Ohio State replaces Vrabel with Penn State’s Larry Johnson
January 14, 2014My Cleveland Sportsman of 2013: Ubaldo Jiménez
January 14, 2014Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
The easiest way for the Browns to take Columbus? Win. “Not long after team president Alec Scheiner joined the Browns in December 2012, one of his first trips was here. He spent two days introducing himself to businessmen, engaging with fans and meeting with members of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.
“We are definitely very split when it comes to the NFL fan base whether it’s the Browns, Steelers or Bengals,” sports commission executive director Linda Shetina Logan said. “But by far the Browns have been the most aggressive in this market as far as trying to tap into the Columbus corporate community, our fan base and trying to find opportunities to work together.”
The city that helped give rise to Paul Brown at OSU boasts 809,798 residents – double that of Cleveland – and the state’s most robust economy. It’s little wonder why the Browns want to strengthen ties.” [Reed/Cleveland.com]
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“Over the previous five seasons, the APM regression continues to give Anderson Varejao much credit for any Cavaliers success, especially as a defensive nuisance, where he rates among the league’s best. For the four prior 2-season regressions, his overall APM never rated lower than 78th. Based on the current update, he reaches a peak level of tenth. That certainly overstates Andy’s importance, but his impact on the team’s fortunes does go under appreciated, especially outside of Cleveland. Through 36 games this season, the Cavs had been 10.8 points per 100 possessions better with Wild Thing on the court. Can the NBA put a guy averaging 8 points and 10 boards in the All-Star game?
With Andy, I wanted to raise the readers’ spirits before mentioning Kyrie Irving. The APM regression probably declares him the most overrated player in the NBA. His offense has been solid, ranking as the 50th best per possession player of guys with over 2000 minutes during this timeframe. But his defense? The result that gets churned out is hideous, in the bottom ten percent. The end result…a below average player.” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]
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“But by waiting and actually interviewing multiple candidates in an attempt to get this right, a narrative has been created that no one wants to take the job – despite the fact that the Browns have not actually offered the job to anyone. We’re still kind of fuzzy on how you can reject a job that was never offered to you in the first place.
The Browns are certainly culpable in this, of course, by firing a coach after just one season. But it is not like they are the only team in town that has bungled their coaching hires in recent years.” [Moore/Red Right 88]
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Five players that improved the most under the previous coaching staff. “3. Safety Tashaun Gipson. The 2012 undrafted free agent entered the summer training camp as a necessary starter after the draft and free agency failed to produce a legitimate contender to start opposite T.J. Ward. (Sixth-round draft pick Jamoris Slaughter, who was drafted despite Achilles tendon surgery in his last year at Notre Dame, spent the season on injured reserve.)
Gipson wound up leading the team with five interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, was third in tackles, and also knocked out Buffalo quarterback E.J. Manuel and Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley with clean, legal hits.
Gipson may not have justified coordinator Ray Horton’s hyperbolic claim in November as being the defense’s most valuable player, but he did display a ferocity in tackling that may position him as the logical heir at strong safety if T.J. Ward leaves in free agency.” [Grossi/ESPN Cleveland]
8 Comments
I’m a Columbus native and this town has always been a Browns Town and continues to be. God knows why, but it is. That colored chart of Ohio by county that shows Franklin as Gold is not correct. Yes, there are a lot of Steeler fans, but the Browns are #1. The Browns have their own radio station (95.5) and the main channel (97.1) gives significantly more time to Browns coverage, with the Bengals next. There are also about a dozen Browns Backers Bars in town and only one Steelers bar (that I know of).
Not on board with Grossi’s praise for Gipson. While better than Usama Young was in that position, I thought he missed as many plays as he made.
is anyone surprised by Kyrie’s APM? I mean he struggled on offense to start the year, so his overall offensive numbers are not up to his standards (let alone progressing). Add in that his defense has been terrible and you end up with an average type player.
I still think he WILL become an elite or near-elite guy, but that guy hasn’t come around yet. Of course, he’s only 21yo.
I agree with both of you. With you in that Gipson was a below average starter who missed a whole bunch of plays. But, also with Grossi in that Gipson was expected to be absolutely terrible and he wasn’t. Expectations are a big reason for his inclusion I think.
I tend to agree that the methodology is flawed. The study looked at who Facebook users picked as their favorite team, so non-internet using (typically older?) fans are discounted. These would be people who have been Browns fans since the Browns were actually good. Additionally, I would think younger band wagon Steeler fans would be much more likely to “Like” a page to “prove” they’ve been fans “forever”.
Gotcha. That makes sense.
Not to mention, Steelers fans are generally irritating doofuses whose identity is wrapped up wholly in that team and wearing ’90s era Steelers gear, whilst sporting “#1 Steelers Fan” license plates, and stupid “Got Ben” bumber stickers.
So, they’re just more likely to proclaim their fandom on social media.
Waiters still being a problem:
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/13/report-cavs-players-growing-more-frustrated-with-dion-waiters/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs