COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If Jim Harbaugh had his way, Mike Weber would be running around in maize and blue this summer instead of preparing to be the starting tailback for hated rival Ohio State.Coming out of Detroits Cass Tech High School as a four-star recruit in 2015, Weber committed to play for Michigan coach Brady Hoke. But after Hoke was fired, he changed his mind and chose Ohio State following a feverish recruiting battle between Harbaugh and Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer. Harbaugh said losing Weber at the last minute left a bruise.In Columbus, Weber was red-shirted last year after a knee injury in training camp and told to soak up all he could from Ezekiel Elliott, one of Ohio States greatest ball carriers. Elliott left after the season and was a first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys. Then Webers chief competition at tailback, fifth-year senior Brionte Dunn, was kicked off the team for breaking the rules.That cleared the path for Weber, who now will get his chance to be the next marquee back in a program that produced Eddie George, Archie Griffin and Howard Hopalong Cassady -- its a job Meyer calls a Cadillac position in sports. His teammates call the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Weber Baby `Los, because his aggressive, bruising running style is reminiscent of Carlos Hyde, who ran for nearly 3,200 yards at Ohio State before going to the NFL in 2014.No pressure, right?I really just go out there, play my hardest, Weber said. I know people compare me from recent backs that we had. We had some great backs out here. I used to be worried about trying to live up to those standards, but really Im just now focused on being myself and doing everything I can to help this team win.Coaches acknowledge that Weber alone probably wont be able to make people forget Elliott, who not only ran for more than 3,900 yards and 43 touchdowns in three seasons but also was a superb pass blocker. Meyer has said the H-backs, particularly Curtis Samuel, will carry the ball this season, and Antonio Williams, a freshman who enrolled early and participated in spring practice, also will be in the mix at running back.Quarterback J.T. Barrett likes what he sees from Weber so far.Hes low to the ground, Barrett said. I think hes a hard runner, but its hard to get at his legs because hes so low. Being behind Zeke for a year ... you see that playing running back it doesnt matter if youre blocking, running, blocking for me, all these different things, you just have to go at a high tempo all the time. And I think hes definitely learned that from Zeke, which is going to come out in his game.The redshirt year, besides helping Weber mature, also gave him a chance to work on his body and fitness. Strength coach Mickey Marotti helped him develop a workout and nutrition plan, and the transformation was dramatic, evident in the side-by-side before and after photos Weber posted on social media. Meyer put it this way: A little fat kid turns into a good-looking running back.Last year I was kind of running around with my head cut off, Weber said. I didnt know too much, other than to get the ball and run. I was doing pretty well in fall camp last year before I got hurt. I was just learning last year, and this year I know what is going on, know the plays well, know my approach, know how to handle things differently. It should be a fun year.Running backs coach Tony Alford said Weber has grown up in his approach to his game as far as the mental part of the game, the approach to the way he takes care of his body in regards to the training staff, the strength and conditioning staff, his attentiveness in the meeting rooms.Everything about him is growing up right before your eyes, he said.Weber said the furor has died down back home regarding his decision to choose Ohio State over the team he rooted for as a boy, although some Michigan fans still give him the business from time to time. Thats not for him to worry about anymore. Hes getting ready to start at tailback for the Buckeyes on Sept. 3 at Ohio Stadium. The Horseshoe instead of the Big House.Im really excited, he said. Thats what I came here for. Its a huge opportunity to take on, and Im ready to take it on.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy Cheap Air Max 95 Shoes . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Cheap Air Max 95 Free Shipping . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. http://www.cheapairmax95.com/ . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Clearance Air Max 95 .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Nike Air Max 95 Outlet . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- If there has been a constant in the New York Giants three-game winning streak, its been that Steve Spagnuolos defense has had to make a fourth-quarter stands to secure the wins.Last week, the defense stopped the Eagles at the New York 17 after Eli Manning threw his second interception of the fourth quarter in a 28-23 win.The unit had to pitch a shutout over the Rams in the final three quarters in a 17-10 win in London on Oct. 23.The streak started with the defense holding in the waning seconds after the Ravens got to the Giants 24 in a 27-23 win.We know how good we can be, but we are not there yet, linebacker Keenan Robinson said. We still have a long way to go. We havent done anything yet.The job for the defense will be tougher Monday night when the Giants (5-3) host the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) at MetLife Stadium. While the Bengals defense has struggled this season, their offense is stacked.Andy Dalton has had a 100-plus quarterback rating in four of his last five games. A.J. Green leads the NFL in receiving with 59 catches, and his 896 yards are No. 2 overall. The running game is averaging 120.3 yards, with Jeremy Hill gaining 5.0 yards a pop. Giovanni Bernard gains roughly 4.0 yards per run and is second on the team with 31 catches.Theres more, too. Tight end Tyler Eifert returned to the lineup in London on Oct. 30 and had nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.`Man, they can run the ball or pass the ball, Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon said Friday. They have a good quarterback and they have a good receiver as well. They have good weapons on the offensive side of the ball, so we just have to play our ball.If there is one thing that the defense has done well, it is stop the run. New York is ninth in the league, limiting opponents to an average of 93.9 yards. Only three teams have gotten 100 yards on the ground -- Green Bay (147), Minnesota (104) and Dallas (101) -- and none in the last three games.You have to make them as one-dimensional as possible, linebacker Devon Kennard said. We have to go in and stop them on first and second down when it comes to the run game and make them have to throw; put them in third-and-long situations and make it harder on them.Stopping the run is going to fall on thee Giants front seven with tackles Johnathan Hankins and Damon Harrison stuffing the middle, Vernon and fellow end Jason Pierre-Paul holding the edges and funneling the plays back inside.ddddddddddddSafety Landon Collins gives the front seven an extra boost with his ability to come into the box. He leads the team in tackles, sacks and interceptions, picking up three in the last two games.Hes a big key part of their defense, Dalton said of Collins, who has taken major strides in his second season. `Hes all over the place, and you have to know where he is. Hes been playing well for them. For a guy to lead in sacks and interceptions, it shows how great a player he is.The defense has also excelled in the red zone. It has allowed only 11 touchdowns in 28 possessions, the best in the league at 39.3 percent.There are concerns, though. Too many big plays surrendered: The Eagles had seven plays of 20 or more yards last week and probably would have had more points had they not failed on two fourth-down plays in New York territory and had a field goal blocked.Sometimes big plays happen, said Robinson, who has done an excellent job recently covering tight ends. We want to make sure we play disciplined, sound football so we limit the big plays. Sometimes they are going to make the great catch or the great throw. If we are giving up big plays because we are not in the right position or made the wrong call, thats what we have to eliminate.Still, this is a major improvement from a year ago when the defense blew leads either in the fourth quarter or overtime in six games.I feel good, said cornerback Janoris Jenkins, the free agent signee who has given New York a shutdown cornerback, one who will probably draw Green on Monday night. I have been saying it since the beginning of the year, I think we can be special, and I still feel that. We just have to continue to work.Game notes WR Victor Cruz (ankle) did not practice for the second straight day. He hopes to play. ... 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