Factory Lines: Karlos Dansby, Corey Kluber, Jason Kipnis, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Damien Harris, Torrance Gibson and Gunner Kiel
Sep 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
Karlos Dansby is the type of impact linebacker the Browns have been searching for since Jamir Miller made the Pro Bowl in 2000. He’s one of those players who always seems to be in the mix. Where there’s a ball carrier, there’s usually Dansby either making the stop, or helping his teammates in the scrum.
The NFL season is still in its infancy, but Dansby is crushing it. He’s nailed down 18 tackles, which is tied for 15th in the NFL. He also had an interception and three defended passes on his 2014 resume. And there was that huge fourth-quarter sack of Drew Brees last Sunday which saved the game for the Brownies.
Bleacher Report writer Will Burge compared Dansby to seven-time Pro Bowler Patrick Willis after Dansy said he was “The Best” linebacker in the game.
The writer was skeptical, but did the pushups, and discovered that Dansby’s claim isn’t that far off base, as the Browns’ backer has posted similar stats to Willis since the 2007 season.
Dansby can prove he’s elite by continuing to make plays for the Browns. However, one thing is obvious: D’Qwell Jackson has tons of respect among Browns Backers across the country, but Dansby has shown he’s a huge upgrade at the position.
• One win can really change the narrative. Football Outsiders has given the Browns a 19 percent chance of making the playoffs following their upset over the Saints. This figure is up 5.8 percent following the Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh.
Sep 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Indians
Ace Corey Kluber helped the Indians get off their September Slide, at least for the time being, with a brilliant effort against the Astros last night. The Klubot was his old nasty self, allowing just one run on seven hits in seven innings of work. His 14 strikeouts were a CAREER HIGH.
The last Tribesman to fan 14 was the ageless Bartolo Colon. That happened in 1998. The last Indian to fan 15 was lefty Greg Swindell, who did so in 1987.
Kluber is 16-9 with a 2.54 ERA and has whiffed 244 in 219 2/3 innings. His K-count is the second best in baseball, trailing only David Price‘s 250. This was Kluber 9th game of the season with at least 10 strikeouts, which is the most such games by an Indians pitcher since Sam McDowell in 1970.
Perhaps the Beyond the Box Score Blog at SB Nation is right. The Klubot should be the AL Cy Young Award winner.
• Fan Graphs gives the Indians a 1.5 percent chance of making the playoffs. As I told my 3-year-old daughter, it’d be more likely for Rocky Colovito to drive to our home and cook us dinner than it would be for Cleveland to play October baseball. She looked at me like I was speaking Chinese, but I think you get the point.
• We all know Jason Kipnis isn’t holding his weight at the plate this season, but FOS Writer Jay Frierson took a look at the JK Kid’s play at second base.
Jay argues fKipnis would be better off in the outfield, which is his natural position.
Cleveland Cavaliers
• LeBron James thinks Kyrie Irving can be the best point guard in the NBA. With two other superstars on the floor, he better be. Irving no longer has to force shots, which he’s done because of the talent-depleted teams he’s played on the past couple seasons.
Kyrie can think “pass first,” and distribute to LBJ, Love, and whomever else is on the floor.
Ohio State Buckeyes
* Could Ohio State land two big-time offensive recruits in quarterback Torrance Gibson and running back Damien Harris.
Sep 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel (11) looks to pass during the third quarter against the Toledo Rockets at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Eleven Warriors Mailbag Column addressed the matter:
“…I’d say the chances the Buckeyes land one of those two are pretty darn good. The chances they’d land them both? Also pretty good. Torrance Gibson and Damien Harris have been priorities for the staff for sometime and the Buckeyes have put themselves in a great position to land them both. It’s likely that Ohio State ends up in the top two for each of them and as of today, I personally think Ohio State is the winner in both cases.”
• Urban Meyer has 10 more days to prep for the University of Cincinnati, and Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel has his attention, after Kiel through for 418 yards and six TDs against Toledo last week, via the Columbus Dispatch.
Kiel is a former Mr. Indiana football, who was rated as the No. 1 quarterback prospect for the class of 2012 by Scout.com and Rivals.com.
He enrolled early at Notre Dame in January 2012, but decided to transfer to UC after being buried on the depth chart.