The greatest from 2001-2011
In order that I may waste more time on my Michigan fandom, I put together an "all past decade" list of sorts. (2001-2011) I wasn't quite as big a fan back in the early 2000s but I did a little research and this seems about right. I think the reserve players are just there because I like them so much and felt bad not having them on the list.
This would be a heck of a squad to field all at one time. Any glaring omissions?
| OFFENSE | DEFENSE | SPECIAL TEAMS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Chad Henne | OLB | Victor Hobson | P | Zoltan Mesko |
| HB | Mike Hart | ILB | Larry Foote | K | Garret Rivas |
| FB | BJ Askew | ILB | Carl Diggs | ||
| WR | Braylon Edwards | CB | Marlin Jackson | ||
| WR | Marquise Walker | CB | Leon Hall | ||
| WR | Mario Manningham | SS | Ernest Shazor | ||
| TE | Tim Massaquoi | FS | Brendent Englemon | ||
| LT | Jake Long | DE | LaMarr Woodley | ||
| LG | Adam Kraus | DT | Gabe Watson | ||
| C | David Molk | NT | Mike Martin | ||
| RG | Dave Petruziello | DT | Alan Branch | ||
| RT | Tony Pape | DE | Brandon Graham | ||
| Reserve | Denard Robinson | Reserve | Jordan Kovacs |
January 24th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^
Five down linemen? That's an interesting defense...
Also, Dave Petruziello at guard?
January 24th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
and two ILB
best defense ever
January 24th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
Now that is a mindfuck. This man just put two things in between one thing.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:07 AM ^
Imagine the pressure we'd get! That's why I said it'd be a heck of a squad!!!
No, I kind of molded the roster based on the personnel. It isn't meant to all be on the field at once.
My bad on Petruziello.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:11 AM ^
Yeah, I noticed this, too, and immediately threw a yellow flag for 12 men on defense. But the offense also has 12 players (not counting the reserves), so I guess it all evens out.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^
Then Denard can play.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
....the OP obviously didn't spell "offence" and "defence" correctly.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:38 AM ^
We ran a 5-3-4 in high school. It was pretty effective. Isn't this what Buddy Ryan runs on goalline D?
January 24th, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^
you'd receive a 12 men on the field penalty with this defense.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
Maybe having twelve men is why it was so "effective." It never hurts to have an extra player or two on the field, as long as the ref can't count.
January 24th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
just dress your twelfth man (probably a middle linebacker) in a black and white striped shirt, give him a whistle, and you're all set. The referee never counts to make sure there's not too many officials on the field.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
Maybe he played in Canada aeh?
January 24th, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
he was going to go with the Derek Dooley 5-7-4 defense but he lost count.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
not to see David Harris and Terrence Taylor on there
January 24th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
Definitely David Harris--- not sure Terrence Taylor would make the cut in my book
January 24th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^
I'd also throw in Jamar Adams at safety.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
might want a word with Mike Hart, but there are certainly arguments to be made both ways. Overall, very well done.
January 24th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
I think I'd have to go with Chris Perry.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
Putting a mere "P" in front of Zoltan's name is a grave injustice. He was more than just a "P" at Michigan. He cannot be properly labeled.
Also wishing that Mundy would've stayed longer @ UM. It would've been nice to see his name as the FS of the decade.
I also have a hard time leaving Baas off this list on the OL. The man was a stud.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:08 AM ^
Best "almost" mustache of 2001-2011
January 24th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^
Running the 5-3 on defense is an interesting approach. I would also like to see Breaston on their possibly. Maybe David Harris?
January 24th, 2012 at 10:16 AM ^
Steve Hutchinson played a bowl game in 2001... does that count?
January 24th, 2012 at 10:20 AM ^
over Henne and Hart.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
You lost me at Navarre.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
that lost to Ohio 4 straight times. Jake Long, ok. You can be the greatest Left Tackle but it only goes so far.
Navarre had a great senior season in 2003 and had a fabulous performance against #4 Ohio leading M to victory.
It is a tough call, both of them were subpar compared to their predessors of Grbac, Collins, Griese, Brady and Henson.
January 24th, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^
Simply trading out Troy Smith for Craig Krenzel (or similar) and Michigan would have beaten OSU in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Can't blame Henne for the incompetence of our D coaches when it came to mobile QBs... And Henne, when healthy, was at least on par with Griese and Collins. I would say he was vastly superior physically, maybe with a little less "it factor" than Griese.
January 24th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^
Michigan's defense didnt play well in 2004 and 2006 against Ohio. Not sure I agree in 2005, we only had 21 points, Navarre put up 35 in 2003.
I guess when I think back to Griese and Navarre, I remember signature wins - Griese agaisnt Ohio in 96 and 97, the 97 Penn State game, the Rose Bowl. Navarre against Ohio in 03. What is Henne's signature win? Florida in the Capitol One Bowl? Meh. Nice to win but still, it is just the Capital One Bowl.
Navarre was 2-4 against Ohio and Bowls. Henne was 1-7. Collins was 3-1. Griese was 3-1 (I think - did he play in 95 when Dreisbach got hurt?).
January 24th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
Well, Henne did go 4-0 vs. MSU, and 3-0 vs. PSU. (He was also 2-2 vs. ND) And I'm sure those games mean more in the grand scheme of things than Cap One or Outback bowl wins. Which is the only thing to Navarre's credit outside the OSU win by your standards.
And I think you could say Griese was 4-2. 3-0 vs. OSU (he did play all three games) and 1-2 in bowls. Winning the big one, the Rose, but I'm almost positive he was the QB vs. Bama, and I think due to the end of season injury he played vs. A&M, both losses.
January 24th, 2012 at 4:26 PM ^
Griese was the starter for the Bama game in which he threw that pick six that was returned 70 something yards, in a 17-14 loss. If not for that pick, we would be 3-0 against the Tide.
We beat Ohio State in 95 thanks to Biakabutuka running wild and a decent showing by our defense which kept Eddie George in check. While Griese started the game, he threw 3 interceptions and did not play all that spectacular.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
I'd want Kevin Dudley paving the way for Chris Perry again.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^
Hart vs Perry is so close to me that Hart wins for personality and future coaching prospective.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
And the better overall career?
January 24th, 2012 at 11:04 AM ^
He was more explosive and more of a receiving threat. Perry in 2003 was better than Hart was in any one year, IMO, though I obviously understand your point about Hart's superior career.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
is a must, but I do love your Denard Tecmo Bowl avatar! Speaking of Denard, if you were to create a second team, is he your QB on that team?
January 24th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
Thanks! Tecmo Super Bowl is the best video game of all time, hands down, no discussion. (somewhat /s)
Ugh, that's a tough question. Him or Navarre. Damn, that's a topic all it's own and I think it all boils down to scheme preference. If Denard shows next season that he can throw the ball halfway decent then he is #2 no doubt. As is, you wonder whether he'd take advantage of all those wonderful receivers on the list. Maybe I'd keep him where he is.
January 24th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
You have to post that avatar sometime, that's classic.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^
On the OL, I would take Goodwin Lentz Baas and Shilling over Dave P and maybe all but Lentz over Kraus too.
Lewan over Pape at tackle.
Joppru at TE
Harris at LB and its not even close
special mention to Dudley at FB, if only for the blocking.
Crable over Hobson?
and Breaston as a Returner.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
There is one I forgot to add to my list, I loved Juppru! He was a true TE!
January 24th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
I think you may be forgetting how good Pape was. Lean might be better by the end of his career but I would take a senior Pape over Lewan
January 24th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
I think it's a shame that Todd Howard isn't somewhere on the defensive side of your list. I know you can't really rank him over Marlin and Leon, but still, I really liked that kid.
Oh, and of course, like everyone else has said, David Harris has to be on this.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
Not having David Harris on the list at linebacker is a travesty. He's the best middle linebacker in the last decade by far.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^
Massaquoi? Over Joppru?
January 24th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
January 24th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
First, David Baas over Petruziello or Adam Kraus.
Second, David Harris over Carl Diggs.
Third, and in my opinion probably the biggest, Benny Joppru over Tim Massaquoi. Massaquoi was barely a contributor, Bennie Joppru put up the best year a Michigan tight end has had in 15 years and set the single season catch mark for a TE.
January 24th, 2012 at 10:58 AM ^
Charles Woodson...?
January 24th, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^
possibly Cato June to get some consideration at Safety. And Joppru was one of our best TE ever, behind Tuman
January 24th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
Maybe it would be better to do first team and second team? There are so many players, I feel like we'd be able to easily fill out two teams.
That said, I'd take David Terrell over Walker. Also, I'll echo everyone else by saying David Harris MUST be on this list. And how about Cato June and Ernest Shazor in the defensive backfield?
Edit: Great thread topic, by the way. These kinds of things are always fun and a great way to pass time in the offseason.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
Yikes, that's not one, but TWO oversized WLBs playing safety. Our offense would TORCH the defense because we'd just max protect and send Manningham and Edwards deep.
Both guys could hit, neither could cover. I'd play Kovacs or Englemon with one of the two...at least you'd know the defense was in position and guys weren't getting behind the last man.
P.S. And David Terrell isn't qualified for this.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
Harris over Diggs, Baas over Kraus, Lewan/Goodwin over Petruziello, Joppru over Massaquoi...
Take Askew off the field as the 12th man and take Watson or Branch (really, you'd rotate those 2 and Martin in the middle) off the field as the 12th man on defense.
Larry Foote also deserves some love!
January 24th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
is upset that you didn't include 2000 in this list.
If 2000 was included - I'd have to take Terrell over Manningham - but you really couldn't go wrong with either.