Spartan Nation 2007 Pre Season All Big Ten Team:
Defense:
FS: Otis “BLING BLING†Wiley, MSU
SS: Jamario O’Neal, Ohio State
CB:Â Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
CB:Â Justin King, Penn State
OLB:Â Dan Connor, Penn State
MLB:Â James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
OLB:Â Antonio Steele, Illinois
DE:Â Kenny Iwebema, Iowa
DT:Â Nick Hayden, Wisconsin
DT:Â Jason Chapman, Wisconsin
DE:Â Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota
Pre-Season Defensive Player of the year:Â Kenny Iwebema, DE Iowa
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Offense:
OT:Â Jake Long, UM
OT:Â Kirk Barton, Ohio State
OG:Â Jordan Grimes, Purdue
OG:Â Adam Kraus, UM
C:Â AQ Shipley, Penn State
TE:Â Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
WR:Â James Hardy, Indiana
WR:Â Brian Robiske, Ohio State
RB:Â Mike Hart, UM
RB:Â Javon Ringer, MSU
QB:Â Chad Henne, UM
Pre-Season Offensive Player of the year:Â Chad Henne, QB UMÂ Â Â
*Pre-Season Big Ten Player of the year:Â Jake Long, UM
I laugh at all of the people that say I can’t be fair when it comes to the Wolverines. I am a self-admitted Spartan but that has no bearing on how a kid performs. There was a lot of excitement in AA when Henne and Hart returned but true football fans know that the biggest “come back†was from Long. He is big, powerful and strong. He has exceptional footwork, and as good as Joe Thomas was last year with the Badgers (and I think he is a star) long is better. He is the complete player who loves road-grading people into the ground. Long has to have a super season for the Wolverines to get anywhere near the expectations that the fans and pundits have for them this year. I agree that on offense they are among the elite in the nation, but how soon everyone forgets that they lost the heart and soul of the defense and that is what wins championships. Make no mistake that against most of their schedule they will steam roll them. In Ann Arbor however the people want more from this squad and Long being the most dominant force on the offensive line in the nation may not be able to compensate for a young defense.   This team will have to outscore opponents; they won’t stuff your mouth and beat you with defense, especially among the elite teams.
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*This is the same exact description as yesterday, it was true then when I named him the player of the year and it didn’t change in 24 hours…like my wife’s moods. Actually those are about every 24 minutes, but hey she reads this and I actually want...well you get the hint!
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