Big Ten Preseason Media Picks - No Surprises

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August 2nd, 2010 at 8:38 AM
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MGoShoe
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Big Ten Preseason Media Picks - No Surprises

Rittenberg reports that OSU, Iowa, Wisconsin have been selected by the Big Ten media as the top 3 teams in their pre-season poll and Pryor and Jones were selected as pre-season POYs.

For the third straight year, Ohio State has been picked as the Big Ten preseason favorite. No one will be surprised by Ohio State's selection. The bigger drama came at the No. 2 spot, as media around the country seem to be split on Iowa and Wisconsin. Iowa got the nod from the Big Ten press corps, coming in at No. 2 after an Orange Bowl championship in January. Wisconsin rounds out the preseason poll at No. 3 (unlike other leagues, the Big Ten only reveals the top three teams in preseason voting).

The media's selections for preseason players of the year mirrored last year's choices: Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor (offense) and Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones (defense). It marks the first time this has happened since 1998, when Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne and Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer received the honors.

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August 2nd, 2010 at 8:44 AM | Pryor being selected for (Score:1)
BlockM
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Pryor being selected for preseason POY still boggles my mind. I understand he's got all of the physical tools in spades, but he's had a single, solitary great game. He's been good, but never fantastic. I just don't see him having the mental tools to put together an entire great season.

Unfortunately, since everyone just slobbers over him constantly, he could have a couple of terrible games and still be revered.

@pnbloem | Ultra-MGoBoard

August 2nd, 2010 at 8:46 AM | It's mind boggling... (Score:1)
MGoShoe
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...for sure, but in a totally unsurprising way.  My head hurts.

LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe

August 2nd, 2010 at 8:49 AM | Is there one player in the (Score:1)
토린
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Is there one player in the Big Ten you'd rather have?

August 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 AM | Yes. (Score:1)
aaamichfan
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John Clay.

August 2nd, 2010 at 8:56 AM | I wouldn't mind having him (Score:1)
토린
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I wouldn't mind having him either but I don't think he's clearly better than Pryor.

August 2nd, 2010 at 8:59 AM | I'm a big believer in WAR (Score:1)
MGoDC
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I'm a big believer in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and I think that there's a lot stronger case to be made that the 2nd best QB in the Big Ten is almost as good as Pryor, or that he isnt even the best, compared to any case of a RB as dominant as John Clay.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 AM | I think there's a really good (Score:1)
Not a Blue Fan
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I think there's a really good argument to be made along those lines. I think that you could put, say, Stanzi in for Pryor and OSU holds steady on their record. On the other hand, there is literally nobody in the conference who is better than Pryor on third down. The guy has an insane ability to convert by scrambling.

However, that alone doesn't make him the best offensive player in the conference. He's got all the tools yada yada yada, but I think that if you apply the WAR rule to any given team in the conference and compare hypothetical Pryor vs Clay results, right now Clay wins. Of course, that could change by the end of the year...but this is preseason, not postseason.

In short, I'm not sure I buy him as the preseason OPOY. OTOH, I think that fans of most (all?) teams in the conference would take Pryor in a heartbeat. So TIFWIW.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:10 AM | I'd agree that most teams (Score:1)
BlockM
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I'd agree that most teams would love to have him, and if he can put together the type of season we all know he's physically capable of he'll run away with OPOY and have a very good shot at a Heisman.

@pnbloem | Ultra-MGoBoard

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:10 AM | I'm surprised and pleased (Score:1)
MGoDC
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I'm surprised and pleased that an Ohio State fan agrees. And I agree that Pryor is probably the best player in the conference on 3rd and medium, but I'd be surprised if anybody did better than Clay on third and short. I mean, is there a single defense in the conference thats going to consistently stuff Clay on Third & 2 or less? OSU is probably the closest but I have my doubts about anybody.

Fans go for highlights from players on good teams, and media goes for fans. Same reason why Ingram won the Heisman last year because he was a highlight reel on a good team, even though his offensive line did 95% of the work.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 AM | Not surprisingly... (Score:1)
Not a Blue Fan
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...there are stats!

http://cfbstats.com/2009/leader/827/player/situational11/category01/sort01.html

A little math reveals that Pryor, Clay, Adam Robinson, and Ralph Bolden (?!) are the best in the conference at converting 3rd downs by rushing. Of the guys with more than 20 3rd down rushes, these are the only guys at (or above) 50% conversion rate. Factor in that Pryor's rushing stats also include sacks (of which there are many; he's got 20 more 3rd down rushing attempts than the next closest player - Tate Forcier), and you have a pretty strong argument for Pryor.

Then again, John Clay is splitting carries with Monte Ball and Zach Brown. You can call it a dead heat, more or less.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:08 AM | So Pryor isn't the best (Score:1)
토린
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So Pryor isn't the best because the second best is almost as good as him and he's not a RB. Brilliant. 

He's the best player on the best team and he had his best game in his last game. Congrats on your meaningless preseason award. 

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:12 AM | Last year he was NOT the best (Score:1)
MGoDC
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Last year he was NOT the best player on Ohio State. He was possibly the best offensive player but OSU, like a lot of other good teams (Alabama) wins with defense. Go vote for Ingram for Heisman again.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:19 AM | So which OSU defensive player (Score:1)
토린
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So which OSU defensive player do you think should have been voted preseason offensive player of the year?

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:26 AM | At the end of last season, (Score:1)
CrankThatDonovan
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At the end of last season, Ohio State relied much more on its offensive line than on its quarterback.  It may seem silly, but someone like Michael Brewster or Justin Boren probably deserves OPOY more than Terrelle Pryor

"I think you are my favorite poster. The polar bear avatar definitely helps." - ShockFX

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:29 AM | Did Jake Long ever win (Score:1)
토린
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Did Jake Long ever win preseason OPOY?  OL don't win OPOY, they win OLOY.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 AM | Geez, aren't we defensive.  (Score:1)
CrankThatDonovan
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Geez, aren't we defensive.  You said that:

He's the best player on the best team

I was simply pointing out that Pryor was not the best offensive player on that team, so he probably shouldn't be awarded as such.  Jake Long probably deserved it, too, but he was never "the best player on the best team," simply the best player on a team

"I think you are my favorite poster. The polar bear avatar definitely helps." - ShockFX

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:56 AM | The last OL to win OPOY was (Score:1)
토린
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The last OL to win OPOY was 14 years ago. Justin Boren is not Orlando Pace. Pryor may be Troy Smith or better.

One could easily argue that Clay has benefited more from his OL than Pryor.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:56 AM | Yes, and Pryor may be worse (Score:1)
CrankThatDonovan
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Yes, and Pryor may be worse than Terrelle Pryor ever was last year.  You are aware that the media voted him preseason OPOY last year, right?  They said things like:

Pryor may be better than Troy Smith ever was this year.

He was not.  The guy has all the physical tools in the world, and he is a decent passer.  That does not mean he is going to win the Hesiman trophy, or even be offensive player of the year in the conference.  I, and others, have doubts about his ability to deal with the mental aspects of the game.  We'll see who's right very soon.

"I think you are my favorite poster. The polar bear avatar definitely helps." - ShockFX

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:41 AM | Benedict Arnold (Score:1)
OSUMC Wolverine
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Justin Boren's name should be saved for fat jokes and really scary baby picture captions.  To discuss him otherwise is simply not acceptable.  If anyone has the picture a little help would be great....

Reality is an illusion created by an unsafe drop in blood alcohol levels that exposes one to the idiocy of others.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:30 AM | Uh, you missed the point (Score:1)
MGoDC
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Uh, you missed the point entirely. The point was that just because Ohio State was the best team in the conference does not mean that they should have a player as the offensive player of the year. Their defense is what drove much of their success, not their offense.

Think of Ohio State as the college version of the Ravens. A solid upper-tier team most years, but with an unspectacular offense.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:46 AM | OSU isn't "solid (Score:1)
토린
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OSU isn't "solid upper-tier team most years". They're the Big Ten's lone super power.

August 2nd, 2010 at 11:12 AM | And the Ravens won the 2000 (Score:1)
MGoDC
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And the Ravens won the 2000 Superbowl with Trent Fucking Dilfer at Quarterback. Are you really too thick to understand the concept of good defense or does Ray Lewis need to smack the shit out of you?

August 2nd, 2010 at 11:43 AM | Trent has to be really (Score:1)
BigBlue02
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Trent has to be really embarrassed about that middle name. He must have been made fun of quite often as a little kid.

August 2nd, 2010 at 12:25 PM | Pryor is not Trent Dilfer (Score:1)
토린
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Pryor is not Trent Dilfer or Craig Krenzel. 

Angry much?

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:13 AM | I'd argue that someone like (Score:1)
BlockM
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I'd argue that someone like Clay has helped his team win more in the past than Pryor has. Pryor has personally given away a few games (Purdue last year, for instance).

@pnbloem | Ultra-MGoBoard

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:38 AM | That's why Clay beat Pryor (Score:1)
토린
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That's why Clay beat Pryor for 2009 OPOY. 

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:50 AM | John Clay was Big Ten (Score:1)
MCalibur
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John Clay was Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2009, so many people agree with you. I think Pryor has a shot at 2010 BTOPOY, but only if Tressel give him the green light to run. Otherwise, it'll be someone else, probably Clay.

August 2nd, 2010 at 1:54 PM | The green light is key (Score:1)
blueinwinston
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Pryor DID NOT have the green light after the Purdue game.  If you compare OSU's rushing stats and passing stats in their games down the stretch (psu, iowa, UM) you will see over 50 rushing attempts and under 20 passing attempts.  They took the chains off Pryor against Oregon and he had a great game.  He can win OPOY if Tressel lets him chuck it and run it.  No way he lets Pryor take a lot of hits though.  They don't have a ton of depth behind Pryor do they?

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 AM | Ummmm, Royster is pretty damn (Score:1)
jrt336
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Ummmm, Royster is pretty damn good.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:45 AM | I love Tatenard Forcinson (Score:1)
OysterMonkey
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but Pryor would be the starter at Michigan.

This has nothing to do with Michigan football.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:07 AM | This is a joke, right? (Score:1)
Not a Blue Fan
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This is a joke, right?

August 2nd, 2010 at 8:53 AM | Denard, Tate, Roundtree, (Score:1)
MGoDC
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Denard, Tate, Roundtree, Odoms, Molk, Schilling, Stonum, retroactive award for Tom Brady, award for Woodson based purely on points and yardage gained from interceptions, need I go on?

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:43 AM | Important (Score:1)
OSUMC Wolverine
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I think he may be the most important linemen in the Big Ten for sure...we cannot handle another year in the spread with that position in limbo.

Reality is an illusion created by an unsafe drop in blood alcohol levels that exposes one to the idiocy of others.

August 2nd, 2010 at 9:59 AM | Picking Iowa over Wisconsin (Score:1)
MCalibur
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Picking Iowa over Wisconsin makes no sense to me. Iowa had a better defense last year (277 ypg) but Wisconsin's was no joke (306 ypg). The Badgers have lost more on Defense than Iowa, but Iowa also loses two very key players (Spivey, Angerer). Wisky's offense is obscenely better than Iowa's and will help protect their D, whereas Iowa's O will hurt their D and probably put them in a couple of bad spots every game.

Wisconsin is hands down better tha Iowa in my book.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:23 AM | I agree. But what if Stanzi (Score:1)
jrt336
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I agree. But what if Stanzi actually learned to throw the ball this year? They have good receivers. If he gets quite a bit better, which is possible, they could be better than Wisconsin.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 AM | It's possible but I have (Score:1)
MCalibur
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It's possible but I have severe doubts. Stanzi is a fifth year senior and a will be 4 year starter, if he hasn't shown refinement yet, I doubt he'll get there. Better than last year? Probably. Good by mature QB standards? No. Better than Tolzien? Hell no.

I also think losing Bulaga and two other starters on the O-line will hurt them in a non-trivial matter.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:34 AM | Preseason predictions are (Score:1)
patol8
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Preseason predictions are largely based on past results. Iowa was better than Wisconsin last year, beat Wisconsin handily in Madison, and played a much better game against OSU.  Iowa still has a solid running game, defense, and a veteran QB returning. That said, preseason predictions mean nothing when the season starts.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:09 AM | In 1997 I think we were (Score:1)
Boshdelightful
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In 1997 I think we were picked to finish 5th in the Big Ten...

"You went to Notre Dame. You couldn't have gotten into school here."
-Lloyd Carr

M 2007

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:55 AM | That... (Score:1)
cps2010
Joined: 08/08/2009
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...is where the comparison begins and the contrast begins.  That roster was loaded with experienced players who would go on to the NFL.  Our current roster, maybe there's future NFLers on there, but they sure aren't that experienced.  And if there are guys as talented as Woodson and Hutchinson on this roster, I can't wait to watch them play.

August 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 AM | Denard is... (Score:1)
Kennyvr1
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Going to be player of the year in the big ten.

Oh how I hate ohio state...

August 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 AM | Well deserved for Jones (Score:1)
Maize Rage
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Congratulations to Greg Jones; he is one of those players I cannot help but like. He is fun to watch and seems like a good guy.

August 2nd, 2010 at 11:24 AM | Jones - 2009 Big 10 POY (Score:1)
Fall of the Hou...
Joined: 03/03/2009
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It's not Jones' fault, but I can't give him any credit because he won the '09 POY over Brandon Graham.  Credit to Jones if he has a hell of a season this year that gets him in the top half of the 1st round of the draft next April.


August 2nd, 2010 at 5:12 PM | Am I the only one who thinks (Score:1)
jmblue
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Am I the only one who thinks Jones is a hair overrated?  He's racked up huge tackle numbers but that's partly a function of the way MSU's defensive system operates and partly due to having a lot of crappy tackling players around him. 

August 2nd, 2010 at 1:07 PM | Expectations (Score:1)
TapThatSign_GoBlue
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"The only way that [Terrell Pryor] could meet the fans' expectations would be if he was throwing 80-yard touchdown bombs to himself." - Jim Rome, before Pryor's debut as a Buckeye.

 

Because of these ridiculous expectations and what everyone wants to see out of him, as long Pryor has a pretty good/above average game, fans think, "Wow, he really is as good as we thought," and he will be hailed, saluted, and fellated by Buckeyes and bandwaggoners alike. Although I will say that he is pretty damn hard to stop, mostly because of his ridiculous size accompanied by the speed of most small scat-backs.

August 2nd, 2010 at 4:44 PM | Yes, saying that he's not as (Score:1)
Not a Blue Fan
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Yes, saying that he's not as good as John Clay is the very definition of fellatio. Of course, I do defer to the opinion of the guy who still hasn't removed the Demar Dorsey quote from his signature.

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