Picture via Michigan’s Rivals.com message board, The Fort. I’ve got nothing to add — the NFL’s defensive player of the year tends to speak for himself.

As most video game enthusiasts know by now, Madden 10 hits stores tomorrow (or midnight tonight, depending on your dedication). Here is a comprehensive (I think) list of the ex-Wolverines in Madden 10, sorted by NFL team (Note: I’m going by what team the players are on in the game. It’s too much work to track down every transaction since the rosters were finalized. Ratings from ESPN.com):

ARIZONA:

Steve Breaston, WR #15: 79 overall, 91 speed, 95 acceleration, 84 catch, 86 kick return
Gabe Watson, DT #98: 68 overall, 49 speed, 93 strength, 74 tackle
Alan Branch, DT #78: 60 overall, 55 speed, 91 strength, 65 tackle

BALTIMORE:

Prescott Burgess, LB #54: 50 overall, 72 speed, 52 awareness, 63 tackle

CINCINNATI:

Leon Hall, CB #29: 75 overall, 85 speed, 88 acceleration, 88 agility
Morgan Trent, CB #25: 57 overall, 82 speed, 83 acceleration, 83 agility (Really? That slow? Ask Percy Harvin.)

CLEVELAND

Braylon Edwards, WR #17: 86 overall, 90 speed, 95 acceleration, 99 jump, 80 catch
David Bowens, LOLB #96: 67 overall, 70 speed, 78 awareness, 69 tackle

DETROIT:

Jeff Backus, LT #76: 77 overall, 89 strength, 86 pass block, 87 run block
Larry Foote, MLB #56: 78 overall, 73 speed, 81 awareness, 88 tackle

GREEN BAY:

Charles Woodson, CB #21: 93 overall, 86 speed, 91 acceleration, 91 agility, 94 awareness

HOUSTON:

Cato June, LOLB #50: 68 overall, 78 speed, 83 awareness, 73 tackle

INDIANAPOLIS:

Mike Hart, RB #32: 65 overall, 76 speed, 82 acceleration, 79 agility, 88 carrying
Marlin Jackson, CB #28: 82 overall, 83 speed, 88 acceleration, 91 agility

JACKSONVILLE:

Maurice Williams, RG #74: 83 overall, 92 strength, 94 pass block, 84 run block

MIAMI:

Chad Henne, QB #7: 66 overall, 59 awareness, 91 throw power, 74 throw accuracy
Jake Long, RT #77: 91 overall, 95 strength, 96 pass block, 88 run block

MINNESOTA:

Steve Hutchinson, LG #76: 98 overall, 97 strength, 99 pass block, 85 run block

NEW ENGLAND:

Tom Brady, QB #12: 97 overall, 97 awareness, 96 throw power, 98 accuracy
Pierre Woods, LOLB #58: 67 overall, 73 speed, 65 awareness, 73 tackle
Shawn Crable, ROLB #98: 63 overall, 73 speed, 45 awareness, 77 tackle

NEW ORLEANS:

Adrian Arrington, WR #87: 45 overall, 79 speed, 84 acceleration, 92 jump, 64 catch
Jonathan Goodwin, C #76: 67 overall, 85 strength, 83 pass block, 84 run block

NEW YORK GIANTS:

Mario Manningham, WR #82: 63 overall, 84 speed, 86 acceleration, 91 agility, 95 jump, 72 catch

NEW YORK JETS:

David Harris, MLB #52: 74 overall, 72 speed, 72 awareness, 87 tackle
Jay Feely, K #3: 77 overall, 81 awareness, 88 kick power, 88 kick accuracy

PHILADELPHIA:

Jason Avant, WR #81: 65 overall, 77 speed, 81 acceleration, 84 agility, 81 jump, 75 catch

PITTSBURGH:

LaMarr Woodley, LOLB #56: 88 overall, 82 speed, 76 awareness, 88 tackle

SAN FRANCISCO:

David Baas, LG #64: 77 overall, 88 strength, 88 pass block, 87 run block

ST. LOUIS

James Hall, RE #96: 76 overall, 74 speed, 77 strength, 68 tackle

TAMPA BAY:

B.J. Askew, FB #35: 80 overall, 75 speed, 78 acceleration, 72 catch, 80 carry

WASHINGTON:

Todd Collins, QB #15: 64 overall, 84 awareness, 74 throw power, 82 throw accuracy
Jon Jansen, RT #76: 83 overall, 95 strength, 93 run block, 91 pass block

FREE AGENTS (ratings taken from this site, which does not have complete ratings):

Ty Law, CB: 77 overall, 81 speed, 84 acceleration, 78 agility, 87 awareness
Chris Perry, RB: 69 overall, 82 speed, 86 acceleration, 85 agility
Victor Hobson, ROLB: 60 overall, 70 speed, 73 acceleration, 65 awareness
Jon Runyan, RT: 80 overall, 96 strength, 91 awareness
Mark Campbell, TE: 74 overall, 64 speed, 75 acceleration, 68 awarenesss
Jerame Tuman, TE: 69 overall, 58 speed, 64 acceleration, 68 awareness
Amani Toomer, WR: 77 overall, 77 speed, 79 acceleration, 90 awareness

Similar Posts:

• Charles Woodson, NFL DPOY, Representing

Football:

• U-M opens practice with new look — Detroit News — Michigan’s practice jerseys have been adidas-ized, which three stripes running down the side of both the white jerseys (blue stripes) and blue jerseys (maize stripes). They’re practice jerseys: as long as ads don’t show up on these, I really don’t care.
• Inside Al Glick Field House ($) — The Wolverine — Matt Pargoff with a photo spread of the new practice facility, which looks awesome. Facilities like this will help Michigan stay a major power for years to come, as I’m sure recruits will be blown away by how nice the new practice facility and locker rooms are.
• U-M unveils its own ‘Taj Mahal’ — Detroit Free Press — Like I said, the practice facility: nice.
• Justin Turner, Adrian Witty aren’t with team as University of Michigan opens practice — AnnArbor.com — They still have lockers, which means the team is still optimistic that both will qualify. Let’s hope this doesn’t drag out for too long, especially in the case of Turner, who has a chance to make a big impact in the secondary this season.
• Quick notes from Wolverines first football practice — The Diag — Ryan Kartje posts some quick observations from practice, including the fact that Jason Forcier has his own locker as well. Also, Denard Robinson is very, very fast, but still needs work at QB.
• Can Tennessee, Eric Berry Finally Give Stiff Arm to Ghost of Charles Woodson — The Fanhouse — Get over it, guys. At least our coach didn’t screw your team out of a consensus national title. Plus, Woodson was the best player in the country that year. They counted the votes and everything.

Basketball:

• Former University of Michigan basketball captain David Merritt kicks off clothing line — AnnArbor.com — Merritt put out this video, which is very well-produced and even features Coach Beilein rocking some of Merritt’s gear. I Miss You, Inc. will launch Sept. 4 in the Michigan League ballroom.
• The Interesting Choice … Freshman Blake McClimans — MGoBlue — McClimans is unusual for a basketball prospect in that he did not play AAU ball, instead playing volleyball and baseball on top of hoops. Interesting choice, indeed.

Hockey:

• CCHA rejects Alabama-Huntsville’s bid — MiCHO — With the departure of Nebraska-Omaha from the CCHA, many — myself included — thought Huntsville was a lock to join the conference. Instead, it looks like the CCHA will be an 11-team conference for the foreseeable future.

Similar Posts:

• An Early Stab at the 2010 Depth Chart: Defense
• An Early Stab at the 2010 Depth Chart: Offense
• Wolverines on the Web Turns It Up To 11
• Michigan Basketball: Bump in the Road, or Nosedive?
• A Closer Look: Michigan Basketball, 2010-11

The tremendous boredom of the summer months has reached its apex, and I am left to come up with content when there is little to nothing going on in the Michigan sports scene. Luckily, U-M has an amazing database of historical content. The Bentley Historical Library is an incredible resource on Wolverine history, and also a bona-fide time-waster. I love looking through the old team photos … it’s basically like checking out your parents’ high school yearbooks, except with more famous people and without the stigma of looking through your parents’ high school yearbooks. Anyways, I’ve decided to click to a random year and find the most awesome/silly/ridiculous-looking player for that year, and then dig up what I can find on said player’s career at Michigan.

As I was looking at the 1997 team photo for the previous post, I noticed a young Tom Brady looking quite silly in the middle of the photo:

I realize Brady wasn’t a freshman in 1997, but the shock of seeing him from 14 years ago made me want to dig through the archives and check out the freshman photos of past Michigan greats.

Wow, they grow up so fast. Not included in the gallery because of the tiny picture size was this photo of Charles Woodson, circa 1995:

That’s all until the next installment. Hit the tag for the rest of the Fun With Team Photos series, if you’re like me and have nothing better to do with your summer.

The Top 15 of the Last 15 series, which looked at the best 15 players on each side of the ball from 1994-2008, has come to its conclusion. For those who missed the final post, here is my list in its entirety:

Because it’s the summer, and I have nothing better to do, I put together another video. This one highlights the top players on offense and defense, Braylon Edwards and Charles Woodson:

Sweet. After the jump, I’ll list my honorable mentions, and post the Top 15 lists of The Wolverine writers Michael Spath and Matt Pargoff.

Continue reading Top 15 of the Last 15: Recap and Honorable Mentions

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Quarterback
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Wide Receivers
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Safeties
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Defense

The countdown ends with two all-time greats, one who fittingly wore the #1 jersey and one who was the first primarily-defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. Admittedly, there was little suspense as to who these two players were when I started the countdown, but I’ll be damned if that will keep me from writing about them.

Offense: Braylon Edwards, WR, 2001-2004

Other than the blindingly obvious choice for top defensive player, this was by far the easiest pick I made in this entire list. Braylon was a big play waiting to happen, a mind-blowing touchdown waiting in the wings, an “Oh %#!@” moment anticipating the most dramatic time to come forth and raise you out of your seat. Regardless of where I was, as soon as the ball left John Navarre or Chad Henne’s hand and took off on a parabolic arc towards Edwards, I would stand, ready for another SportsCenter moment. Usually, Braylon would come through.

“Our offense is based on getting the ball to our playmakers,” says coach Lloyd Carr, “and that means getting the ball to Braylon.”

The numbers are incredible: Michigan’s all-time leader in receptions (252, Marquise Walker is second with 176), receiving yards (3,541, almost 500 yards ahead of Anthony Carter), and touchdowns (39). He had 38 consecutive games with a reception, and had two different streaks of four games with over 100 yards receiving. He’s the only player in Big Ten history (and the third in Division I) to have three seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving.

“Real n*ggaz do real things,” [Edwards] says. “What I do matters, not what I say. I began coming to every meeting early, every workout early, every practice. Nobody practiced harder. Real things.”

Braylon made John Navarre look like a decent quarterback, freshman Chad Henne look like senior Chad Henne, and collegiate defensive backs look like small, pathetic children. Just throw the ball to Braylon. He’ll come down with it. When a player makes a spectacular catch over a defender, my friends and I say he “Brayloned” somebody. When it comes to Michigan football, all receivers are judged relative to Braylon. I don’t know what other praise to heap on to the man: it has all been said.

I would be remiss to not post highlights from the 2004 Michigan State game, The Braylon Game, when Edwards almost single-handedly lifted Michigan over the Spartans. I would also be remiss to not post highlights from the rest of his career. Cue WolverineHistorian, and be sure to watch this one till the end:

“Braylon became a leader,” [Carr] says. “I have never questioned his character, only his maturity. He did some growing up. I’ve said he’s become the best player in the country. Now all he has to do is prove me right.”

There’s no questioning Braylon’s talent, character, or maturity anymore. That magical 2004 season answered all questions about talent. As for his character and maturity, well, the Braylon Edwards Foundation endowed the Athletic Department a scholarship for the player who wears the #1 jersey, and Edwards has spent a ton of time and money giving back to the University and the Detroit community.

“The program will be here long after I’m gone,” Edwards says. “It’s bigger than me or any other player. You can’t fight it.”

The program will always remember Braylon Edwards, both for his contributions on the field and his generosity off of it.

Quotes taken from “The Real Thing” by Karl Taro Greenfield from Sports Illustrated’s Oct. 25, 2004 issue.

Defense: Charles Woodson, CB, 1995-1997

Charles Woodson probably could have made this list as a wideout if he so desired, or possibly even running back, the position he played in high school. Luckily for Michigan fans, he decided to play cornerback, and he decided he was going to be the best cornerback in school, if not collegiate, history.

Woodson does not hold a single season or career record at Michigan. Not one. His 18 career interceptions fall short of Tom Curtis’ 25. His 30 career pass breakups don’t come close to Leon Hall’s 43. Curtis’ 10 interceptions in 1968 bests Woodson’s 1997 mark by two. Leon Hall and Marlin Jackson both recorded three more pass breakups in a season than the 15 Woodson had his sophomore year. However, there is no doubt who is the best defensive player in school history.

All-Big Ten as a freshman, with two of his five interceptions against Ohio State in the season’s biggest game. All-American as a sophomore, with five more picks as well as a newfound penchant for offense (13 catches, 164 yards, one receiving touchdown; 6 carries, 152 yards, one rushing touchdown). Then, of course, came his junior season: unanimous, consensus All-American, Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Heisman Trophy, National Championship.

Just in case you want to see that Michigan State pick one more time:

“…he has no idea that Charles Woodson can jump 15 feet in the air…”

Woodson reached mythical status that season, and it honestly wouldn’t have shocked me to see him jump 15 feet in the air, or intercept a pass thrown 70 yards away from him, or break the sound barrier while jogging. He was Superman in cleats, and he could do no wrong on the football field. The final image of his career, that majestic, leaping interception of Ryan Leaf’s pass in the end zone in the 1998 Rose Bowl, is perfect:

Everyone — Michigan players, Washington State players, referees, coaches, fans — stand and watch in awe of Woodson as he seemingly levitates to make a picture-perfect interception and the biggest possible moment.

Braylon Edwards and Charles Woodson share the same characteristic: their careers could easily, and appropriately, be described as awe-inspiring, and even at the age of 21 I wonder whether or not I will see another Wolverine of their talent at their positions in my lifetime. There was never a question of which two players would take the one-spot on this list. These are once-in-a-generation players. I’m just glad I was part of that generation.

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Edwards and Woodson moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) until I’m done with the list. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: next I post the honorable mentions and other people’s lists.

Link to all Top 15 of the Last 15 posts

The list:

Offense:
15. Marquise Walker
14. Chris Perry
13. Chad Henne
12. Jerame Tuman
11. Brian Griese
10. Anthony Thomas
9. Tom Brady
8. Mario Manningham
7. Steve Hutchinson
6. Jake Long
5. Mike Hart
4. David Terrell
3. Tyrone Wheatley
2. Tshimanga Biakabutuka
1. Braylon Edwards

Defense:
15. William Carr
14. Leon Hall
13. Ian Gold
12. James Hall
11. Rob Renes
10. Alan Branch
9. Marcus Ray
8. Dhani Jones
7. Jarrett Irons
6. Marlin Jackson
5. Glen Steele
4. David Harris
3. LaMarr Woodley
2. Ty Law
1. Charles Woodson

Special Teams:
5. Zoltan Mesko
4. Marquise Walker
3. Garrett Rivas
2. Steve Breaston
1. Remy Hamilton

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Quarterback
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Wide Receivers
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Defense

For the next indeterminate amount of time, I will be counting down my top 15 offensive and defensive players from the last 15 years. Today, I unveil my picks at #2 for each side of the ball:

As the countdown nears its conclusion, we reach the point where you can probably deduce the top athletes on each side of the ball. However, this is about the runner-ups, who were both great players in their own right (obviously). Without further ado, let me introduce the rest of my crew.

Offense: Tshimanga Biakabutuka, RB, 1993-1995

Despite spending 2/3 of his career as a backup to Tyrone Wheatley, I can’t do anything but put “Touchdown Tim” ahead of the man who kept him from the starting role for his freshman and sophomore campaigns. Why? Well, for one, if there was a single Michigan jersey I’d like to own, it’d be a #21 home blue with “Biakabutuka” on the back. Second, and much more importantly (unless you really care about my jersey preferences), he had the greatest season of any running back in school history as a junior, as well as arguably the best single-game performance of any player in the last 15 years.

Even as a freshman, Biakabutuka showed flashes of what was to come despite being the low man in a crowded backfield behind Wheatley, Ricky Powers, Ed Davis and Walter Smith. In the ninth game of the season, against Purdue, he exploded for 140 yards and two touchdowns after amassing all of five career yards in two previous appearances. As a sophomore, despite playing behind a bonafide Heisman candidate, Biakabutuka forced Gary Moeller to give him carries. Tim would finish the 1994 season with 793 yards and seven touchdowns on 126 carries, and had four 100-yard games despite going over 20 carries in a game only once on the year.

All that set the table for his junior season. After getting only seven carries in the opener against Virginia when Michigan had to claw its way back from a 17-0 deficit, Biakabutuka went nuts. His final 1995 numbers: 303 carries, 1818 yards, 6.0 yards per carry, 12 touchdowns, eight 100-yard games, four 190-yard games (yes, 190-yard), two-200 yard games. Oh, and a 313-yard game:

The fact that Biakabutuka’s performance came against Ohio State, a perfect 11-0 and ranked #2 coming into the Big House, boasting the nation’s top player in running back Eddie George (the eventual Heisman winner), vaults the game into the forefront of every Wolverine fan’s consciousness when they think of the best games by a Michigan player. I don’t want to discredit the rest of his tremendous career by saying that one game pushed him past all the other great Wolverine backs of the past 15 years, but it’s also tough to say it didn’t. Regardless, I will argue that Touchdown Tim is the best running back of the past 15 years at Michigan, and for that, he gets the #2 spot on this list.

Defense: Ty Law, CB, 1992-1994

Before that Woodson guy rolled through, Ty Law was the best corner to ever play at Michigan, and it’s a bit unfortunate for his legacy that his career was immediately followed by the eventual Heisman-winner. Talk about stealing a guy’s thunder (not that I’m complaining one bit, Charles). Like Woodson, Law was also a three-year starter at corner, a multiple-time All-Big Ten selection, an All-American, and an early-entry into the NFL Draft.

Law was a tremendous physical corner, using his 6-0, 201 pound frame to bully wideouts off their routes and gain position to knock down or intercept the ball. The numbers are good (19 career pass breakups, eight career interceptions), but you really had to watch #22 to appreciate his full impact. Like Woodson and Marlin Jackson after him, opposing quarterbacks chose to throw anywhere but at Law, so he earned every one of those stats. He also was great in run support, finishing with 164 career tackles despite not giving up completions to his man.

Ty Law was the complete package at corner, a big guy who could run with the fast wideouts and play physical with the big ones, adept at pass coverage and run support. Fittingly, he slots in at #2 on this list, one spot behind the corner who supplanted him (what, you really expected me to hold up the suspense on that one?).

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Biakabutuka and Law moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) until I’m done with the list. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: next I post the #1 players for offense and defense.

Link to all Top 15 of the Last 15 posts

The list so far:

Offense:
15. Marquise Walker
14. Chris Perry
13. Chad Henne
12. Jerame Tuman
11. Brian Griese
10. Anthony Thomas
9. Tom Brady
8. Mario Manningham
7. Steve Hutchinson
6. Jake Long
5. Mike Hart
4. David Terrell
3. Tyrone Wheatley
2. Tshimanga Biakabutuka

Defense:
15. William Carr
14. Leon Hall
13. Ian Gold
12. James Hall
11. Rob Renes
10. Alan Branch
9. Marcus Ray
8. Dhani Jones
7. Jarrett Irons
6. Marlin Jackson
5. Glen Steele
4. David Harris
3. LaMarr Woodley
2. Ty Law

Special Teams:
5. Zoltan Mesko
4. Marquise Walker
3. Garrett Rivas
2. Steve Breaston
1. Remy Hamilton

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks
• Victors Rally Video: Gary Moeller and Jerry Hanlon
• Charles Woodson, NFL DPOY, Representing
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Defense

For the next indeterminate amount of time, I will be counting down my top 15 offensive and defensive players from the last 15 years. Today, I unveil my picks at #8 for each side of the ball:

A couple of personal favorites today as we hurtle towards the top five. Fasten your seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen.

Offense: Jake Long, OT, 2004-2007

Jake Long. Freshman All-American. Three-time All-Big Ten selection. Two-time consensus All-American. Two-time Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. Outland Trophy finalist. Lombardi Award finalist. Two-time team captain. No. 1 overall draft pick. The reason we ran stretch left so damn much. Owner of the most intimidating tribal tattoo in the Big Ten. All these accolades amassed despite missing most of his sophomore season.

To watch Jake Long play tackle was to witness dominance at its purest form. He started 40 career games (including 30 straight to end his career) and gave up two (two!) sacks, one of which was to Vernon Gholston, a future top-five pick (and I have a few questions about his, shall we say, chemical integrity). He didn’t commit a penalty during his senior season. I’ve never heard Lloyd Carr be this effusive about a player:

“I had one of the most respected coaches in the NFL say to me at Michigan’s (March 14) pro day, ‘In my experience, there aren’t many can’t-miss guys. Jake Long is a can’t-miss guy,’ ” former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr says, without identifying the coach. “I coached 30 years in the Big Ten Conference. What I would say about Jake Long is, there’s always a lot of discussion about, ‘Who is the greatest football player you ever saw at Michigan?’ “Jake Long belongs in that discussion.”

“Jake Long belongs in that discussion.”

Why is that?

“There’s nothing that he lacks,” Carr says. “He’s a great competitor, a great leader, and has great unselfishness. He is tough, extremely smart and has great, great pride. He wants to win every down.”

I started going to Michigan in the fall of 2006, and I’ve seen a lot of football players walking around campus. No player commanded the wide berth that Jake Long did. He is a strikingly imposing person, 6-7, 315, that tattoo wrapping around an arm that is easily twice as wide as my leg. If he was standing in my room as I wrote this right now, he would shoot up to No. 1 on this list. Just ask former Florida DE Derrick Harvey (the No. 8 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft) what it’s like to be in close quarters with Long:

That didn’t look very fun. I’m pretty sure nobody enjoyed facing Jake Long during his illustrous four-year career at Michigan. He edges out Steve Hutchinson on my list because he plays a more important position and was not surrounded by the offensive line talent Hutch was. No. 6, unless he shows up at my house.

Defense: Marlin Jackson, CB/S, 2001-2004

Other than the immortal Charles Woodson, I’ve never seen a better lockdown corner don the Maize and Blue than Marlin Jackson. If not for one wasted season at safety as a junior, he’d probably be higher on this list. With 34 career pass breakups, he sits third all-time in Michigan’s record book, and when you factor in how little teams threw at him, that figure (along with his nine career interceptions) is remarkable. According to Jackson’s All-American page on Michigan’s football history website, opposing teams threw away from him almost 87 percent of the time as a senior. Receivers just did not get open when he covered them. He was an All-American as both a sophomore and a senior, and in all likelihood would have been a three-time All-American if not for the ill-fated safety experiment.

Jackson’s finest moment, in my mind, came when he was only a sophomore, playing in the opener against ninth-ranked Washington. The Huskies featured quarterback Cody Pickett and wideout Reggie Williams, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. That game will forever be remembered for the Phillip Brabbs Redemption Kick, but Marlin turned in a career performance. Yes, Williams finished with six catches for 72 yards. However, not one of those catches went for a touchdown, and Jackson broke up a Wolverine single-game record six passes. Teams quickly learned that it wasn’t worth it to try to throw his way, regardless of how good the receiver was.

If that wasn’t his best game, than the 2004 Purdue game certainly is in the discussion. Purdue came into the game with a potent aerial attack, highlighted by receiver Taylor Stubblefield, who would eventually break the NCAA career receptions record. Marlin shadowed him all game, giving up only one reception for ten yards. Again, his effort was overshadowed by another huge play late in the game, this time Ernest Shazor’s hit on Dorien Bryant that forced a fumble and sealed the game for Michigan.

Jackson was so good you often didn’t notice him, which places him in the category just behind the likes of Woodson (so good you notice him even though the other team avoids him like the plague). For that, he earns the No. 6 spot on this list.

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Long and Jackson moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) until I’m done with the list. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: next I post the #5 players for offense and defense.

Link to all Top 15 of the Last 15 posts

The list so far:

Offense:
15. Marquise Walker
14. Chris Perry
13. Chad Henne
12. Jerame Tuman
11. Brian Griese
10. Anthony Thomas
9. Tom Brady
8. Mario Manningham
7. Steve Hutchinson
6. Jake Long

Defense:
15. William Carr
14. Leon Hall
13. Ian Gold
12. James Hall
11. Rob Renes
10. Alan Branch
9. Marcus Ray
8. Dhani Jones
7. Jarrett Irons
6. Marlin Jackson

Special Teams:
5. Zoltan Mesko
4. Marquise Walker
3. Garrett Rivas
2. Steve Breaston
1. Remy Hamilton

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offensive Tackle
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Interior Linemen
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Defense

For the next indeterminate amount of time, I will be counting down my top 15 offensive and defensive players from the last 15 years. This afternoon, I unveil my picks at #9 for each side of the ball:

I’m writing this one from Gate A6 in the Charlotte Int’l Airport. If this post is short, my battery was in imminent danger of dying. I’ll type fast.

Offense: Tom Brady, QB, 1996-1999

Tom Brady. Tom Effing Brady. The man, the myth, the chin himself. It’s hard to write about this guy without drooling all over my keyboard. Of course, much of this is because of revisionist history — you see a lot more #10 jerseys at Michigan Stadium now than you ever did before 2002. Brady has truly blossomed as a pro quarterback, and while he was a very good college quarterback, he’s among the all-time greats in the NFL. Still, he was a very good college quarterback, and that’s what I’m here to talk about. As soon as I wipe the dribble from my chin…

Brady never had the world’s strongest arm, which was a major reason he slipped to the sixth round in the NFL Draft. However, the guy was as smart as they come, and had pinpoint accuracy. To me, his career-defining game came in his final appearance in a Michigan uniform. I guess the NFL scouts weren’t watching Michigan/Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl. The Wolverines had to overcome two 14-point deficits, and you don’t make up big deficits against good teams by running the ball up the gut. ‘Bama knew Brady was passing, and it didn’t matter. His final stat line reads as such: 34-46, 369 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions. The 34 completions were a school single-game record, the yardage stands fourth all-time, and the four touchdowns tied the Michigan record. Final score: Michigan 35-Alabama 34. Once again, WolverineHistorian with the visual evidence:

Holy Moley. I counted three different tight ends alone that he found with pinpoint passes (Shea, Thompson, Joppru). David Terrell may have had a ridiculous game, but Brady had to find him first. He wasn’t forcing those passes. Brady knew his physical limitations and got the most out of what he had. You can’t ask for much more from a quarterback.

I won’t get into the Drew Henson stuff, except to say this. For all the hype, Drew Henson doesn’t appear on this list. Tom Brady is #9. I’m done here.

Defense: Marcus Ray, S, 1995-1998

Marcus Ray gets on this list for having two of the best seasons by a Wolverine safety, ever. In 1996, starting at strong safety as a true sophomore, Ray finished second on the team with 100 tackles, broke up seven passes and intercepted three passes. That season alone would merit consideration for inclusion on this list. Raise your hand if you expect any Michigan safety to record 100 tackles this season, and actually play a little pass defense as well. Good.

Ray was overshadowed on the 1997 defense, to say the least. Somebody named Woodson commanded a fair amount of attention in the defensive backfield. Mr. Heisman’s presence in the backfield probably caused Ray to be overlooked by opposing defenses, but his numbers certainly demand attention: 71 tackles, four pass breakups, five interceptions. Oh, and this hit:

BOOM! Gets me every time.

Ray’s senior season was derailed by a five-game suspension for improper contact with an agent that cost him his captaincy and starting job, but for me, his work was already done. Great safeties are few and far between at Michigan (as if you needed reminding), and Ray holds a special place in my Michigan memory bank for his career here. #29 gets the #9 spot for me.

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Brady and Ray moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) until I’m done with the list. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: next I post the #8 players for offense and defense.

Link to all Top 15 of the Last 15 posts

The list so far:

Offense:
15. Marquise Walker
14. Chris Perry
13. Chad Henne
12. Jerame Tuman
11. Brian Griese
10. Anthony Thomas
9. Tom Brady

Defense:
15. William Carr
14. Leon Hall
13. Ian Gold
12. James Hall
11. Rob Renes
10. Alan Branch
9. Marcus Ray

Special Teams:
5. Zoltan Mesko
4. Marquise Walker
3. Garrett Rivas
2. Steve Breaston
1. Remy Hamilton

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Quarterback
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Wide Receivers
• Charles Woodson, NFL DPOY, Representing
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense

Damn real life interfering with my sporting whimsy. Back to the countdown, with the #14 defensive player from 1994-2008:

Defense: Leon Hall, CB, 2003-2006

Leon Hall continued the tradition of top-flight cornerbacks at Michigan (from Ty Law to Charles Woodson to Marlin Jackson) that has marked some of the strongest Wolverine defenses of the last decade-and-a-half. Hall made an impact from the moment he stepped on campus, playing 11 games at nickelback and recording three interceptions as a freshman in 2003. He continued to emerge as a sophomore, earning eight starts opposite of Jackson, intercepting two passes and breaking up eight more on the year. Also, he seemed to compress slightly between his freshman and sophomore seasons:

Hall really emerged as an outstanding lock-down corner after the departure of Jackson following the 2004 season. He recorded a career-high four picks (including a critical fourth-quarter interception of Penn State’s Michael Robinson, pictured above) and broke up five passes while routinely locking down the opposition’s top wideout. Hall also set a Michigan school record with an 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Northwestern.

Hall turned in a tremendous senior season in 2006, anchoring a defense that led the Wolverines’ surge to an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl berth. He notched four interceptions while tying Jackson’s school record with 15 pass breakups, and was a consensus All-American and All-Big Ten. For his efforts, Hall was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) and Bronko Nagurski Award (best defensive player). His 2006 campaign moved him towards the top of Michigan’s career record book for interceptions (12 — fourth) and pass breakups (21 — second only to the immortal Todd Howard).

Often, the mark of a great cornerback is his ability to go entirely unnoticed during a game until he makes a game-changing play. Hall wasn’t constantly talked about like Woodson or Jackson, and he might be underrated as a result — his numbers as a corner stack up favorably against anyone in Michigan history. I’m not saying he’s Woodson (that would be blasphemous) but he is certainly one of the best defensive players to touch the M Go Blue banner in the last fifteen years.

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Perry and Hall moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) for the next three weeks. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: tomorrow I post the #13 players for offense and defense.

Previously:
Michigan’s Top 15 of the Last 15
Top 15 of the Last 15: Special Teams
Top 15 of the Last 15: #15 (Marquise Walker and William Carr)
Top 15 of the Last 15: #14 (Chris Perry)

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks
• Charles Woodson, NFL DPOY, Representing
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Defense