WZIP High School Basketball Game of the Week

High School Basketball season is upon us, and tonight marks the second edition as Dave Lubich and Brooks Wagler will have the call from Tallmadge High School.

Tonight's match up between the Barberton Magics and the Tallmadge Blue Devils can be heard on 88.1 WZIP-FM.

And don't forget that the game can be streamed live at www.wzip.fm, for those of you who live outside Northeast Ohio.

Tip off for this Suburban League contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

When you here the words "Its Game Time!!!" keep it locked on Z88.

New "Czar" for The Cleveland Browns?

As we all know by now, former Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren has spent the last two days meeting with the Cleveland Browns about running their football operations.

Browns owner Randy Lerner is looking for someone who is serious and a credible leader, well I think your man is standing right in front of you.

In the past, the Browns have had General Managers with little or no experience at all, and it has definitely showed with the product on the field.

Apparently the Browns have done some research this time, lets examine:

1.) He's from the Bill Walsh coaching tree and not the Bill Belichick one.

2.) He won a Superbowl as head coach of the Packers and would have won a second one, if not for
John Elway.

3.) He led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl appearance...so he's lead two different teams to the Superbowl...the man knows how to win football games.

4.) The man knows how to coach young quarterbacks, such as...Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Farve, and Matt Hasselbeck. If the Browns decide to keep Brady Quinn or draft a quarterback...I think we are in good shape.

The thing the Browns have lacked since returning to the NFL in 1999, is experience in the front office. Mike Holmgren has that experience the Browns need to fix the franchise.

Now he's going to have a difficult road ahead of him, if he wants the job. For example... if he should keep current head coach Eric Mangini. Alright, maybe that one's not so hard.

But before I get ahead of myself, three things need to happen. And they are...
A.) They Browns offer him the job
B.) He wants the job
C.) And the money is right

Mike Holmgren is the right man for the job, and Randy Lerner knows that. The City of Cleveland is hungry for a winner Mr. Lerner. On behalf of Browns fans everywhere, I say...make it happen!!!

The SPT Show for 12-6-2009

Tune into the SPT Show today from 4 to 7 p.m. with The Big Chief Ian Tayek, The Dr. Dave Lubich, and Brooks Wagler on 88.1 WZIP-FM or online at www.wzip.fm

Give us a call at 330-972-8888!!!!!!!!

Temple vs. Akron Pregame

Hope you enjoy...

Oh and by the way, watch out for the Dr.'s O face

Kent State vs. Akron Pregame

The Dr. and Baldy are back with your Countdown to Kickoff Show...

Enjoy!!!

Today on the SPT Show

Brooks Wagler will be your host on today's show. Along side him will be myself Dave Lubich and Casey Church.

Today on the SPT Show, we will recap the Packers, Browns game and give our thoughts and opinions on outcome.

We will also preview the 2009-10 NBA season and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Are good enough to claim their first NBA title?

The Cleveland Indians have hired Manny Acta as their new manager. We will give you our take on the decision.

All this and much more on today's SPT Show.

WZIP High School Football Game of the Week

Tune in the WZIP High School Football Game of the week at 7p.m. as we will be coming to you live from Medina for a contest between the Solon Comets and the Medina Battling Bees.

Dave Lubich and Brooks Wagler will have the call.

Station: 88.1 WZIP-FM

Crash The Net Podcast Ep #2

Here is episode two of the Crash the Net NHL podcast. (Recorded last Friday 10/17/09)

Next episode in two weeks!

Part 1:


Part 2:

Listen to the Power Talk Program Today

Tune into The SPT Show this afternoon at 4p.m. with Dave Lubich, Ian Tayek, and Brooks Wagler on 88.1 WZIP-FM.

And for those around the world, you can listen online at www.wzip.fm

"Crash The Net" NHL West Preview

Here is part 2 of the debut episode of Crash The Net. New ep up before Sunday.

Central Preview:


Northwest Preview:


Pacific Preview:

SPT NFL Power Rankings

The Broncos are stampeding through the Power Talk NFL rankings and the Giants just keep toying with bad teams.

Through five weeks the cream of the NFL is starting to separate itself.

This week's match up between the Giants and the Saints might be the regular season game of the year.

The Week 5 NFL Power teams:

1. (1) New York Giants (5-0) - The Giants defense is incredible week in and week out. They get a real test this week against Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense.

2. (2) New Orleans (4-0) - Drew Brees and his Saints can march into first place if they beat the Giants this week in the Superdome. This will be no easy task as this Giants defense is playing at a whole new level and Eli has a plethora of solid wide outs.

3. (3) Indianapolis (5-0) - Peyton Manning is in destroy mode this year. He is absolutely unstoppable and as long as he plays like this the Colts are nearly impossible to beat.

4. (4) Minnesota (5-0) - After an easy win this week against St.Louis it's back to reality this week as they play Baltimore. This will be one of the first real tests for AP and the rest of the Vikings offense.

5. (6) Denver (5-0) - Wow. The Denver Broncos keep on winning. Their defense did a great job in shutting down Tom Brady and company when they needed too. If Brandon Marshall can keep playing at a Pro Bowl level he might be the difference maker their offense needs.

6. (8) Philadelphia (3-1) - McNabb looked great in his first week back under center. Jeremy Maclin looks like a great pick and a good second option after Jackson. The defense dominated a poor Tampa team and they have another easy win coming this week against Oakland.

7. (9) Atlanta (3-1) - Matt Ryan tore apart a very good 49er defense. Roddy White might be taking his regular Pro Bowl form and if Turner can keep running like that Atlanta will be tough to beat.

8. (NR) Cincinnati (4-1) - Their only loss is to Denver on a fluke play. Sure they have beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore but they haven't really put up a dominating win yet so I have trouble ranking them higher than 8. Cincinnati's season has been great so far though.

9. (NR) Pittsburgh (3-2) - Rashard Mendenhall might be the answer for now in Steeltown at running back. While Big Ben is putting up great numbers and the defense looks like they will get Polamalu back this week the Steelers might be returning to form.

10. (10) New York Jets (3-2) - A tough, close loss to Miami but Edwards seems to be the difference maker that the offense needed. It looks like it will be a dead heat in the AFC East between the Jets and Pats for the division title.

On the Waiting List: Baltimore, Chicago, Green Bay, New England, San Francisco

NR - Not Ranked in last weeks poll.

"Crash The Net" NHL Podcast: East Preview

Z88 Sports is proud to introduce the first of what we hope will be many podcasts on the SPT Show blog: "Crash The Net" Our new hockey show where Matt Himler and myself, Casey Church will discuss everything going on in the National Hockey League.

We're starting with our season preview starting with the Eastern Conference. We recorded the show two days before the start of the season, but tech issues kept us from uploading it. We're also posting it in video form until we can upload it as a downloadable MP3.


Atlantic Division:


Southeast Division:


Northeast Division:


Western preview will be up by tomorrow night. New episode of "Crash the Net" next weekend.

Dr. and Baldy's Pregame Show for Ohio v. Akron

Hope you enjoy!!!

Stay tuned for more posts....

SPT NFL Power Rankings

After Baltimore sat in the second spot in the rankings for the last two weeks they fall to seven. As New Orleans, Indianapolis and the New York Giants stay a top the rankings.

The Broncos have rocketed up the rankings the past two weeks. Can Denver keep their momentum through this tough stretch?

Greg Williams and his Saints defense made Mark Sanchez look like a rookie quarterback this week and its caused the Jets to fall to the tenth spot.

The Week 4 NFL Power Teams:

1. (1) New York Giants (4-0) - The Giants are toying with the weak teams on their schedule. With all of their defensive injuries, the defense has still been in the top five in the league. And Eli and his merry wide outs keep chuggin along.

2. (3) New Orleans (4-0) - Greg Williams has made the Saints defense a solid unit. They aren't outstanding but you don't need an outstanding defense when you have Brees on the offensive end.

3. (5) Indianapolis (4-0) - Peyton Manning. If he keeps putting up numbers like this, the Colts might make a good run towards Miami.

4. (4) Minnesota (4-0) - Brett Favre showed how stellar this Viking offense can be Monday Night against Green Bay. Adrian Peterson was mostly shut down in the second half but Brett Favre was Brett Favre and the Vikings are well on their way to an NFC North title.

5. (8) New England (3-1) - Big win for the Brady bunch on Sunday over Baltimore. Let's see if the offense can play well enough this week against the Denver 'Orange Crush' defense.

6. (10) Denver (4-0) - Defense. They have allowed 26 points in four weeks. That's less than a touchdown a week. That is incredible. Elvis Dummervil is having an amazing year after Denver moved to the 3-4 look. If they can beat New England this week, talk about a surprise team.

7. (2) Baltimore (3-1) - Where is the Baltimore defense? They finally have an offense that can put up points but the defense is shaky. Especially the secondary outside of Ed Reed they are getting killed out there.

8. (7) - Philadelphia (2-1) - Coming off their bye they will have a healthy Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook which will be very helpful. They also have an easy stretch coming up (TB, @OAK, @WAS) which will also be very helpful.

9. (9) - Atlanta (2-1) - Coming off the bye and entering into a very tough four game stretch will tell us if the Falcons can actually compete with the Saints. Their next four games are @SF, CHI, @DAL, @NO.

10. (6) - New York Jets (3-1) - The Saints are a Super Bowl contending team and the Jets are probably a year or two away from actual Super Bowl contention. The Saints defense made Mark Sanchez look like an inexperienced rookie (like he actually is). But the Jets defense still played outstanding against one of the top offenses in the league.

On the Waiting List: Cincinnati, Chicago, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, San Francisco

NR - Not Ranked in last weeks poll

Wine and Gold Scrimmage Postgame Show

Big witness protection was indeed in full force this afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena!!!

Here's the post game show from the Dr. and Baldy recapping the exciting day...

The Dr. and Baldy's Pregame Show from the Wine and Gold Scrimmage

Today marks the 6th annual Cleveland Cavaliers Wine and Gold Scrimmage from James A. Rhodes Arena here on the University of Akron Campus.

Hope you enjoy our pregame extravaganza!!

Check back for more updates...

WZIP High School Football Game of the Week

Tune into the WZIP High School Football Game of the Week on 88.1 FM at 7pm as The Dr. Dave Lubich and myself will have the call from Copley, OH for a Suburban League Showdown between the Wadsworth Grizzlies and the Copley Indians.

SPT NFL Power Ranking

The third week in the NFL might have started clearing up the NFL power picture. But it also brought a few more questions to the table.

Are the Cincinnati Bengals for real?

Will the Steelers win the AFC North?

Can the Denver Broncos compete for the AFC West title?

Can the Jets make a Super Bowl run?

The week 3 NFL Power Teams:

1. (1) New York Giants (3-0) - Talk about dominating defense. Tampa only had 86 yards of total offense. And the Giants offense keeps looking better and better (even thought it was against the struggling Tampa defense).

2. (3) Baltimore (3-0) - The complete and utter destruction of any NFL team like the Ravens put on Cleveland Sunday is impressive. Joe Flacco doesn't seem like he will have a sophomore slump and the Ravens defense and running game keep dominating everyone in their path.

3. (2) New Orleans (3-0) - Maybe it's a little unfair to drop the Saints after their impressive close win against a pretty good Buffalo team in Buffalo, but I did. Drew Brees looked very pedestrian Sunday but he didn't make any mistakes. But if the Saints D can play like that all year and Brees can return to form look out NFC.

4. (4) Minnesota (3-0) - The Vikings would not have won that game if they had Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels at quarterback. I think its now obvious why the Vikings picked up Favre. All Favre has to do is win two or three games this year and let AP and the play makers do the rest of the work. All this Super Bowl hype might be real.

5. (6) Indianapolis (3-0) - Peyton Manning is well on his way to his fourth NFL MVP if he keeps playing this way. He has the least amount of talent around him that he has had in his career and he's still producing absurd Peyton numbers. His only competition is Drew Brees right now but if Manning keeps winning with this team he will win the MVP.

6. (8) New York Jets (3-0) - Mark Sanchez and the defense just keep winning games. Their running game did nothing and they still beat a good Titans team. The defense forced four turnovers and gave Sanchez short fields to work with and Wonder Boy threw TD passes and the Jets added another impressive win to their resume.

7. (10) Philadelphia (2-1) - The Eagles went 1-1 without McNabb and he should be back after the bye which means this offense will only get better. The Eagles should be 5-1 by week 7 because they play Tampa, Oakland and Washington in their next three games.

8. (NR) New England (2-1) - Drumming a great Atlanta team is no easy task. The NE defense made Matt Ryan look average and the run defense was outstanding. If Fred Taylor can keep making an impact expect NE to return to form.

9. (5) Atlanta (2-1) - Getting beat 26-10 by NE doesn't mean to panic in Atlanta but this team was on such a roll I think we all expected a better showing than what they put up in Foxboro. Atlanta has a tough stretch in the next 4 weeks (@SF, CHI, @DAL, @NO) if they come out at 4-3 I would think Matt Ryan and company would be very pleased.

10. (NR) Denver (3-0) - Yes I am putting the Denver Broncos in the top ten because their defense has been amazing. They have only given up 16 points over three weeks which is unheard of (yes I know they played Cleveland and Oakland), but that Cincinnati win keeps looking better. In the next three weeks we should see if the Broncos are for real (DAL, NE, @SD).

On the Waiting List: Chicago, Cincinnati, Green Bay, San Diego, San Francisco
(NR) - Not Ranked in last weeks poll

SPT Show this afternoon from 4-7 p.m.

Tune into the SPT Show at 4p.m. on 88.1 WZIP FM as "The Dr." Dave Lubich, "The Big Chief" Ian Tayek, and myself will control the airwaves for three full hours.

Give us a call at 330-972-8888 to discuss our beloved Cleveland Browns, who are on the way to yet another defeat.

Should be a great show...

Look forward to answering your calls!!!

WZIP High School Football Game of the Week

St. Peter Chanel heads into Canton to take on the Canton Central Catholic Crusaders. Ian Tayek and Dan Orwig will have the call from Canton.

The 1-3 Crusaders look to get back on track tonight as they take on the 2-1 Firebirds. The Crusaders will be playing with out starting quarterback Kyle Dureska. Sophomore Drew Paulik will be filling in. Can the Sophomore pull out a miraculous performance and beat the Firebirds?

Tune in at 7 pm on WZIP 88.1fm.

SPT NFL Power Rankings

The second Sunday in the NFL has brought change to the faces of the NFL.

Tom Brady and mighty Bill Belichek. Not so mighty.

Pittsburgh's dominance. Not so dominating.

The Eagles are super bowl bound. Not so fast.

The Jets with Mark Sanchez can win the East. J! E! T! S! Jets! Jets! Jets!

The 49ers, Jets, Ravens, and Saints are all rocketing up the rankings. While the Patriots, Steelers, Packers, and Seahawks are plummeting just as fast.

The week 2 Top 10 NFL Power Teams:

1. (4) New York Giants (2-0) - With their running game, dominating defense, and now the emergence of a great passing game the Giants are starting to plan a trip to Miami in February.

2. (7) New Orleans (2-0) - I think Drew Brees has a cheat code.

3. (NR) Baltimore (2-0) - Baltimore has a potent offense? The Baltimore D will return soon enough and this team will be near impossible to stop with Joe Flacco under center.

4. (9) Minnesota (2-0) - Sure the Vikings opened up against Cleveland and Detroit, but they destroyed both teams like they were suppose to. The next two games should show us the 'real' Vikings (SF & GB).

5. (5) Atlanta (2-0) - Matt Ryan looks like an underdog MVP Candidate. Michael Turner has returned to human form this season and the Falcons have needed Ryan to be Superman, and he has been.

6. (6) Indianapolis (2-0) - Peyton Manning may be headed towards his fourth NFL MVP if he has to keep carrying Indy week in and week out. Unless they find a running game or their inconsistent D steps up this team will be out of the Super Bowl conversation.

7. (1) Pittsburgh (1-1) - No running game and no Troy Polamalu equals big problems for Big Ben in Steeltown. If they can't fix their running game Pittsburgh will have a shorter season than anticipated.

8. (NR) New York Jets (2-0) - Memo to New England: Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan and the Jets can win this division. The Jets defense was amazing.

9. (NR) San Francisco (2-0) - When you beat team after team in your own division you usually end up winning it. The 49ers have to be considered the early season favorite to win the NFC West (thanks to Frank Gore).

10. (2) Philadelphia (1-1) - Even though they got smoked in the second half by Drew Brees (who hasn't) they're still a good team. The Eagles didn't have their wings (aka: Donovan McNabb) though and this is still a Super Bowl caliber team.

On the Waiting List: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New England, and San Diego.

(NR - Not Ranked in the last poll)

With two-year sentencing, we think what could have been for Plax?

It seems like quite a long time ago since Plaxico Buress caught a game-winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning in the Super Bowl to end the hopes of a New England Patriot perfect season.

The problem is, that catch is only two years removed.

Since that point, Plaxico Burress' life has came spiraling down.

Last season, Burress was supposed to be a key ingredient in a New York Giant team that had all the pieces in place to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

For a while, it looked like Burress and Giants were going to do just that, but, on one fateful November night, Burress helped derail those dreams.

The Giants would never be the same and struggled down the stretch before being bounced from postseason play.

Now, Burress, 32, will have to wait two years before he gets his chance at redemption.

When Burress gets out of prison he will be 34 and likely just a shadow of his former pro bowl self.

Someone will take a shot on him there is no doubt about that. His track record in the NFL is too enticing for NFL teams to pass on, but, by then, Burress will likely just be a feature wide reciever.

Pro Bowl wide recievers are a dime-in-a-dozen and Burress was just that.

Will he ever be that type of player again?

Get back to me in 2011 or 2012.

Sports Power Talk - Todays Rundown

Join Mike Durst and myself Dan Orwig at 4 pm today on WZIP 88.1fm or online at http://www.wzip.fm/ to talk sports.

Delonte West's arrest and what it means.

NFL scores and analysis.

Browns game is on at 4:15 we will be following it closely.

College Football scores and analysis.

College Football preview for next week.

MLB playoff scenario.

Indiana Hoosiers v. Akron Zips Wrap-up Show

Indiana Hoosiers 38
Akron Zips 21

Here we go with the postgame show....enjoy!!!

Zips Halftime Report

At the end of the 1st half, the Akron Zips trail the Indiana Hoosiers 17-14.

Scoring Summary:
Indiana: Ray Fisher 91 yard kickoff return
Indiana: Nick Freeland 25 yard FG
Akron: 49 yard TD pass from Matt Rodgers to Deryn Bowser
Akron: Aaron Williams recovers a blocked punt in the endzone for a TD
Indiana: 10 yard TD pass from Ben Chappell to Mitchell Evans

Check back at the end of the game for the Wrap-up show...

Dr. and Baldy's Pregame Extravaganza Part III

Here it is The Countdown to Kickoff Show presented by Sports Power Talk.

Today's show featured Dave and myself, along with our special guest..."The Big Chief" Ian Tayek

Stay tuned for more posts.

Hope you enjoy....

Indiana Hoosiers v. Akron Zips

Check back to the blog tomorrow, as Dave and myself will be posting a pregame and post game show for tomorrows contest between the Akron Zips and the Indiana Hoosiers.

Also we will be posting our thoughts and opinions regarding the first half.

And lets say, you couldn't snag a ticket for tomorrows game...don't worry we got you covered, as Dan Orwig will be twittering updates throughout the game.

GO ZIPS!!!

Week 2 NFL Preview: Browns @ Broncos

Probably one of the most anticipated games of the early year will take place this Sunday in Denver.

Well, it might not be anticipated but it will surely be a game that might be able to demonstrate if the Browns have what it takes to play competitively in the NFL. This will be the 2nd game under new head coach Eric Mangini and there is still a lot to fix and change so the Browns have the slightest of slights to win this game.

One of the biggest factors for the Browns this sunday will be the play of quarterback Brady Quinn. Everyone saw a shaky and less than average quarterback take the field this past Sunday against the Vikings and already people are talking about bringing in Derek Anderson.

Let's not jump the gun just yet because the Broncos aren't the Minnesota Vikings and the Broncos are practically in the rebuilding mode. For Quinn and the Browns offense to be successful, they need a steady balance of the run setting up the pass.

I saw a very conservative approach to the offensive game last Sunday and that needs to change because Edwards isn't going to contribute if you never look for him. The "wildcat" formation is fine and dandy to use but please stop thinking it will be the best kept secret in the NFL when obviously it is not.

Use Jamal Lewis out of the backfield, especially on passing plays. James Davis is going to have to contribute some way in this game for him to get more playing time from Mangini and I think he will. Mike Furry is your best friend on 3rd downs, so go to him heavy and often.

The Broncos escaped the Bengals because of a little tipped pass miracle play to Brandon Stokley. This isn't a very good Broncos team right now but then again this isn't a very good Browns team right now.

I'm expecting a moderately low scoring game because I don't think either offense will be able to capitalize on bad defenses. The Broncos are still searching for their running game and the defense is still a long ways away from being consistent.

If the Browns can manage to score more than 7 points on the Broncos, they should be in a pretty good situation to win the game. But if the Browns offense struggles all game; then you better watch out because the Browns will be in for a long season and Brady Quinn and his white horse won't be welcomed back to Cleveland after the plane ride.

Yankees show moxy, protect teammate in brawl

Jorge Posada was out of line when he retaliated by raising an elbow to Jess Carlton after crossing home plate Tuesday. There is no doubt about that.

Carlson was defending his teammates, by throwing behind Posada, after two Jays were hit earlier in the game. That happens everyday in Major League Baseball.

What I do have to applaud is the fight in the entire Yankee team for backing their teammate even when he may have been wrong.

It shows how tight knit of a group this version of the Yankees are.

They have built an incredible chemistry throughout the entire season and it showed last night with the entire team coming to support their catcher.

It also lets the rest of the league know that the Yankees will not be pushed around - not a bad message to send right before a postseason run.

At the end of the day, it was certainly wrong for Posada to retaliate and escalate this situation, but it was a much better sign that his teammates had his back.

The best news for the Bombers is that no one was injured and they will probably just lose Posada to a suspension.

With a 6 1/2 game lead in the American League East, Posada's suspension can be a good thing.

The team can see where they stand with their backup catchers.

SPT NFL Power Rankings

With week one in the books here come our current NFL Power Rankings. Here is our top ten power teams.

NFL Top 10 Power Teams

1. Pittsburgh (1-0) - The Steelers had a tough match up their first week against the Titans. The Titans proved that they are still one of the leagues best by nearly beating the World Champs. Pittsburgh needs to fix their running game to repeat though 36 yards won't get it done. The defense is still best in the league but they did lose Troy Polamalu for at least three weeks so it will be interesting if they lose a game or two because of his absence.

2. Philadelphia (1-0) - The Eagles defense forced seven turnovers from Carolina in their dominating win on Sunday. Carolina is a favorite to contend for the NFC South title and they were destroyed by this Eagles team. The Eagles offense was effective with Brian Westbrook back in the lineup and DeSean Jackson in his second season. The Eagles proved why they are a hot superbowl pick.

3. New England (1-0) - The Patriots offense is one of the best in the league. Tom Brady and Randy Moss reminded us why they were so good two years ago. Tom Brady threw for nearly 400 yards and Moss had 141 receiving. The defense is a little shaky but if the offense plays like that they will have a great chance at partying in Miami come February.

4. New York Giants (1-0) - The Giants receivers proved they can play when they took down the strong Washington defense on Sunday. WR Steve Smith may be blossoming into a number one as he caught six for 80 yards. Next up for the Giants the home opener for the Cowboys in their 1.1 billion dollar stadium.

5. Atlanta (1-0) - The Falcons looked great against a Miami team that may struggle this year. The Falcons got almost no production from star RB Michael Turner and still dominated the Dolphins. Matt Ryan looked marvelous as he starts his sophomore season. If he improves throughout the year look for him to be a backdoor MVP candidate.

6. Indianapolis (1-0) - Peyton Manning wins games no matter who is number one is. Reggie Wayne and company owned Jacksonvilles secondary even though it didnt show on the scoreboard. Indianapolis has no worries about making the playoffs and Peyton may get his fouth MVP if he can do that with out much of a running game.

7. New Orleans (1-0) - Drew Brees is incredible. Yes it was Detroit, yes it was in the SuperDome but still six touchdowns is six touchdowns. And let's not forget he completed 26 of his 34 attempts. He is the best quarterback statistically in the NFL but you don't win games with statistics. If the Saints defense shapes up enough they can make a deep run in the playoffs on the arm of Brees.

8. San Diego (1-0) - Narrowly escaped the grasp of Skeletor on Monday night. LaDanian Tomlinson looked old and their offense looked average. Their defense looked good but not great but they still have the most talent by far in this division and should win it by week nine or ten unless Brandon Stokely keeps making miracle plays.

9. Minnesota (1-0) - Sure they destroyed the Browns but they still took care of business and didn't lay a goose egg out on the field (it looked like they might in the first half). If Adrian Peterson and that defense can play that way every week and Favre doesn't throw 5 interceptions a game than the Vikings will be a threat for the NFC Championship.

10. Tennessee (0-1) - Anytime you nearly beat the defending World Champs on opening night in their home stadium thats impressive. Especially when your defense has been taking knocks all season because there's no more Albert Haynesworth in town. The Titans will recover this week against Houston and look for them to be in the AFC Championship conversation all year.

Morgan State v. Akron Zips Postgame Show

The Akron Zips were victorious over the Morgan State Bears this afternoon by a final score of 41-0 in the Inaugural Game at InfoCision Stadium.

Here it is...The SPT Show Wrap-Up show with The Dr. and Baldy

Enjoy!!!!

Halftime Update

At the end of the first half, the Akron Zips lead the Morgan State Bears 24-0.

Scoring Summary:

- 9 yard touchdown pass from Chris Jaquemain to Deryn Bowser
- 16 yard touchdown pass from Chris Jaquenmain to Deryn Bowser
- 1 yard TD run by Alex Allen
- 31 yard FG by Branko Rogovic

Morgan State vs. Akron Zips Pregame Show

Here it is... The Dr. and Baldy's Pregame Extravaganza at InfoCision Stadium

Hope you enjoy...



Stay Tuned for more posts...

Full Coverage of the Inaugural Game at InfoCision Stadium

Be sure to check The SPT Show blog tomorrow as Dave Lubich and myself will be posting a pregame and post game show, along with our thoughts and opinions of the first half.

Also, don't forget to check us out on twitter, as Dan Orwig will be providing in game updates.

GO ZIPS!!!!

Fan's Preview of InfoCision Stadium and Summa Field

Wow, it's almost hard to believe that the day is almost here...

A year ago when I first started to attend the University of Akron, the new InfoCision Stadium and Summa Field was just a big hole in the ground with several steel posts sticking out of it. So little was completed on it at the time, a lot of us AK-Rowdies were worried the it wouldn't be ready in time for the first game. Now, the stadium is finished and the Akron Zips will open it up in less then 24 hours when they play the Morgan State Bears.

I almost can't find the words to describe how excited myself and about more than half the campus is. After taking a tour of the stadium both inside and out, I can only say this: It's Beautiful.

Ok, I will say that it is more then a little odd to have this big football field directly across the street from a Taco Bell. But that's one of the great things about it. To have it on the UA campus, here in the middle of Akron, will hopefully bring out more fans to the games and maybe more money to this area.

And no, InfoCision Stadium is not the Horseshoe... But, at least it's not the Rubber Bowl.

Don't get me wrong. I love the Rubber Bowl. It's one of the most important pieces of Akron's history. But the Zips should of moved out of there years ago. When about 1/3 of your stadiums uncomfortable steel bleachers have been replaced with rotting wood, you've got problems.

The new stadium looks amazing! The video scoreboard is bright and colorful. The field itself looks and feels wonderful. (I could take a nap in the endzone.) And the way the seats are set up is probably the best part of the whole thing. Unless the guy in front of you is over seven feet tall, it's going to be impossible to have a bad seat in this house.

I can't wait until tomorrow! I can't wait to go to the pre-game ZipsFest. Can't wait to help Brooks and Dr. Dave with the pre-game show (Which you'll see right here before the game). But, most of all, I can't wait to open up InfoCision Stadium and Summa Field not just as a sports reporter, but as a fan.

Tomorrow starts a new era in not just Akron Zips football, but for the City of Akron as a whole.

And I can't wait to Be a Part from the Start.

Mission: Avoid Embarrassment

This Saturday at eight the USC Trojans will be battling the Ohio State Buckeyes. Let us all hope this is not another embarrassment for Jim Tressel and the Bucks.

Unfortunately Terrelle Pryor needs to pull out a miracle performance, e.g. Vince Young in the Rose Bowl, I don't see the Bucks winning.

In the championship game against the Trojans Vince Young accounted for 467 of Texas' 556 yards from scrimmage. Now I'm not saying Pryor needs 400 plus yards but he needs to have a miraculous game.

USC has had issues with scrambling quarterbacks for years. Vince Young, Dennis Dixon and others. I was so dumbfounded when Pryor played so little against USC last year.

USC's defense is also young. Taylor Mays is still in town but the majority of that team is young, including their entire core of linebackers.

He needs to be out running, out weaving, and out throwing everyone on the field. Not only that but the USC defense has to bite when it looks like he will run. Bite so much that he can either make them miss or he can get a pass down field.

He needs to do everything.

He needs to be mistake free.

I would like to see more option passes or runs with either Herron or Saine because that is such a weapon to have at their disposal. Being able to run with Pryor having the option to pitch is very dangerous.

The Ohio State Defense is also dangerous. Dangerously bad.

When they have played big out of conference games the last few years they have been torched. Torched again, and again.

USC has a true freshman starting at quarterback. How about getting after him play, after play, after play.

Ohio State's defensive line is full of great athletes. They need to do their job against a stellar USC offensive line. Confusing Barkley will be key in this game and blitzes is one way of doing that.

The defense needs to be able to read the plays effectively and if they get burned then how about change the game plan. Adapting to the opponent is what this game is all about.

My prediction is USC by two touchdowns.

If Pryor can have a Youngesque game though Ohio State wins a close one.

Pryor needs to be better then perfect. He needs to be the once in a lifetime player he has been touted to be.

Dr. and Baldy's Pregame Extravaganza @ Penn State

Sorry about the delay on uploading the Pregame show, I had to wait until I got back to Akron.

You would have thought, that the press box at Penn State University would have decent wireless Internet.

It took Dave and I about 15 minutes to find someone who could help us establish an Internet connection.

Well, it turned out the computer guru in the press box, knew absolutely nothing about computers, and was of little help to us.

Due to us not having Internet during the game, we were not able to post our thoughts and feelings regarding the first half along with the post game show, but Dave was able to twitter updates on his phone during the game.

Overall, the pregame show turned out to be pretty solid. I made a bad pun about Penn State's Rose Bowl appearance last year, but hey what are you going to do.

Hope you enjoy...

Dr. and Baldy 1 Hour Outside Happy Valley

After a wild 2 hour drive we have touchdown in beautiful Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

At one point we were higher than any man east of the Mississippi...talk about taking the show to the highest level possible.

We will continue our journey at 7:30 am as we make out final push to the land of Joe Pa.

Tune in tomorrow for The SPT Show's countdown to kickoff, as the Akron Zips open up the 2009 campaign against Big Ten power house Penn State.

And don't forget the Dr. will be twittering updates throughout the game.

Stay tuned for more posts...

WZIP Week 2 Game of the Week

After a lightning packed week 1 of high school football action, the Z88 game of the week returns to Green High School as the Bulldogs host the Akron Garfield Rams.

On the call will be myself "The Big Chief" Ian Tayek with Mike Durst doing color. Pregame show starts at 6:45 with kickoff being at 7.

Garfield comes into the game 0-1 coming off a tough 31-28 loss to Akron Hoban. They are led by one of the top seniors in the state Tyson Gulley and sophomores in the state brother Toneo Gulley. Green also comes into the game 0-1. As they dropped a close game down in Lake 21-7 last Friday night. They have a lot of depth in the skill positions as they are led by seniors Vito Gironda and Javon Tate. Look for a lot of scoring tonight as both teams bring in very good offenses.

Again pregame show at 6:45 and kickoff at 7, only on 88.1 WZIP!!!

The Dr. and Baldy are Heading to Happy Valley

Dave Lubich and myself will be leaving for State College, Pennsylvania tomorrow evening. The road trip will be fun, but we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Saturday morning we will be filming a pregame show and will have it posted before kickoff of the Akron Zips Season Opener against the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Then check back at the half for a post with our first half thoughts and opinions.

Following the game we will film a postgame show and have it up before we travel back to good ol' Akron.

Also don't forget to check out SPT Show on twitter as Dave will be bringing you in-game updates.

Stay tuned for more updates....

Pacman to CFL is the Right Move... If They Want Him...

Tuesday morning at around 9am, SportsCenter announced that Adam "Pacman" Jones had signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Now, some 36 hours later, It looks like that's not going to happen. It's almost sad when you think that not even Canada wants this guy.

To be fair, he and his agent are still talking with a few CFL teams. But, I think Pacman's stock might of plummeted once Winnipeg said they were backing out of any deal saying "We have completed our assessment and due diligence and at this time we will not be pursuing the services of Adam Jones."

It's a shame, really. I actually think the CFL would be a good fit for Pacman. But, before I continue, I should let you know that I completely hate Canadian football. I tried to watch a live CFL game online around this time last year to get ready for the NFL regular season, and I couldn't get though the first quarter. I can forgive that fact that in the CFL, there's a 55 yard line and two 50 yard lines. I can forgive that the endzones are about the size of Montana. I can't however, forgive that there are only Three Downs in Canada's version of the game. Nor can I forgive that the opposing team gets one point if you take a knee for a touchback. Maybe it's because I've been around the American game my whole life, but rules like these make the CFL almost unwatchable to me.

But in Pacman's case, it's a great idea. If he ever wants back in the NFL, he needs to stay out of trouble and prove his worth. Truth is, the CFL is the closest thing to the NFL without being the NFL. Top talent, great coaches, similar playbooks. I know I just bashed the league for it's rules, but when it comes to talent, they're stacked.

Now, Jones has also drawn interest from the upcoming United Football League. Never heard of it? There's a reason. The UFL will be a four team league (Yes, only four) starting this October. The teams didn't have names until about a month ago, they have generic colors and logos and each team has more than one home field (Two of which are baseball stadiums AT&T Park and the new Citi Field). I hate to say it, but the XFL was more organized then this.

If Pacman Jones is going to play in 2009, the CFL would be the way to go. More money, better talent in both players and coaches and it holds the best chance for him to find his way back in the NFL. If another team gives him an offer, he should jump at it ASAP.

If not, he might as well call Jeff Jarrett up again for another stint at pro wrestling...

The Dr. Knows Best: MLB Power Rankings 9-1-09 - The Top 10 Teams

It's the first of September, but alot of things still remain the same in the latest Major League Baseball Power Rankings.

The New York Yankees remain the hunted sitting in the top spot for the second straight week.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim not only had a solid week, but added a key arm to their rotation to keep them in second place for the second straight week.

The rest of the teams in the top five remain the same with a slight tweak. The St. Louis Cardinals have taken over the number three spot in the power rankings.

The Philadelphia Phillies drop to the four spot.

The Los Angeles Dodgers remain in the fifth spot for the second straight week.

Here is how the entire top 10 shapes out:

1. New York Yankees (83-48): The Bronx Bombers continue to pace the league. They are the only team with 80 plus wins on the season. Andy Pettitte has quietly pitched well making the Yankee rotation a 1-2-3-punch just in time for the postseason.

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (78-52): The Halos added left hander Scott Kazmir for one reason - he has had great success against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers. The pitching rotation now has a chance to be a great pillar of strength for the Angels. Put that with a good offense and they have a chance to go deep into October.

3. St. Louis Cardinals (77-55): The Cardinals continue to get no love, but they continue to put themselves in a great position to play deep into October. They have great 1-2-punch in the rotation, in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, to go along with a great 1-2-punch in lineup, in Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday.

4. Philadeplhia Phillies (75-53): The defending champs have an ERA under 3.00 since Aug. 11, and Cole Hamels has not pitched his best baseball yet - both good signs. Expect Hamels to get things going in September and expect the Phillies to play deep into October.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (78-54): The Dodgers have really struggled in the second half of the season, but help could be on the way. The Dodgers have added aging slugger Jim Thome and innings eater Jon Garland.

6. Boston Red Sox (76-54): The slumbering Red Sox bats have began to wake up just as the weather cools down. The top two in the rotation have been great all year. If the bats stay hot, the Red Sox could be dangerous in the playoffs.

7. Texas Rangers (72-58): If they only played in the Amrican League Central. The Rangers may be the odd team out in American League playoff hunt, but this young team could be contenders for years to come. Their great farm system prospects are beginning to catch on in big leagues making them a legitimate threat in years to come.

8. San Francisco Giants (72-59): A week ago, the Giants looked dead in the water in the National League Wild Card race. This week, the Giants have drawn even with the Rockies for the Wild Card lead. Expect this race to go down to the final days of the season.

9. Colorado Rockies (72-59): The Rockies have slumped since their last series against the Dodgers. They have currently lost five games in a row and are close to losing the National League Wild Card lead. Will Rock-tober V.2 happen? We will have to wait and see.

10. Tampa Bay Rays (71-59): The Rays traded away their former ace last week. For a team that has been on the cusp of a run all season, they not only look done, they look well done.

Quinn outperforms Anderson in good win!

Brady Quinn got the start against the Titans in the third preseason game and did not disappoint. Quinn who went eleven for fifteen with 128 yards and led the team to two field goals and a touchdown. Quinn showed great pocket awareness, great accuracy, and has showed great mobility against the Titans.

Derek Anderson performed well to but failed to throw a touchdown pass. Anderson who went seven for eleven for 77 yards showed great arm strength but did not show great pocket awareness.

Now the question remains who will start and why. Here are ten things that you need to look at the quarterback position and my feelings on who should start at the quarterback position.
Pocket Awareness: Quinn
Arm Strength: Anderson
Accuracy: Quinn
Mobility: Quinn
Size: Anderson
Ability to make plays happen: Quinn
Two Minute Warning: Quinn
Ability to throw the deep ball: Anderson
Leadership: Quinn
Red Zone Offense: Quinn
Answer: Quinn

To solidify the starting position, Quinn has to perform this well in the last preseason game. If Quinn can play this well, come September 13 he will be the starter against the Vikings.

To keep the job, Quinn has to get into the red zone more often and punch it into the end zone more. One touchdown pass every three games is not going to get it done during the regular season.

WZIP High School Football Game of the Week Is BACK!!!!

Tune into the years first installment of the WZIP High School Football Game of the Week, as we will be coming to you live from Wadsworth High School for a non-conference match up between the visiting Stow Bulldogs and the hometown Wadsworth Grizzlies.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7p.m. with "The Big Chief" Ian Tayek and Brooks Wagler calling the game.

The game can be heard on 88.1 WZIP-FM and online at www.wzip.fm

USC to Start Southpaw Freshman Phenom

After a spring, summer and a cracked fibula (to sophomore Aaron Corp), Pete Carroll has decided to go with the number one rated quarterback recruit to start the season opener on Sept. 5 at home against San Jose State. Remember the name folks, Matt Barkley.

The 6'3, 218 pound left handed quarterback will be only the second USC quarterback to start as a true freshman. Ranked number five overall and the number one quarterback in the nation, the time comes now for the young freshman.

To me it's kind of weird that you would start a freshman at USC when you already have Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain on the roster. Aaron Corp provides experience and has more mobility while Mitch Mustain started for Arkansas just a few years back, but I see Coach Carroll's reasons.

What Matt Barkley does give you is a Matt Leinart type of quarterback. A guy that will stay in the pocket, a leader, a strong and accurate arm, and an NFL-type size. Getting him on the field against San Jose State makes perfect sense to me because it's a lower ranked game and it can get him ready for the first real test at the horseshoe on Sept. 12.

Remember the name Matt Barkley, a future Heisman Trophy winner.

Favre Knows What He's Been Doing and Needs to Stop It

So, I was watching Preseason Football on Fox the other day when this came on at halftime...

I'll admit, it is funny. Not "Ha-Ha funny," more like "I feel the need to punch someone now funny."

Not to say that having this ad is a bad idea or that Farve is a sell-out to star in it. We've seen those Wrangler ads a million times and athletes can make great product spokesmen (Look at what Jeter and Tiger have done for Gatorade and Gillette). The problem I have with it is the whole timing of it.

We've been following the Brett Favre Retirement Circus since the end of the regular season. Is he going to retire? Is he going to keep playing? Will he stay in New York? Will he go to the Vikings? Day after day this went on. We all thought it was finally over when he said he was going to stay retired. Three weeks later, he changed his mind... again.

That brings me to why this ad makes me angry. It's not that Favre is making fun of himself in it, realizing the chaos he helped to create in the football world, it's that it started airing mere days after signing with Minnesota.

Not to start a conspiracy theory here, but doesn't it almost seem like Farve planned this?

Think about it. Think about how long it can take to make something like this. The filming, editing, finalizing, buying TV time, and giving it to the networks. He had to of made this ad sometime after (if not right before) he said he was going to stay retired. The fact that this starts playing during NFL Preseason games the same week he comes back to play with the Vikings leads me to believe that Brett Farve is just jerking us around. He wants this chaos to continue. He wants to bring attention to himself.

Look, I love Brett Favre. One of my earliest sports memories is watching him lead the Packers to winning Super Bowl XXXI. I've always understood why he came back the first time with the Jets and I'll even give him credit for making fun at himself in this ad, but now, I'm getting just as angered as everyone else about this.

Brett, if you are reading this: enough! We get that your stints in Green Bay and New York didn't end the way you planned and that you feel you still have something left in the tank, but this circus needs to end. Either stay retired (for a change) or shut up and let your play on the field do the talking for you. That's what you've been know for throughout your career. The fact you were poking fun at yourself in this ad shows that you realize what you've been doing. Now, show us you understand by ending the chaos once a for all. No more ads. No more retiring just to unretire again. Just go gracefully once you finally do decide to call it a career.

I promise, five years after you do finally retire, I'll be in Canton to hear your Hall of Fame induction speech in person.

...Just as long as you don't try and sell me anything.

Vikings Locker Room Not in Favre's Corner

Apparently not every player in the Vikings locker room is standing in Brett Farve's corner. Sources state that some players believe Tavaris Jackson is their ticket to winning football games and others believe that Sage Rosenfels is that guy.

What that leaves are a select few members of the locker room, who have confidence in Favre's ability.

Isn't it funny, that when Brad Childress first started courting Brett Farve back in July, that Vikings players were in favor of bringing in the 40 year ol' gunslinger to lead them to the promise land, and now there not so sure?

This change in the locker room is not a result of Farve deciding well after the deadline that he would be coming out of retirement, after Childress promised Jackson and Rosenfels a chance to compete for the starting QB job.

No, this change was the result of Brett Favre's poor performance in his first preseason game with the Vikings.

Now, I know he only had two days to prepare for the game and he's with a new team, but what the poor performance did do, was create a feeling of uncertainty in the minds of the Vikings player's about what Favre has left in the tank.

The only thing Farvre can do now, is to erase this uncertainty by proving on the field that his surgically repaired shoulder is 100%, by returning to the ol' gunslinger we saw in his final year with the Packers or for that matter the first 11 games of his New York Jet career.

Yeah, when Brett Farve signed with the Vikings, it suddenly made them look like a heck of a football team on paper, but football games are won on the field, not on paper.

In order for this Vikings team to live up to the hype created by the Farve signing, everyone needs to be in the corner of Farve, otherwise this team will be a major disappointment.

Maybe...just maybe...the media, including myself, may have jumped on the Farve/Vikings Super Bowl bandwagon a little too soon.

Play Someone!!

With the college football season starting next Thursday I have a little food for thought. Out of conference scheduling for major football programs might be one of my biggest concerns with the sport.

Now sure there are the Oklahoma State's, Virginia Tech's, Ohio State's, and others that have gone out of their way to schedule a couple tough games before conference play begins. But for the majority of the major football programs their out of conference schedule is a laughapallooza.

Florida and Penn State seem to be the guiltiest. Penn State's out of conference schedule consists of the all mighty Eastern Illinois Panthers, Temple, Syracuse, and yes our very own Akron Zips.

Why doesn't PSU just schedule division II and III teams? Why does Joe Pa and the rest of his staff think it's necessary to have three warm up games before the "Almighty Big 10" rigorous schedule? The Big 10 has two good teams, a bunch of average teams, and several bottom feeders but that's for another day.

We move to "The Swamp" and Gatoradeville. The Florida Gators, quite possibly one of the greatest NCAA Football teams ever to grace the sport (yes I said it, I hate the Gators but they are THAT good) and their out of conference schedule are teams you can find in the bottom 10% every year.

Florida scheduled Troy, Florida International, and the powerhouse Charleston Southern. When I saw Charleston Southern was on their schedule my immediate reaction was "CHARLESTON SOUTHERN HAS A FOOTBALL TEAM?!?!"

Memo to Urban Meyer and Joe Pa take after Pete Carroll, Jim Tressel, Nick Saban and the other coaches that have the pride to schedule a top 15 team out of conference.

Honestly if it comes down to a three team race for the BCS title and you are tied with an Ohio State, Alabama, or Virginia Tech they better get the nod over your teams. Especially if their one loss is to a USC, Virginia Tech, or a Boise State and you lost to an Indiana, or a Mississippi State.

They deserve it for not playing three or four warm up games that the final score was 61-3. And they actually played teams that understand the game they are playing is football and not running around like a bunch of children on recess.

MLB Power Rankings 8-24-09: The Top 10 Teams

The New York Yankees come into the week ranked number one in the power rankings after solidifying thier recent dominance this weekend againt the rival Boston Red Sox by taking two out of three games at Fenway Park.

The Bronx Bombers have the best record in Major League Baseball and went 7-3 on their latest road trip, which included a trip to the West Coast.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have the second best record in baseball and, therefore, recieve the second best spot in the power rankings.

The red hot Philadelphia Phillies slot into the third spot in the rankings with the St. Louis Cardinals a close fourth.

The struggling Los Angeles Dodgers round out the top five.

Here is how the entire top 10 rounds out:

1. New York Yankees (78-46): The Yankees paid CC Sabathia the big bucks to beat the other team's ace and beat the Boston Red Sox. He did both in his last start Sunday against Josh Beckett and the Sox. The Yankees hold a 7 1/2 game lead in the American League East and have clearly been the Major's best team since the All-Star Break.

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (74-48): Despite dropping two of three in Toronto, The Angels had another good week and have been playing great baseball in the second half of the season. The have the Majors second best record and deserve their number two ranking.

3. Philadelphia Phillies (71-50): Through five starts with his new team, Cliff Lee's 5-0 record and 0.68 ERA ranks him in the top five all time for pitchers in their first five starts with a team. He and Cole Hamels should make a dangerous one-two-punch in a short postseason series.

4. St. Louis Cardinals (72-54): John Smoltz' strong debut was a good sign for the Red Birds already potent pitching staff. The Cards have three pitchers with 10-plus wins in their starting rotation and a good closer in Ryan Franklin. Oh, and it doesn't hurt to have Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the middle of a lineup.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (74-51): The Dodgers recent struggles have brought the club back down to earth and to the rest of the top teams in the National League. The team is very talented but seems to have more question marks at this point of the season than the aforementioned Phillies and Cardinals.

6. Boston Red Sox (70-53): The Red Sox just missed cracking the top five after a week which saw the squad go 4-2. The Sox offense looked much better this week, but the pitching did not look good, especially Josh Beckett. He lost both of his starts this week and looked less than average.

7. Colorado Rockies (70-54): The Rockies have opened a three game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card race. They have a very dangerous one-two-punch in Jason Marquis and Ubaldo Jimenez, and a lineup to back it up. Don't be surprised if the Rockies overtake the Dodgers in the Nationnal League West.

8. Texas Rangers (69-54): The Rangers took a step back this weekend by losing a series to the Tampa Bay Rays. The pitching has been a pleasent surprise, but can the young arms hold up? A three game set against the potent Yankee offense this week will be a big test for the young hurlers.

9. Tampa Bay Rays (67-56): The Rays have hung around all season, but still haven't made a strong push at the American League Wild Card. The team is loaded with talent in the rotation and in the lineup, and that push may be about to come.

10. San Francisco Giants (67-57): The Giants need the final game of a four game set against the Rockies badly; if they lose, they will fall to four games back in the National League Wild Card. Tim Lincecum is winless in his last four starts, and, although he needs to turn things around, the offense should shoulder some of the blame.

Browns Look Impressive Against Lions

After an embarrassing preseason opener in Green Bay last Saturday head coach Eric Mangini was furious about the Browns poor performance. The Browns looked like the team we have come to know and love. You know the one with an offense that can't score a touchdown, the defense that can't stop the run or prevent the deep ball, and the one that commits costly penalties.

But this past Saturday night we saw a completely different Cleveland Browns football team. Besides the fact that the Browns won the game 27-10 over the pathetic excuse for a football team known as the Detroit Lions. I like many other people was very pleased with what I witnessed last night.

Josh Cribbs continued to show that he is one of the most exciting players in all the NFL by returning a punt 84 yards for the TD.

The Browns offense finally scored their first offensive touchdown since November 17th!!! Something all Browns fans should give rejoice for.

6th round draft pick RB James Davis out of Clemson showed signs of greatness with his 81 yard touchdown run and maybe...maybe a potential running back tandem that the Browns can rely on in the smash mouth football division known as the AFC North.

Derek Anderson was also impressive in the game leading the Browns on three scoring drives in their first three possessions, making the Browns ongoing QB battle even more complicated. Even though Brady Quinn still seams to be the clear favorite for the job, but you can never rule anything out with this team.

And finally, Rob Ryan's defense was able to put pressure on young Matt Stafford and prevent the Lions running attack from racking up mass quantities of yards.

But, as we all know the final score of preseason games are irrelevant, we can however hang our hats and be impressed with how the Manginous version of the Cleveland Browns were. And how they were able to bounce back, by show serious signs of improvement after an embarrassing performance in Green Bay just one week ago.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting the official blog of Sports Power Talk. The WZIP Sports Team; including "The Big Chief" Ian Tayek, Dave Lubich, and myself Brooks Wagler will provide you with expert opinions about all the major happenings in the world of sports. Not only can you enjoy the radio show on Sundays from 4-7 p.m. on the Z88 Sports Network, but you can now here from the entire team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stay tuned for more posts!!!