Call it a weekly rant or rave, your choice.

I'm sitting here in Cleveland Browns Stadium with the Browns up by three TDs - wait I just jinxed them, make that two TDs - against the Ravens.

You see something in this team you haven't in Coach Romeo Crennel's last squads, they actually seem to be enjoying playing and save one ridiculous run by Ravens running back Willis Magahee on what should have been a loss for a couple of yards, they've been fairly solid.

The record may be 1-2, but with the exception of that opening day disaster against the Steelers, they've been competitive. The could just as easily be 2-1 now, as opposed to 1-2. There are still huge problems here, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. The bend-and-bend-some-more defenise sometimes look like a sieve - especially on the line and you can beat this team passing. Still, I'll take competitive any day.

On a completey different note…

Courtesy of a ridiculous Saturday afternoon in college football the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were ranked outside the Top Ten in many pre-season polls - find themselves sitting at No. 4 because four teams ahead of them - Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and West Virginia - all went down in defeat over the weekend.

Do the Buckeyes deserve it? Probably not given the Eazy-Bake schedule they faced in non-conference play. But they don't make the rules. They could find themselves 6-0 by the time they get what could be a test against the Michigan State Spartans. But recall listening to all the college football pundits (are you out there Mark May) who said they didn't deserve it in 2002. This year is starting to remind me somewhat of that one.

You've got a QB some are still unsure of. The offense is proficient, not explosive and the defense is plain out vicious. Running the table is conceivable, but like most I am leary of the Penn State Nittany Lions and this year's surprise team, Illinois.

So I'm sitting here in the pressbox at Husky Stadium in Seattle and there in the stands sit an ocean of scarlet.

I'm sitting here wondering how these Bucks fans got tix all the way out here in the Pacific Northwest. I've been seeing them all weekend. That kind of fan loyalty is unreal.

I also got the opportunity to check out how the Bucks are perceived in other parts of the country. One interesting perspective is offered here.

End of the first half:

It's painfully evident from the score 7-3 that any success the Buckeyes are going to enjoy this season will be because of the defense. With Boeckman at QB there is absolutely no spark whatsoever.

He forced the ball into receivers and he's been off most of the day. Of course the Buckeyes could be up by two points had one field goal not been missed and another blocked, but that's football. The offensive unit expressed disappointment in its performance last week. One can only imagine what's going on in that locker room now.

Let me know what you think.

So what went wrong with Charlie Frye?

In case you've not heard, Mr. Frye has been shipped off to Seattle for a sixth round draft pick. Such is the life of an NFL quarterback.

Frye just wasn't in the right situation. Touted as a quarterback with the ability to grow into a starter when he came out of the University of Akron, Frye got drafted into the wrong situation. The Browns didn't need a hometown kid who wanted to play for his hometown team. I realize that many Browns fans fell victim to delusions of grandeur based on the circumstances and nostagia. After all, didn't Bernie almost take us to the Promised Land. The needed a QB who could lead and asking him to do so wasn't fair to him or this team.

Working behind a patchwork offensive line, he looked horrible last year. Fans thought it would all go away with the additions of Eric Steinbach and first round draft pick, Joe Thomas. Yes, the horrible play continued in last year's 34-7 embarrassment against the Steelers. Frye didn't look comfortable. He wasn't inaccurate. He held the ball for far too long and for much of his limited playing time he looked like a bug fleeing from the light. Most of the five sacks were his fault for some of those very reasons. More importantly, however, you could see that he'd lost the confidence of his teammates.

There's nothing more damning than that. Some of the faces in the Browns locker room were longer than the Mississippi River after the Steelers game. Is there any more blame to be parsed here? Probably.

I once wrote that Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel probably bought themselves another two years with this past spring's draft. I don't think that any longer. As much as the current regime loves to put the blame on past administrations, the fact remains that just a few players remain from the Butch Davis era. Savage and Crennel will live or die with this roster, but they have to know that after this weekend, the tick tocks on that ticking clock are very loud.

With the signing of Dorsey, it looks as if Brady Quinn will get his shot sooner rather than later. Given the memories associated with Tim Couch, the Browns had better hope they are right on this one.

So a colleague and myself were discussing the Browns' performance in the pressbox yesterday.

I don't know whether I'm a glass half full guy or what. Actually, I generally tend to think of myself as more of realist than anything. But I suggested that yesterday's opening day meltdown ensuring that the Dallas Cowboys will get a top five pick in next year's draft wouldn't have been too bad on the defensive end of the ball.

So those of you who actually read this tell me: what did you see on the defensive side of the ball?

Was there reason to be optimistic? If so, did the offense just put the D in such a bad place that they were bound to come out in the second half and look like a pack of mangy mutts? Or were they equally culpable for the loss?

See there, it wasn't two weeks for another post.

I didn't want to post just following the U of A-Bucks game yesterday because…well…I was tired as all get out. Last time I ever drive down there the day of the game. Plus I wanted to have a clear head when ripping the offense. Although I'm not really sure that's what was required given the debacle that was yesterday's game.

A 3-2 halftime score? C'mon. How pathetic was the Bucks' offense? They gave up more points than the D…that says it all. There are serious problems on that unit and Coach Jim Tressel and one of his captains - Kirk Barton - realize it.

I have never ever seen an athlete as ticked off as Barton was after yesterday's game. Lips pursed into a plastery, immovable scowl, he didn't even want to give opening comments it seems. And he was right. The Buckeyes looked out of sync and out of sorts. Receivers ran the wrong routes, they dropped balls and quarterback Todd Boeckman's decision making proved questionable. Had this been any team other than a MAC opponent, the Buckeyes would be 1-1 today.

To their credit they showed some signs of life after the half. Akron native Chris "Beanie" Wells played like he wanted to be there, eventually racking up 143 yards, but this kind of play will eventually come back to bite them in their hind parts. No doubt about that and they know it.

If the offense doesn't get its act together that could come this week. Why? Because Ty Willingham has the Washington Huskies ready to bite and they are looking to build on a 24-10 over the Boise St. Broncos from yesterday.

They can't rely on the defense to keep Jake Locker in lockdown the entire game. The Huskies QB is speedy, mobile, strong and the real deal.

Been catching up on what was happening before I started on the Buckeyes. Therefore, many apologies.

Larry and Alan, you guys remind me of the infamous hecklers on The Muppet Show - only less funny.

Whether you can believe it or not, adjust to different sports cultures can be a bit different. Not being a regular in the Buckeyes media circle, I had little idea what to expect. Now I do. Now I can breathe.

So what of the Buckeyes? Eh…if you read the paper you saw my Big Ten preview. I fully expect the Michigan Wolverines to win the conference - even moreso now. Why? They've really got nothing else to play for. Do you really believe that with a loss against Appalachian Community College on the 2007 resume they have a shot at the national championship? Doubtful.

But I won't be sold on the Buckeyes as a conference or national power until several key games - a week from this Saturday in Washington and Oct. 27th at Penn State. Until then this is a team that is relatively young on both sides of the ball and they may have growing pains.

Now About Michigan

Gee, is Buckeye Nation still grinning about the Wolverines? Don't. Do NOT. Stop it now.

Why? Remember way back when B.T. (that's Before Tressel) when grins plastered Wolverines fans' faces permanently? Yeah. Now they have their own personal John Cooper and it ain't a purty sight for them is it? Not at all.

Rest assured, Lloyd Carr will pack it in or be sent packing some time soon and when he's gone do you really think the Wolverines will be content to hire someone from within the program to restore it to past glory? I think not.

Better the devil you know folks.