B1G Individual Awards
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
SpiderRico
Well-Known Member
So I'm gonna be "that guy"....
In just the last couple of seasons, we have turned unheralded, overlooked players on the defensive side of the ball into All-Americans and Players of the Year. And not "in the trenches" guys, but true skill position players at cornerback and linebacker.
So that begs the question, why the HELL can't we do something close to the same on the offensive side with our WRs? Heck, I don't even care about all-american or player of the year caliber....how about just 3rd team all-conference type?
In just the last couple of seasons, we have turned unheralded, overlooked players on the defensive side of the ball into All-Americans and Players of the Year. And not "in the trenches" guys, but true skill position players at cornerback and linebacker.
So that begs the question, why the HELL can't we do something close to the same on the offensive side with our WRs? Heck, I don't even care about all-american or player of the year caliber....how about just 3rd team all-conference type?
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
It's gotta come down to position coaches and the coordinator, right? Can it really be anything else when there is so much success on the defensive side?
Robowe
Well-Known Member
It did happen a couple of years ago - Matt Vandeberg was HM in 2015 with 65 catches for 703 yards. His injury seems to have hampered him still. Hopefully it can happen going forward.
I think our defense is on the field more so has more opportunities to rack up stats. Not saying that's why these two are good because they both are really good. But the overall success of individual players is probably affected by that.
Also Kirk leans more on defense. All our good wide receiver/cornerback type players end up on defense.
Also Kirk leans more on defense. All our good wide receiver/cornerback type players end up on defense.
Probably because his defense overall hasn't been elite. Not even the best in the conference. They've been solid under Phil but not as good as they were under Norm.
I've often said KF hiring Parker and then promoting to DC was the best move(s) KF has made. (I'm not sure it was such a no brainer to promote him back when Norm retired there were others in the running for it) He's so underrated. He's put more DBs in the NFL then them too obviously. Parker doesn't seem like a guy that cares about getting achnowledged for awards and whatnot. He's pretty old school. We are lucky to have had him
HuckFinn
Well-Known Member
I would like to give a special award to James Butler. This kid lived his dream for a year as a BT running back. He fought through an injury, which could have convinced him to hang it up. He never complained about his back up position, was one of Akrum's greatest cheerleaders.
I was in Lincoln for the Iowa/NE game and cheered my loudest when he got his only TD of the year. He had a couple of other break away runs in other games, including OSU, which will be great memories for James.
James is the kind of young man who keeps me as a die hard Hawk fan...we have had quite a few just like him.
Thanks, James!
I was in Lincoln for the Iowa/NE game and cheered my loudest when he got his only TD of the year. He had a couple of other break away runs in other games, including OSU, which will be great memories for James.
James is the kind of young man who keeps me as a die hard Hawk fan...we have had quite a few just like him.
Thanks, James!
Fryowa
Administrator
It doesn't hurt that Parker was an All-B1G defensive back three years in a row and Michigan State's MVP twice. The guy knows what he's doing and he's at home in the Big Ten.
I would argue that we are becoming DB U instead of OL U. Our offensive line isn't what it used to be and hasn't been for a long time.
Three defensive backs who will be career NFL starters with possibilities of Pro Bowlers all graduating within five years of each other has to be up there on the chart, doesn't it?
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Fryowa
Administrator
This.
I would have taken the redshirt and come back next year but he put the team first. Class act and I hope he gets a tryout somewhere or even drafted.
I think this is definitely true. Don't get me wrong, Jewel is a monster and a joy to watch. But he did not show up a ton on the Pro Football Focus highest rated lists within the conference. Likewise, if we look at pro potential (we could certainly debate how much that should influence an award for "Best College LB"), I don't think the pro personnel guys will have Jewel as top 5 at his position. Then again, Jewel will probably continue to defy expectations and be a 10-year all-pro.
You know who was on the PFF honor roll nearly every week? Josh Jackson. Great blend of productivity in "counting stats" and doing his job at a high-level on a snap-to-snap basis. Anthony Nelson also showed up on the PFF honor roll quite a bit, as well as Bazata. I will a little surprised that they did not earn more recognition.