With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. First up is the quarterbacks:

Michigan’s quarterbacks of the last decade have rewritten the school’s record books, although the fan reception of the team’s signal-callers have varied wildly. Drew Henson was the local high school hero with Heisman aspirations before signing with the Yankees and leaving Ann Arbor prior to his senior season. John Navarre was thrown into the fire with Henson’s departure, and, despite being the most prolific passer in Michigan history to date, was the object of much criticism during his three years as the full-time starter. Chad Henne was the freshman sensation, a five-star prototype who took the reigns from Navarre and wiped his name from atop the record books in a sensational four-year term as the man under center for the Wolverines. Who deserves to be the quarterback of the decade? Let’s take a closer look:

Drew Henson (1998-2000): Henson had by far the shortest career of any of the nominees, but may have also reached the highest heights. After mostly waiting in the wings as a freshman, and splitting time with Tom Brady as a sophomore, Henson took over as the full-time starter in 2000. After missing the first three games with a foot injury, Henson came out and had one of the most lethally efficient season in school history. He completed 146 of 237 passes (61.6%) for 2146 and 18 touchdowns to only four interceptions, posting a passer efficiency rating of 159.4, fifth-best in team history. He led Michigan to a 7-2 record in the games he started, and the two losses (to Northwestern and Purdue, of all teams) came by a combined four points.

John Navarre (2000-2003): The much-maligned Navarre took over as a sophomore when Henson chose baseball, and proceeded to post numbers never before seen from a Michigan quarterback. He ended his career first on the school’s career leader list in attempts, completions, yards, touchdown passes, and both 150- and 200-yard passing games (the latter a mark he still holds). In his senior season, he led Michigan to a 10-3 record and became the only Wolverine to ever break the 3000-yard passing mark, throwing for 3331 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Chad Henne (2004-2007): The first true freshman to start for Michigan since the legendary Rick Leach, Henne made quick work of the lion’s share of Navarre’s school records. He was named to the freshman All-American team after throwing for 2743 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first collegiate season, leading the team to a conference title and Rose Bowl bid. Although he was criticized as a sophomore after a 3-3 start (it’s not really Henne’s fault that he no longer had Braylon Edwards to throw to), he still put up impressive numbers, throwing for 2526 yards and 23 touchdowns. His finest season came as a junior, when Henne completed 61.9% of his passes, threw for 2508 yards and 22 touchdowns (to only eight interceptions), and posted an efficiency rating of 143.4. Henne struggled with injuries as a senior in 2007, but still finished his career as Michigan’s all-time leader in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and 150-yard passing games.

Career Stats:

	Completions-Attempts (Comp. %)	Passing Yards	Yards/Attempt	Touchdowns	Interceptions	Passer Efficiency
Drew Henson (1998-2000)	214-374 (57.2%)	2926	7.82	24	7	140.82
John Navarre (2000-2003)	765-1366 (56.0%)	9254	6.77	77	31	126.97
Chad Henne (2004-2007)	828-1387 (59.7%)	9715	7.00	87	37	133.90

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Running Backs
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Wide Receivers
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Tight Ends & Fullbacks
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense

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