Florida State Football

<h1 style="border: 0px; color: #061826; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 12px 0px 0px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Florida State moves back into second in BCS standings, Alabama remains on top</h1><div class="byline" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 12px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Originally published: November 3, 2013 9:28 PM<br />Updated: November 3, 2013 9:44 PM<br />By <span class="author" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">THE ASSOCIATED PRESS</span></div><div class="topImg" style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Florida State running back Devonta Freeman (8) celebrates" class="" height="400" src="http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.6368693.1383532525!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.JPG" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Florida State running back Devonta Freeman (8) celebrates..." width="501" /></div><div class="caption" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.3em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 22px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photo credit: AP | Florida State running back Devonta Freeman (8) celebrates with tight end Giorgio Newberry (4) and offensive linesman Bryan Stork (52) after scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run against Miami during the first quarter. (Nov. 2, 2013)</div><div id="media" style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; margin: 0px 12px 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 190px;"><div class="module" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 0px 8px; background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.newsday.com/css/newsday/rd2/img/blends.jpg); background-position: 0px -1454px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(181, 194, 202); box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 0px 8px; margin: 8px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #061826; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Galleries</h3><a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/college-football/2013-heisman-trophy-watch-list-1.5892526" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1a557b; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 9px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="JAMEIS WINSTON QB, Florida State, Freshman 2013 stats:" class="" height="94" src="http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.6091420.1383454669!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_168/image.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="JAMEIS WINSTON QB, Florida State, Freshman 2013 stats:..." width="168" />2013 Heisman Trophy watch list</a><a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/college-football/history-of-the-bcs-championship-1.2945169" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1a557b; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 9px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="2013: NO. 2 ALABAMA 42, NO. 1 NOTRE" class="" height="94" src="http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.4418554.1357621084!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/landscape_168/image.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2013: NO. 2 ALABAMA 42, NO. 1 NOTRE..." width="168" />History of the BCS Championship</a><a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/college-football/johnny-manziel-s-off-field-incidents-1.5797614" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1a557b; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 9px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="CRITICAL OF HIS SCHOOL ON TWITTER June 15," class="" height="94" src="http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.5798086.1375244416!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_168/image.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="CRITICAL OF HIS SCHOOL ON TWITTER June 15,..." width="168" />Johnny Manziel's off-field incidents</a></div><div class="module" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 0px 8px; background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.newsday.com/css/newsday/rd2/img/blends.jpg); background-position: 0px -1454px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(181, 194, 202); box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 0px 0px 8px; margin: 8px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #061826; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.03em; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Web links</h3><a href="http://sports.newsday.com/long-island/data/college-football/heisman-trophy-winners/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1a557b; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 9px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Heisman finalist Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M poses" class="" height="94" src="http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.4309359.1355017446!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/landscape_168/image.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Heisman finalist Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M poses..." width="168" />Heisman Trophy winners</a><a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/on-campus-1.812060" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1a557b; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 9px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Stony Brook wide receiver Adrian Coxson during the" class="" height="94" src="http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.3675857.1345928348!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/landscape_168/image.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Stony Brook wide receiver Adrian Coxson during the..." width="168" />College sports blog: On campus</a></div></div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Florida State is back in second place in the BCS standings, edging past Oregon behind first-place Alabama.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Seminoles' lead is thin and their stay at No. 2 could be short again.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Third-place Oregon plays Stanford Thursday night and a win is likely to push the Ducks back into second. The Seminoles and Ducks have exchanged positions in the BCS standings the last two weeks.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">The top two in the final standings play in the BCS championship game.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Florida State (.9525 BCS average) is third in both the USA Today coaches' poll and Harris poll, though the Seminoles gained ground on the Ducks after a 41-14 victory over Miami on Saturday night. Florida State is No. 1 in the computer ratings.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oregon is second in the polls and third in the computers.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alabama is first in the polls by a hefty margin and second in the computers with five weeks left in the regular season. The Crimson Tide remains on course for a fourth trip to the BCS title game in five seasons. Alabama was won three of the last four national championships, including the last two.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Though it's a big week coming up for the Tide, with LSU coming to Tuscaloosa on Saturday.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unbeaten Ohio State is fourth in the standings, followed by Stanford and unbeaten Baylor. The rest of the top 10 is Clemson, Missouri, Auburn and Oklahoma.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Baylor hosts Oklahoma on Thursday night, in the other huge game of the week.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of the potential BCS busters, teams from non-automatic qualifying conferences looking to earn an automatic bid, Fresno State from the Mountain West is in 16th place and Northern Illinois from the Mid-American Conference is 18th. Both the Bulldogs and Huskies are unbeaten. The highest-rated team from the non-AQ conferences earns an automatic bid by finishing in the top 12 of the final BCS standings or by finishing in the top 16 ahead of a champion from an automatic qualifying conference.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;">Louisville (20th) and Central Florida (21st) are the highest-ranked teams from the American Athletic Conference, which gets an automatic bid.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 12px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="rate" id="myRating" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; height: 16px; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; margin: 0px -4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; 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Florida State Football

Florida State moves back into second in BCS standings, Alabama remains on top Originally published: November 3, 2013 9:28 PM Updated: Novemb...

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John Fox

<div id="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="article-title-wrapper" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 id="article-title" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: 'Francois One', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 42px; margin: 10px 10px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Denver Broncos Coach John Fox Will Undergo Heart Valve Surgery</h1></div><div class="module" id="author-info-area" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="header" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 6px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-shadow: none; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BY <span class="author-name-and-title" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #555555; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="article-author-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author" href="http://bleacherreport.com/users/500900-tim-keeney" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: none; margin: 7px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_parent">TIM KEENEY</a></div> (FEATURED COLUMNIST) </span>ON NOVEMBER 3, 2013</h3><div id="article-stats-info" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; clear: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="number" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">117k</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">reads</span> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="comments-anchor" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835265-john-fox-reportedly-expected-to-have-heart-valve-surgery#comments" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="number comment_count" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">67 </span><img alt="Icon_comment" src="http://static.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/common/icon_comment.png" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div></div></div><div id="article-share-area-header" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: right; height: 32px; margin: 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 150px;"><span class="facebook-share article-share-button" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835265-john-fox-reportedly-expected-to-have-heart-valve-surgery" style="background-color: #005676; background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/articles/share_facebook.png); background-position: 7px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 22px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; width: 72px;" target="_blank">SHARE</a></span><span class="twitter-share article-share-button" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835265-john-fox-reportedly-expected-to-have-heart-valve-surgery" style="background-color: #00b3ee; background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/articles/share_twitter.png); background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 26px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; width: 76px;" target="_blank">TWEET</a></span></div></div><div id="article-gradient" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="next-article-bar" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 20px inset; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 20px inset; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 15px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Use your <span class="arrows" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">← →</span> (arrow) keys to browse more stories</span><a class="control-next png-fix" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835754-nfl-power-rankings-week-10-where-does-every-team-stand" style="background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/articles/buttons.png); background-position: -144px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #003366; display: block; float: right; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -9999px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 108px;">Next</a></div><div id="article-body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="media-slot photo-slot" id="primary-photo" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 350px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;"><img alt="Johnfox_crop_north" height="440" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/590/699/JohnFox_crop_north.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /><div class="caption-overlay" style="background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/modules/overlay/bottom-117.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; height: 117px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;"></div></div><div class="article-body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 29px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Denver Broncos head coach <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/john-fox" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">John Fox</a>, who was taken to the hospital early on Saturday, will <a href="http://m.tmi.me/1bCAbu" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">undergo</a> heart valve surgery. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to Broncos executive director of media relations <a href="https://twitter.com/psmyth12/status/396741294371774464" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Patrick Smyth</a>, the 58-year-old did not have a heart attack as was originally suspected. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9920451/john-fox-denver-broncos-coach-likely-need-heart-surgery" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">ESPN's Adam <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Schefter</span></span></span></a> reported that the surgery is for a condition Fox was already aware of:</div><blockquote style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588) 0px 0px 15px inset; background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588) 0px 0px 15px inset; margin: 25px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 10px; quotes: none; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Denver Broncos coach John Fox is expected to have heart valve surgery this week that could sideline him for up to two months, according to a team official.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tests were conducted Saturday and will continue Sunday, according to a source familiar with the situation.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fox was aware that he had a condition with a heart valve that eventually would require surgery. He was hoping to avoid it until after this season but when he experienced the light-headedness Saturday, the <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">timeline</span> for the surgery very well might have been expedited.</div></blockquote><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As of Sunday night, the team had <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/397219747315470336" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">yet to announce</a> the interim head coach. </div></div></div></div>

John Fox

Denver Broncos Coach John Fox Will Undergo Heart Valve Surgery BY  TIM KEENEY  (FEATURED COLUMNIST)  ON NOVEMBER 3, 2013 117k   reads   67  ...

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Michigan Football

<div id="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="article-title-wrapper" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 id="article-title" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #222222; display: inline; font-family: 'Francois One', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 42px; margin: 10px 10px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michigan Football: Offensive Line, Pass Rush Still Biggest Issues for Wolverines</h1></div><div class="module" id="author-info-area" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="header" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h3 style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 6px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-shadow: none; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BY <span class="author-name-and-title" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #555555; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="article-author-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author" href="http://bleacherreport.com/users/42839-zach-dirlam" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: none; margin: 7px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_parent">ZACH DIRLAM</a></div> (FEATURED COLUMNIST) </span>ON NOVEMBER 4, 2013</h3><div id="article-stats-info" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; clear: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="number" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1,037</span> <span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">reads</span> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="comments-anchor" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835461-michigan-football-offensive-line-pass-rush-still-biggest-issues-for-wolverines#comments" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="number comment_count" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">20 </span><img alt="Icon_comment" src="http://static.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/common/icon_comment.png" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div></div></div><div id="article-share-area-header" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: right; height: 32px; margin: 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 150px;"><span class="facebook-share article-share-button" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835461-michigan-football-offensive-line-pass-rush-still-biggest-issues-for-wolverines" style="background-color: #005676; background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/articles/share_facebook.png); background-position: 7px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 22px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; width: 72px;" target="_blank">SHARE</a></span><span class="twitter-share article-share-button" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1835461-michigan-football-offensive-line-pass-rush-still-biggest-issues-for-wolverines" style="background-color: #00b3ee; background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/articles/share_twitter.png); background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: white; display: block; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans Condensed', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 26px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline; width: 76px;" target="_blank">TWEET</a></span></div></div><div id="article-gradient" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="next-article-bar" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 20px inset; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 20px inset; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 15px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Use your <span class="arrows" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">← →</span> (arrow) keys to browse more stories</span><a class="control-next png-fix" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1836221-michigan-reeling-after-defeat-by-rival-michigan-state" style="background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/articles/buttons.png); background-position: -144px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #003366; display: block; float: right; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -9999px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 108px;">Next</a></div><div id="article-body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="media-slot photo-slot" id="primary-photo" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 350px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;"><img alt="Hi-res-183178867-fitzgerald-toussaint-of-the-michigan-wolverines-runs_crop_north" height="440" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/592/235/hi-res-183178867-fitzgerald-toussaint-of-the-michigan-wolverines-runs_crop_north.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /><div class="caption-overlay" style="background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/redesign/modules/overlay/bottom-117.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; height: 117px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px;"></div><span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; color: white; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; position: absolute; text-shadow: rgb(0, 0, 0) 0px 0px 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px;">Michigan's offensive line has some serious issues to work out.<br />Leon Halip/Getty Images</span></div><div class="article-body" data-twttr-id="twttr-sandbox-0" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ui-droppable" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 29px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michigan football teams are not supposed to lose games in the trenches. Not to anyone, no matter how good the opposing defensive or offensive lines may be. Time and time again this season, though, the Wolverines have been outplayed and<span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">outmuscled</span> along both lines of scrimmage.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since the beginning of the 2013 campaign, two weaknesses have continuously plagued Michigan. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The offensive line has been abysmal against every team not named Indiana, and the defensive line far too often fails to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Both are causing several other problems on their respective side of the football.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unless the Wolverines improve in these areas, they are going to have a tough time winning any of their final four games.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image " style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 340px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 340px;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="227" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/165/hi-res-7817954_crop_exact.jpg?w=340&h=227&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="340" /><span class="article_image-accreditation" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports</span></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michigan running backs have not had any room to run this season.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By far the most disappointing and troublesome group has been Michigan's guards and center. There are often no holes for backs to run through. Look no further than the season box score for evidence of this. Wolverine running backs are averaging a mere 3.38 yards per carry. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Take away the Indiana game—because let's be honest, anything done against the nation's No. 114-ranked rushing defense is nothing to brag about—and the backs are rushing for 3.13 yards per carry.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not going to cut it. Not in the Big Ten Conference. Not when the goal of head coach<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/brady-hoke" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brady Hoke</a> and his staff is to run a pro-style offense centered around a play-action passing attack. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The offensive line hit a new low on Saturday against Michigan State, though. Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner was pummeled all afternoon. The Spartans notched seven sacks, seven hurries, 11 tackles for loss and held Michigan to an all-time low negative-48 rushing yards. Somehow, Gardner escaped East Lansing without a major injury. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"It was almost like Devin couldn't breathe," Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook<a href="http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2013/11/michigan_states_defense_piles.html" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">told Josh <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Slagter</span></span> of <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MLive</span></span></a>. "There's no worse feeling, the defense is down your throat the whole entire game."</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was not a case of the Wolverines being <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">outmanned</span> up front. In fact, most of the time, they had enough blockers to neutralize the blitz.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is an example of the mental errors linemen have been making all year long:</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image image-upload block-level" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; float: none; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 650px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="432" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/171/ScreenShot2013-11-03at11.10.43PM_crop_exact.png?w=650&h=432&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Courtesy of Watch ESPN.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michigan has six blockers on the line and Fitzgerald <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Toussaint</span> in the backfield to pick up seven Spartan defenders. The problem on this play occurs when right guard Kyle<span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kalis</span> begins to block Marcus Rush, who is the defensive end lined up across from right tackle Michael <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Schofield</span>.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image image-upload block-level" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; float: none; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 650px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="432" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/173/ScreenShot2013-11-03at11.03.51PM_crop_exact.png?w=650&h=432&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photo courtesy of Watch ESPN.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rush attacks the inside and should be picked up by center Graham Glasgow. <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kalis</span> tries to help here, though, and as a result, leaves the B-gap open just long enough for blitzing linebacker Ed Davis to shoot through. Davis easily notches a sack.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image image-upload block-level" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; float: none; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 650px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="433" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/175/ScreenShot2013-11-03at11.04.04PM_crop_exact.png?w=650&h=433&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kalis is too late recovering to block Davis. Photo courtesy of Watch ESPN.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another mistake occurs near the end of the third quarter. Michigan has six offensive linemen in on this play, and Michigan State sends the same amount. With <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Toussaint</span> in as an extra protector, the Wolverines actually outnumber the Spartans seven to six. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image image-upload block-level" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; float: none; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 650px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="432" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/180/ScreenShot2013-11-03at11.24.16PM_crop_exact.png?w=650&h=432&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photo courtesy of Watch ESPN.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The error is when left guard Kyle Bosch fails to pick up Davis, who is blitzing from the middle linebacker position. <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Toussaint</span> fails to block the outside linebacker, too.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image image-upload block-level" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; float: none; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 650px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="432" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/186/ScreenShot2013-11-03at11.24.42PM_crop_exact.png?w=650&h=432&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bosch is already beaten. Photo courtesy of Watch ESPN.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gardner never has a chance to do anything with the football.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image image-upload block-level" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline; float: none; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 650px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="433" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/189/ScreenShot2013-11-03at11.26.21PM_crop_exact.png?w=650&h=433&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sacked. Photo courtesy of Watch ESPN.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An awful shotgun snap by Glasgow also resulted in a 20-yard loss. Yet another fundamental error up front against the Spartans.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is what has been killing Team 134 all season long.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, between the tackles, this line is young and lacks chemistry. Six different players have started on the interior of the offensive line this season. Not one started a game last year, and all of them except walk-on Joey <span class="spellcheck" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Burzynski</span> have been underclassmen.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Still, the group has not progressed at all this year and is the center of every problem Michigan has on offense.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is tough to do anything offensively without a respectable rushing attack to keep defenses honest. This also leads to longer third downs and forces Gardner to make too many plays on his own.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="article_image article-image " style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 340px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 340px;"><div class="article_image--body" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" height="227" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/article/media_slots/photos/001/171/192/hi-res-6976930_crop_exact.jpg?w=340&h=227&q=85" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="340" /><span class="article_image-accreditation" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</span></div><div class="article_image-caption" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">Greg Mattison's defense has failed to generate a consistent pass rush.</div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As for the nearly nonexistent pass rush, the numbers speak for themselves. In Michigan's past six games, it has recorded just 12 sacks. Eight of the Wolverines' 17 sacks this season have come in two contests (Notre Dame and Penn State). Opposing quarterbacks have no reason to be frightened when they face the Maize and Blue.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lack of pressure on opposing signal-callers is not helping Michigan's secondary out either. The group already lacks the talent and athleticism needed to be effective in man-to-man coverage. It needs help from the front seven, but it is getting almost none.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Believe it or not, all hope is not lost. Upcoming games against struggling Nebraska and Northwestern give the Wolverines a perfect opportunity to bounce back and salvage what is left of the 2013 campaign.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="module poll poll_module br-texture--angle-stripes team-color-border" id="poll-297650" style="background-image: url(http://static2.bleacherreport.net/images/responsive/textures/background_angle_stripes.png); background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-left-color: rgb(255, 64, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 3px; clear: both; float: right; margin: 10px 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 262px;"><div class="poll-ballot" id="poll-ballot-297650" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h4 class="poll-question" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">How many games will Michigan win to close out the season?</h4><div class="poll" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 252px;"><form action="http://bleacherreport.com/polls/create" id="poll-vote-form" method="post" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><label style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 9px 0px 8px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><input name="vote" style="float: left; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1; margin-left: 1px;" type="radio" value="choice0" /><span class="poll-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 217px;">Four</span></label><label style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 9px 0px 8px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><input name="vote" style="float: left; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1; margin-left: 1px;" type="radio" value="choice1" /><span class="poll-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 217px;">Three</span></label><label style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 9px 0px 8px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><input name="vote" style="float: left; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1; margin-left: 1px;" type="radio" value="choice2" /><span class="poll-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 217px;">Two</span></label><label style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 9px 0px 8px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><input name="vote" style="float: left; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1; margin-left: 1px;" type="radio" value="choice3" /><span class="poll-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 217px;">One</span></label><label style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 9px 0px 8px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;"><input name="vote" style="float: left; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1; margin-left: 1px;" type="radio" value="choice4" /><span class="poll-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 217px;">Zero</span></label><span class="medium-orange button poll-submit team-color-background" style="background-color: #ff4000; border: 0px; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Bebas Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px; text-shadow: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">SUBMIT VOTE</span> <span class="vote-description" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 1px; vertical-align: baseline;">vote to see results</span></form></div></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wolverines defense did a fairly good job of stopping the run against Michigan State. Aside from two rushing plays for 75 yards, one coming when the defense was absolutely gassed late in the fourth quarter, they only gave up 67 yards on the ground. Not a bad day by any means.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nebraska and Northwestern are not nearly the same kind of defensive juggernauts as Michigan State either. The two rank No. 70 and No. 80 in total defense, respectively. Additionally, the Wildcats are the eighth-worst in the Football Bowl Subdivision in tackles for loss allowed, yielding 3.56 sacks per contest. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Games against Iowa and Ohio State do not appear to favor Michigan, but there is time for improvement.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A change at quarterback is not the answer to any of the Wolverines' problems. As a matter of fact, it would be an absolute disaster to thrust true freshman Shane Morris into the starting role right now. A shoddy offensive line and zero running game only sets Morris up for failure.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Given the beating he took on Saturday and the five drops by receivers, Gardner played well—14-of-27 for 210 yards—outside one interception and a couple of missed reads. Considering the circumstances, though, he should have earned the respect of the Maize and Blue faithful against the Spartans. </div></div></div></div>

Michigan Football

Michigan Football: Offensive Line, Pass Rush Still Biggest Issues for Wolverines BY  ZACH DIRLAM  (FEATURED COLUMNIST)  ON NOVEMBER 4, 2013 ...

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Brad Ausmus

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margin: 0px 3px 16px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="videoplayer videoplayer-story09 videoplayer-show" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 324px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="videoInfo" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; min-height: 78px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><h5 style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tigers To Hire Brad Ausmus</h5><div class="mod-video-tags" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick discusses the Tigers' decision to hire Brad Ausmus to be their next manager.</span><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tags: </strong><a href="http://search.espn.go.com/tigers/video/6" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tigers</a>, <a href="http://search.espn.go.com/brad-ausmus/video/6" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brad Ausmus</a>, <a href="http://search.espn.go.com/jerry-crasnick/video/6" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jerry Crasnick</a></div></div></div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DETROIT -- When <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/2937/brad-ausmus" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brad Ausmus</a> was a player -- which wasn't that long ago -- the mental aspect of the game always came pretty easily.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I always enjoyed the cerebral part," Ausmus said. "It was much more difficult to hit -- that was the part of the game I didn't really enjoy."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps it was inevitable that Ausmus would become a manager, and he'll have that chance now. The <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigers" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Detroit Tigers</a> hired the 44-year-old former catcher to replace Jim Leyland at the helm of the three-time defending AL Central champions. Ausmus has little managerial experience, and the Tigers will entrust him with a talented roster that is expected to keep right on winning.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="mod-inline image image-right" style="border-left-color: rgb(194, 194, 194); border-left-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><a class="enlarge" credit="AP Photo/Paul Sancya" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1103/mlb_a_bradats3_600x400.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[+] Enlarge<img alt="Brad Ausmus" border="0" height="200" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1103/mlb_a_bradats3_300x200.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a><div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><cite style="border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AP Photo/Paul Sancya</cite>New Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Sunday he's "not going to be Jim Leyland," the man he's replacing.</div></div></div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I'm well aware that you don't generally get dropped into a situation like I will be this coming season," Ausmus said. "I understand I'm very fortunate. That being said, I'm not taking anything for granted. No details will be glossed over. I'm not assuming anything going into the job."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ausmus, who worked in the <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sd/san-diego-padres" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">San Diego Padres</a>' front office as a special assistant to the general manager, emerged as Detroit's pick less than two weeks after Leyland stepped down. He takes over a team that has reached the AL Championship Series three straight years and should be well positioned for another big season in 2014.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Tigers lost to Boston this year in the ALCS.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"We're not going to reinvent the wheel here. This is a pretty darn good team," Ausmus said. "I think I would be foolish to come here and try to make sweeping changes."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ausmus managed Israel's team for the World Baseball Classic, but he's inexperienced as a manager compared to some other potential candidates. Ausmus played in the majors from 1993-2010.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Tigers also interviewed Padres bench coach Rick Renteria and <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/lad/los-angeles-dodgers" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>third-base coach Tim Wallach -- as well as Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon. Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said he'd planned to interview former <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/cin/cincinnati-reds" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cincinnati Reds</a>star and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin, but Larkin decided not to interview because he wasn't in a position to make the time commitment necessary for the job.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If continuity was Detroit's main concern, McClendon may have been the choice, but the Tigers acted a bit more boldly in hiring the Dartmouth-educated Ausmus, whose name also recently surfaced in connection with the <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/chc/chicago-cubs" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chicago Cubs</a>' job.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"When we interviewed, we were -- not just me -- taken back at how impressive he was," Dombrowski said. "It really became quite clear for us, that he would do an outstanding job for us. It was probably not where I started, but it's where we ended, and we feel very good about that."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There will be one important holdover on Detroit's coaching staff. Leyland's bench coach, Gene Lamont, will remain in that role. Ausmus agreed to a three-year deal with a club option for 2017. Lamont agreed to a two-year deal.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ausmus is 24 years younger than the man he's replacing, and he inherits a roster with a high payroll and several big names, including <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6341/justin-verlander" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Justin Verlander</a> and <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5544/miguel-cabrera" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Miguel Cabrera</a>. He'll have a chance to win right away, and he'll have to deal with high expectations.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Anybody you hire has some risk attached to it," Dombrowski said. "Even a veteran manager that you bring in with a new club, where they are in their life, there's risk attached to that."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The contrasts with the 68-year-old Leyland are obvious, and Ausmus will have to prove he can guide this star-studded team through the inevitable rough patches -- but it wasn't long ago that Ausmus was on the other side of that player-manager relationship. He played in 1,971 games with four different teams. He played for the Tigers for part of the 1996 season, and again from 1999-2000.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I've got to be me," Ausmus said. "Jim Leyland -- great, Hall of Fame manager. I'm not going to be Jim Leyland. I would never make an attempt to be Jim Leyland. I'm going to be who I am."</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Detroit is one of at least three teams with first-time major league managers who should have a chance to win right away in 2014. The <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationals" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Washington Nationals</a> hired Matt Williams to replace Davey Johnson. The Reds, who fired Dusty Baker after a 90-win season, went with pitching coach Bryan Price as their new manager.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ausmus is the latest former player to take over a contending team with little managerial experience. Mike Matheny succeeded Tony La Russa in St. Louis after the Cardinals won the World Series in 2011, and Matheny reached the NL Championship Series in 2012 and won the National League pennant this year.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Former <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankees" style="border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Yankees</a> star Don Mattingly is the manager of the Dodgers, the team the Cardinals beat in the NLCS this season.</div><div style="border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"I was just playing the game three years ago," Ausmus said. "I have a pretty good understanding of how the locker room dynamic is."</div></div>

Brad Ausmus

Brad Ausmus replaces Jim Leyland Updated:  November 3, 2013, 8:30 PM ET ESPN.com news services 1K 304 154 EMAIL PRINT Tigers To Hire Brad Au...

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