McGuffie - and yes, i know he's not a michigan man anymore...
September 5th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
Threet was 14/21 for 239; 2 TDs, 1 INT
I wish him all the best.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
I'll take our #2, thanks.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:44 PM ^
I'd take McGuffie in a heartbeat over Vincent Smith.
McGuffie as a freshman: 118 carries, 486 yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 3 TDs; 19 catches, 175 yards, 1 TD
Smith as a freshman (minus DSU): 31 carries, 110 yards, 3.55 yards per carry, 1 TD; 10 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD
Even if you take away McGuffie's weakest opponent (since I took away DSU for Smith) in Toledo, McGuffie played for a much worse team and still would have had 93 carries, 381 yards, and 3 TDs, along with 4.1 yards per carry.
McGuffie is/was better than Smith, whether you want to think so or not.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:48 PM ^
since smith wasn't used as an every down back. and the fact McGuffie now looks scared to get hit, which makes the OP's comment (in present tense) ultimately true
September 6th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
He was playing for Rice against Texas. If he didn't have great numbers...that might be the reason why.
Furthermore, one iffy play doesn't mean he's scared to get hit.
But whatever. Numbers don't mean anything, right?
September 6th, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^
it'd be like claiming cousins was a better scramble qb than denard last year bc he had better numbers against UM due to the 40 yd scamper, or threet for the same fake example, etc. i'd rather have smith than mcguffie bc smith puts his head down and trucks for the extra 3. mcguffie still appears to think -8 to get +1 is a better idea in the clutch.
September 6th, 2010 at 11:45 PM ^
But that's not the case. We're not talking about one game. The sample set is an entire freshman season. And like I said, McGuffie played for a worse team (3-9 compared to 5-7).
I understand if people like Vincent Smith more. Maybe they liked dreads. Maybe they like him because he's 5'6" and he's kind of an underdog. Maybe it can't be explained.
But McGuffie is a better football player, and the numbers bear that out.
September 6th, 2010 at 11:59 PM ^
Magnus,
read this:
since smith wasn't used as an every down back
Even though McGuffie had better numbers, it was due to the fact that he was the go to guy. I respectfully do not agree with your conclusions.
September 7th, 2010 at 12:13 AM ^
Oh . . . so since Vincent Smith wasn't good enough to beat out Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown, it's logical to conclude that he's better than Sam McGuffie, who did beat out Minor and Brown for carries?
September 7th, 2010 at 12:38 AM ^
In 2008 Rich Rodriguez replaced Lloyd Carr as head coach.[56] In the spring, Brown broke his finger weightlifting and Grady was still trying to get healthy.[57] In early August, it appeared that juniors Brown and Minor would vie for the starting job because fourth-year junior Grady was under suspension related to driving while intoxicated charges.[58][59] However, in camp it became apparent very quickly that true freshmen Sam McGuffie and Michael Shaw, would have a significant role in the newly-installed spread option offense.[60][61] With both Brown and Minor nursing injuries,[62] McGuffie was tentatively penciled into the starting position on the depth chart.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Minor
That explains the McGuffie era.
As a senior member of the 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team, Minor was named to a pair of watch lists: (Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award).[73][74] He was also selected by ESPN as the 22nd best player and 3rd best running back (behind Evan Royster and John Clay) in the Big Ten Conference before the season started.[75][76] Minor missed the first game of the season due to a high ankle sprain. In the second game, which was the 2009 Michigan – Notre Dame rivalry game, he rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries during the 38–34 victory over Notre Dame.[77][78] The ankle sprain hampered him much of the season and caused him to miss the October 17 game against Delaware State.[
Explains Vincent Smith last year. Same link as above. Only Carlos Brown was played abit more, due to the fact that he was healthier in 2009.
Minor missed less games in 2009 then 2008. That to me, explains why McGuffie had more yardage then Smith. IMO
September 7th, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
September 7th, 2010 at 6:42 AM ^
McGuffie averaged half a yard MORE than Smith on rushes.
McGuffie ran behind a WORSE offensive line.
McGuffie had WORSE quarterbacks.
McGuffie averaged 1 yard MORE than Smith on pass receptions.
Oh, and what about this year? McGuffie averaged 3.35 yards for his overmatched Rice Owls against potential national title contenders Texas. Meanwhile, Vincent Smith averaged 3.64 yards for Michigan's high-powered offense against a banged up, mediocre Big East team. Neither performance is good, but I'm guessing that .3 yard difference can be explained by the level of competition.
Furthermore, if you put any stock in recruiting rankings, McGuffie was rated higher across the board than Vincent Smith.
Every single indication (recruiting rankings, stats, and the context in which those stats were earned) points toward McGuffie being the better running back...
...and yet you're still in the process of arguing that Smith is better.
Just say you like him more. That's fine. Obviously, people can like whoever they want. Vincent Smith plays for Michigan so you probably should like him more. But that doesn't mean he's better.
September 7th, 2010 at 7:28 AM ^
I would lean the way of Magnus here (Magnus's way; Magnus' way?). McGuffie behind this OL would have Denard breakaway potential. However, his durability would remain an issue, I think.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
Haha, where did that tackler even come from? lol
September 5th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
It was a screen. They let the rush get up the field. McGuff's got to know that pursuit's coming from behind. Hit it up, take the minimal yardage and get back to the huddle.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
The tackler must have been way out of position
September 6th, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^
He could've ran forward and gotten at LEAST 5 yards there, look at the right side of the field. That was just a bad decision haha.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:33 PM ^
He could have gained about 5 or 6 yards if he just kept going forward. I'm really not sure why he stopped and reversed field.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
September 6th, 2010 at 7:10 PM ^
That looks familiar
September 5th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
in other venues. They're both talented athletes,(extraordinary in McGuffie's case). In Threet's case, he was a smart QB with a gun for an arm, but he just didn't have the ideal fit for Michigan's offensive scheme. I think that in an alternative venue he has the potential to really shine. As for McGuffie, he left for external issues, vs having trouble fitting in at Michigan like Threet, but never the less, I still think that it ended up being a better situation for him at another place. Maybe it was just me, but just by watching the few moments that Sam had in the games, he didn't seem really comfortable out there. I mean, I'm not saying that he didn't have huge potential at Michigan, but he didn't seem to be the ball of excitement in the offense that I saw in some of our past young running backs like Mike Hart or Brandon Minor. It just didn't look as natural for him.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
even though no longer playing for michigan. playing in rr's 1st year w/ no oline. wish him the best whereever he goes, whereever he gets to.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
Being forced into action early in the first talent-light year of RRod's michigan teams cost Sam McGuffie some serious brain cells (didn't he have 2 or 3 concussions?) I respect him for that, and I respect his motives for going back to Texas (something tells me he could have transferred to a more competitive program than Rice if he wanted). I wish him all the best.
Same with Threet. That kid had no business being in this offense. He's got a good arm and should be OK in another offense on another team, much as I'm SURE he would have loved to succeed at Michigan.
September 5th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
No disrespect and maybe I'm in the minority here but I don't believe a player who voluntarily leaves the team to play for another team should be called a "Michigan Man".
September 5th, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
Jimmy Potempa also started for Eastern Illinois and had 14 carries for 21 yards against Iowa.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^
Those who stay will be champions.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
McGuffie left without saying a negative word about Michigan or Rodriquez. He left for reason more important than football and any real Michigan fan will wish him well and cheer from a far.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
Totally agree. People are using the "those who stay" phrase in a negative way nowadays. McGuffie had, AFAIK, personal and family reasons to return to Texas.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
I wish McGuffie the best.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^
Led Colorado St. in rushing with 32 yards on two carries. They didn't have much of a day on offense but 16 yards a carry is pretty nice. If I remember correctly he was a guy who wanted to be here but couldn't get over the hurdle academically.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
IIRC, he waited until the last minute to take his SAT. By that time the coaches didn't want to wait to find out whether he'd qualify, so they moved on...
September 5th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
I hope he's enjoying things in Houston. I was sad to se McGuff leave as it was pretty apparent his experience was ruined by the situation he was in with all that pressure. Young players are very suceptible to high-sigma responses to either success or failure (e.g. Ron Powlus who never adjusted to his hype, or John Navarre who was called on way too early).
Another reminder of just how astoundingly awful the 2008 season was (as if I wanted to be reminded) and how thin the roster was on experience that we had true freshmen getting their brains beaten in.
September 5th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
...McGuff didn't get another concussion from that.