I was watching Dallas, who I hate, but saw one of my favorite Harbaugh-era players making a play: J.D. Lewis. This made me think of all of the players that I would still love to have from the past 5 seasons, and make an All-Harbaugh-era Michigan Team.
OFFENSE
QB: Close, but I'm taking Rudock over Shea. Check back with me if Shea somehow pulls out a New Years Day win over Bama.
RB 1: Higdon (shows the weakness at the position)
RB 2: Deveon Smith (see above comment)
FB: When used, I'll pick Khalid Hill (13 TDs in 2016, 10 rushing), with the slight edge over Sione Houma and Ben Mason (this has been a pretty strong position.
LT: Grant Newsome (pre-injury, of course) with the edge over Runyan.
LG: Bredeson
C: Graham Glasgow over Ruiz.
RG: Onwenu over Kyle Kalis (another weak position)
RT: Mason Cole (did he even play there? It seems like he played all over the line...)
TE: Jake Butt 3-way tie for a distant second Eubanks, Gentry, and McKeon.
WR 1,2,3 & 4: Collins, Bell, Darboh, and Chesson.
DEFENSE
SDE: Gary by a slight nod over Wormley.
WDE: Taco by the narrowest margin over Chase.
DTs 1&2: Hurst (of course) and Willie Henry in a slight upset over Ryan Glasgow
LB (Viper): Jabril Peppers
LB (Middle): Devin Bush
RLB: Uche
CB1: J.D. Lewis
CB2: David Long
FS: Jarrod Wilson
SS: Tyree Kinnel
Nickel: Jeremy Clark (healthy version)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Kenny Allen
P: Will Hart
PR: Peppers
KR: Chesson
LS: Scott Sypniewski
Looking at this list, there were a lot more weak/questionable positions on offense than defense. I had a hard time filling out the RB and OL positions with good players, whereas, on D, I had to leave some very good/great players (Chase Winovich, Ryan Glasgow, Wormley) on the bench. Also, the true stars and best players of the team: Guys like Hurst, Peppers, Bush, and JD Lewis, were mostly on defense. It says something that Jake Butt may have been the best offensive player on our team during Harbaugh's tenure (one could argue Rudock, Collins, or Bell) and not rank in the top 5 overall.
No RBs or OL even in consideration for the top 10 players of the Harbaugh era is telling, as well.
It's also interesting that, although Harbaugh has only been at Michigan for 5 seasons, how few of these guys have had careers that overlapped (jumping to the pros early, injury, etc).
What are your choices for the 2015-Present team?
OFFENSE
QB: Close, but I'm taking Rudock over Shea. Check back with me if Shea somehow pulls out a New Years Day win over Bama.
RB 1: Higdon (shows the weakness at the position)
RB 2: Deveon Smith (see above comment)
FB: When used, I'll pick Khalid Hill (13 TDs in 2016, 10 rushing), with the slight edge over Sione Houma and Ben Mason (this has been a pretty strong position.
LT: Grant Newsome (pre-injury, of course) with the edge over Runyan.
LG: Bredeson
C: Graham Glasgow over Ruiz.
RG: Onwenu over Kyle Kalis (another weak position)
RT: Mason Cole (did he even play there? It seems like he played all over the line...)
TE: Jake Butt 3-way tie for a distant second Eubanks, Gentry, and McKeon.
WR 1,2,3 & 4: Collins, Bell, Darboh, and Chesson.
DEFENSE
SDE: Gary by a slight nod over Wormley.
WDE: Taco by the narrowest margin over Chase.
DTs 1&2: Hurst (of course) and Willie Henry in a slight upset over Ryan Glasgow
LB (Viper): Jabril Peppers
LB (Middle): Devin Bush
RLB: Uche
CB1: J.D. Lewis
CB2: David Long
FS: Jarrod Wilson
SS: Tyree Kinnel
Nickel: Jeremy Clark (healthy version)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Kenny Allen
P: Will Hart
PR: Peppers
KR: Chesson
LS: Scott Sypniewski
Looking at this list, there were a lot more weak/questionable positions on offense than defense. I had a hard time filling out the RB and OL positions with good players, whereas, on D, I had to leave some very good/great players (Chase Winovich, Ryan Glasgow, Wormley) on the bench. Also, the true stars and best players of the team: Guys like Hurst, Peppers, Bush, and JD Lewis, were mostly on defense. It says something that Jake Butt may have been the best offensive player on our team during Harbaugh's tenure (one could argue Rudock, Collins, or Bell) and not rank in the top 5 overall.
No RBs or OL even in consideration for the top 10 players of the Harbaugh era is telling, as well.
It's also interesting that, although Harbaugh has only been at Michigan for 5 seasons, how few of these guys have had careers that overlapped (jumping to the pros early, injury, etc).
What are your choices for the 2015-Present team?
