One of the sites - either rivals or scout - was doing a position by position list of the best players at UM during the Lloyd Carr regime. I thought it would make for some interesting discussion and I'd like to see what kind of team we would end up with. I think it will make for some intersting debate among UM fans, and perhaps MSU fans will chime in with some of their own thoughts. Whichever site did it was restricting it to paid members, which I am not, so I have no idea who their choices were.

This thread: Offense

John Navarre


j/k

as I mentioned in your other thread, we might have to limit this to the last 20 years, since most of us are younger.

Since it's Lloyd Carr, and he's only been the coach for 13 years, I think your twenty year guideline is a good one.

Running Back: Mike Hart
Wide Receiver: Braylon Edwars
Kicker: Gabe Rivas
Most Confusing Use of a Player: Steve Breaston

Since it's Lloyd Carr, and he's only been the coach for 13 years, I think your twenty year guideline is a good one.

dammit, I can't read. I should have read the "Llyod Carr" part.

Except for 1997, I'd like to ignore the "Lloyd Carr" part myself.

Ok, here are some position group candidates for offense -

QB: Brian Griese, Tom Brady, Drew Henson, John Navarre, Chad Henne

RB: Tim Baiakabatuka, Chris Howard, Anthony Thmoas, Chris Perry, Chris Floyd, Mike Hart

WR: Amani Toomer, Mercury Hayes, Tai Streets, David Terrell, Marquise Walker, Jason Avant, Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston, Adrian Arrington, Mario Manningham

TE: Jay Riemersma, Jerame Tuman, Aaron Shea, Bennie Joppru, Tyler Ecker

OL: Jon Runyan, Rod Payne, Jon Jansen, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus, Maurice Williams, David Baas, Jake Long

Quarterbacks: Man, this is a toughie. If you go by numbers, you must pick Navarre. Griese, NC in '97, and a GREAT college QB IMO, but the one great year only. Henson: Never really came into his own, but would have been THE best. Brady, only unleashed when UM was behind, but showed trememndous passing ability and great come from behind skillz. Henne: Perplexing; After his freshman year, I felt he backlsid as a sophomore, and I wasn't terribly impressed with last year either.
To me, it begs a more important question (maybe another thread): Does Lloyd Carr EVER get the true potential out of his recroots? Does he EVER really unleash a player, allowind said player to really demonstrate all of his mad skillz?

I'm trying to put together the team that could win it all in one year, as opposed to using career totals.

I think this is the team I would pick -

QB: Griese - not the most flashy or the best arm in the bunch, but probably the best leader of the bunch in regards to his college career. He proved it with his leadership during the NC season.

RB: Mike Hart - no turnovers.

WR: 3 wide with Braylon, Terrell and Manningham. Griese might not be the best guy to get it to them, but this group (based on college) would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.

TE: Joppru - this was a toss up between Joppru and Tuman for me, but Joppru just seemed a little more clutch and a little more athletic.

OL: Jansen, Runyan, Baas, Hutchinson, Long - nobody is getting through that line.

On that team, I would take Griese, and put Floyd in there at fullback to block for Hart and pick up the blitzes. In 1997, (and I think it was Floyd), he was the best blocking and receiving (pressure release) back UM has ever had.

So if you take Floyd, do you lose the TE or one of the WR's? By the way, I agree that Floyd was money.

Another name I could have included but forgot was BJ Askew. Not likely he would have made the team, but he did a little bit of everything in the backfield.

Well, you can't take away a TE, because that's a position you have to have, but none of those tight ends give me a boner, but again, Lloyd seems not to know how to use a tight end. (insert innuendo jokes here)

I'd be happy with Floyd and two WR's, Edwards and a healthy Manningham.

Good topic, Jeth. That's thinking outside of the box.

QB: Griese. If we were going on talent, it would have been Hensen, but leaving early and being injured in the beginning of that year hurt him.

RB: Hart at RB. If we're going with a full backfield, then you need a Fullback as well, unless you want a two back set. So don't forget about BJ Askew, Kevin Dudley, Aaron Shea and Chris Floyd. Out of those, I would go with Askew, simpley because he busted his ass being out of position.

WR: Edwards, Terrell, Walker. Manningham is close, but he's really only played two half seasons. At the end of this year, he could be on the list.

TE: Tuman. That guy was amazing in the National Championship year. If it was going to him, you knew it was complete. Not to mention how great of a blocker he was for Howard.

OL: Jansen, Baas, Runyan, Long and Hutchinson. Same as Jethro for the same exact reason.

Don't forget the all-Carr special teams.

Moodini: I named Rivas (DUH), but other than Breaston, to mention special teams under Carr would be like reminding George Bush of his time in the National Guard.

I forgot about Dudley. He was a great blocker for Hart.

Do you think special teams should be it's own thread, or lumped in with this? We just lost two of the most obvious picks in Breaston and Rivas. Woodson was a great return man as well. Punting I'm going to have to go with ZOLTAN!

Don't forget the all-Carr special teams.


Also will we be seeing the companion "All Saban", "All JLS" and "All Bobby Williams" -teams threads?

Don't even think about combining those, they NEED to stand alone.

We can dream Glenn, we can dream.




(If they're not up by the end of the day, please add them)

Don't forget about how good Epstein was when he was here.

I think the winner would be Phillip Brabbs. Wow was he great! A career FG% around 15% or so?

Does anyone remember how he missed two FGs against Washington from about 25 yards or so, and then nailed the FG from 50 yards to win, and ESPN voted him player of the day?!?! Marvelous!

Also will we be seeing the companion "All Saban", "All JLS" and "All Bobby Williams" -teams threads?

Don't even think about combining those, they NEED to stand alone.

There are over 1,976 websites devoted to the greatness that was the Muddy Waters Era.

Don't forget about how good Epstein was when he was here.

I think the winner would be Phillip Brabbs. Wow was he great! A career FG% around 15% or so?

Does anyone remember how he missed two FGs against Washington from about 25 yards or so, and then nailed the FG from 50 yards to win, and ESPN voted him player of the day?!?! Marvelous!

I was trying to think of that guy. Great call. I think he even missed a couple of extra points that day. Later, after the game, he went home and broke his toe when he tried to kick his dog, missed, and hit the wall instead.

Remy Hamilton and Jay Feely were also kickers during the Carr era.

Adam Finley was probably the best punter.

As for return men, consdier the following after Breaston and Woodson - Mercury Hayes, Julius Curry, Jeremy LeSueur. Anthony Thomas actually returned kicks for a while too.

Carl Tabb needs to be on the special teams unit as well. The only thing he did while he was here was fly down the field in coverage. We've had a handful of very good coverage guys, but most of their names aren't coming to me at the moment.

Looks like this thread is going nowhere, pretty much like UM under Lloyd Carr.

I found this the a couple days ago, and found it interesting to see what the ex-players from NC team are up to. Contrary to recent reports, it does not appear that the gutters are lined with ex-michigan football players. I was actually surprised at how many are playing/have played in the nfl.


The Wolverine 2007 preview magazine did an article on the ten year anniversary of the 1997 co-national championship team. They profiled some of the players, and here's some of the results:

Zach Adami (C) - I looked at mgoblue.com to find his major, but they didn't have a profile for him. Adami is a trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, trading options on the Eurodollar. He's aslo a partner in a small company, Redrock Capital Management, with former U-M linebacker Dave Dobress and several others.

Jeff Backus (OT) - General Studies major per mgoblue.com and starting O-lineman on the Detroit Lions.

Kraig Baker (PK) - Sports Management and Communications. He's an account executive for Management Recruiters International, based in Chicago. He's also worked for a manufacturing company in Indiana, managed a restaurant in Virginia Beach and played some Arena Football.

Dave Brandt (OL) - School of Education - majored in Elementary Education. Played 3 years in the NFL. Says he's a stay at home dad.

Kevin Bryant (WR) - General Studies. He owns his own company, KB Solutions of Detroit, which privdes a variety of electrical services.

Mark Campbell (TE) - Movement Science. In his ninth season in the NFL.

Clint Copenhaver (LB) - Sports Management and Communications. Sales representative for sporting goods giant Mizuno--covers state of Michigan for the company.

Scott Driesbach (QB) - Physical Education. Playing football with the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League.

Juaquin Feazell (LB) - Psychology. Works as a medical malpriatice attorney in Georgia for the firm Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover. Received his law degree at Georgia State ans has been practicing law for four years.

Jay Feely (PK) - Physical Education. NFL with the Falcons, Giants and Dolphins.

Chris Floyd (FB) - Mgoblue.com doesn't have a profile for him. Floyd played in the NFL for three season. He then worked for six years with Michigan's S&C staff. Now teaches at Westside Christian Academy and works with Farrell Sports Concepts.

Steve Frazier (C) - General Studies. He's a commercial airlines pilot for American Eagle Airlines.

Ian Gold (LB) - Political Science. Seven years in NFL with Denver and Tampa Bay.

Brian Griese (QB) - Griese majored in Environmental Policy--I believe he got permission to design his degree from LS&A. Tenth year in NFL.

James Hall (DE) - Sports Management & Communications. Played with the NFL since college--Lions & St. Louis.

Tommy Hendricks (S) - General Studies. NFL through 2004.

Jeff Holtry (LB) - No major listed on the roster. Worked at Abbott Labs in Ann Arbor. Now serves as an orthopedic equipment representative for Stryker Corporation.

Chris Howard (RB) - No major listed on mgoblue roster. Just says he spent a few seasons in the NFL.

Steve Hutchinson (OL) - General Studies. NFL pro-bowler for two teams.

Jon Jansen (OL) - Physical Education major. NFL career with Washington Redskins.

Diaollo Johnson (S) - Sports Management and Communications. Works in real estate in Detroit.

Dhani Jones (LB) - It just says he was in the Residential College. Has played in NFL through 2006.

Marcus Knight (WR) - Computer Science. Plays with Columbus Destroyers in Arena Football League.

Eric Mayes (LB) - Earned his master's degree in educational technology in 2000. Completed PhD program in educational physicology at Howard University. Serves as an adjucnt professor at Howard and is Dean of Students at an elementary school in Washington, DC.

DeWayne Patmon (S) - Sports Management and Communications. Played two years in NFL. Lives in San Diego and has done a bit of acting.

Marcus Ray (S) - General Studies. Social worker in Columbus, Ohio school system. Will be moving to Ann Arbor to become graduate assistant for Wolverines. Coached football for several seasons at Ohio Dominican.

Rob Renes (DL) - Secondary Education major. Brief career in NFL due to injury. Teaches at middle school in Muskegon and is finishing master's degree in educational leadership at Western Michigan this summer. Looking to be a school principal or athletic director.

Russell Shaw (WR) - No link to profile on roster. He's currently playing in the Arena Football League.

Aaron Shea (TE) - Sports Management and Communications. He's played in the NFL since college.

Chris Singletary (LB) - Sports Management and Communications. Currently Michigan's recruiting coordinator. He spent seven years at International Management Group.

Glen Steele (DL) - No profile listed on roster. NFL career. Currently graduate assistant at Michigan.

Tai Streets (WR) - Sports Management and Communications. Long career in NFL, now teacher and coach back in Illinois (high school, I assume).

Rob Swett (LB) - No profile listed on roster. Owns his own home building company in Austin, Texas. Here's a quote from him: "My career at Michigan, and that year, helped define part of who I am. The success I've had in my life can be attributed to that season and learning what it takes to be a winner."

Sam Sword (LB) - Sports Management and Communications. Spent some time coaching. He lives in Florida and works in the city's recreation and parks department.

Daydrion Taylor (S) - Doesn't list his major, but does say he was in Kiniesology. Returned to Texas and is teaching high school, coaching track and the secondary on the football team.

Anthony Thomas (RB) - Sports Management and Communications. NFL career with Bears and Bills.

Jerame Tuman (TE) - Movement Science. Still in NFL.

Jason Vinson (P) - Biology. Pharmacist at hospital in Memphis, TN and professor at University of Tennessee pharmacy school.

Andre Weathers (CB) - Industrial Engineering. Plsyed pro football for a few year. Currently working as an industrial engineer and coaches defensive backs at Flint Central High School.

James Whitley (CB) - Sports Management & Communications. 3 seasons in the NFL. Doesn't say what he's doing now.

Josh Williams (DT) - Psychology. Just finished his NFL career. Currently involved in building and developing homes.

Eric Wilson (DT) - Sports Management and Communications. He's played football in Florida and Canada with the CFL. Owns a succesful cigar lounge in FL.

Charles Woodson (CB) - Sports Management and Communications. Still playing in NFL.

Chris Ziemann (OL) - Sports Management & Communications. Had a short career in NFL. Works in sales for Cintas in Florida.


edit: source http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/destroy-harbaugh.html

Contrary to recent reports, it does not appear that the gutters are lined with ex-michigan football players.

I just read that Carl Tabb chose medical school over the cotton fields. Yeah, I know that belongs in the other thread and I put it there as well, just taking a cue from the relevence of your post.