Hypothetical Michigan alum NFL team
So last year I experimented--as many of you probably have done--with creating an all-Michigan alums team on Madden.
In other years I had thought of doing it but there was a lack of
players at certain positions. The situation now is pretty good,
and I think the team would arguably be a mid-level NFL team.
Here--before we see what the next version of Madden looks like and their skills are rated as--is what it could look like. I’ve listed in parentheses Pro Football Weekly’s rank of them at their respective positions, if they are in the top 20-30. I’ve also not included some very marginal players (get cut every year in training camp) who are not needed to fill out the roster.
QB: Brady (1), Henne, Collins, Griese?
RB: Perry, Hart, Thomas, Askew, Dudley
TE: Campbell, Tuman, Massaquoi
WR: Edwards (8), Toomer, Avant, Manningham, Arrington
OL (best 5): Hutchinson (G-3), Backus (T-24), Jansen (T-22), Long (T), Williams (G-24)
Other OL: Baas (C), Goodwin (G), Kraus (G), an assortment of others
Offense summary: Best quarterback in the league. Rough RB and TE situation, unless Hart emerges or Perry stays healthy. Good WR, especially with the addition of two draftees to add depth. Very solid OL, although more of a focus on tackles. Would really have to focus on passing game.
DT: Watson, Branch
DE: Hall; would have to play some pass-rushing LBs such as Orr, Woodley, etc
ILB: Harris (14), Foote, Hobson
OLB: June, Woodley, Woods, Crable, Orr, Burgess, Jones
CB: Woodson (11), Jackson (22), Hall, Law, Curry, Mason
S: None??
Defense summary: Quite mediocre DL. Good LB corps, with Harris and Woodley emerging stars and June having made a Pro Bowl two years ago, plus depth. Very solid CBs. Law and Jackson have to be switched to safety, which unfortunately puts the nickel/dime backs in the hands of Markus Curry and Grant Mason, who are still somehow listed as being in NFL camps.
K: Feely
P:
RS: Breaston
Special teams summary: Breaston did well his first year; Feely is a solid if aging kicker. No punter. Plethora of depth at positions like OLB would be useful for coverage teams.
Final Summary: This would be a decent NFL team. There are some holes that simply wouldn’t allow it to be a real team over the course of a full season (lack of a DL second string!), but for a one-off exhibition game it would be good. There are 8 players listed by PFW as being among the top 20-30 in the league at their position, and most of the rest of the projected starters are actual starters in the NFL. If needed (and Madden might have them), some guys who recently played in the NFL could be brought in for the needed depth areas, such as Shazor (ugh) at S, Josh Williams at DT, Hayden Epstein at P/KOS.
Here--before we see what the next version of Madden looks like and their skills are rated as--is what it could look like. I’ve listed in parentheses Pro Football Weekly’s rank of them at their respective positions, if they are in the top 20-30. I’ve also not included some very marginal players (get cut every year in training camp) who are not needed to fill out the roster.
QB: Brady (1), Henne, Collins, Griese?
RB: Perry, Hart, Thomas, Askew, Dudley
TE: Campbell, Tuman, Massaquoi
WR: Edwards (8), Toomer, Avant, Manningham, Arrington
OL (best 5): Hutchinson (G-3), Backus (T-24), Jansen (T-22), Long (T), Williams (G-24)
Other OL: Baas (C), Goodwin (G), Kraus (G), an assortment of others
Offense summary: Best quarterback in the league. Rough RB and TE situation, unless Hart emerges or Perry stays healthy. Good WR, especially with the addition of two draftees to add depth. Very solid OL, although more of a focus on tackles. Would really have to focus on passing game.
DT: Watson, Branch
DE: Hall; would have to play some pass-rushing LBs such as Orr, Woodley, etc
ILB: Harris (14), Foote, Hobson
OLB: June, Woodley, Woods, Crable, Orr, Burgess, Jones
CB: Woodson (11), Jackson (22), Hall, Law, Curry, Mason
S: None??
Defense summary: Quite mediocre DL. Good LB corps, with Harris and Woodley emerging stars and June having made a Pro Bowl two years ago, plus depth. Very solid CBs. Law and Jackson have to be switched to safety, which unfortunately puts the nickel/dime backs in the hands of Markus Curry and Grant Mason, who are still somehow listed as being in NFL camps.
K: Feely
P:
RS: Breaston
Special teams summary: Breaston did well his first year; Feely is a solid if aging kicker. No punter. Plethora of depth at positions like OLB would be useful for coverage teams.
Final Summary: This would be a decent NFL team. There are some holes that simply wouldn’t allow it to be a real team over the course of a full season (lack of a DL second string!), but for a one-off exhibition game it would be good. There are 8 players listed by PFW as being among the top 20-30 in the league at their position, and most of the rest of the projected starters are actual starters in the NFL. If needed (and Madden might have them), some guys who recently played in the NFL could be brought in for the needed depth areas, such as Shazor (ugh) at S, Josh Williams at DT, Hayden Epstein at P/KOS.
Isn't Ian Gold a better LB than Hobson?
He was pretty good, but is now listed as retired.
really? When did that happen?
that he was still shopping around for a contract. Retirement would be news to me as well.
marlin play some safety? and is shazor officially out of the league?
in a strict cover two that blitzes the least in the league. i'd bet he could move to safety without too much issue. he certainly has the size.
Derrick Alexander. He should be third on your list. Two of them haven't even played a down yet. Alexander caught 40 TDs and had almost 7,000 recieving yards in 8 seasons in the NFL
I'm talking about current NFL players.
Am I to assume they have to be current NFL players?
Can the Lions trade Backus to this hypothetical team, and spare me the pain of watching him stare in helpless sadness as another DE crushes Jon Kitna?
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