a sweep.