FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Changes are coming to the New York Jets' offense.

Nothing too drastic or radical, but Zach Wilson's return as the starting quarterback allows the team to do some things it simply couldn't with Joe Flacco under center.

Certain aspects, for sure, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Thursday. "Zachs a different player than Joe, so obviously the plans going to be a hair different in certain ways.

Not trying to dive into it too far, for obvious reasons, but were going to do what we think is best to help the offense and Zach and all those guys to be successful.

Wilson is fully healthy six weeks after suffering a bone bruise and having arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee. He's expected to start Sunday at Pittsburgh in his season debut, barring any setbacks at practice this week.

That means no restrictions on the 23-year-old quarterback whose athleticism is as much as weapon in the Jets' offense as his arm.

It's what made him so coveted in the draft last year, and had the Jets excited to take him with the No. 2 overall pick. Wilson's mobility should help open some things up for an offense that has held a lead for just 22 seconds this season where the 37-year-old Flacco more of a traditional pocket passer simply wasn't equipped to do. It's a dimension Wilson brings to the offense that has become popular with other teams in maximizing their quarterbacks' abilities.

LaFleur used Cincinnati's Joe Burrow last week's opponent and the Bengals' Super Bowl run last season as an example.

I thought there was times, just in certain situations, he almost just put his head and just found an escape route and tried to go make plays, LaFleur said. Thats not what were asking him to do were just asking Zach to go play his game, whatever hes comfortable with.

Before Wilson's preseason injury, the thought was the influx of playmaking talent the additions of Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, in particular would help make the offense more efficient after Wilson might have had the tendency last season to try to play hero while making plays out of nothing.

On the play during which he was injured in August, Wilson was trying to get extra yards a not-so-wise display of his ultra-competitiveness.

Still, Wilson insists he isn't going to change the way he plays.

Im full go, he said. Im going to be playing ball how I can.

It's an approach if used smartly could help, especially with the state of the Jets' shaky and shuffled offensive line.

Left tackle George Fant went on injured reserve with a knee injury on Tuesday and Duane Brown is still at least a week away from returning from IR with a shoulder injury. That means career backup Conor McDermott is likely to get the start with a responsibility of protecting Wilsons blind side.

The Jets have allowed 37 quarterback pressures in three games, tied for the sixth most in the NFL. Flacco was hit 17 times, tied for the second most in the league, and sacked nine times.

Wilsons ability to make plays off-schedule and scramble out of trouble could come in handy Sunday during his return in Pittsburgh. And LaFleur believes his quarterback learned something from being sidelined the past six weeks.

The game in the NFL is when you have to protect yourself and get down, you have to get down. He knows that, LaFleur said. I have no worry that hes going to make the right decisions, but at the same time, hes going to utilize his skillset."

And Wilson isn't taking the field planning to prove anything after being away so long.

No, thats thinking too much, he said. "In my mind right now, its, Im going to give this everything I have. Im going to have fun with it. Let the result take care of itself.'

If I go out there and I play my game, I do what Im supposed, I have that short-term memory after plays and move on, I think things are going to go well.

NOTES: DL John Franklin-Myers (toe) fully practiced after being limited Wednesday. ... LB Quincy Williams (ankle) did not practice and is expected to be out for the game. ... CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) was limited.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Visit link:
Jets' offense will be 'a hair different' with Wilson back - USA TODAY

Training camp begins this week for the Detroit Pistons. But they will have to wait a few weeks, at least, for one of their key offseason additions to return to from a foot injury.

Alec Burks is rehabbing a navicular fracture and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the team announced Monday. The Pistons' preseason schedule begins Oct. 4 and they will tip off the regular season Oct. 19, so it remains to be seen if Burks will be cleared in time for the season based on his timeline.

PISTONS MAILBAG:After trading for Bojan Bogdanovic, where do they stand in East?

The Pistons acquired Burks in a June trade that also brought back big man Nerlens Noel, Detroit's own 2023 second-round pick, a 2026 second-roundpickvia Minnesota or New York, and $6 million in cash in exchange for draft rights to Serbian guard Nikola Radicevic and a protected 2025 second-round pick. Burks, a 31-year-old wing, is a career 38% 3-point shooter and will give Detroit a lift on that end of the floor once he's healthy.

Noel and Kevin Knox, who the Pistons signed to a two-year, $6 million contract this summer, are expected to be limited participants in training camp. Noel is dealing with plantar fasciitis (foot), and Knox is recovering from a right gastroc strain (calf).

The team also announced that Kemba Walker, who they acquired in a separate trade with the Knicks that also brought back 13th overall pick Jalen Duren, will not report to training camp. The Pistons and Walker are expected to part ways before the start of the 2022-23 season.

The team announced Monday it has picked up the fourth-year team options in 2023-24 for Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, who were all first-round draft picks in 2020. The Pistons also picked up the third-year option for the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, for the same season.

The team also displayed the No. 16 strip on the upper-right section of the jersey to honor Bob Lanier this season. The team will also host a Bob Lanier tribute on Jan. 23 when the Pistons play the Bucks, the other NBA team Lanier played for. Lanier, an eight-time All-Star and 1992 Hall of Fame inductee, died in May.

Read the rest here:
Alec Burks will miss start of Pistons' training camp; Kemba Walker not with team - Detroit Free Press

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina Asheville was an afterthought, a last-minute addition at the end of a nearly weeklong trip to neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Rookie mistake.

This mountain town in far western North Carolina deserves top billing on its own itinerary, filled with gallery hopping and top-rated restaurants, a quirky drum circle and comedy bus tour.

And did I mention the beer?

The city, population 95,000, is perhaps best known for being home to the Biltmore Estate, the elaborate former home of George and Edith Vanderbilt, the largest private residence in the United States, open daily for touring.

Read more: The Biltmore, Americas most elaborate private residence, is fit for a king

Its best attribute, however, is its location surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, with parkland on all sides.

The regions stunning beauty has made Asheville a long-time magnet for artists and adventurer seekers, who collectively give the town a cool, authentic vibe, all of which also happens to make it a great place to visit.

If youve never been here -- or even if you have -- its worth the trip, all on its own.

Downtown window shopping in Asheville.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Comedic guide Cookie Carter entertains a bus full of tourists on the LaZoom Comedy Bus Tour in Asheville.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Wicked Weed Brewing, one of more than 30 brewpubs in Asheville.Courtesy ExploreAsheville.com

Laughing at the citys past

To get my bearings, I signed up for the LaZoom Comedy Bus Tour, a 90-minute, PG-13 romp through town in a retrofitted school bus that covers much of the citys history, from a frontier outpost in the late 1790s to the arrival of the Vanderbilts a century later to Ashevilles first designation as Beer City USA in 2010.

We motored by downtowns former 75-foot-tall memorial (the erection at the intersection) to Civil War-era governor Zebulon Vance, dismantled last year; and the Asheville Civic Center, where Elvis Presley played three shows in July 1975, including one when he famously exited the stage for seven minutes to use the restroom (Sometimes, the king needs to sit, he reportedly said).

We passed the Asheville Masonic Temple, built in 1915 and used as a hospital for Black residents during the Spanish flu, the worst pandemic in history, according to comedic guide Cookie Carter. (Whoops, she added. I think we need to update the script.)

And we drove by the former Highland Hospital, a psychiatric facility turned wedding venue, where Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, died in a fire in 1948. An accomplished painter, writer and dancer, Zelda Fitzgerald may have also been the uncredited source of much of her husbands work, according to Carter. Described as schizophrenic and possibly bipolar, Carter said, Maybe she was just an independent woman in the 1920s.

Halfway through the tour, we stopped for an adult beverage at Green Man Brewery, founded in 1997 and among the oldest brewpubs in the citys beer-focused South Slope neighborhood (bro-muda triangle on sunny Saturday afternoons, according to Carter).

We also wheeled through the River Arts District, just southwest of downtown along the French Broad River, where dozens of former factories and warehouses have been turned into galleries, and the Montford historic district, filled with beautiful old homes.

I made a mental note of all the places I wanted to revisit.

Gallery-hopping in Asheville's River Arts District.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Medina County native Kevin Giriunas recently opened a studio in Asheville's River Arts District.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Exploring the neighborhoods

My visit coincided with the River Arts Districts Second Saturday gallery walk, with demonstrations, workshops and entertainment in and around the neighborhoods studios and galleries. My husband and I meandered through a dozen-plus spaces, perusing hundreds of pieces of art whimsical and serene glass, pottery, painting, jewelry and more. Locals (and visitors) can take classes at the studios and watch artists in action.

During my browsing, I met Kevin Giriunas, a Medina County native who recently relocated to Asheville and opened a painting studio on Roberts Street.

Asheville has a vibrant big city feel in a small mountain town, said Giriunas, a former engineer who is now working full-time as an artist. The art scene is awesome.

From River Arts, we headed back downtown, where there are many more galleries to explore including the Woolworth Walk, inside a former F.W. Woolworth Co. store, now filled with mini exhibits featuring the works of more than 100 local artists. Also here: the stores recreated Soda Fountain, featuring ice cream, sandwiches and salads. (One historical note: The actual lunch counter here was the subject of civil rights protests in the 1950s, as high school students in Asheville sought to emulate the college protesters in nearby Greensboro.)

Downtown Asheville features some of the best, most eclectic shopping Ive experienced anywhere terrific stores in a relatively compact, easily walkable space.

Other downtown stops:

* Grove Arcade, a four-story retail and office complex that was built in 1929 and billed as Americas first indoor shopping mall (but we Clevelanders know that our Arcade, which opened in 1890, was, in fact, the first). During World War II, the arcade here was taken over by the federal government for wartime planning.

* French Broad Chocolate Lounge, with exquisite chocolate drinks, pastries and candies to consume on site or take with you (or, even better, both). You can also take a tour of their production facility just north of downtown.

* The Asheville Bee Charmer, a story devoted to honey, with a tasting bar and more; Malaprops Books, Voltage Records; the Center for Craft and many others.

The historic Grove Arcade in Asheville.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

The honey tasting bar at downtown's Asheville Bee Charmer.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Every Friday, April through October, a group gathers at Asheville's Pritchard Park to play drums, dance and hang out.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

Dining and drinking

Downtown is also the epicenter of the highly regarded dining scene in Asheville, which is routinely cited among the nations best foodie cities.

On our first night in town, my husband and I headed to Chai Pani, a casual Indian eatery that was recently named Americas most outstanding restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. Prepare to wait an hour or more for a table the place doesnt take reservations and it wasnt accepting any more additions to its waiting list by the time we arrived.

We dined instead at Red Ginger, with terrific small plates and sushi, across from Pritchard Park, home every Friday night (April through October) to the citys quirky drum circle, a feel-good Asheville tradition since 2001.

Other places we ate: The Rhu for brunch, a sister restaurant and bakery to the more upscale Rhubarb; and Nine Mile, with terrific Caribbean fusion fare in the Montford historic district.

We also got a primer on sour beer at Funkatorium, an outpost of Wicked Weed Brewing, where our bartender explained the effects of a longer fermentation period on what we were about to drink. Its like when you let a bottle of wine age, she said. It tastes better.

On our tasting flight: mouth-puckering samples of Silencio, barrel-aged with coffee and vanilla, and Sandiaca, a tasty concoction fermented with watermelon and basil.

Where to stay

We stayed at the Carolina Bed and Breakfast, a large, luxurious inn in the historic Montford neighborhood, just north of downtown. The house, along with numerous others in the neighborhood, was designed by Richard Sharp Smith, who was the supervising architect of the Biltmore Estate following the death in 1895 of primary architect Richard Hunt Morris.

Smith, along with numerous other creative types, stuck around Asheville after the Biltmore was completed and helped the town evolve into the arts-focused community that it is today. We have more culture than a yeast infection, quipped guide Cookie Carter.

Dont take her word for it. Put Asheville at the very top of your next vacation itinerary, and go see for yourself.

The Carolina Bed and Breakfast in Asheville's historic Montford neighborhood.Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com

If you go: Asheville, North Carolina

Where: Asheville, in far western North Carolina, is about an eight-hour drive from Cleveland, along I-77 south, I-81 south and I-26 south. Asheville Regional Airport, south of town, is the closest airport.

Nearby: The city is adjacent to to Pisgah National Forest, close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is near the southern terminus of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, the scenic drive that connects the Smoky Mountains with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

Where to stay: We stayed at the Carolina Bed and Breakfast in the historic residential Montford neighborhood, just north of downtown. Rates start at about $230 a night. See carolinabb.com

More information: exploreasheville.com

Read more:

Dodging the crowds and clouds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Americas most popular

Overnighting at LeConte Lodge, the only inn inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park (but first, you have to get there)

Read the original here:
Weekend in Asheville: Hip, artsy enclave in the Blue Ridge Mountains beckons visitors with food, beer, browsi - cleveland.com

Its been the longest off-season weve had since 2019. While were all ramping back up, it felt reasonable to ask the staff an easy question to kick off our pre-season roundtables.

Whats your prediction of the Dallas Mavericks record and seed in the West?

Ben: As it stands, the Mavericks just dont have the depth to weather the injuries that are sure to come throughout the year. If Luka Doncic can somehow play 75 games this year, maybe they can pull off a record that gives them home court advantage in the playoffs. But I just dont see that happening. Luka has averaged 66 games per year in his career, and he probably plays something close to that in 2022-23. Instead, I think the Mavericks go 50-32, just barely eking out the sixth seed.

Matthew: There are many reasons to believe this team will be worse next season. They experienced a tremendous defensive turnaround which is part of the Jason Kidd coaching experience. Unfortunately his teams have consistently gotten worse as his tenure has gone along and the integration of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood would not seem to be part of a recipe to stave off that regression.

The team is aging, and they play a methodical style that wears both them and other teams down. They lost Jalen Brunson and Trey Burke (I know that is no great loss, but he would be the third best ball handler on the current team.

All of that being said, they employ Luka Doncic who is coming off his first playoff success in the NBA. I believe that will only motivate him to be even better. There is some truth to his recent statements that he does not need another superstar. The core of Doncic and three-and-D role players should push the Mavericks to 52-30 in a brutally competitive West.

Brent: The start of last season saw several challenges the Mavericks had to overcome in real-time. A new coach, a new defensive system, a rash of early season injuries, and Covid-induced player streaming that felt like Bizarro world fantasy basketball. This year the coaching staff hits the ground running with most of the roster returning. Integrating Christian Wood is the biggest wild card, but his motivation should be bountiful given his contract year status and what will be his first taste of a winning percentage north of .500. The loss of JB is regrettable and leaves this roster with an obvious need at point guard. But this doesnt feel like an unsolvable problem, even if Nico and company are nearing the end of the off-season with only two-thirds of their three-headed point guard monster from last season still intact. Expect a trade before the deadline to solve this problem and heres hoping it can happen before the start of the season.

Losing the WCF is a different vibe than losing the Finals would have been. Dallas clearly had enough to top Boston in a long, grueling series. That would have been a gut punch. Losing to the eventual champion Warriors doesnt feel that way at all. Feeding off hunger for another deep playoff run, the Mavericks get off to a red-hot start.

Every Mavericks fan wants to see the next logical step in this progression, get to and hopefully win the finals. But I see something different in the ole crystal ball. An eventual 5th seed finish, a 51-31 record, and sadly a tough, bitter second-round exit. Gosh, I hope I am wrong. A Luka-led finals squad would be amazing. Given expiring contracts, the impending freedom to make a major trade after the Knicks pick is conveyed, one thing is certain. Expect the team to look very different after this season regardless of the outcome.

Jordan: I dont think the Mavericks will be bad. The hope is Luka Doncic carries some of the fitness he displayed this summer into the season. The offensive potential of a motivated Christian Wood is tantalizing next to Doncic. And the team still has solid complimentary pieces in Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, and Maxi Kleber. If Dinwiddie and Hardaway can put together solid seasons then there is reason for optimism, winning between 50 and 55 games.

If its worse, it wouldnt be because the team is bad it would be from asking Luka Doncic to do too much for too long. And because a handful of Western Conference teams returned to health or got better. But I do think they cross the 50 win threshold and avoid the play-in, somewhere between the four and six seed.

Matt: On its face, it feels a little silly to be too upset at a team for running back a roster that just made a Western Conference Finals run. The decision to essentially swap Jalen Brunson for Christian Wood feels like one that will be very evidently a boom or bust move early on. More scary than Dallas roster decision, though, are the decisions of the moves made by the rest of the conference. The Clippers have Kawhi and Geroge back, Minnesota added Gobert and have a potential star in Anthony Edwards, The Grizzlies are young and getting better, New Orleans had Zion coming back, and the Warriors, coming off a dynasty-extending championship, are going to be as tough as ever. The rumors of the Western Conferences demise have been greatly exaggerated. So, knowing all that, its hard to see where Dallas ekes out more wins than they did a year ago with this roster. Im expecting something like 48 wins and a hard-fought 5th seed.

Doyle: The Mavericks arent a better team than they were last year. They rode the wave of hop shooting and a high-level ball handler looking to secure the bag all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Now, that ball handler is gone and the team twiddled its thumbs and added two big men. Given the state of the West, its easy to see Dallas winning 46 games and either falling into the play-in tournament or narrowly avoiding it. That said, I dont discount Luka Doncics ability to make the team look like overachievers once more.

Clint: Last years Mavericks were such a pleasant surprise, but Im afraid their luck may have run out. Losing Jalen Brunson and not even attempting to replace his role just seems like its not gonna work out, so Im feeling pessimistic. I predict the Mavericks go 0-82 this year. In fact, Ill go even further, and predict the Mavericks wont score their first point until the 10th game.

David: Despite the Mavericks mishap with Jalen Brunson and an overall bad vibe in the off-season after the Christian Wood trade, the Mavericks will be just fine. They have a solid team, they have a good coaching staff, and, most importantly, they have one of the three best players in the world. When you have a generational player like Doncic, it is really hard to regress year-over-year as a team. The Mavericks roster is good enough to be a contender next season, and has the ceiling of a championship team if they can put it together again and/or make one more roster move. Luka Doncics greatness cannot be overstated, and he will lead them to a 50-32 record, good for fifth in the West.

Jack: I actually think that the Mavericks have a chance to be a better regular season team than they were last year, provided Luka Doncic stays healthy. The biggest x-factor is the play of Christian Wood. If he becomes the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Doncic on offense and excels in Jason Kidds defensive scheme, he very well could be a candidate for the All-Star team. I think we have to put trust in the coaching staff to get the most out of Wood; theyve earned that with their performance last year. Losing Brunson obviously hurts a ton, but a full season of Dinwiddie (another year removed from ACL surgery) will do a lot to make up for that. If they add another ball handler at the deadline, this could be a 55 win team. The loss of Brunson will really be felt in the playoffs, where the team as currently constructed has a limited ceiling. But Luka Doncic exists, and I think this is the year he finally wins MVP with a completely dominant showing. I expect a strong regular season, health permitting, and will predict a record of 53-29, good for the 4 seed in the West.

Kirk: Im in my optimist phase of the off-season and Im tying the Dallas Mavericks season directly to a Luka Doncic MVP season. Luka Doncic is going to win the award this season and Dallas is going to finish with a top 3 seed in the Western conference. So lets get nuts and predicted a 55-27 season.

Brian: Its always more fun to be the hunter rather than the hunted. With 29 national tv games, lets see if the Mavericks can adjust to the bigger spotlight. Before the new year last season, the Dallas Mavericks were 17-18. With 31 games on their schedule in November and December, we should know where this team stands seeding-wise by then. Given that the Western Conference will be a gauntlet this season, I predict the Mavericks will win 46 games and finish as the 6th seed. Spoiler, the Mavericks, will face a familiar foe as their first-round opponent in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Logan: On one hand, I was unhappy with the Mavs off-season. The Brunson fiasco was bad enough, but many corresponding moves and reactions from team brass, seemed like the work of an organization failing to learn from both past mistakes AND from success.

Was our biggest problem really Kevon Looney, or was it being out-gunned on talent to the point we were stretched so thin that Kevon Looney did that? The latter seemed obvious, and some of the modern principles that gave us our successwing centrism, running centers off the floor, multiple ball handlersdidnt seem to resonate. On the other hand, some principles I think will remain. I believe in the coaching and defensive infrastructure, and so often in last years second half we all wondered how we were winning so much.

Maybe thats how it feels again as we follow a formula of Luka and scrappiness to a top 4 seed. Luka is that good, and only getting better. But regression seems more likely, and its as much to do with the West getting better than anything else. Last year the general vibes were a marked improvement over the years before, and I havent lost faith in all the reasons that was true, from the defense to the chemistry. Still, hovering just under 50 wins, fighting to avoid the play-in, and a feeling of the dreaded take our medicine year seems most likely, and I think the question will become how the team and Luka responds to that for the sake of the future contention.

Josh: If theres one thing Ive learned about the Luka Doncic era, its that everything usually works out and things are OK. When the Mavericks had a disappointing offseason in 2019, they still had a great regular season. When Doncic missed 10 games last season with an ankle injury and team went through a COVID outbreak at the same time, the Mavericks went 5-5 in those games playing a lot of guys they literally signed off the street. So yes, the Mavericks 2022 offseason was not good losing your second best player for nothing and your only two major additions being at a position that seems to matter less and less as years go by is not ideal. But the Mavericks still have Luka and they still have the formula Luka plus another ball handler plus shooting usually equals success. Despite the Mavericks losing Jalen Brunson, they still have that secondary ball handler in Spencer Dinwiddie. The team still has shooting in Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, Christian Wood, and Tim Hardaway Jr. They still have the pieces of their improved defense, with the added rim protection of JaVale McGee. The main concern seems to be the Mavericks are screwed if Doncic gets hurt, but you could argue no matter how the roster looks, theyd be screwed if their superstar gets injured. Dallas seemed to handle it fine enough last season, so at this point Im just a believer in the Mavericks handling these kinds of things.

In reality, my only main concern about this upcoming season isnt about the offseason moves the Mavericks did or didnt make, but what the rest of the Western Conference is up to. There were five teams that finished below the Mavericks in the standings last season that all expect to be better this upcoming season, with different ranges for how much better. The Timberwolves, Nuggets, Clippers, Pelicans, and Lakers should all be much more competitive this season, with only the Jazz being a team that significantly downgraded. The Suns, Warriors, and Grizzlies should all still be good. Theres a decent chance the Mavericks play well and still finish seventh or eighth, because the Western Conference is just that loaded. Having said that, Luka is still Luka and the Mavericks formula is awfully reliable. Despite the challenges in the conference and losing Brunson, I still expect the Mavericks to finish in that 48-52 win range. Officially put me down for 49-33, with the Mavericks in the hunt for home court advantage again.

Continue reading here:
Predicting the Maverick record and seed for the 2022-23 - Mavs Moneyball

Across the Obelisk is a chaotic genre mash-up that melds Dominion, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic the Gathering into a frenetic, satisfying mlange. This deck-building PC game offers rich character variety, but lacks focus, and bogs down the card-acquisition thrills with minutiae. Still, developer Dreamsite Games consistently taps the joy of conquering monsters with iterative math, making it worth your $19.99.

(Credit: Dreamsite Games)

Leveraging the well-trod array of champion roles, you start with a standard cleric, mage, rogue, and warrior in this deck-building RPG. You can control all four characters or invite up to three other people to split the party responsibility. Regardless, you journey through medieval-inspired villages, ice fields, and flaming pits. The goal is to uncover the mysteries surrounding the long-dormant, eponymous obelisk, and the disappearance of the Kingdom of Senethias princess and court magician.

During each campaign run, you undertake quests, meet NPCs, and battle a menagerie of monsters. The story's outset and finale are set, but otherwise you have many narrative options to explore as you play. Parties start in a town, with a few different ways to kit out the team before your trek. From there, each biome gradually builds story and character arcs from the dozens of choices you make along the way. These choices may be as unassuming as selecting a travel route or as bombastic as sending your pre-Industrial automaton to shield the party from a crumbling tower.

In some cases, such as when your group attempts to sneak past pig-men or elemental beings, you must draw a skill card (as opposed to an attack). Outcomes are determined by many factors, such as the characters in your party, equipped items, and the cards youve placed in your deck. Collectively, your decisions unlock other cards, characters, and even more potential outcomes when you revisit areas.

Similar Products

(Credit: Dreamsite Games)

Stitching all this together is Across the Obelisks heart: deck-building combat. Most individual map scenarios, which are connected by their many branching paths, have a battle attached to them. Your characters and enemies roll to determine the turn order (helpfully displayed in the center of the interface). Each player draws and plays out their turn, with their abilities nicely feeding into one anothers systems. The teams rogue screens others decks for potential hazards, while the mage invigorates the team tank to make additional attacks. The potential interactions are staggering, and the many pieces move together like intricate choreography when play finds its stride.

Across the Obelisk's many gameplay elements also lead to a key flaw: juggling four decks (one for each character) is a lot to ask of new players going at it alone. In addition, this delicate dance doesnt quite work in two ways. The first is the heavy focus on customization in the game's earliest stages. Between the altar, armory, and forge, its not clear how all these choices impacts play. Successive runs yield selection fatigue, too. Still, there are clear advantages to this system, so its hard to discount it completely. For example, you can import cash from prior campaigns to spend in the town, which results in beefy decks.

The second major issue crops up in the latter stages. Status effects on both sides stack, which sometimes makes it feel as though you're tiptoeing through a minefield filled with Bleeding, Burning, Chilling, Poison, and other hazards. You can lose half of your HP at the top of a turn, and another half at the bottom (not to mention dealing with debuff effects). It can bring play to a crawl, and diverts your efforts to countering massive bursts of complex, stacking status effects. You can plan around this in the early game, but the effects are consistent enough that it still feels like a limiting factor in deck-building freedom.

(Credit: Dreamsite Games)

Across the Obelisk isn't a demanding game; it will easily run on just about any PC released in the past decade. According to the game's Steam page, your PC needs at least a single-core, 2GHz CPU; 2GB of RAM; 1GB available video memory (though integrated laptop GPUs are just fine); 1GB of storage; and the Windows XP operating system (it's also available for macOS and SteamOS). Our testbeda gaming PC with an Intel 5820K CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPU, and 32GB of DDR4 RAMhad no trouble moving the game at 120 frames per second (at 1440p resolution).

The scant system requirements bely a sharp-looking adventure, though.Vibrant, surrealist art brings Senethias monsters and locales to life. There are countless monsters, each with smooth idle, attack, or spell animations to keep the screen lively as you mull your card decisions. Many creatures are refreshing interpretations of fantastical beasts. Whether youre squaring against an eerie, possessed sheep or a dryad with a log-hammer for a hand, the designs are crisp. The best art, and indeed the most interesting creatures throughout the game, end up in your party as valuable additions.

Across the Obelisk falls just shy of the modern deck-building genres defining hits, but holds its own in an increasingly crowded field. It can struggle to keep pace with itself at times, but you should check it out if Dungeons & Dragons meets Slay the Spire sounds at all appealing. Coming to understand and master the gameplay is great fun, particularly as you tweak your creations and internalize the games nuances. Just be prepared to deal with its many systems and status effects.

For more PC game reviews and previews, check outPCMag's Steam Curator(Opens in a new window) page. And for in-depth video game talk, visitPCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel(Opens in a new window).

Across the Obelisk (for PC)

The Bottom Line

Across the Obelisk is an exciting deck-building RPG that combines a magical fantasy setting with a charming art style and occasionally frustrating combat systems.

Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

Read more:
Across the Obelisk (for PC) Review - PCMag

The Tennessee Titans made a few additions to their secondary this week, one of which involved claiming former Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Lonnie Johnson off waivers.

A former second-round pick of the Texans in 2019, Johnson spent three years in Houston before being traded to the Chiefs earlier this offseason. However, Johnson was unexpectedly let go in the first round of cuts.

The Titans are already quite familiar with Johnson, who has faced Tennessee on multiple occasions during his three-year career. Adding to that, Johnson worked under defensive backs coach Anthony Midget in Houston.

Johnson didnt wait long to make an impact in training camp. During his first practice on Wednesday, which was also the first joint session with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson recorded an interception.

Its just a blessing to be here, Johnson said after practice on Wednesday, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. I wasnt expecting it but I got a good connection with [head coach Mike Vrabel], got a good connection with the DB coach [Anthony Midget] here.

First day out, I was blessed to get a pick the first play I was in, so just doing what I can, Johnson added.

Johnson brings some versatility with him. He can play at safety, cornerback, and has experience on special teams. Tennessee may also give him a look in the tight end matchup role previously held by Dane Cruikshank.

As the Kentucky product continues to get acclimated and tries to earn a spot on the roster in Nashville, hes just happy to be joining a winning culture in Tennessee.

Just get in where I fit in and just get ready to work, Johnson said. I know [the Titans] got a winning culture here. They want to win, they want to get to the Super Bowl This team works hard, got an excellent running back, QB; everybody just doing what they can to get to that next level, that next stage.

While Johnson is facing an uphill climb in making the roster after joining the Titans so late in the offseason, he has a better shot to make the cut than most would in his position after Tennessees depth options in the secondary were lackluster in preseason Week 1.

See the article here:
Lonnie Johnson talks joining Titans, connections with coaching staff - Titans Wire

JONESBORO The Arkansas State University Faculty Association will recognize 28 individuals, whose names have been selected for inclusion on the Distinguished Faculty Wall of Honor, during the fall Faculty Conference Wednesday, Aug. 17. The recognition is scheduled to begin about10 a.m.in Centennial Hall of the Reng Student Union.

Recognition of Distinguished Faculty began during the universitys Centennial Celebration in 2009-10, when the Faculty Association selected the First 100 Distinguished Faculty.

Through a faculty committee nomination process, the association selected the retired faculty who have made long-term significant contributions to Arkansas States success. A second group of 31 was selected and recognized in 2014; selection of the current group was delayed by the pandemic.

As president of the Faculty Association, it has been a pleasure to work with the historical committee to receive nominations from each college for the Distinguished Faculty awards, said Donna Caldwell, associate professor of medical imaging and radiation sciences and Faculty Association president. This is the highest honor bestowed to faculty by Arkansas State University and the Faculty Association. I am honored to be a part of honoring and recognizing these 28 amazing key faculty members.

Dr. John D. Hall, chair of the Faculty Association Historical Committee, cited former history professor Lee A. Dews book,The ASU Story: A History of Arkansas State University 1909-1967, as the source of a line reproduced on the Wall of Honor: The most vital part of any college is the faculty, for without a skilled and competent faculty no college can function effectively. The Wall of Honor is in front of Centennial Hall.

These 28 retired faculty members who have most recently been nominated by their colleagues and selected by the Faculty Association Executive Committee according to the Faculty Association by-laws represent a most distinguished group of skilled and competent faculty, Hall added. These faculty, like those selected before them for this high honor, have moved their departments, colleges, university and disciplines forward in an exemplary manner.

During the brief ceremony, each newly Distinguished Faculty member, or a representative, will receive a certificate signifying their selection for the prestigious recognition.

Here are the 28 newly designated Distinguished Faculty:

Thomas M. Adams, Ed.D., Professor of Exercise Science, 1981-2016

Neale K. Bartee, Ph.D., Professor of Music, 1973-2014

Sandra K. Bevill, Ph.D., Professor of Business Communications, 1991-2021

Lew E. Brinkley, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Economics, 1969-2005

David W. Cox, Ed.D., Professor of Educational Leadership, 1992-2014

Carole L. Cramer, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology, 2004-2018

William R. Crumpton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering, 1980-2006

Robert D. Engelken, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering, 1982-2016

David E. England, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science, 1988-2006

Richard K. Freer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work,1994-2014

Anne A. Grippo, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, 1995-2021

Julie J. Isaacson, MSN, Associate Professor of Nursing, 1987-2016

Craig H. Jones, Ed.D., Professor of Psychology and Counseling, 1977-2017

James Howard Keene, Ph.D., Professor of Animal Science, 1964-1995

Coy N. London, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, 1970-1996

Gregory B. Meeks, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Teacher Education, 2003-2018

Richard A. Neeley, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Disorders, 1987-2018

William C. Payne, MS, Associate Professor of Microbiology, 1988-2019

Jeffrey R. Pittman, J.D., Professor of Business Law, 1983-2021

Daniel F. Ross, DMA, Professor of Music, 1973-2018

Robert F. Rossa, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics, 1969-2004

Ralph Ruby Jr., Ed.D., Professor of Computer Information and Technology, 1979-2020

Pat S. Shackelford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering, 1976-1998

Russell E. Shain, Ph.D., Professor of Journalism, 1990-2010

Robert P. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics, 1969-2008

Curtis E. Steele, MFA, Professor of Graphic Design, 1978-2017

Dennis W. White, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Speech Communication, 1974-2007

Raymond F. Winters, M.S., Associate Professor of Radiological Sciences, 1995-2018

Nameplates, complete with each individuals academic title and years of service, are being added to the recognition wall for public view beginning Wednesday.

Press Release

Related

Follow this link:
A-State Faculty Association Will Salute 28 Additions to Distinguished Faculty Wall of Honor - NEA Report

Brody Malone

Though bonus was a big factor in how the rankings ended up playing out in the first night of senior mens competition at U.S. Championships last night, it didnt matter much for Brody Malone, who relied on clean, consistent gymnastics to finish his first night separated by more than three points ahead of the rest of the field, with or without bonus.

Malone leads the field with an 88.942, which is 3.462 points ahead of second-place Asher Hong, competing in his first national competition as a senior. But without the bonus (given to athletes as a way to reward higher-difficulty skills that are inherently riskier and which the athletes would otherwise be less likely to perform), while the rankings below Malone shift pretty drastically, he actuallyincreases his lead to 3.55 points, with an 86.750 to Yul Moldauers bonus-free 83.200.

Starting on rings, Malone performed what is a pretty low-difficulty routine for him well enough, he hit a very strong Kaz 1 on vault, looking just slightly off directionally with a hop to earn a 14.45, and he did beautiful work on p-bars. His work on both high bar and floor was very strong, getting him to first- and second-place finishes on these events, and while some of his floor landings could use some tidying up which held his execution back a bit his skills overall look so solid and dependable. To cap off his night, he hit one of his better routines on pommel horse, with no major mistakes or even slight hesitations there, getting him a third-place finish.

Hong ranked second with an 85.480 with bonus, though drops slightly to third with an 83.000 without the additional help. He got off to a massive start on vault, where he scored a 16.630 (1.78 bonus) for his tsuk full-in double tuck. Its one of the most difficult vaults being done in the world right now, and he followed it up with an equally difficult Kaz 2, making him the only gymnast who has competed two 6.0-rated vaults this year. The latter came up a bit shy in rotation and is definitely at risk of being downgraded, and he could use a little clean-up on both, but its very impressive work, especially given his age.

Vault aside, Hong had pretty great routines, including an impressive combination of high difficulty and mostly brilliant execution on floor to top the field there, and he looked super solid on both rings and p-bars, but his weakest events pommel horse and high bar both got to him here. On pommels, he struggled a bit throughout with form breaks in addition to falling, while on high bar, he started his routine with a hard fall very early on the Kolman, though I was glad to see him get back up and finish strong with no other major issues.

Donnell Whittenburg placed third with an 84.774 with bonus, picking up a significant amount thanks to his difficulty on floor, rings, and vault. However, without the bonus, he came in at just an 81.950, falling to ninth place. This is largely because of his lower difficulty on his weaker events pommels, p-bars, and high bar, though he hit all three relatively well here but also due to a rough floor routine.

One of his key apparatuses, Whittenburg put his hands down on his opening front double full to double front and then again on his arabian double front half-out, in addition to some otherwise hoppy landings. Thankfully, he got over that quickly enough to come back with the best rings routine in the field by a mile, and he hit a super powerful tsuk full-in on vault with a bounce to the side on the landing, though he looked great in the air.

In fourth, with or without bonus, was Shane Wiskus (84.423 officially, 82.950 with bonus removed). It was an okay meet for Wiskus, who started with clean work on his Kaz 1 and in a mostly beautiful p-bars set, though he started to lose focus a bit after that, beginning on high bar. He was a bit rushed there, with a couple of his releases barely scraping by and his Tak full finished under the bar, and he also had some weak landings on floor, coming up shy of an execution score wed usually expect from him. He continued to be plagued by some form issues on pommels making him look a bit off there, but he finished strong on rings and should be happy to have made it through his day without any falls, though I hope he can tighten up a bit to show more of what hes capable of on day two.

Maybe it was a little surprising to see Moldauer down in fifth place with an 84.276 after hes spent the past five years as one of the leaders of the national team, but unlike a lot of the guys here who were trying to impress with difficulty here, his focus was on hitting clean, leaving behind some of the harder skills he tried out at classics a few weeks ago. When you remove everyones bonus, he jumps up to second place with an 83.200, showing that his simpler but cleaner work is still going to add major value to the U.S. team at worlds.

It wasnt Moldauers best day, with little things on almost every routine holding him back slightly, including on all of his best events floor exercise, pommel horse and parallel bars, with a fall on the latter. I think overall, his gymnastics looks tight and strong, and thats going to be what keeps him afloat this season, but I do think the lack of consistency this year especially on his key events where the team will need to rely on him most is something that needs attention. Again, hes good enough that he can rank second with a fall, so the situation isnt dire and hell be at worlds pretty much no matter what, but a fall-free competition could be helpful in his preparation.

Rounding out the top eight in the official standings are Fred Richard in sixth with an 83.880, Colt Walker in seventh with an 83.846, Ian Lasic-Ellis in eighth with an 82.950, Taylor Burkhart in ninth with an 82.573, and Khoi Young, who is dealing with an injury and not at a hundred percent, in 10th with an 82.444. But again, when you remove the bonus here, quite a few of these standings shift, with Richard dropping all the way to 11th, while the rest of the guys climbed, including Lasic-Ellis who had no bonus added to his scores ending up fifth, Walker in sixth, Young in seventh, and Burkhart in eighth.

One of the most exciting additions to the senior national field this year, Richard had a few mistakes throughout his day, including several mistakes in addition to a fall on pommels, a few rushed skills on high bar, and some short landings on floor, where he opened with a double double half-out, but thanks to the difficulty bonuses, he still managed to finish second on high bar and third on floor.

Among the specialists finishing in the top three on each event, Ian Skirkey was first on pommels with a 15.743 (a 14.55 without bonus), ahead of world champion Stephen Nedoroscik in second with a 15.693 (a 14.7 without bonus), while Curran Phillips finished first on p-bars with a 16.999 (a 15.35 without bonus) ahead of Blake Sun in second with a 15.992 (also a 15.35 without bonus), and Alex Diab was second on rings with a 15.245 (a 14.35 without bonus).

Day 1 Rankings With Bonus

1. Brody Malone 88.9422. Asher Hong 85.4803. Donnell Whittenburg 84.7744. Shane Wiskus 84.4235. Yul Moldauer 84.2766. Fred Richard 83.8807. Colt Walker 83.8468. Ian Lasic-Ellis 82.9509. Taylor Burkhart 82.57310. Khoi Young 82.44411. Dallas Hale 81.85012. Riley Loos 81.50413. Garrett Braunton 81.22214. Landen Blixt 79.65015. Cameron Bock 79.55016. Isaiah Drake 79.20017. Daniel Simmons 78.25018. Evan Hymanson 78.05019. Michael Artlip 77.90020. Kameron Nelson 77.72921. Jeremy Bischoff 77.10022. Garrett Schooley 76.95023. Toby Liang 76.65024. Matt Cormier 76.56925. Colin Flores 76.40026. Taylor Christopulos 75.80027. Joshua Karnes 75.75528. Asher Cohen 73.60029. Anthony Koppie 72.45030. Landon Simpson 72.00031. Cole Partridge 70.80032. Maxim Bereznev 70.05033. Caleb Melton 68.666

Day 1 Rankings Without Bonus

1. Brody Malone 86.7502. Yul Moldauer 83.2003. Asher Hong 83.0004. Shane Wiskus 82.950 Ian Lasic-Ellis 82.9506. Colt Walker 82.9007. Khoi Young 82.2008. Taylor Burkhart 82.1009. Donnell Whittenburg 81.95010. Dallas Hale 81.85011. Fred Richard 81.30012. Riley Loos 80.80013. Garrett Braunton 80.70014. Landen Blixt 79.65915. Cameron Bock 79.55016. Isaiah Drake 79.20017. Daniel Simmons 78.25018. Evan Hymanson 78.05019. Michael Artlip 77.90020. Kameron Nelson 77.50021. Jeremy Bischoff 77.10022. Garrett Schooley 76.95023. Toby Liang 76.65024. Colin Flores 76.40025. Taylor Christopulos 75.80026. Joshua Karnes 75.65027. Matt Cormier 75.45028. Asher Cohen 73.60029. Anthony Koppie 72.45030. Landon Simpson 72.00031. Cole Partridge 70.80032. Maxim Bereznev 70.05033. Caleb Melton 68.300

Article by Lauren Hopkins

Like Loading...

View original post here:
Malone Takes Sweeping Lead at U.S. Nationals, Bonus or Not - The Gymternet

Nelson Agholors first year in New England did not steal the show. After signing a two-year, $22 million contract last offseason, he posted just 473 yards and three touchdowns.

Entering Year 2, Agholors future with the Patriots was questionable due to his contracts structure. Plus, with the addition of second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, who shares a similar skillset as the veteran, many thought Agholor could be moved.

While trading him would help the Patriots in the finance books, hes proving a potential move could hurt them on the field. Agholor has been the teams best receiver at times throughout training camp. That was again the case against the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, where he highlighted his strong showing by hauling in a slot fade over three Carolina defenders in the end zone.

Mac gave me an opportunity and put the ball in the air, and I just went to go get it, Agholor said after practice. Thats what we talk about in the receiver room and as an offense. If the quarterback gives you an opportunity, you got to do whatever to get it. Its you or nobody.

In their second year together, Agholor and Jones continue to show their chemistry, one they have spent the last calendar year building.

Weve been having conversations since last year continuously. How do things look? Whats going on? We also have a really good friendship that allows us to talk about things like what went right, what couldve been better. I love the fact that we have an open line of dialect back and forth, Agholor said.

As for Jones, he spoke highly of Agholors football knowledge.

I dont know if Ive seen a receiver who understands football as well as he does in terms of just general knowledge, Jones told reporters Wednesday. Hes almost like a quarterback out there. We put in a lot of work together in the offseason. He was at all the throwing sessions. Thats what we are trying to grow from.

On Wednesday, the highlight-reel snag was just the start of his day. Agholor caught another touchdown from Jones on a similar route out of the slot, beating Myles Hartfield. He also shook free from a pair of Panther defenders in 1-on-1 drills and drew a hold later on.

After lining up in the slot for just 65 snaps last year, compared to 691 out wide, Agholor has often worked out of the slot this summer. Hes had success working out there as of late as his familiarity within the system continues to increase in his sophomore campaign as a Patriot.

Whatever I need to do to help out and show versatility. Inside, outside, it doesnt matter, Agholor explained. I think Im more comfortable this year than last year. More familiar. But just like any other year Im just trying to get better.

Despite the strong early returns of offseason additions DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton, trading Agholor may not be the best move for New England. While the $14.9 million cap hit is one thing, the 29-year-old has proven his ability to make plays at an important position in the NFL. He should also continue to be a prime benefactor of the Patriots streamlined offense.

Agholor does not see the crowded wide receiver room as competition, but rather as a chance to elevate his growth as a receiver.

Its actually what you need, Agholor said. Growth happens when theres competition within the group and competition across the ball. I know those guys are going to make a play every opportunity they get, so it reminds me any opportunity I get to make a play.

See the original post:
Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor looks primed for second-year leap - Pats Pulpit

Update (3 p.m., CDT): The Titans formally announced the deal. To make room on the roster, tight end Briley Moore was released.

Original story

NASHVILLE The Tennessee Titans have tried to plug holes at safety since the start of training camp.

Tuesday, they found what looks to be a more permanent fix.

Tennessee acquired Tyree Gillespie from the Las Vegas Raiders in trade for a conditional late-round pick(seventh round) in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was a fourth-round pick by the Raiders in 2021 and played 11 games as a rookie with the majority of his playing time on special teams. He was credited with two tackles on defense and six on special teams.

Gillespie (6-foot, 207 pounds) becomes the fourth safety the Titans have added in less than a month. They brought back Josh Kalu three days before the start of camp and last week signed free agents Adrian Colbert and Elijah Benton (Benton was released Tuesday).

Scroll to Continue

It's been a thin position for us, coach Mike Vrabel said Monday.

The early additions were meant to plug holes in the training camp roster so that no one would be overloaded in practice or in the preseason.

The decision to trade for Gillespie suggests that franchise officials expect him to be around beyond camp.

His arrival comes amid a continuing shortage of safeties. Starter Amani Hooker has been out for more than a week with an injury and rookie Theo Jackson, a sixth-round pick in this years draft, sat out workouts earlier this week. The Titans do not release specific injury information during training camp.

Gillespies first work with Tennessee will come in joint practices with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which take place Wednesday and Thursday. The same teams will meet in a preseason game Saturday at Nissan Stadium.

Colbert, a sixth-year veteran, played more than half of the defensive snaps in last Thursdays preseason loss at Baltimore despite having been with Tennessee for a matter of days. He was credited with three tackles.

I liked his speed, man, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. You see him flying around. It might be a credit to having some fresh legs, but hes done a good job. Hes trying to learn.

Now, he no longer is the new kid in class.

See the rest here:
Second-Year Safety Acquired in Trade - Sports Illustrated