Oh Mr. Breaston, if only DeBord wasn't retarded
Sorry for harping on this again. It still pisses me off watching him play well in that Cardinal offense. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy and wish him the best of luck over a long career. I am still dumbfounded as to how we were not able to put the ball in his hands more. Watching him turn the corner on that long punt return, I flashed back to the Rose Bowl with Texas and also realized how fast he really is. When you look fast in the NFL, you have some jets once he gets to speed with that loping stride. Secondly, it is not too shabby to pull 1000 yards down sharing time with Boldin and Fitz, hell of a job.
I guess to some extent the same could be said for LaMarr as well. The guy was really good at Michigan, but to watch him bull rush those tackles. My God, he is a beast.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 PM ^
While I understand your frustration, you need to get over this quickly. The past is the past. You nor I have any idea what went on between the coaches and Breaston or any player. As far as we know, it could have been that Breaston had some issue he didn't take care of until he got into the PROS. Amazing how money can change one's attitude.
It's easy to play the woulda coulda shoulda game. What's important is that Breaston and other players are doing well NOW.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
but he didn't have the surest hands down the field when he was at Michigan. But we also probably didn't run enough drag routes to really take advantage of what he could do.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
AFAIC, Breaston's "issue" was that he lost a half step or so under the old conditioning program that emphasized bulk over speed.
To answer a question that came up when I googled "Breaston Barwis," here is a wikipedia entry:
"In the spring and summer of 2008, over thirty professional athletes trained with Barwis, including Larry Foote, who said he became "more explosive, faster and better-tuned as he heads into his seventh season in the NFL."[6] The workouts, referred to by one newspaper as the "Barwis School of Pukitude," were attended by, among others, Braylon Edwards, Chris Perry, Jamar Adams, Steve Breaston, Victor Hobson, James Hall, Leon Hall, LaMarr Woodley, Mike Hart and Ryan Mundy. [15][16][17][18] Hockey players Kevin Porter, Chad Kolarik and Matt Hunwick also trained with Barwis over the summer.[19]"
Nice to see Woodley, Foote, and Breaston worked out with Barwis. I am convinced that between Barwis and the Cardinals' program, Breaston simply got that half-step that he lost back. That half step doesn't sound like much, but it is often the difference between being tackled and a hand grasping at your jersey in futility.
But I definitely agree that UM's predictable offense when Breaston was on the team didn't take advantage of his talents.
That's why I am more than willing to cut RR some slack until he gets a real QB and more of his type of player on the roster.
I am looking forward to the day when UM starts killing the Big Ten with speed and creativity.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
Breaston had a pretty good rookie season returning kicks and punts. That was before he trained with Barwis.
Barwis has nothing - or a very small part - to do with Breaston's success.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
He should not be given access to Michigan facilities as an alumnus until he decides that he can refer to his Alma Mater as the University of Michigan rather than his high school during the pregame introduction.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
I hope that you're joking. If not, then you need to grow the fuck up. Larry Foote has explained this numerous times. He mentions Pershing and the city of Detroit because he loves his hometown and wants to give it some "love." He has no issues with Michigan, Lloyd Carr or Rich Rod.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
Well said Jay.
Also re: Breaston. He had a fine Michigan career. Let's remember, he had never played WR before he got to Ann Arbor, so there was a slight learning curve as far as adjusting to the position. Also, when he first came in, he was very small. I think as a redshirt freshmen he weighed around 155. So he had to develop as a WR at Michigan, and now you're seeing the payoff in the NFL, where he definitely benefits by being the #3 guy behind two of the best in the league.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
They should kidnap his family and be done with it.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^
Insanity.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^
If a player says his high school instead of his college, could that maybe mean that he wants to represent his HS, rather than he's hating on his college? Maybe LF knew there would be other M players repping Michigan, and he would give a little love to his high school. Not a big deal.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:57 PM ^
Woodley said Michigan so it would've been a little redundant for Foote to say it also. I'm pretty sure another set of players who went to the same school did the same thing yesterday, although I can't remember who.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
had some nagging injuries during his career as well. I remember an ankle...some broken fingers...etc. He was under utilized though.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
it also helps that hes lining up alongside boldin and fitzgerald...stevie b is good and i love watching him play but hes not a #1 reciever. he fits very well in the cardinals.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
But then the coaches should also get credit for somehow managing to coax effectiveness out players such as Alan Branch who are mired on the bench in the NFL despite their talent. It has to go both ways.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
If you only didn't have ALLIGATOR arms at Michigan!!!!
It wasn't anyone fault,but his own that he couldn't CATCH the ball back in his Maize and Blue days.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
If I had a dime for every bomb Henne through that clattered off Breaston's hands, I'd be rich. Pure and simple: he couldn't catch when he was here. That's why we relegated him to the "long-handoff" role.
And for the poster who thinks our S&C sapped his speed, you clearly never watched him play. He was open ALL THE TIME when he ran deeper routes - he merely couldn't catch them.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 PM ^
Agree completely. People have gone off the deep end with this whole S & C stuff.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 PM ^
Maybe his deep speed was unaffected, but his quickness on punt returns was noticeably compromised by his senior year. If you look at his returns from his freshman and sophomore years to the end of the career, the difference is astounding (and sad). I suppose we don't know whether the conditioning program was directly to blame, but the fact that he seemed to have regained that quickness as soon as he was in the pros and away from Git is suspicious.
Agreed that Stevie never could adjust to a ball over his shoulder while at Michigan. I saw him do it a couple of times this year for the Cards and almost spit out my drink.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
He started his senior season off with a pulled hamstring, I believe. That's why he looked slow.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
for some sober perspective. I was about to yell the same point before I read your post. He was tried on multiple occassions, he simply didn't earn more chances, not only dropping the ball, but poor patterns as well. It all too easy to dog Debord, I did it many times, but Breaston's WR play here was not on him.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
Did I say "through" instead of "threw"? I want to e-slap myself.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 PM ^
Breaston is one of my all-time favorite players, but he went through a stretch his senior year where he couln't catch the ball to save his life. It's hard to blame that on the coaches.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 PM ^
Couldn't catch a cold in Alaska.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
Couldn't catch aids in a brothel
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 PM ^
wouldn't you rather throw to Braylon? Funny how once in the NFL that Braylon lost his hands and Breaston was snagging catches even right before some pretty big hits.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 PM ^
Don't forget Jason Avant
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^
but he has always had a problem with dropping the easy passes. He has a reputation for good hands because he does better with difficult and amazing catches
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
I once heard Larry Foote speak on the radio about an upcoming Michigan, Michigan st. game. I mean to tell you, Larry was openly zealous concerning his love for Michigan and his sincere dislike of anything green and white. He shows no disrespect for Michigan.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:12 PM ^
The fact that you're bashing Debord while completely ignoring Breaston's shortcomings as a college receiver shows me that you probably have no idea what you're talking about.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:26 PM ^
Did he get bionic hands?
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
Those don't exist. He got palm implants.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
The fact that Erik Campbell sent record-breaking receiver after record-breaking receiver to the NFL makes me think Michigan's coaches during Breaston's entire tenure were excellent at developing receivers.
For anyone to imply that Carr, Debord, Campbell, and the entire staff didn't know how to utilize Breaston's talents is somewhat negligent of their history and capabilities.
You can't automatically blame the coach for a player's shortcomings. Some players just don't do what's necessary or they have a mental block or maturity issues or whatever. But you'll find players who don't develop on the rosters of even the greatest coaches. You think Bill Parcells didn't have some failures? Does every Pete Carroll player turn out great?
Breaston was an option quarterback in high school. Do you think he's going to have great hands and be a great receiver instantly?
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
He was and is a fine coach who does not call the offense
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
you suggested that the coaches didn't coach him up with your "bionic hands" comment. That's why Magnus mentioned Campbell's track record of success. Don't move the goal posts.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
I'm sorry. I changed your argument without notifying you, since your argument didn't make any sense.
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:26 PM ^
Keep in mind that quite a few college tailbacks and receivers are former HS QBs. It's pretty common for a high school team to put its best athlete at QB. I don't think that has much to do with Breaston's hands issues at UM.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
That's absolutely true that lots of teams put their best athletes at QB. Yet not all of them turn out to be major college WR's. Some of them turn into RB's or CB's or safeties or LB's.
I don't necessarily think you can put all the blame on his high school position. What I'm saying is that there might be other factors besides Debord (i.e. maybe he never ran a pass pattern in high school). And assuming that Breaston's time at Michigan did NOTHING to prepare him for success as an NFL player, as the OP suggested, is a little ridiculous.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
It's hard to look at a coaching staff that produced Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, David Terrell, Marquise Walker, Mario Manningham, and Adrian Arrington and conclude "these guys just coulnd't coach a WR".
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 PM ^
Consider that DeBord did not have Walker and Terrell (who did not make an impact in the NFL). Avant is solid. Edwards will come around. Too early on MM and AA.
Point was Breaston. We got little out of him. Granted, he was a QB in HS. Great, we had 5 years with him. Cardinals made him a 1000 yd receiver in 2 in the NFL. So what would you conclude?
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:51 PM ^
I would conclude that your critical thinking skills are very, very poor.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 PM ^
You keep changing what you're saying.
Are you blaming the coaches for the fact the Breaston couldn't catch, that they didn't use him properly, or both?
The reason why Breaston wasn't used downfield is because he couldn't catch while at Michigan. If you watched his Junior year, he WAS used downfield quite a bit, and consistently dropped the ball.
If you're accusing the coaching staff of not developing Breaston to the point he couldn't even catch, I would say that, first, it never was DeBord's job to teach a WR to catch, and the fact that the guy whose job it WAS to teach a WR to catch (Erik Campbell) turned out quality WR after quality WR would imply that he is more than capable of doing so.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 PM ^
if you are subscribing to this theory: Pat White was a 2 star (OMG PAT WHITE 2 STAR)...WVU turned him into a super stud. Therefore, you would conclude that all 2 stars at West Virginia were amazing players.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^
yeah he discovered these things called receiver gloves
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:01 PM ^
Debord was an idiot, but that was more to do with making the most explosive offense in the Big Ten the seventh or eighth ranked one in yardage in the Big Ten. Breaston just wasn't a deep reciever back then.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:13 PM ^
He dropped balls on almost every deep route at Michigan. Yes he was overlooked but most "non possesion" type receivers are. Some guys are better pros then college players and visa versa. Regardless of what this can be attributed too, it's nice to see how Steve has progressed. When he was here, I never projected him as much more then a return specialist either. Maybe he just needed to mature.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:39 PM ^
gloves these WR's were wearing? Not to mention- how the hell can a quarterback throw with gloves on his hands.