Fridays match was captured in a wild first set in which the Americ

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now that the suspense is over and Ohio State has secured a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes have some time to address their biggest weakness -- throwing the ball down the field.Star quarterback J.T. Barrett is the linchpin of Ohio States offense for his ability to run and improvise, and his candidacy for Big Ten player of the year is a testament to that.But too often this season, the Buckeyes receivers have struggled to get open, or Barretts passes have been off target. So even with one of the nations most dynamic quarterbacks, Ohio State hasnt had much in the way of a downfield passing game -- something that may need to change to beat Clemson on New Years Eve.Against Michigan -- the countrys top defense -- Barrett picked up more yards rushing (125) than throwing (124) in a 30-27 overtime victory. Noah Brown led all Ohio State receivers with three catches for 40 yards, and Barrett was sacked eight times.Brown looked promising early in the season but hasnt developed into the reliable deep threat the Buckeyes sought.Neither has anyone else.We have a lot of work to do in certain areas, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Sunday.The mantra around the Ohio State program is nine units strong, meaning that all position groups -- quarterback, running back, receivers, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties -- must be up to the task. Meyer acknowledged that hasnt been the case, and the next few weeks will give the team valuable time to work on it.Were so young and theres so much improvement (needed) -- everybody in this room knows what it is -- we have to get much better, Meyer said. So the challenge has already been laid across the table in the last week with the players and coaches, that for us to compete at this level, we have to be nine strong, and at times were not nine strong. And that has to happen.Barrett has deflected criticism of the passing game, noting Ohio States success is partly linked to its ability to take what defenses provide.When pressed, though, Barrett acknowledged he needs to be better at getting the ball in his receivers hands.You get in these tight ballgames, and youre going against great DBs, he said, (receivers are) going to be open, but its not going to be by much. I think I can do a better job of ball placement to make it easier on them. Theyre getting open but theres not breakaway, which is fine. They did their job to get open, and I have to do a better job getting them the ball.Because they didnt play in the Big Ten championship this past Saturday -- Ohio State was shut out in favor of Penn State due to a tiebreaker -- the Buckeyes will have five weeks between games.I think with the time we have, Barrett said, were going to be in a good place.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyByron Murphy Womens Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Byron Murphy Cardinals Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/hakeem-butler-cardinals-jersey-zj/ . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Kyler Murray Cardinals Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Zach Allen Youth Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Max Holt did a little bit of everything. At the net, digging balls from just off the floor, finishing points with big, leaping swings.He and David Lee stuffed the Italians with stellar blocking. Setter Micah Christenson contributed his own blocks and even a kill to end the third set. Matt Anderson, Aaron Russell and Taylor Sander provided power hitting from every corner.Mighty Italy just had a little more in a match that will surely become an Olympic volleyball classic as the Italians ended the gold-medal aspirations for the U.S. mens volleyball team in a second straight Olympics.For nearly 2 1/2 hours Friday, the young, overachieving Americans stayed with an Italian group that U.S. coach John Speraw considers the worlds most talented and destined for gold in Brazil.The Americans, who began the tournament with an 0-2 start that included a loss to Italy 10 days earlier, ran off four straight victories before falling in a riveting five-set semifinal that Italy won 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9.This team fought the entire time, Lee said. Losing that first set made us fight even harder. We couldnt sustain that same level we had in the second and third to put the team out in the fourth set. We had an advantage in the fourth, we had a small lull in energy and thats when they came back, and they have such good servers that team can come back at any time and be back in a game. You can never count them out.The Italians will play for gold Sunday against Brazil, which defeated defending Olympic champion Russia 25-21, 25-22, 25-17 in Fridays other semifinal. Brazil will be playing in its fourth straight final and will be looking for its first gold since 2004 in Athens. Italy won the bronze in 2012 in London.It was strange. There was a really strong force inside us telling us, `Dont give up, keep fighting, Italys Ivan Zaytsev said.His team fought, all right. Afterward, the players fell to the floor, piling on each other.Lee brought his American teammates into a huddle for an embrace.dddddddddddd Then Anderson and Sander clapped to the crowd as the U.S. waited at the net to shake hands with the winners.In the fifth set, Osmany Juantorena served an ace for a 12-8 lead and Russell let a ball drop as Holt covered his face with his shirt.After an embarrassing third-set flop, Italy forced a deciding fifth set by closing the fourth on a 6-0 run -- getting three straight aces by Zaytsev, including the next-to-last point that was initially called long but overturned on review for set point.Today, the teams have played more than a match, Italy coach Gianlorenzo Blengini said.The American men have eight first-time Olympians.Im really sad this team didnt make it because theyre so good and they deserved to be in the final, said Lee, who won gold in Beijing eight years ago and is in his third Olympics. I dont care about how old they are. Theyre fighters.The U.S. will play for bronze, just like the top-ranked American women, who lost in five sets to Serbia on Thursday.The intensity of Fridays match was captured in a wild first set in which the Americans had five set points. With the score 25-25, Italys Massimo Colaci made a lunging, one-handed get from the ground before teammate Filippo Lanza sent the ball over the net from his knees near the baseline to keep the rally going.The score was tied again, at 28. Russell signaled that Italy captain Emanuele Birarellis serve was going out and let the ball drop. Italys players rushed the net to argue to referee Arturo di Giacomo of Belgium, contending the Americans touched the ball. He overruled the call and what had gone to a 29-28 lead for the U.S. suddenly turned to 29-28 for Italy, which won the set 30-28.My players gave it everything that they could today. I couldnt ask any more, Speraw said. 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