Michigan’s Minor ready for major role

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Brandon Minor gets it.
    Joe Robbins/Getty Images   Michigan running back Brandon Minor hopes to become a more vocal leader for the Wolverines this season. And after a season where Michigan looked lost trying to execute the zone reads, misdirections and bubble screens in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense,…
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Recruiting needs: Michigan Wolverines

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

It doesn't take a recruiting guru to spot the biggest need for the Michigan Wolverines. Nothing against quarterbacks Steven Threet or Nick Sheridan, but neither man has the skill set to consistently operate Rich Rodriguez's spread offense.

Quarterback undoubtedly tops Rodriguez's wish list with his first full recruiting class, and the spotlight will immediately turn to Tate Forcier, one of seven players who enrolled early. Despite being a true freshman, Forcier likely will enter spring practice as the favorite to win the starting job.

Michigan's other major area of need is the defensive line after losing starters Terrance Taylor, Will Johnson and Tim Jamison. Star pass-rusher Brandon Graham will anchor the group in 2009, but there are opportunities for young players to step in right away. Defensive tackle signee William Campbell already is generating a lot of buzz, and Michigan certainly will add more depth up front.

With the team's new defensive coordinator likely using a three-man front, the Wolverines need some help in the back half of the defense, particularly the secondary. Gone are starters Morgan Trent and Brandon Harrison, and after finishing ninth in the Big Ten in pass defense, Michigan could use some new blood in coverage.

A surplus of running backs is never bad for Rodriguez's offense, and despite returning Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, Kevin Grady and Michael Shaw this fall, Michigan needs to plan for 2010 and could add a few more ball carriers. The Wolverines also lose kicker K.C. Lopata and will look for a replacement in this class.

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Recruiting spotlight: Michigan Wolverines

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

It doesn't take a recruiting guru to spot the biggest need for the Michigan Wolverines. Nothing against quarterbacks Steven Threet or Nick Sheridan, but neither man has the skill set to consistently operate Rich Rodriguez's spread offense.

Quarterback undoubtedly tops Rodriguez's wish list with his first full recruiting class, and the spotlight will immediately turn to Tate Forcier, one of seven players who enrolled early. Despite being a true freshman, Forcier likely will enter spring practice as the favorite to win the starting job.

Michigan's other major area of need is the defensive line after losing starters Terrance Taylor, Will Johnson and Tim Jamison. Star pass-rusher Brandon Graham will anchor the group in 2009, but there are opportunities for young players to step in right away. Defensive tackle signee William Campbell already is generating a lot of buzz, and Michigan certainly will add more depth up front.

With the team's new defensive coordinator likely using a three-man front, the Wolverines need some help in the back half of the defense, particularly the secondary. Gone are starters Morgan Trent and Brandon Harrison, and after finishing ninth in the Big Ten in pass defense, Michigan could use some new blood in coverage.

A surplus of running backs is never bad for Rodriguez's offense, and despite returning Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, Kevin Grady and Michael Shaw this fall, Michigan needs to plan for 2010 and could add a few more ball carriers. The Wolverines also lose kicker K.C. Lopata and will look for a replacement in this class.

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Final Big Ten power rankings

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As the only Big Ten team to win its bowl game, Iowa is the lone squad to make a significant move in the final edition of the power rankings. The gap narrowed between Penn State and Ohio State after the Buckeyes' solid effort in the Fiesta Bowl, but Penn State still gets the nod with a better body of work. Northwestern and Michigan State have been mirror images for much of the season and remain that way in the rankings.

	Scott A. Miller/US Presswire
	Shonn Greene rushed for 121 yards and 3 TDs in the Outback Bowl.

Here's the final rundown for 2008.

1. Penn State (11-2) — The Nittany Lions looked out of sync in Pasadena, but they faced quite possibly the nation's best team in a virtual road game. It wasn't the way a stellar senior class intended to go out, but an 11-1 regular season highlighted by a road win against Ohio State keeps Penn State atop the rankings.

2. Ohio State (10-3) — There aren't moral victories in Columbus, but Ohio State made a national statement, even in defeat, by outplaying Texas for most of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Terrelle Pryor-led Buckeyes weren't the same team that had soiled itself against USC on Sept. 13. Ohio State played its best football down the stretch and was seconds away from a fairly substantial upset of Texas.

3. Iowa (9-4) — Things fell into place perfectly for the Hawkeyes, who ended the season as the Big Ten's hottest team. Iowa rolled over an overmatched South Carolina team in the Outback Bowl to win six of its final seven games. Shonn Greene played a huge role, but so did a defense that led the Big Ten in takeaways (32).

T-4 Michigan State (9-4) — The Spartans clearly peaked in late September/early October, but they continued to fight hard, especially on the defensive side. They outplayed Georgia for a half in the Capital One Bowl but couldn't capitalize on favorable field position. Though Michigan State beat Northwestern in a head-to-head matchup Oct. 11, the Wildcats played better football down the stretch. So it's a push between the teams.

T-4 Northwestern (9-4) — Had the Wildcats finished off Missouri in the Alamo Bowl, they would have vaulted to No. 3 in the power rankings and possibly into the top 15 in the national polls. Despite being the biggest underdog in the 34 bowls, Northwestern outplayed Missouri but lost the game because of special-teams blunders. Along with Iowa and Ohio State, the Wildcats saved their best football for the end of the season.

6. Minnesota (7-6) — The Gophers don't really deserve to move up the rankings after a 21-point loss in the Insight Bowl, but they turned in a better effort than Wisconsin, which self-destructed against Florida State. This team clearly needs some upgrades after losing five straight to close the season, but it was hard to imagine Tim Davis' power run attack clicking right away in the bowl game. There will be a lot of changes in 2009, but Minnesota returns its nucleus.

7. Wisconsin (7-6) — Despite a win against Minnesota and a better regular-season finish, Wisconsin needed to pay the price for an embarrassing loss in the Champs Sports Bowl. An extremely disappointing season ended with a thud, as Wisconsin had three fumbles, two of which were returned for touchdowns. From coaching to quarterback play to intangibles, Wisconsin seemed to be missing something this fall.

8. Illinois (5-7) — The Big Ten's bowl fortunes might have been better had the Illini found a way to sneak into the postseason. Then again, a big-play offense and loads of talent translated into only five victories this fall. Head coach Ron Zook seems intent on turning things around with some bold coaching hires. Illinois can't afford another bowl-less winter.

9. Purdue (4-8) – The Boilermakers sent head coach Joe Tiller out on a high note with a 62-10 pasting of Indiana on Nov. 22. Head coach Danny Hope must restore Purdue's offensive swagger with a new quarterback in 2009, and the Boilers have several holes to fill on defense.

10. Michigan (3-9) — The Big Ten sorely needs Michigan back in a bowl game in 2009, but Rich Rodriguez has another tough challenge ahead of him. Michigan must identify a capable quarterback, most likely freshman Tate Forcier, and fill gaps along the defensive line. If the offensive line improves and the running game surges behind Brandon Minor, Michigan should be in decent shape for a lower-tier bowl.

11. Indiana (3-9) — After ending the Big Ten's longest bowl drought in 2007, Indiana slipped back to reality this fall. Head coach Bill Lynch enters 2009 on the hot seat, likely needing at least six victories to keep his job. Indiana has the talent, particularly at defensive end, and if it can stay healthy and improve on defense, a bowl run next fall isn't out of the question.

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A Minor oversight in the running back rankings

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

I’ll own up to a mistake when one is made, and there should be a “Minor” revision to Tuesday’s two-part Big Ten running back rankings.

As in, Brandon Minor.

Michigan had a pretty miserable year on offense, but Minor did a nice job during the second half of the season and deserves a spot in the running back rundown. I spent too much time sorting out the top five and neglected to include Minor, who had 533 yards and nine touchdowns for the Wolverines. 

Here are the revised two-part rankings:

2008 performance/value to team

1. Shonn Greene, Iowa
2. Javon Ringer, Michigan State
3. Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State
4. Evan Royster, Penn State
5. Kory Sheets, Purdue
6. John Clay, Wisconsin
7. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
8. Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
9. Marcus Thigpen, Indiana
10. Brandon Minor, Michigan
11. Stephfon Green, Penn State

Overall ability/pro potential

1. Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State
2. Shonn Greene, Iowa
3. Javon Ringer, Michigan State
4. Evan Royster, Penn State
5. John Clay, Wisconsin
6. Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
7. Kory Sheets, Purdue
8. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
9. Brandon Minor, Michigan
10. Stephfon Green, Penn State
11. Jewel Hampton, Iowa
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Michigan Wolverines season recap

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Michigan found itself lost in translation this fall, as major personnel turnover combined with difficulties to adjust to new schemes and coaches resulted in the worst season in team history.

Growing pains were inevitable after Michigan lost its offensive core to the NFL and brought in a new coach (Rich Rodriguez) with a dramatically different system. But few could have imagined how severe the team’s struggles would be, as the Wolverines lost a school-record nine games, missed a bowl for the first time since 1974 and posted a losing record for the first time since 1967.

Quarterback play was a problem from the start as Rodriguez tried to integrate two players (Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan) into a system that didn’t fit their strengths. Whether the coach should have better adapted his schemes is certainly up for debate, but both Threet and Sheridan struggled to execute the offense for entire games. Michigan played well in stretches — a quarter here, a half there — but rarely put together a complete 60 minutes.

Several skill players showed flashes of promise, but questions at quarterback and an offensive line that took time to take shape led to Michigan finishing 109th nationally in total offense (290.8 ypg).

Perhaps more troubling was a defense that had experience up front and in the secondary. After carrying Michigan through the first four games, Scott Shafer’s unit struggled against Illinois, Penn State, Michigan State and Purdue. The defense joined the offense at the bottom of the Big Ten statistical charts as Michigan tumbled to a 3-9 season.

Offensive MVP — Running back Brandon Minor

One of few bright spots on a flustered unit, Minor emerged in the second half to become Michigan’s primary back and most consistent offensive performer. He led the team with 533 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. Minor’s strong showings against Penn State (117 rush yards, 2 TDs) and Purdue (155 rush yards, 3 TDs) raise hope for the future.

Defensive MVP — Defensive end Brandon Graham

The lone non-senior starter on the defensive line looked like a veteran this fall, carving a spot among the nation’s elite pass-rushers. Graham led the Big Ten and ranked second nationally in tackles for loss (20) and finished third in the league in sacks (10). The junior recorded tackles for loss in 10 of 12 games and had multiple TFLs in six contests.

Turning point — Oct. 11 vs. Toledo

The trouble signs were there, but Michigan still had a chance to even its record at 3-3 and set up a potential postseason push. Michigan had never lost to a Mid-American Conference team in 24 previous meetings, but a miserable offensive performance led to a 13-10 upset in Ann Arbor. Threet had an interception returned 100 yards for a touchdown, and Michigan went on to lose its next three games.

What’s next

It can’t get much worse for Rodriguez and the Wolverines, but they have plenty to fix in the offseason, starting with the offense. Minor and a more experienced group of wide receivers and offensive linemen return, but Rodriguez must get production from his quarterback, who more than likely will be a true freshman (Shavodrick Beaver or Tate Forcier). The defense must replace three starting linemen but should be better in the back half.

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McGuffie reportedly will leave Michigan

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan freshman running back Sam McGuffie has decided to leave the program.

Rumors have circulated for weeks that McGuffie, the team’s second-leading rusher with 486 yards this fall, was looking to transfer from Michigan. McGuffie did not attend Michigan’s annual end-of-the-season football bust, and head coach Rich Rodriguez told reporters last Saturday that he planned to meet with McGuffie to discuss McGuffie’s future with the program.

A team spokesman could not confirm McGuffie’s transfer but said Michigan’s policy calls for the player to confirm his own departure. Rodriguez has been out recruiting all week and was scheduled to return to Ann Arbor today.

McGuffie told The Wolverine.com that he received his official release from Michigan on Friday morning. The Texas native told the Web site he’s looking transfer somewhere closer to home.

“It’s just been weighing on me for a while,” he said. “There are a number of factors that went into [the decision]. It’s nothing against the Michigan football team or the university. I felt that I had to what is best for myself and my family. …

“I’m looking to stay in or around Texas. There are a couple of schools that I’m interested in such as Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State and a couple of others.”

This is not a surprise at all, and given McGuffie’s family situation, it seems like the right move. McGuffie won’t be a huge loss for Michigan. He did some nice things early in the season, but junior Brandon Minor emerged as the team’s best running back down the stretch.

With Minor, freshman Michael Shaw and junior Carlos Brown in the mix, Michigan should be OK at the running back position.

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Michigan Wolverines, RB Sam McGuffie Part Ways

It’s official. Sam McGuffie is transferring from Michigan.

Most sites indicate he’s headed home to the state of Texas and possibly Texas A&M.

The freshman running back accumulated nearly 700 total yards and four touchdowns this season.

McGuffie put on a tremendous performance, rushing for 131 yards, against Notre Dame but went on to suffer three concussions. He saw his carries steadily decrease following the repeated injury.

As a YouTube sensation, many believed McGuffie would replace Mike Hart with no problem.

But size (5-11, 185) hindered McGuffie throughout the Big Ten season and he couldn’t survive.

It’s too bad—but I say goodbye and good luck. If there’s one position Michigan can afford, it’s running back.

The Wolverines have starter Brandon Minor coming back along with Michael Shaw and Carlos Brown. Plus, Fitzgerald Toussaint is coming in next season.

I’m just disappointed because I hoped to see him leap frog and juke defenders like in his YouTube highlights.

Ah well, what do you guys think?

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Leaguewide position rankings for the Big Ten

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

After studying the All-Big Ten selections for 2008, it’s clear the Big Ten is much stronger at some positions than others. The fact that it was hard to choose a second-team All-Big Ten quarterback tells you something about the league’s troubles under center. On the flip side, there are 10-15 defensive linemen worthy of All-Big Ten status.

With the regular season wrapped up, here’s a closer look at the Big Ten positions, from strongest to weakest.

Defensive line – The depth at both line positions is astounding and will be reflected in the next few NFL drafts. Beginning with end, you have Penn State’s Aaron Maybin, Minnesota’s Willie VanDeSteeg, Michigan’s Brandon Graham, Northwestern’s Corey Wootton and Indiana’s Jammie Kirlew. Guys like Michigan’s Tim Jamison, Illinois’ Derek Walker, Michigan State’s Trevor Anderson, Wisconsin’s Mike Newkirk, Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan and Penn State’s Josh Gaines would be all-conference in most leagues, but not the Big Ten. The tackle spot might be even more stacked. Iowa’s Mitch King leads the way, but he’s joined by teammate Matt Kroul, Penn State’s Jared Odrick, Michigan’s Terrance Taylor, Northwestern’s John Gill and Ohio State’s Nader Abdallah.

Running back – If not for the overwhelming depth on the D-line, this group would be No. 1 on the list. The Big Ten boasts three of the nation’s top seven rushers in Iowa’s Shonn Greene, Michigan State’s Javon Ringer and Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells. Penn State’s Evan Royster also had a fabulous year. When guys like Purdue’s Kory Sheets, Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill, Michigan’s Brandon Minor and Northwestern’s Tyrell Sutton aren’t even on the radar for all-conference, you’ve got a pretty solid group.

Linebacker – This was another group that caused some tough choices for first-team all-conference. Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis was a shoo-in, but Illinois’ Brit Miller, Penn State’s Navorro Bowman and Michigan State’s Greg Jones are all in the mix for the other two spots. Iowa’s Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds, Ohio State’s Marcus Freeman, Wisconsin’s DeAndre Levy and Indiana’s Matt Mayberry add depth.

Offensive line (interior) – Three centers were listed on the media’s all-conference team, illustrating the depth there. Penn State center A.Q. Shipley earned Offensive Lineman of the Year honors, and Iowa’s Rob Bruggeman and Illinois’ Ryan McDonald also were recognized. The guard spot might be even stronger with Iowa’s Seth Olsen, Penn State’s Rich Ohrnberger and Stefen Wisniewski, Wisconsin’s Kraig Urbik and Andy Kemp and Michigan State’s Roland Martin.

Punter – This was another group that stirred some debate about All-Big Ten selections. Michigan’s Zoltan Mesko was the obvious choice, but Iowa’s Ryan Donahue, Michigan State’s Aaron Bates and Penn State’s Jeremy Boone also were in the mix. Freshmen Brad Nortman (Wisconsin) and Chris Hagerup (Indiana) had terrific seasons, and I was also very impressed with Ohio State’s A.J. Trapasso, Minnesota’s Justin Kucek and Northwestern’s Stefan Demos.

Cornerback – I didn’t fully grasp how strong the league was at cornerback until reviewing the All-Big Ten lists. Everyone knew about Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins and Illinois’ Vontae Davis, but several other players add depth, namely Wisconsin’s Allen Langford, Iowa’s Amari Spievey and Bradley Fletcher, Minnesota’s Traye Simmons, Northwestern’s Sherrick McManis and Michigan State’s Chris L. Rucker.

Offensive tackle — There weren’t any off-the-charts performances here, but it’s a solid group overall. Penn State’s Gerald Cadogan moved past Ohio State’s Alex Boone as the league’s premier tackle. Boone didn’t have the dominant year many expected, but he wasn’t the main problem on Ohio State’s underachieving line. Add in players like Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga, Illinois’ Xavier Fulton and Wisconsin’s Eric Vanden Heuvel, and it’s a decent group.

Safety – Michigan State’s Otis Wiley might be the only surefire NFL draft pick from this crop, but several other players turned in strong performances. Ohio State’s Kurt Coleman should have been second-team All-Big Ten for both the media and coaches, and Northwestern’s Brad Phillips has a major beef for being left off the list. Other standouts include Iowa’s Brent Greenwood, Wisconsin’s Jay Valai and Minnesota tandem Kyle Theret and Tramaine Brock.

Kicker – A decent group overall, led by Penn State’s Kevin Kelly and Michigan State’s Brett Swenson, both of whom should have been Lou Groza Award semifinalists. Wisconsin’s Philip Welch quietly had a very solid season (17-for-20), and Northwestern’s Amado Villarreal also performed well.

Tight end – Not the best season for tight ends, though it didn’t help that Wisconsin All-American Travis Beckum was hurt for most of the fall. His replacement Garrett Graham had a nice year, as did Iowa’s Brandon Myers, Michigan State’s Charlie Gantt, Minnesota’s Jack Simmons and Illinois’ Michael Hoomanawanui, but it wasn’t a great group overall.

Wide recever – Minnesota’s Eric Decker and Illinois’ Arrelious Benn will be solid NFL players, and Penn State’s Derrick Williams also will get to the next level. But quarterbacks and wide receivers are intertwined, and neither position sizzled this season. Penn State’s three seniors (Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood) performed well, as did Purdue’s Greg Orton and Wisconsin’s David Gilreath. But not much depth here.

Quarterback – This was the worst quarterback crop in recent memory. Penn State’s Daryll Clark was fabulous in his first season as the starter, and both Illinois’ Juice Williams and Minnesota’s Adam Weber showed growth at times. But it was legitimately difficult to choose a second-team all-league quarterback. Several fifth-year seniors struggled this fall, though there’s hope for next year with players like Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor and Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi.

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Big Ten internal affairs: Week 14

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The regular season is finished, but there’s still some news throughout the conference. Here’s a closer look at five Big Ten teams.

Michigan
Three players have left the program in recent days, and more attrition could be on the way. But head coach Rich Rodriguez expects freshman running back Sam McGuffie to return next fall, despite rumors of a transfer to a school closer to his home in Texas. McGuffie led Michigan in carries (118) and finished second in rushing (486), but he was overtaken by Brandon Minor down the stretch and dealt with some injuries, including two concussions that might require more medical evaluation.

“Sam has some tough issues,” Rodriguez said. “He’s a long way from home, trying to take care of his family. … But hopefully Sam, he had a pretty good freshman year. He got banged up a little bit here at the end. But hopefully things will work out.”

Michigan State
The Spartans’ extra practice time in the coming weeks could jump-start what figures to be one of the Big Ten’s most intriguing position competitions heading into 2009. With senior quarterback Brian Hoyer graduating, Michigan State will turn to either Kirk Cousins or Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichol to lead the offense. Cousins has looked good in relief work this fall, completing 7 of 9 passes with a 23-yard touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion in Saturday’s loss to Penn State. The coaches don’t need to see much of Hoyer until game preparation begins, so they should get an extended look at Cousins and Nichol in practice.

Minnesota
Head coach Tim Brewster on Monday announced the resignation of offensive line coach Phil Meyer, who will pursue other opportunities. Minnesota’s offensive line became a glaring weakness as the season went along, and the Gophers ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing offense (105.8 yards per game) and 10th in sacks allowed (27). Inexperience and injuries contributed to the struggles, but Minnesota was manhandled down the stretch by Iowa and Michigan. Brewster will begin a national search for a replacement and could make a hire before Minnesota’s bowl game.

Northwestern
The Wildcats hope to get two big pieces back for a bowl appearance. Defensive end Vince Browne will not require surgery on his knee, as originally thought, and should begin doing light running with the team when practices resume next week. Browne, who has four sacks and seven tackles for loss, sustained the injury on kickoff coverage Nov. 1 against Minnesota. Star running back Tyrell Sutton recently was fitted with a second cast on his injured wrist. Sutton will have the cast removed the second week of December, at which point he’ll be re-evaluated. Northwestern won three of four games without Sutton but struggled to run the ball consistently.

Ohio State
Perhaps no player will benefit from an extended layoff more than junior running back Chris “Beanie” Wells. Wells re-aggravated a right hamstring injury in Saturday’s win against Michigan and sat out the final quarter. Though he fully expects to play in a January bowl game, Wells welcomes the time off. He estimates that he hasn’t been better than 80 percent healthy all season, dealing with a foot injury before the hamstring. If Wells gets near full strength for a bowl, he could have a huge performance in what could very well be his final collegiate game.

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