Monday’s TIOPS Buzz Column
Rumblings, Musings, Opinions
1. Josh Harrison showing signs of finding his swing this past weekend was a key development for the Pirates. If it’s a start of Harrison resembling the hitter he was in 2014, could Neil Walker’s starting spot be in jeopardy down the stretch and in the post-season?
Don’t rule it out.
The Pirates’ view Harrison as their best fielding second baseman and the organization has been frustrated by Walker’s lack of consistency at the plate this season. If Harrison gets on a run here, interesting dynamic to watch.
2. The Pirates decision to keep Jeff Locke in the rotation moving forward has much to do with the Pirates also projecting Locke to be part of the rotation next season. The team internally hopes to move Charlie Morton this off-season.
3. There’s not a better receiver in the NFL than Antonio Brown. He doesn’t have the measureable’s that a Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, or Julio Jones have, but Brown is uncoverable.
What makes Brown so special of a player is how he’s perfected his craft with hard work. Whether you put him on the outside or in the slot, he causes nightmare matchup problems for the opposition. Despite his size, Brown is near impossible to jam at the line of scrimmage because of how great of a route runner he is. That’s what separates him.
4. At home Penn State put up 27 points against Buffalo, had just 13 points through three quarters. Duquesne last season at Buffalo scored 28 points vs the Bulls.
Christian Hackenberg was 14/27 for 128 yards, averaging just 4.7 yards per attempt. There were some key drops, notably sophomore tight end Mike Gesicki twice on a third quarter drive, but the yards per attempt continue to scream major concern for the Penn State offense.
If Penn State fans are looking to hang their hat on anything it was the emergence of a few freshmen.
Freshman running back Saquon Barkley gashed Buffalo for 115 yards on the ground, including a long run of 33 yards. Barkley who was the talk of camp in Happy Valley, is a huge X-factor for the Nittany Lions developing any kind of semblance of becoming an explosive offense.
Nick Scott and DeAndre Thompkins both provided big plays in the return game. Scott had a 58 yard kickoff return, while Thompkins had 71 punt return yards, including a 58 yard return.
5. Penguins management and the coaching staff have totally different views on how the Penguins blueline should play out, a source tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports. There is a strong push from the coaching staff for Derrick Pouliot to be on the opening night roster while the decision up top has pretty much already been made that Pouliot should start the season in Wilkes Barre and nothing Pouliot did in the Rookie tournament changed that view I’m told.
That said, look for the Penguins to play Ben To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Grow up Sam.
First goal for my nhl16 online kessel than letang and 2 by Fehr
What would make you think that anyone on here would care about that? Oh that’s right, you’re really, really dumb.
It’s not funny when you do it fat ass… why dont you go outside and run into traffic instead of allowing your ass to expand playing video games.
Douglas Murray another pro tryout. With the flames after failing with them last year
Problem is both the coaching staff and management are clueless
They are?
Maloni must’ve changed his name again.
Jez, that blue line sucks
Gonchar better not make the team.
Gonchar/Scuderi represent the Pen’s Cam Thomas; using up a spot that a younger player with more potential could fill.
But, Gonchar’s ability to run a PP and connect with Geno and the new Russian player makes him more attractive than Scuderi.
Have no idea why they just don’t cut Scuds, buy him out, or trade him for a very low draft choice.
Gonchar can’t run the powerplay anymore though.
Exactly, Sarge hasnt run a PP for awhile now… not well anyway
Buying him out would have a cap hit penalty for next few years
I think someone here did the math and said that buying out Scuds only saves 800k towards the cap. Basically we could have Gonchar or Scuderi for the same cap implication – granted Gonchar takes league minimum.
Buyout period ended in June, they can’t buy Scudder out at even if they wanted to at this point.
Enough with your facts, they have no use here. Pens will buy out scuds and steelers will trade a first and third for chancellor….. tiops logic.
Pouliot is the only one that can be sent down without risk and he clearly is not ready… why it is even a ? is beyond me. Start him in the A… As for Sarge being a lock? We have a logjam on the back end with high risk of losing some decent potential and we are locking a year old up that has not been a solid NHLer for a few years now?
*41 year old
lol, disagreement? You’re right… Keep Pouliot, sign Sarge and lose Clandenning, Erixon or Dumolin to waivers while hoping Pouliot figures it out because… You’re a fucking moron
I have to trust my instincts over D’s indication that gonchar makes the team. not that he didn’t play in the NHL as recently as last year on someone else’s dime, just I don’t think it makes sense to cost us a man via waivers.
They can always carry 8 d and 13 fwd
Pouliot looked bad to me the little I seen of him. Having a solid D partner probably makes a huge difference, but I’m not buying pouliot is ready.
No. 3 was very insightful. Honestly had no idea Antonio Brown was a good route runner. Any word on if LeVeon Bell is a versatile back?
I have no idea if Pouliot is ready for the NHL or not. He wasn’t last year, but I don’t know why coaching or management feels they need to lobby one way or the other right now. Hope they just let the blueline play out through camp and the preseason and make the appropriate decisions based on what happens on the ice.
Gonchar for lovejoy seems like idiocy to me.
Gonchar and losing Cleandening seems like idiocy to.
Pouliot does not have to clear waivers.
man this top 7 D for pens will be a trainwreck i really hope our 3rd 4th line can be good enough to help them and not just depend on top 2 lines .
Same loves the movie Trainwreck. He finds Amy Shumer very attractive.
Marek Zidlicky anyone ? he is old and can be paired with gonchar
Not to mention Dumoulin is certainly not ready for top 4 minutes. That blueline that you have listed scares the shit out of me. People should be losing their jobs if that’s the 7 they go with.
D how come you’re the only one who believes Gonchar will make the team? I highly doubt they will risk losing Clendening on waivers just to sign Gonchar as the 7th D. Not happening.
Gonchar is very likely to make the team.
And this is based on?
Gonchar has no business making any NHL team. He can’t play in this league anymore, if the Pens sign him that is scary.
gonchar – ouch. anxious to see what clandening brings to the table