Bowman's Football Planet: TOP FIVE CB'S IN THE BIG TEN

Bowman's Football Planet: TOP FIVE CB'S IN THE BIG TEN: Quite a few top cover guys went pro but a few are back. Here is my list of top CB's for the upcoming season in from 5 to 1. 5. ...

TOP FIVE CB'S IN THE BIG TEN

Quite a few top cover guys went pro but a few are back. Here is my list of top CB's for the upcoming season in from 5 to 1.

5. JT Floyd - 6'1" 185 LBS SR Michigan

Floyd was an honorable mention all Big-Ten player who is also a two yr starter coming into this season. Michigan returns 8 on defense and Floyd is one of four seniors coming back. Floyd tallied 48 tackles, 8 pass break ups, 2 int's and a forced fumble.

4. Josh Johnson - 5'11" 190 lbs Sr Purdue

Johnson, a Miami, Florida native, recieved no respect last year when it came to postseason awards. How? Look at these numbers, 63 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 9 PBU's, and 2 int's. Those are top notch stats for a CB. With another year like that, Johnson will surely get the respect he deserves this season.

3. Terry Hawthorne - 6'1" 190 lbs SR Illinois

Hawthorne was an instrumental part of a defense that was NO.1 against the pass last year. He is now the NO.1 guy and was an honorable mention all Big-Ten player last season. Hawthorne racked up 60 tackles, 5 TFL's, 1 FF, 1 QB hurry, 8 PBU's and 3 int's. Look for Hawthorne to be an all-big ten selection at years end.

2. Micah Hyde - 6'1" 185 lbs SR Iowa

Hyde seems as if he has been at Iowa forever. He is a two year starter going into the 2012 season and has an impressive stat line to go with it. He was an all conference selection last year. Hyde's numbers - 72 tackles 6 of those for loss. 1 FF, 8 PBU's, 3 int's.

1. Johnnie Adams - 5'11" 175 lbs SR Michigan State

1st team all conference as a junior and was the most impressive of all the corners in my opinion. He's all over the field and plays much bigger than his frame. Adams absolutely cranks out production, look at this stat line , 6 pbu's, 3 int's one of those returned for a TD. Michigan state had the NO.1 defense in the conference when it comes to total D, Adams also had 51 tackles and four of those for loss, 4 QB hurries, 3 sacks,. Adams returned his three int's for a total of 141 yds and his TD was an 86 yarder.

2012 BIG-TEN'S TOP FIVE RB's

With roughly three months until fall practice and four until the season opener, I wanted to start rating top players at each position. I researched last years stats, returning OL, and a few other resources that will be of importance to the success of these five RB's. Here is what I have came up with. 5. Lev'eon Bell 6'2" 237 LBS, JR Michigan State

Columbus, Ohio's own Lev'eon Bell just keeps getting bigger and better every year. Rumored to be upwards of 240 LBS, Bell combines power, strength and at times, finesse to his arsenal of skills. Bell seemed to take over the starting spot last season and is one of the reasons why Edwin Baker took off to the NFL. This year he will be the "man" and shouldn't have to split as many carries with Larry Caper as he did Baker. Bell rushed for 948 yds on 182 carries last season, averaging a 5.2 yds a carry. That comes out to just over 15 carries a game and roughly 67 yds a game with 13 TD's.. With four returning starters back on the OL, a new QB and depth issues at WR, look for Bell to pick up his carries this season. He shouldn't have a problem breaking 1,000 yds, Bell can catch the ball out of the backfield as well. 4. Silas Redd 5'10" 209 LBS, JR Penn State

Redd was quietly the third leading rusher in the conference last year. Another Jr. RB who had an impressive sophomore season. He has the numbers to prove it, 244 carries 1,241 yds, 5.1 avg and 7 TD's. Some may have Redd rated a little higher than me going into the up coming season but let me tell you why I have him at four. Penn State lost four OL, and everyone knows if there are OL issues there is probably low RB production, especially in the Big-Ten. He averaged 20 carries a game last year and should stay around the same this upcoming season. 3. Fitz Toussaint 5'10" 200 LBS, JR Michigan

When it comes to quickness, vision, and agility, Toussaint is the best the conference has to offer. Taking over the top RB spot about 1/4 way through the season, Toussaint didn't dissapoint. Averaging 5.6 yds a carry on 187 attempts, the JR. from Northern Ohio tallied up 1,041 yds. He averaged just a little over 15 carries a game last season, look for him to add more carries and yards. Michigan returns three OL one of them is the Big-Ten's best in LT Taylor Lewan. This may may be the year a RB rushes for more yards than QB Denard Robinson. 2. Rex Burkhead 5'11" 210 LBS, SR Nebraska

Burkhead is your prototypical blue collar RB, some may call him a throwback, whatever that means. Burkhead carried 283 times last season, a little over 23 a game. He only averaged 4.8 a carry, Burkhead isn't a great athlete possessing speed and quickness but a bruiser that wears defenses down. He started to wear down at the end of the year and that causes Nebraska problems because the offense runs through him. He 1,357 yds and 15 TD's last year and he probably won't match those numbers again. Never the less, He is their work horse and still will run for well over 1,000 yds and 10 td's. 1. Montee Ball 5'11" 210 LBS, SR Wisconsin

This is a no brainer, right? I mean he carried the ball over 300 times last season and averaged 6.3 a carry. Does Ball only weigh 210 LBS? He run as if he is 250 LBS, scoring 33 rushing TD's and 1,923 YDS, Ball is a one man wrecking crew. Wisconsin is losing the right side of the line including the center but OL in Wisconsin are all big and just waiting their turn. Ball won't match those ridiculous numbers but he will easily hit 1,500 -1,600 yds and 20-25 TD's.

Bowman's Football Planet: 2013 RECRUITING! WHAT ELSE?

Bowman's Football Planet: 2013 RECRUITING! WHAT ELSE?: It seems there is this argument between ohio and Michigan fans about commitments. When Michigan receives a commitment, ohio fans say "ohio ...

2013 RECRUITING! WHAT ELSE?

It seems there is this argument between ohio and Michigan fans about commitments. When Michigan receives a commitment, ohio fans say "ohio didn't want him anyways" or "urban didn't even offer him", and vice versa. Sometimes this is the truth but the reality is that both coaching staffs have different ideas on who they want. I'm sure coaches study film and evaluate recruits before making the initial offers. TE and WR coaches probably have a huge input on if a head coach offers a player for that position, the position coach probably pulls the trigger. It all comes down to team needs and who they want.

For instance:

Michigan Commitments ohio offer

TE Jake Butt NO
RB Deveon Smith yes
OL Michigan has 5 3 yes 2 no

ohio commitments Michigan offer

TE Marcus Baugh NO
DE Tracy Sprinkle NO
RB Jalin Marshall Yes
CB Cam Burrows yes

This is just to show that both teams have offered the other teams commitments. TE Jake Butt is a higher ranked TE than Baugh and he's from Columbus. Why no offer? It's simple, they didn't want him, they are looking for an aaron Hernandez type of player, not a prototypical pro-style TE. Michigan didn't want Sprinkle because they don't like him, on the other hand, everyone likes Jalin Marshall. Marshall went to ohio because he is great in space and it's a better fit. All five OL that committed to Michigan are All - Americans and not one of them are lower than a 4 star recruit, two of them are five stars. They went to Michigan because they are back to a pro-style offense and are bringing in a 5 star, pro-style QB in Shane Morris in 2013.

There is also a small delusional group of Michigan fans that think that Urban Meyer is struggling in recruiting. Hate to break it to em but it's not happening or is going to happen. He's getting the players that fits his scheme. Coaches are looking for athletes, plain and simple. When I watch Michigan and ohio recruits on film there is some differences, not all of them but there is some. A majority of Michigan commitments look to be "football players", let me explain. They are all "football players" but Michigan favors the stronger, hard nosed, in the trenches type of players, Gedeon, Deveon Smith, Kugler. Ohio offered those kids but they are better fits at Michigan. Ohio commitments are "athletes", speed, agility, in space type of players. Jalin Marshall is a QB that is out of position but is rated as a RB. Why? He is a nightmare in space and can lineup in the backfield, slot, or a wildcat type of QB. Michigan offered him but he is a better fit at ohio.


With all that said, ohio has picked up three commitments lately. Let's take a look.

Tracy Sprinkle - DL 6'5" 260 lbs, Elyria, Ohio

http://youtu.be/HkCOI6kuE4A

A little surprised Meyer offered this kid considering he doesn't look like an athletic kid. I'm sure he will move inside in a couple years, his pass rushing skills are not great but he's big and strong. He's a bit slow coming off the edge and his hands are mediocre at best. He does a great job at getting at the QB once he penetrates the OL.


Alex Anzalone - LB 6'3" 225 lbs, Wyomissing, PA


http://youtu.be/MXwmKTDk9ec

Just the fact that Anzalone is playing strong SS at 6'3" 225 lbs shows you what type of athlete he is. Supposively Anzalone is a LB now and he can run to say the least, very athletic. He has great sideline to sideline speed and is ver good in coverage. He gets beat on a couple plays here and uses his speed to get back and break up the play. My opinion is he could play a couple different positions, maybe SS, probably SLB with his ability to cover TE's and backs.


JT Barrett QB, 6'2" 200 lbs, Texas

http://youtu.be/SF5jY8SgETk

Actually reminds me of B. Miller already, Same size, mechanics, elusive. He has a adequate arm strength and is extrememly acurate. I seen a service last week that had his cmp % around 65-70%. Escapes the pocket/trouble while keeping his eyes downfield and can extend the play. When he decides to tuck and run he is extremely dangerous and runs the QB draw to perfection. This is a perfect fit to meyers offense. He still has a year of high school and won't get to campus until Miller's JR season anyways, plenty of time to be groomed.

Bowman's Football Planet: IMMEDIATE IMPACT!

Bowman's Football Planet: IMMEDIATE IMPACT!: WELL, spring practice is over and if your anything like me then your wondering how the hell Michigan will approach the Alabama matchup Sept....

IMMEDIATE IMPACT!

WELL, spring practice is over and if your anything like me then your wondering how the hell Michigan will approach the Alabama matchup Sept.1st. Are they capable of running the ball up the middle against Bama's massive and athletic defensive front? Will Robinson have time to throw, if so will Michigan's WR's be able to get separation? Will he be able to run on their stellar defense like he has ran on Big -Ten defenses in the past? Is the defense up to the challenge? How will their smaller DL fare against arguably the top OL in the country? More importantly, how will Campbell do facing off against All - American Barret Jones, who, from what I hear has moved to the center position? Jones is good enough to deal with Campbell without a double team, if Campbell doesn't demand a double team, look for the LBs to be very busy.


Sorry, I drifted off the topic of "IMMEDIATE IMPACT". Just a bit worried about the opener. With depth issues and some questions at certain positions, what recruits can make an immediate impact. Not just playing time in blowouts but legit impact players. Here is my opinion.

Offensively

Kyle Kalis - Kalis already has the NFL body, played against top competition and absolutely wants blood on the field. He is good enough to push Mealer and Burzynski out of the LG position immediately.

Devin Funchess - 6'4" 205lbs. Not a prototypical TE and that's why I think he will be productive immediately. AJ Williams is the other TE coming in this fall and he is a devestating blocker. Hemingway was the downfield threat last season especially in jump ball situations. I believe funchess can be that guy this year. He has great hands, jumping ability and consistently beats double teams. He can line up wide if necessary or even in the slot. He is an absolute mismatch for lbs and safeties even at the college level.





DEFENSIVELY

Ondre Pipkins - With nobody dominating the NT position and Campbell still being a question mark, Pipkins Will be pushed in immediately. If he is productive from the start, look for him to be the main man in the middle. Pipkins demanded and destroyed double teams in high school. He will be tested immediately at Michigan, he should play against Bama Sept1st.


Jarrod Wilson - Wilson had a good spring and covers a lot of field. He had a ton of int's in high school and does damage with the ball in his hands. He should see a considerable amount of time this Season and I wouldn't be surprised if he is one of the int leaders as well.


Joe Bolden - another player with a good spring and all the skills and intangibles to go with it. Bolden is a natural and should share time early, he can play any lb position. As the year goes on he will play better and be a positive part of the defense by years end.




Sleeper? - good question. I would say look at positions that need depth, DL. Look for either Willie Henry, Matt Godin or Tom Strobel to get some time but nothing relevant. I'm not big on Wormley yet, he needs work. Ojemudia is as polished and skilled in the class but will be buried behind Beyer and Clark.