Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Jeff Backus

Tag: Jake Long

30Dec 2011
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Jeff Backus

Jeff Backus [illegally] kicks some Jared Allen ass
Left tackle Jeff Backus has started every Detroit Lions’ game since the team drafted him with the 18th overall pick in 2001. That’s eleven straight years and 175 consecutive games without missing a start, good for the longest streak in franchise history. All has not been sunny for Backus, however, as the Lions have been the laughing stock of the NFL over that time, with fans repeatedly calling for him to be replaced. I’m uncertain as to why Backus developed into everyone’s favorite scapegoat for the Lions’ woes, but it’s nice to see this former Michigan athlete finally get a reprieve from ugly losses and fan criticisms.
Against the Chargers on Christmas Eve, the Lions clinched their first playoff birth since 1999 and Backus played well: he didn’t give up a single sack and paved the way for two third down conversions on third and short. “Detroit Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus dominant against the San Diego Chargers,” read an Mlive headline after the game while Pro Football Focus wrote,”Jeff Backus has really put together some nice performances as of late. In the last five games, he has graded out as an 8.7 while only allowing one quarterback sack and one quarterback hit.” After a challenging eleven year start to his NFL career, hopefully this is the sign of better things to come for Backus and his Lions.
Honorable Mention: Brady again threw for 300 + yards last week as he lead the Patriots to their 12th victory of the season by overcoming a 17 point first half deficit to defeat the Dolphins, 27-24. Although on pace for much of the year, Tom Brady won’t beak Dan Marino’s 1984 single-season passing record of 5,084 yards because Drew Brees beat him to it, breaking the record on Monday Night Football. But with only 190 yards separating Brady and Brees, it’s still possible for Brady to end this season with the record. Saints coach Sean Payton has a history of resting his starters in the second half of the final regular season game and may do so again with the Division already sewn up and nothing to gain if the 49ers take care of the lowly Rams as is expected.
Miscellaneous: Braylon Edwards caught a nine yard pass on Sunday but was cut by the 49ers after the game. Morgan Trent, now with Jacksonville, recorded his second career interception last week to go along with four tackles. Jake Long returned from his biceps injury against the Patriots but left the game after re-aggravating it. Martell Webb was cut from Tampa Bay’s practice squad. Jake Long, Tom Brady and Charles Woodson were named starters for the 2012 Pro Bowl.
21Dec 2011
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Brandon Graham

“Great! Now that I’m hurt, I won’t have to wear green and white”
– Brandon Graham

After recording only one tackle last Sunday, Brandon Graham is being selected as the Former Michigan Athlete of the Week for mostly symbolic reasons. Graham started six of the 13 games in which he played last season, recording 13 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. That was until week 14 against the Cowboys when Graham suffered a torn ACL and subsequently underwent microfracture surgery, which kept him on the Injured Reserve until late October of this year. Consistent with an injury of that severity, Graham’s transition back to playing at a high level has not been seamless. And Philadelphia fans don’t like that.

As the 13th overall selection in the 2010 draft, Graham admits that he has not yet lived up to expectations. But Eagles fans are not a patient bunch and are directing some heat towards Graham, “chasing him off of Twitter” and bemoaning that his draft spot wasn’t used to instead select Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who, to his credit, has performed very well. “That’s why it’s tough for me, because I gotta see stuff like that,” said Graham, “and I know I’m like, I could be that.’ I know what I can do. Just to see Pierre-Paul is balling, doing his thing, it’s tough on me…I don’t even worry about it because I’ve got three years and I’ve got a chance to prove myself and they know what I can do.” Graham continues to work hard and tweet. His Eagles hold a 6-8 record yet still have an outside chance of making the playoffs by winning the unimpressive NFC East.

Honorable Mention: Tom Brady threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions as the Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos and Tim “he just wins games” Tebow by a score of 41-23. Brady added a touchdown on the ground which was followed by an emphatic spike as New England improved to an 11-3 record. Brady has thrown for 4,593 yards this season and is on pace to break Dan Marion’s single-season passing record of 5,084 yards. That’s if Drew Brees, who’s thrown for 4,780 yards, doesn’t beat him to it. But Brees’ season total through the air may be adversely impacted by Coach Sean Payton, who unlike Belichick, has shown a tendency to rest his star players on the final week of the season if his team’s playoff seeding has already been determined. Go Brady.

Miscellaneous: Jake Long sat out against the Bills, which broke his 60 game start streak. Morgan Trent now plays for Jacksonville and saw action last week. Jay Feely hit a game winning field goal on Sunday against the Browns.

14Dec 2011
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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Tom Brady

“STOP HITTING ON GISELE!” – Tom Brady
Brady threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns with one interception as his Patriots defeated the Redskins, 34-27, on Sunday. After throwing the interception, Brady joined in a profanity-filled shouting match with offensive coordinator Bill O’ Brien (watch it here). Maybe the two were merely venting their frustrations with New England’s awful defense because the passing game appears to be the least of their worries. Brady has thrown for 4,273 yards through 13 games and is on pace to break Dan Marino’s 1984 single-season passing record of 5,084 yards if Drew Brees doesn’t beat him to it. This Sunday, Brady will go head-to-head with quarterback media darling Tim “he just wins games” Tebow.
Honorable Mention: Mario Manningham caught a 47-yard touchdown pass in the Giants 37-34 win over the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, but the reception was due to a blown coverage, and he later dropped what would have been the game-winning touchdown pass. So Honorable Mention goes to Charles Woodson this week, who recorded six tackles, two pass defenses and an interception, which puts him in a tie with Eric Weddle and Kyle Arrington for most INTs this season (7). His Super Bowl defending Packers remain undefeated (13-0) after a 46-13 rout of Woodson’s former team, the Oakland Raiders.
Miscellaneous: Jake Long left the Miami-Philadelphia game with a lower back injury in the first quarter. The Dolphins gave up a franchise-tying nine sacks in his absence, and Coach Tony Sparano was fired after the game. Long’s status for next week against the Bills is uncertain, which may end his 60 game start streak.
Martell Webb signed with the Tampa Bay practice squad late last week.
19Jul 2011
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2003 Offer Board

94 total offers

QUARTERBACK (6)
Clayton Richard – Lafayette, IN (Michigan)
Sam Keller – San Ramon, CA (Arizona State)
Marcus Stone – Harrisburg, PA (North Carolina State)
Brady Quinn – Dublin, OH (Notre Dame)
John David Booty – Shreveport, LA (USC)
Kevin McCabe – Wexford, PA (Virginia)

RUNNING BACK (12)
Anton Campbell – O’Fallon, MO (Michigan)
Jerome Jackson – Saginaw, MI (Michigan)
Ervin Battle-Baldwin – Richmond, VA
Carl Stewart – Maryville, TN (Auburn)
Lennox Whitworth – Milton, MA (Boston College)
Terry Arnold – Tallahassee, FL (Cincinnati)
Kregg Lumpkin – Stone Mountain, GA (Georgia)
Michael Bush – Louisville, KY (Louisville)
Barrington Edwards – Bowie, MD (LSU)
Lynell Hamilton – Stockton, CA (San Diego State)
Erik Hardeman – Pflugerville, TX (Texas)
LenDale White – Littleton, CO (USC)

WIDE RECEIVER (13)
Antowan Bell – Baltimore, MD
Genoa Dill – Compton, CA
Dorien Bryant – Swedesboro, NJ (Boston College)
John Logan – Lexington, KY (Kentucky)
Greg Bracey – Milwaukee, WI (Missouri)
Jesse Holley – Roselle, NJ (North Carolina)
Chris Hawkins – Henderson, NC (North Carolina State)
Tristen Ross – Shreveport, LA (Oklahoma)
Jayson Swain – Huntsville, AL (Tennessee)
Brandon Allen – Atlanta, GA (Troy)
Steve Smith – Woodland Hills, CA (USC)
Shannon Lane – Virginia Beach, VA (Virginia)
Charles Smith – San Diego, CA (Washington)

TIGHT END (7)
Will Paul – St. Louis, MO (Michigan)
Vernon Davis – Washington, DC (Maryland)
Greg Olsen – Wayne Hills, NJ (Miami)
Marcel Frost – Lyndhurst, OH (Ohio State)
Louis Irizarry – Youngstown, OH (Ohio State)
Chris Barrett – Tustin, CA (USC)
Danny Kaye – New Berlin, WI (Wisconsin)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE (4)
Adam Kraus – New Orleans, LA (Michigan)
Jake Long – Lapeer, MI (Michigan)
Mike Jones – Oak Lawn, IL (Iowa)
Ryan Harris – St. Paul, MN (Notre Dame)

OFFENSIVE GUARD (3)
Pat Sharrow – Monroe, MI (Michigan)
Jeff Zuttah – Princeton, NJ (Michigan)
Martin O’Donnell – Downers Grove, IL (Illinois)

CENTER (1)
John Sullivan – Greenwich, CT (Notre Dame)

DEFENSIVE END (9)
LaMarr Woodley – Saginaw, MI (Michigan)
Joe Cohen – Palm Bay, FL (Florida)
Tim Washington – Sugar Land, TX (LSU)
Victor Abiamiri – Baltimore, MD (Notre Dame)
Doug Van Dyke – Marshall, MI (Purdue)
Claude McBride – Camden, NJ (Tennessee)
Lawrence Jackson – Inglewood, CA (USC)
Allen Billyk – New Castle, PA (Virginia)
Jermaine Dias – Hackensack, NJ (Virginia)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE (7)
Luis Hernandez – Metarie, LA (Indiana)
Carnell Stewart – River Ridge, LA (LSU)
Conrad Bolston – Washington, DC (Maryland)
Isaiah Thomas – Winston-Salem, NC (North Carolina State)
Trevor Laws – Apple Valley, MN (Notre Dame)
David Patterson – Warrensville Heights, OH (Ohio State)
Lawrence Dampeer – Decatur, IL (Oklahoma)

LINEBACKER (13)
Prescott Burgess – Warren, OH (Michigan)
Shawn Crable – Massillon, OH (Michigan)
Jim Presley – Highland, MI (Michigan)
Anthony Rogers – Saginaw, MI (Central Michigan)
Ernie Sims – Tallahassee, FL (Florida State)
Kirston Pittman – Reserve, LA (LSU)
Wesley Jefferson – Brandywine, MD (Maryland)
Fred Sparkman – Columbia, TN (North Carolina)
Joe Brockington – Palmyra, PA (Notre Dame)
Victor DeGrate, Jr. – DeSoto, TX (Oklahoma State)
H.B. Blades – Plantation, FL (Pittsburgh)
Marcus Lawrence – El Dorado, KS (South Carolina)
Mike Brown – Palm Beach Gardens, FL (Virginia Tech)

CORNERBACK (9)
Leon Hall – Vista, CA (Michigan)
Antonio Cromartie – Tallahassee, FL (Florida State)
Paul Oliver – Kennesaw, GA (Georgia)
William Cooper – Flint, MI (Michigan State)
Jeramie Johnson – Atlanta, GA (Mississippi State)
Isaiah Gardner – Salem, VA (Notre Dame)
Freddie Parish – Long Beach, CA (Notre Dame)
Dareus Hiley – Cleveland, OH (Ohio State)
Donte Whitner – Cleveland, OH (Ohio State)

SAFETY (9)
Brandent Englemon – Covington, KY (Michigan)
Quinton McCoy – Waterford, MI (Michigan)
Ryan Mundy – Pittsburgh, PA (Michigan)
Ryan Patterson – Tucson, AZ (Arizona)
Avery Roberson – Atlanta, GA (Georgia Tech)
Alan Ball – Detroit, MI (Illinois)
Ashton Youboty – Klein, TX (Ohio State)
Bernard Pollard – Fort Wayne, IN (Purdue)
Robbie Catterton – Virginia Beach, VA (Virginia)

KICKER (1)
Garrett Rivas – Tampa, FL (Michigan)

27Nov 2010
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Ten Wolverines for Whom I’m Thankful

This post was supposed to go up yesterday, but I ran out of time due to holiday obligations.

These ten Wolverines are my favorite all-time Michigan players.  Some are great.  Some aren’t.  But for one reason or another, these guys have made it fun to be a Michigan fan.

1. Brandon Graham, 2006-2009.  Graham was a terror from the defensive end position.  In addition to his physical talents, he matured a great deal from his freshman year (in which he played defensive tackle because he really liked to eat).  Not only do I like Graham for the plays he did make (for example, blowing up MSU running back Glen Winston in 2009), but I like him for the plays he almost made, too (nearly chasing down Javon Ringer in 2008).  It all added up to a first round pick by the Eagles in 2010.

2. Charles Woodson, 1995-1997.  Everybody knows about Woodson.  He was an all-everything recruit and named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1995.  He was a First Team All-American in 1996 and the Defensive Player of the Year.  Then he topped it off in 1997 with the Jim Thorpe Award and the Heisman Trophy.  Every time Michigan needed a play, it seemed like Woodson was there to make it.  There’s just something about the way Woodson moves on the field that makes him fun to watch, even now as a 34-year-old Green Bay Packer.

3. Tshimanga Biakabutuka, 1993-1995.  It seems like a long time since Michigan has had a player like Biakabutuka – a guy who carries a large load and can make big plays in the meantime, not just wear down the defense.  Biakabutuka was a soccer player as a youngster and is a great example of what I call “soccer feet.”  Soccer players have a certain, recognizeable gait and way of moving around the football field, and #21 had some of the quickest feet I’ve seen from a big back.  He became a first round pick of the Carolina Panthers, but was hampered by injuries in the NFL.  His school record 1,818 yards in 1995 might be broken by Denard Robinson this season, but it’s pretty special when a running back averages 6.0 yards a carry . . . for his entire career.

4. Lloyd Carr, 1980-2007.  Carr has taken a lot of heat for what happened to the program after his coaching career ended.  I think that is somewhat overblown.  Regardless, Carr was a great coach when he was in Ann Arbor.  He always seemed to do the right thing, and he kept issues private that ought to be private.  It also helps that he won a national championship.  While I’ve always respected Bo Schembechler, Lloyd Carr will probably remain my favorite Michigan coach of all-time.

5. Jason Avant, 2003-2006.  Avant was the most reliable receiver I’ve seen at Michigan.  His teammate Braylon Edwards got the hype and the high draft pick, but Avant seemed to catch every single ball thrown to him.  He wasn’t very tall and didn’t have great speed, but he was always in the right place and made the play.  He ended his senior year with 82 catches for 1,007 yards and 8 touchdowns, earned honorable mention All-America status, and was named the MVP of the team.  He cashed in his intangibles when he was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.

6. Desmond Howard, 1988-1991.  Howard was larger than life when I was a kid.  Even though Michigan became a more pass-oriented team later in the ’90s and into the 2000s, Grbac-to-Howard was the most lethal passing combination I’ve seen at U of M.  The fact that he won the Heisman Trophy in 1991 is secondary, though.  My favorite fact about Desmond Howard is that after the Wolverines beat the Purdue Boilermakers in that 1991 season, I was one of the little kids who stuck his hand through the railing by the tunnel . . . and Howard gave me a high five on his way into the tunnel.

7. William Carr, 1993-1996.  Carr was Mike Martin before Mike Martin was Mike Martin.  Playing the nose tackle position back in the mid-’90s, Carr had 82 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks as a junior.  Those are ridiculous numbers for a nose tackle.  He was a fire hydrant in the middle of those stout Michigan defenses and was a first team All-American in ’96.  He was only a seventh round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, though, and never did much in the NFL.

8. Brandent Englemon, 2003-2007.  Englemon was the type of success story that I like to see at Michigan.  He was a solid player throughout his career, but never had any spectacular seasons.  He could have departed after the 2006 season with his degree, but he wanted to remain for a fifth year and contribute further.  The coaches were ready to let him go and use the scholarship on a younger player, but Englemon convinced them otherwise.  He responded by earning the starting job at free safety, tallying 86 tackles and 3 interceptions in his final season.

9. Jake Long, 2003-2007.  Long was perhaps Michigan’s best offensive lineman of all time.  He was the athletic, mauling lineman that should be the prototype for the position.  At 6’7″ and 313 lbs. with long arms and quick feet, Long could collapse one whole side of a defensive line or stay in front of some of college football’s best pass rushers.  I was thoroughly excited to see Michigan pull out the good old “tackle sreen left” play in the 2008 Capital One Bowl against the Florida Gators; unfortunately, quarterback Chad Henne overthrew Long.  I would have loved to see Long rumble down the field with the football.

10. Jordan Kovacs, 2009-present.  It might seem odd for me to pick Kovacs here, a player whose talent I’ve derided right here on this very blog.  He’s pretty small, he’s not very fast, etc.  All those things remain true.  Still, it’s somewhat remarkable that he stepped onto the field at Michigan and earned a starting job as a redshirt freshman in 2009.  He tallied 75 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception that season, earning second team All-America status.  Despite Michigan bringing in some talented secondary players around him, Kovacs continues to hold onto the starting job at strong safety.  I have to admire what he’s achieved.