2008 was a season-long nightmare for Michigan football fans. Here is a brief recap of various streaks that were snapped and records that were set:
First losing season since 1967
Most losses (9) in a single season
First five game long losing streak to Ohio State
First loss to Michigan State since 2001
Add to those the belief among many critics that Michigan football is going in a poor direction and it becomes clear that 2009 is a critical year for Michigan football. Will Rich Rod's team rebound well? Will they continue their plummet? Let's break it down.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Undoubtedly, the quarterback play in 2008 was a huge reason for the poor play of the offense. Steven Threet wasn't mobile enough and Nick Sheridan's arm wasn't strong enough. Enter Tate Forcier. Anyone who watched Tate in the spring game came away nothing but impressed. Tate showed excellent quickness in evading defenders as well as superb accuracy. Forcier threw only a couple bad throws the entire scrimmage, and seemed to make good decisions throughout. Obviously, when he plays against defenses that are looking to knock him out of games, he may not be quite as accurate or as daring. But, Forcier proved that he has the ability that Threet and Sheridan lacked. Tate will start against Western Michigan, and I expect him to exceed true freshman expectations.
Tate Forcier is not the only true freshman quarterback that will see playing time in 2009. Denard Robinson will provide Rich Rod the breakaway speed at the quarterback position that he had at West Virginia in Pat White. For several weeks in the spring, Denard Robinson held the best 100M dash time of any high schooler in the country. Denard brings an athleticism to the quarterback position that has never before been seen in Ann Arbor. He will almost certainly see snaps as a result. Don't be surprised if you see Tate and Denard both in the backfield at some point.
Running Backs
The strength of Michigan's offense in 2008 becomes even stronger in 2009. Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown both return, and Rich Rod has hinted at using them in the backfield together in 2009. Minor is the power to Brown's speed. Add speedy newcomers Vincent Smith, Teric Jones, and Fitzgerald Toussaint to the mix, and offensive coordinator Calvin McGee has to be loving the options he has in the backfield. Vincent Smith came into Ann Arbor in the spring and impressed everyone that saw him. Just today, Rich Rod said that strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis told him that Teric Jones was the most impressive newcomer in the weight room. Barwis's praise is great to hear considering most of Jones's critics were concerned mostly about his size and strength. At fullback, Mark Moundros returns and is expected to see an even bigger role in the offense. Moundros is solid at a critical position in the spread offense. Expect to see a lot of different ball carriers and combinations in the backfield for Michigan this year.
Wide Receivers
This is the offensive position that I worry about most in 2009. There are lots of bodies at wide receiver, but someone needs to step up finally. At the slot, Martavius Odoms showed flashes of brilliance in 2008. If he can continue to improve and hold onto the ball, Odoms can be a valuable contributor at another critical position in the spread offense. Joining Odoms at the slot position are Roy Roundtree, Terrence Robinson, and Jeremy Gallon. Roundtree and Robinson were both redshirted in 2008. Roundtree has impressed people in practice with his good hands and football IQ. Robinson was injured in 2008. If he can stay healthy in 2009, T-Rob would provide the shifty complement to Odoms's straight-line speed. Jeremy Gallon is a true freshman who was one of the best wide receivers in the Army All-American practices in January. Gallon has already generated Steve Breaston comparisons. Look for Gallon to contribute on special teams immediately.
On the outside, Greg Matthews is a senior who has been fairly productive his entire career. He's not big or fast, but he has pretty good hands and gives the offense the steady option that any true freshman quarterback desperately needs. Darryl Stonum is a freak athletically, but needs to prove that he can be productive on the field. Coming off an injury, JR Hemingway is a question mark that could provide some depth among the outside recievers that is badly needed.
The tight end position might be the one saving grace. Kevin Koger was impressive whenever he touched the field in 2009 and Brandon Moore and Martell Webb will provide excellent depth.
Tate Forcier will need a couple guys to step up and be productive. If no one does, it could be another long year for the offense.
Offensive Line
The offensive line was another one of the biggest problems in 2008. With nearly everyone returning after an offseason working with Mike Barwis, there is plenty of reason to believe that the offensive line will be improved in 2009. Perhaps the most exciting news for the Michigan offensive line is that Mark Huyge has apparently stepped up enough to provide another legitimate right tackle starter. With Huyge at right tackle, Steve Schilling can move inside to right guard where he should be. The move of Schilling to guard is a huge move for the offensive line. Schilling has played out of position for two years and it has shown. Expect big things out of Steve Schilling this year. Mark Ortmann and David Moosman should start at left tackle and left guard, respectively. David Molk will remain the starting center and should continue to improve as he did during the 2008 season. If the offensive line plays to the level they are capable of, the Michigan offense should run much better in 2009.
Defense
Defensive Line
The defensive line is undeniably the strength of Michigan's defense in 2009. At defensive end, Brandon Graham has All-American potential. If he continues to progress normally, Graham should end up with 10+ sacks and even more tackles for loss. As a freshman, Mike Martin proved to be a force at defensive tackle. He's not huge, but he is extremely strong and is relentless in attacking the backfield and clogging up holes. In three down linemen sets, Martin will be the nose tackle. The third man in those sets will likely be Ryan Van Bergen. RVB came to Michigan as a defensive end, and has been a notoriously hard worker his entire career. Now a junior, Van Bergen should get his chance to start. Don't expect anything flashy from Van Bergen, but he should be solid enough. When Michigan runs a 4-3, RVB will probably shift to defensive end, leaving a spot alongside Mike Martin. That spot will likely go to either Ronald Sagesse or Will Campbell. Campbell is a raw, but extremely talented true freshman from Cass Tech. He may struggle his freshman year, but he's going to be an All-American someday. Sagesse has lost somewhere around 40 pounds and is in great shape. I would expect Sagesse to play the majority of time, with Campbell coming in occasionally to try to get to the quarterback.
Linebackers
The linebacker position was a glaring weakness in the 2008 Michigan defense. Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton return as starters. Ezeh makes a lot of tackles, but he is extremely poor in pass coverage. Mouton is a converted safety who is gradually learning the position. Mouton showed some progress in 2008. Hopefully, for Michigan fans' sakes, he continues to improve. New defensive coordinator Greg Robinson brings with him two new "hybrid" positions. The first is a DE/LB mix. Look for Brandon Herron or Marell Evans to start there. Evans struggled mightily when he played in 2008 but is supposedly a practice warrior. Herron is a little smaller and quicker, which might appeal to Robinson if he wants to get to the quarterback more. The second hybrid position is a safety/LB mix. Steve Brown is the starter there. Brown has struggled to the point of benching in his Michigan football career. But, his speed and talent are undeniable. Brown has shown an ability to run down and tackle the ball carrier on special teams. The move to closer to the line of scrimmage should help Brown a lot as most of his struggles have come in pass coverage. If the Michigan coaches can create schemes to keep Steve Brown moving forward, I think he could have a breakout year.
Defensive Backs
The cornerbacks are pretty set in stone with Boubacar Cissoko and Donovan Warren. Cissoko impressed a lot of people as a true freshman, and there's nothing to suggest he won't keep improving. Warren struggled after shining as a frosh, but that was mostly due to a combination of injuries and not seeing eye-to-eye with former DC Scott Shafer. If Warren is healthy and buys in to the new defensive schemes, Michigan has a great cornerback duo for the next two years. At safety, there is a lot of young talent. Troy Woolfolk has emerged as a lock to start at one of the safety positions. Troy's dad Butch was a star at Michigan, and his son has the chance to be one as well. Woolfolk should provide some speed at the safety position the like of which Michigan football hasn't seen in a long time. The other safety position will likely go to Mike Williams, who would be the hard hitter, and a nice complement to Troy Woolfolk. If Williams isn't starting, it's because true freshman Vlad Emilien has impressed people from the moment he stepped on campus. Vlad suffered an injury, though, so expect Williams to start initially. The defensive back group should, without a doubt, be improved in 2009.
Projected Starting Lineup:
QB- Tate Forcier
RB- Brandon Minor
FB- Mike Moundros
WR- Greg Matthews
WR- Darryl Stonum
WR- Martavious Odoms
TE- Kevin Koger
OT- Mark Ortmann
OT- Mark Huyge
OG- Steve Schilling
OG- David Moosman
C- David Molk
DE- Brandon Graham
NT- Mike Martin
DT/DE- Ryan Van Bergen
LB- Obi Ezeh
LB- Jonas Mouton
LB/DE- Brandon Herron
LB/S- Steve Brown
CB- Boubacar Cissoko
CB- Donovan Warren
S- Troy Woolfolk
S- Mike Williams
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Sports Illustrated Links
While I was writing for The Angry T (theangryt.com), several of my articles got linked on Sports Illustrated's Hot/Campus Clicks. This was definitely one of my finer moments, and proof that my writing and sports knowledge was at a high level. Here is a link to the Sports Illustrated pages with descriptions to follow my articles.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/sioncampus/08/07/college-coaches-and-pineapple-express/index.html
Listed under "The Benedict Arnolds of Sports" (August 7, 2008)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/sioncampus/08/29/sophia-bush-was-a-sorority-girl-campus-clicks/index.html
Listed under "Speaking of School Rankings..." (August 29, 2008)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/extramustard/09/09/ana-ivanovic-milk-ad/index.html
Listed under "Go-Away Team" (September 9, 2008)
Coming up later tonight: 2009 Michigan Football preview
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/sioncampus/08/07/college-coaches-and-pineapple-express/index.html
Listed under "The Benedict Arnolds of Sports" (August 7, 2008)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/sioncampus/08/29/sophia-bush-was-a-sorority-girl-campus-clicks/index.html
Listed under "Speaking of School Rankings..." (August 29, 2008)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/extramustard/09/09/ana-ivanovic-milk-ad/index.html
Listed under "Go-Away Team" (September 9, 2008)
Coming up later tonight: 2009 Michigan Football preview
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Diaper Dandies-- College Football Edition
Sure, they don't have as much impact as Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, and Michael Beasley. But still, college football freshmen have become more and more important to the success of their teams in recent years. 2008 saw major impacts from true freshmen like AJ Green (Georgia), Julio Jones (Alabama), Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), and the Florida defensive back combination of Will Hill and Janoris Jenkins. Typically, impact freshmen come in the form of running backs and wide receivers. 2009 could be different, however.
Matt Barkley (Southern Cal)
With Mark Sanchez gone, USC looked to their other ten 5 star QB recruits to replace him. Aaron Corp looked to be the heir apparent, but Barkley has impressed people to the point where those within the USC program believe he could start from Day One in Los Angeles. I have a feeling that Corp will get the starting job at least until after the Ohio State game. But, look for Barkley to play significant minutes in 2009 for the Trojans.
Tate Forcier (Michigan)
Tate may not be the second or even fifth ranked quarterback coming out of high school, but he's certainly one of the most polished. And, considering the turmoil surrounding the Michigan football program and, in particular, the QB position, Forcier will be expected to come in and start right away. Luckily for Forcier, he does not have very large shoes to fill, as Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan did nothing but suck last year. Still, Forcier may be the most scrutinized true freshman in college football next year. With his accuracy and football IQ, I expect Tate to exceed expectations.
Bryce Brown (Tennessee)
With Arian Foster leaving, Tennessee is razor thin at the running back position. Luckily, they landed what some recruiting sites (including Rivals.com) believe is the best incoming freshman in the country. At 6 foot 215, Brown has plenty of size to go with his blazing speed. When you find a running back with Brown's size/power and speed combination, you hold onto him. Brown should see the majority of carries for Lane Kiffin this year. I would expect some productive numbers along with a few runs that make their way onto ESPN's Top 10 plays. Fellow true freshman David Oku should also give Tennessee a decent back-up option to Brown.
Rueben Randle (LSU)
With speedsters Trindon Holliday and Chris Mitchell and a maturing quarterback in Jordan Jefferson, LSU needs that impact, outside wide receiver that can take over games. At 6'3 Rueben Randle can be that guy. While his size is excellent, Randle is also pretty fast and has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Randle was made in the same mold as the aforementioned Green, Floyd, and Jones. There is nothing to suggest that Randle's impact won't be similar to these guys. LSU was looking for an outside WR... and they found one.
D.J. Fluker (Alabama)
Generally, offensive linemen are not found among the impact freshmen in college football. Well, D.J. Fluker is not your typical true freshman offensive lineman. Most offensive linemen don't end their high school careers at 6'7, 350. Combine Fluker's amazing size with the departure of offensive tackle and anchor Andre Smith, Fluker has the chance to be an impact player right away. Look for a lot of pancake blocks on the left end of the Alabama offensive linemen from Fluker.
Manti Te'o (Notre Dame)
When Te'o committed to Notre Dame, relief came to South Bend like a truck load of Rolaids. For the first time in Charlie Weis's tenure at Notre Dame, he landed a big-time, impact defensive recruit. Offensive talent has been plentiful. The defense has been putrid. Te'o gives defensive coordinator Corwin Brown and defensive genius Jon Tenuta a linebacker who has the ability to both rush the passer and drop back in coverage at an elite level. The commitment of Te'o to Notre Dame surprised everyone. So will the sight of a talented defensive player on the football field in South Bend in the fall.
Jacobbi McDaniel (Florida State)
Jacobbi McDaniel looks to join a long list of talented Florida State defensive linemen that includes names such as Warren Sapp, Corey Simon, Darnell Dockett, and recently drafted Everette Brown. McDaniel isn't huge and only stands six foot tall. So, while he may not be ready to be an every-down defensive tackle, expect McDaniel to see the field a lot. McDaniel plays extremely fast from the DT position, an asset that could prove very valuable. Opposing ACC quarterbacks will see a lot of Jacobbi McDaniel this year... while on their backs.
Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
If you follow football closely enough, you will notice that there is a sort of height threshold when it comes to cornerbacks. Rarely do you see cornerbacks much taller than 6 foot. At 6'2 with extreme quickness, Kirkpatrick has many believing that he can be one of those rare tall cornerbacks. If so, his height can provide a huge benefit when it comes to defending jump balls. And, if the cornerback thing doesn't work out, Kirkpatrick could prove to be a stud safety. With his athleticism and versatility, Alabama will find a spot somewhere for him in the defensive backfield.
Others to Watch:
Will Campbell, DT, Michigan
Ray Ray Armstrong, S, Miami (FL)
Craig Loston, S, LSU
Greg Reid, DB, Florida State
Matt Barkley (Southern Cal)
With Mark Sanchez gone, USC looked to their other ten 5 star QB recruits to replace him. Aaron Corp looked to be the heir apparent, but Barkley has impressed people to the point where those within the USC program believe he could start from Day One in Los Angeles. I have a feeling that Corp will get the starting job at least until after the Ohio State game. But, look for Barkley to play significant minutes in 2009 for the Trojans.
Tate Forcier (Michigan)
Tate may not be the second or even fifth ranked quarterback coming out of high school, but he's certainly one of the most polished. And, considering the turmoil surrounding the Michigan football program and, in particular, the QB position, Forcier will be expected to come in and start right away. Luckily for Forcier, he does not have very large shoes to fill, as Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan did nothing but suck last year. Still, Forcier may be the most scrutinized true freshman in college football next year. With his accuracy and football IQ, I expect Tate to exceed expectations.
Bryce Brown (Tennessee)
With Arian Foster leaving, Tennessee is razor thin at the running back position. Luckily, they landed what some recruiting sites (including Rivals.com) believe is the best incoming freshman in the country. At 6 foot 215, Brown has plenty of size to go with his blazing speed. When you find a running back with Brown's size/power and speed combination, you hold onto him. Brown should see the majority of carries for Lane Kiffin this year. I would expect some productive numbers along with a few runs that make their way onto ESPN's Top 10 plays. Fellow true freshman David Oku should also give Tennessee a decent back-up option to Brown.
Rueben Randle (LSU)
With speedsters Trindon Holliday and Chris Mitchell and a maturing quarterback in Jordan Jefferson, LSU needs that impact, outside wide receiver that can take over games. At 6'3 Rueben Randle can be that guy. While his size is excellent, Randle is also pretty fast and has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Randle was made in the same mold as the aforementioned Green, Floyd, and Jones. There is nothing to suggest that Randle's impact won't be similar to these guys. LSU was looking for an outside WR... and they found one.
D.J. Fluker (Alabama)
Generally, offensive linemen are not found among the impact freshmen in college football. Well, D.J. Fluker is not your typical true freshman offensive lineman. Most offensive linemen don't end their high school careers at 6'7, 350. Combine Fluker's amazing size with the departure of offensive tackle and anchor Andre Smith, Fluker has the chance to be an impact player right away. Look for a lot of pancake blocks on the left end of the Alabama offensive linemen from Fluker.
Manti Te'o (Notre Dame)
When Te'o committed to Notre Dame, relief came to South Bend like a truck load of Rolaids. For the first time in Charlie Weis's tenure at Notre Dame, he landed a big-time, impact defensive recruit. Offensive talent has been plentiful. The defense has been putrid. Te'o gives defensive coordinator Corwin Brown and defensive genius Jon Tenuta a linebacker who has the ability to both rush the passer and drop back in coverage at an elite level. The commitment of Te'o to Notre Dame surprised everyone. So will the sight of a talented defensive player on the football field in South Bend in the fall.
Jacobbi McDaniel (Florida State)
Jacobbi McDaniel looks to join a long list of talented Florida State defensive linemen that includes names such as Warren Sapp, Corey Simon, Darnell Dockett, and recently drafted Everette Brown. McDaniel isn't huge and only stands six foot tall. So, while he may not be ready to be an every-down defensive tackle, expect McDaniel to see the field a lot. McDaniel plays extremely fast from the DT position, an asset that could prove very valuable. Opposing ACC quarterbacks will see a lot of Jacobbi McDaniel this year... while on their backs.
Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
If you follow football closely enough, you will notice that there is a sort of height threshold when it comes to cornerbacks. Rarely do you see cornerbacks much taller than 6 foot. At 6'2 with extreme quickness, Kirkpatrick has many believing that he can be one of those rare tall cornerbacks. If so, his height can provide a huge benefit when it comes to defending jump balls. And, if the cornerback thing doesn't work out, Kirkpatrick could prove to be a stud safety. With his athleticism and versatility, Alabama will find a spot somewhere for him in the defensive backfield.
Others to Watch:
Will Campbell, DT, Michigan
Ray Ray Armstrong, S, Miami (FL)
Craig Loston, S, LSU
Greg Reid, DB, Florida State
Monday, August 3, 2009
Are Detroit Sports Fans the best? Tiger answers!
This Sunday marked the final round of the final Buick Open that will occur at Warwick Hills. After thirty-two consecutive years, Grand Blanc's annual late July/early August prominent golf tournament next year will likely be the Warwick Hill Country Club Member/Guest Invitational. The Buick Open is just the latest thing to be leaving the state of Michigan.
It has become the cool thing to do... the jobs are doing it, the money's doing it, now the golf tournament is also. Despite just another thing leaving the state, the people of the state of Michigan came out to support the Buick Open because... well, that's what Detroit sports fans do. When I say Detroit sports fans, I'm referring to more than just the city of the Detroit. In the case of Detroit sports teams, the immediate fan base extends to the entire state of Michigan.
I have always contended that Detroit sports fans are among the most loyal in the country. They don't just support one sport. The Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons are all strongly supported to the point that I couldn't begin to tell you whether Detroit is basketball, football, hockey, or baseball town (despite the Hockeytown nickname). They don't abandon a losing franchise. The Lions have continued to sell out games despite their pathetic existence.
Even in this terrible economy, where the state of Michigan is affected moreso than any other state, Michigan fans came out to support a tournament that was leaving them. Fans did not have to spend the money for gas, tickets, and concessions. No one would have blamed them. House payments are much more important. But, the support remained strong. And, it did not go unnoticed. Tiger Woods commented on the amazing fan support in his post-tournament press conference.
http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tournaments/r035/08/02/sunday.transcripts.woods/index.html
Tiger was certainly under no obligation to make such comments. In fact, comments like this are by no means commonplace for Tiger. But, he noticed. So, be proud Detroit fans... your efforts were appreciated.
It has become the cool thing to do... the jobs are doing it, the money's doing it, now the golf tournament is also. Despite just another thing leaving the state, the people of the state of Michigan came out to support the Buick Open because... well, that's what Detroit sports fans do. When I say Detroit sports fans, I'm referring to more than just the city of the Detroit. In the case of Detroit sports teams, the immediate fan base extends to the entire state of Michigan.
I have always contended that Detroit sports fans are among the most loyal in the country. They don't just support one sport. The Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, and Pistons are all strongly supported to the point that I couldn't begin to tell you whether Detroit is basketball, football, hockey, or baseball town (despite the Hockeytown nickname). They don't abandon a losing franchise. The Lions have continued to sell out games despite their pathetic existence.
Even in this terrible economy, where the state of Michigan is affected moreso than any other state, Michigan fans came out to support a tournament that was leaving them. Fans did not have to spend the money for gas, tickets, and concessions. No one would have blamed them. House payments are much more important. But, the support remained strong. And, it did not go unnoticed. Tiger Woods commented on the amazing fan support in his post-tournament press conference.
http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tournaments/r035/08/02/sunday.transcripts.woods/index.html
Q. Tiger, from Wednesday through Sunday, seemed like every five seconds, somebody said "thanks for coming, Tiger. Thanks for coming." Do you recall ever being in a tournament where so many people thanked you? And just kind of talk about what that means to you, and this tournament.
TIGER WOODS: No. I've never played, as I said, in front of fans like this. This has been incredible, especially what's going on here in the area, for everyone to come out, it just makes it that much more special for all of us.
And as I said, I've been here since '99, and I've always enjoyed coming here. Only two years I haven't played here is because of the birth of my child, and my knee wasn't very good last year. So that's the only two times I haven't played here.
Q. Tiger, with the future of this event in doubt, combined with the fact there's no Majors scheduled in and around round Michigan or Oakland Hills in the next several years, do you have any thoughts of this potentially being your final competitive round playing in the state of Michigan?
TIGER WOODS: Well, it's unfortunate. But that's the case. As I said, the people here have always been excited for us to come out and play, and they've always supported this event.
All the years they've always come out in droves, and I'm very appreciative of that. Hopefully we do get to come back here in this area, this region soon, because the fans here are so excited about golf. They're pretty much sports nuts anyways, and for us to come out here and play, you know, it's always been special.
Tiger was certainly under no obligation to make such comments. In fact, comments like this are by no means commonplace for Tiger. But, he noticed. So, be proud Detroit fans... your efforts were appreciated.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Ranking College Football Coaches
A recent article by Rivals.com ranks the top 30 current college football coaches. Their rankings are interesting, but it’s difficult to take any ranking system too seriously that has Kirk Ferentz at #5, ahead of Big Ten coaches Jim Tressel and Rich Rodriguez. So, we made our own rankings. Now, these may not be your typical list of “Who is the best coach?” Instead, we ranked 26 of Rivals top 30 in five categories: Age/Longevity, Recruiting, Game Prep/Schemes, In-Game Coaching, and the “It” Factor. The categories (all scored on a 0-10 scale) break down as follows…
Age/Longevity: Completely objective. Ranked according to 5 year intervals.
(Scores of 10: Urban Meyer, Rich Rodriguez, Chris Petersen, Greg Schiano)
Recruiting: Pretty self-explanatory. Who is getting the most talent?
(Scores of 10: Pete Carroll—in a class of his own)
Game Prep/Schemes: Special credit to guys like Mike Leach, Rich Rodriguez, and Gary Patterson who have developed their own offensive/defensive schemes that have become popular.
(Scores of 10: Rich Rodriguez, Brian Kelly, Mike Leach, Gary Patterson, Paul Johnson)
In-Game Coaching: Who makes good halftime adjustments? “Second half” teams get priority here.
(Scores of 10: Frank Beamer, Jim Grobe)
“It” Factor: Some guys have “it,” most don’t. “It” is why JoePa still gets 5-star 18 year olds, why Nick Saban is able to fill Alabama’s spring game after a miserable season.
(Scores of 10: Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Joe Paterno)
After assessing all of these categories for all 26 coaches, the official rankings are below. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the best coaches or the best recruiters. Rather, they reflect who I would choose as my coach if I were allowed to pick anyone, based on the 5 categories mentioned previously.
1. Urban Meyer (47.5)
T2. Nick Saban (46)
T2. Mark Richt (46)
T2. Rich Rodriguez (46)
T5. Bob Stoops (45.5)
T5. Brian Kelly (45.5)
T5. Chris Petersen (45.5)
T8. Pete Carroll (45)
T8. Frank Beamer (45)
T8. Mike Leach (45)
T11. Jim Tressel (44.5)
T11. Greg Schiano (44.5)
T13. Mack Brown (44)
T13. Jeff Tedford (44)
T15. Kirk Ferentz (43.5)
T15. Gary Patterson (43.5)
T15. Randy Edsall (43.5)
T15. Paul Johnson (43.5)
T19. Jim Grobe (43)
T19. Les Miles (43)
21. Steve Spurrier (42.5)
22. Mark Mangino (42)
23. Gary Pinkel (41.5)
T24. Joe Paterno (40)
T24. Houston Nutt (40)
T24. Dennis Erickson (40)
Age/Longevity: Completely objective. Ranked according to 5 year intervals.
(Scores of 10: Urban Meyer, Rich Rodriguez, Chris Petersen, Greg Schiano)
Recruiting: Pretty self-explanatory. Who is getting the most talent?
(Scores of 10: Pete Carroll—in a class of his own)
Game Prep/Schemes: Special credit to guys like Mike Leach, Rich Rodriguez, and Gary Patterson who have developed their own offensive/defensive schemes that have become popular.
(Scores of 10: Rich Rodriguez, Brian Kelly, Mike Leach, Gary Patterson, Paul Johnson)
In-Game Coaching: Who makes good halftime adjustments? “Second half” teams get priority here.
(Scores of 10: Frank Beamer, Jim Grobe)
“It” Factor: Some guys have “it,” most don’t. “It” is why JoePa still gets 5-star 18 year olds, why Nick Saban is able to fill Alabama’s spring game after a miserable season.
(Scores of 10: Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Joe Paterno)
After assessing all of these categories for all 26 coaches, the official rankings are below. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the best coaches or the best recruiters. Rather, they reflect who I would choose as my coach if I were allowed to pick anyone, based on the 5 categories mentioned previously.
1. Urban Meyer (47.5)
T2. Nick Saban (46)
T2. Mark Richt (46)
T2. Rich Rodriguez (46)
T5. Bob Stoops (45.5)
T5. Brian Kelly (45.5)
T5. Chris Petersen (45.5)
T8. Pete Carroll (45)
T8. Frank Beamer (45)
T8. Mike Leach (45)
T11. Jim Tressel (44.5)
T11. Greg Schiano (44.5)
T13. Mack Brown (44)
T13. Jeff Tedford (44)
T15. Kirk Ferentz (43.5)
T15. Gary Patterson (43.5)
T15. Randy Edsall (43.5)
T15. Paul Johnson (43.5)
T19. Jim Grobe (43)
T19. Les Miles (43)
21. Steve Spurrier (42.5)
22. Mark Mangino (42)
23. Gary Pinkel (41.5)
T24. Joe Paterno (40)
T24. Houston Nutt (40)
T24. Dennis Erickson (40)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Michigan Basketball is Back
It was 1998. Stu Douglass was seven years old. Richmond pulled of an upset over 3rd seeded South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. John Beilein coached Richmond. Michigan lost a heartbreaker to UCLA in the second round. Michigan has not been in the tournament since. Eleven years later, John Beilein and Michigan are both in the tournament again—together.
Growing up a Michigan fan, words can’t truly express my excitement upon hearing Greg Gumbel’s words: “Coming out of Ann Arbor…the seventh Big Ten team… the Michigan Wolverines!” My initial reaction was disbelief. Sure, I felt like Michigan was a lock to get into the tournament. But, after eleven years of absence and at least two years of heartbreak, Michigan fans had to be anxious. Especially after being skipped over in the first three regions. But, once Michigan’s name was called the anxiety, the heartbreak, and the dispair was all replaced with joy.
After last year’s 10-22 showing, no one expected Michigan to make the NCAA Tournament. I, for one, was hoping for above .500 basketball. As a result, John Beilein, Manny Harris, and DeShawn Sims are going to get all of the credit. They deserve a lot of it. They coached and played inspired basketball all year. But, this tournament bid is about so much more than three people.
The long and winding road began on February 17, 1996. Prized recruit Mateen Cleaves was on his official visit to Michigan when the car he was riding in crashed… and changed everything. Upon investigation, it was found that Cleaves and his host players had made it to Michigan booster Ed Martin’s house that night. Cleaves went to Michigan State, Michigan went on probation, and Michigan’s basketball program went into a downward spiral.
The on-the-court trouble all started with Brian Ellerbe. Taking over for Steve Fisher, Ellerbe stepped into an impossible situation. Still, watching Brian Ellerbe coach basketball is something that no one should have to endure. Despite a terrible coaches and impending sanctions, Michigan brought in a great recruiting class for the 1999-2000 basketball season. Jamal Crawford stayed for a year and went to the NBA. Kevin Gaines played for a year and was eventually kicked off the team. Only LaVell Blanchard lasted all four years. He didn’t take Michigan to the tournament, but LaVell proved himself to be a true Michigan Man when Michigan needed it the most. Other players in the Ellerbe era that Michigan fans will remember include Avery Queen, Bernard Robinson Jr., Gavin Groninger, and Josh Asselin.
In 2001, many thought that Michigan was ready to go to the next level. Up-and-coming Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker was hired. Like Ellerbe, the start of Amaker’s time at Michigan was sparked by a great recruiting class. Daniel Horton, Lester Abram, and Chris Hunter gave Michigan fans something to get excited about. The following year, Dion Harris became the first Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan to choose Michigan in nine years. Tommy Amaker’s teams consistently got close, but never close enough to get into the tournament. In fact, the one year that Michigan was likely “in,” they were serving their one year self-imposed probation for the actions of Ed Martin. Names that Michigan fans may remember from the TA era include Graham Brown, Amadou Ba, Ron Coleman, Courtney Sims, Brent Petway, Reed Baker, and Jerret Smith.
And, as much as I hated Tommy Amaker as a coach, I must say… he deserves a lot of credit for what happened yesterday. Amaker walked into Michigan the year before they went on probation. The Michigan basketball program desperately needed stability as well as a clean-run program. Tommy Amaker provided that. He brought Michigan back into respectability. He wasn’t a great coach. He probably would not have this year’s team into the tournament. But, he served the University of Michigan to the best of his ability for six years. He loved the players, the school, the fans. Tommy Amaker is a true Michigan Man. His efforts will not be forgotten anytime soon. Thanks TA, hope you were cheering along yesterday, you deserve a lot of credit for what has happened.
Thanks to Amaker’s efforts, Michigan was able to get a high-profile coach like John Beilein. Beilein has done more in less time than can possibly be expected of him. And, to his credit, he has not lost sight of the significance of yesterday’s events. Before and after the selection show, Beilein was consistent in his appreciation of one group—the fans. More than anything, Greg Gumbel’s words yesterday justified the actions of those of us Michigan Basketball fans who have been with the team for the last eleven years. We have seen bad and worse. Yet, we have stuck with the team, the program, the school. It wasn’t always easy, but it was necessary. I, for one, had chills yesterday following the announcement. It’s a feeling that I will never forget. Finally, the time has come. The last eleven years have been worth it. Michigan Basketball is back.
Hitting the Lottery
If you missed it, an Ohio University offensive lineman won the lottery for $250,000 earlier this week. Michael Eynon is hardly the first person in sports to hit the jackpot. The following teams and players hit the proverbial jackpot, and it changed some of their careers. In other cases, it brought championships.
10. 2007 Seattle Supersonics
Reminiscent of the draft 23 years before it. A center injured in college taken ahead of a "do everything" guard/forward. In the case of the 2007 NBA Draft, there were two players clearly better than the rest. Picking first could prove a huge blunder. Picking seconds, like the Sonics did, is a no-brainer.
9. Eric Gagne
Traded at the 2007 trade deadline, Gagne pitched poorly in the twenty games he saw the mound in a Red Sox uniform. But, he managed to win a World Series in the process.
8. Jim Sorgi
Jim Sorgi's 2007 salary: $850,000. Jim Sorgi's career touchdown passes: 6. Sorgi has been fortunate enough to be Peyton Manning's backup for his entire four year career. And, he has yet to play in a meaningful game. Instead, he's getting paid nearly a million dollars to stay in shape and play the last two games of the year after the Colts have clinched the division title. I'd take it.
7. Steve Fisher
The day before the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Bill Frieder was fired as Michigan basketball coach. Steve Fisher was named interim coach and most assumed that he would be replaced following the tournament. Glen Rice scored a record 184 points in the tournament, making Fisher's job pretty easy. Fisher signed a contract following the tournament and hit the jackpot again two years later with the Fab Five.
6. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell signed with the Celtics in March to provide them with a veteran point guard to help the young Celtic players not named Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. Instead, he averaged 12 minutes per game in the playoffs, proving to be a great, veteran cheerleader.
5. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner was a wonderful college basketball player. His basketball IQ was through the roof. But, he wasn't a Dream Teamer. Except he was. He sat the bench in the 1992 Olympics and watched the greatest basketball team ever dominate like no one has ever seen before. And he gets to call himself a part of that team. Not a bad distinction.
4. Phil Jackson
One of the most successful coaches in NBA history sure has run into some great help. If Michael and Scottie weren't enough, Kobe and Shaq should have been. Sure, nine championships as a coach is tough to argue with. But, I'm pretty sure I could've had at least six with those four playing for me.
3. 2005 Illinois basketball
The only list member not to take full advantage of hitting the jackpot. Illinois played in Indianapolis, Rosemont, and St. Louis in their six tournament games. These three cities: a combined 1062 miles from Champaign. Rumor has it they walked to all three sites as a warm-up. Unfortunately, home court advantage at a neutral site tournament wasn't enough. Illinois lost to UNC in the Finals.
2. Larry Coker
The 2001 Miami team that Larry Coker inherited consisted of the following: Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson, Antrel Rolle, Ken Dorsey, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Jon Vilma, Bryant McKinnie, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey. That's not even all of the NFL talent on the roster at the time. Maybe the most talented college football team of all-time, Coker would have had to try not to win a National Championship. Apparently he did in 2002. Following the loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game, the talent left along with Coker's career.
1. 1984 Chicago Bulls
The Blazers picked Sam Bowie with the #2 pick. The Bulls had a no-brainer for a pick at #3. After establishing himself as the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan seems like even more of a no-brainer 24 years later.
10. 2007 Seattle Supersonics
Reminiscent of the draft 23 years before it. A center injured in college taken ahead of a "do everything" guard/forward. In the case of the 2007 NBA Draft, there were two players clearly better than the rest. Picking first could prove a huge blunder. Picking seconds, like the Sonics did, is a no-brainer.
9. Eric Gagne
Traded at the 2007 trade deadline, Gagne pitched poorly in the twenty games he saw the mound in a Red Sox uniform. But, he managed to win a World Series in the process.
8. Jim Sorgi
Jim Sorgi's 2007 salary: $850,000. Jim Sorgi's career touchdown passes: 6. Sorgi has been fortunate enough to be Peyton Manning's backup for his entire four year career. And, he has yet to play in a meaningful game. Instead, he's getting paid nearly a million dollars to stay in shape and play the last two games of the year after the Colts have clinched the division title. I'd take it.
7. Steve Fisher
The day before the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Bill Frieder was fired as Michigan basketball coach. Steve Fisher was named interim coach and most assumed that he would be replaced following the tournament. Glen Rice scored a record 184 points in the tournament, making Fisher's job pretty easy. Fisher signed a contract following the tournament and hit the jackpot again two years later with the Fab Five.
6. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell signed with the Celtics in March to provide them with a veteran point guard to help the young Celtic players not named Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. Instead, he averaged 12 minutes per game in the playoffs, proving to be a great, veteran cheerleader.
5. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner was a wonderful college basketball player. His basketball IQ was through the roof. But, he wasn't a Dream Teamer. Except he was. He sat the bench in the 1992 Olympics and watched the greatest basketball team ever dominate like no one has ever seen before. And he gets to call himself a part of that team. Not a bad distinction.
4. Phil Jackson
One of the most successful coaches in NBA history sure has run into some great help. If Michael and Scottie weren't enough, Kobe and Shaq should have been. Sure, nine championships as a coach is tough to argue with. But, I'm pretty sure I could've had at least six with those four playing for me.
3. 2005 Illinois basketball
The only list member not to take full advantage of hitting the jackpot. Illinois played in Indianapolis, Rosemont, and St. Louis in their six tournament games. These three cities: a combined 1062 miles from Champaign. Rumor has it they walked to all three sites as a warm-up. Unfortunately, home court advantage at a neutral site tournament wasn't enough. Illinois lost to UNC in the Finals.
2. Larry Coker
The 2001 Miami team that Larry Coker inherited consisted of the following: Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson, Antrel Rolle, Ken Dorsey, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Jon Vilma, Bryant McKinnie, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey. That's not even all of the NFL talent on the roster at the time. Maybe the most talented college football team of all-time, Coker would have had to try not to win a National Championship. Apparently he did in 2002. Following the loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game, the talent left along with Coker's career.
1. 1984 Chicago Bulls
The Blazers picked Sam Bowie with the #2 pick. The Bulls had a no-brainer for a pick at #3. After establishing himself as the greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan seems like even more of a no-brainer 24 years later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)