There were 84 players named here - 39 on offense, 39 on defense, six return specialists.
But only two Falcons. I'm stunned. I mean, I know we struggled this year, but how guys like Partridge, Barnes, Smith, Lewis, etc. can be totally left off the list ... wow.
edited because I missed Nick the first time through
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RWT,
That stood out to me as well. Yes, Love was a great player, but he didn't do anything on the field this season. Would Briggs have made the first team if he was injured in the Miami game or so?
Yes, it is a sentimental story, but if you are going that route, why not make him first team? Or give him a "Special Mention" category all his own. Putting him on the second team seems odd to me.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools."
- Ernest Hemingway
Yeah the Dante Love thing kind of upsets me, too. He probably would have been first team had he not been injured but it just doesn't make any sense to me. Same with Eugene Jarvis. He didn't even lead the team in rushing if I remember correctly. For players like Partridge, Antonio Smith, and Kenny Lewis to be left off completely is extremely disappointing.
Without looking at any of the stats for our team/players or the rest of the MAC off the top of my head I would have to say we deserved more than 2 guys get mentioned.
I thought our secondary as a whole played pretty well this year. Brown, Mahone, Lewis, and Smith all had pretty good seasons, IMO. Maybe none of them were first team all MAC, but I would definitely figure at least one of these guys deserved a mention, no? Seems to me that our defense didn't get really passed on to big numbers that often this year...when it did it was mostly scheme (backing way off in the Buffalo game), more than it was the play of the individuals.
Briggs was a no-brainer he was THE dominant pass rusher in the conference this year, but I thought Ream had a pretty good season next to him as well.
Offensively I don't think we really had anybody standout. Partridge had a pretty good year, but not sure it would qualify as an All-MAC year. In the Meyer/Brandon era though our WRs have never gotten much respect on these lists, because we spread the ball out a lot. No one WR commanded the ball in our system.
Sheehan wasn't going to get a mention here with LeFevour, Davis, Tiller, Edelman, and Willy all in the conference. Too much QB talent to go around.
I didn't think our OL played particularly well this year, so no shock they don't get mentioned.
None of our RBs got enough touches to qualify.
Iovinelli was deserving, had a good year, IMO. Vrvillo was a major disappointment.
All in all, I think we had some more defensive players that could have gotten mentioned, but this is what happens when you have a disappointing year, I guess. I think the MAC, as a whole, took a step forward this year, while we went backwards. Still, I don't see how a terrible Miami team gets so many guys mentioned. Dante Love was looking like he'd be a consensus first teamer, but how does a guy make the team when he gets hurt a couple weeks in? As usual, these things make little to no sense.
Partridge had 58 receptions for 562 yards and 7 touchdowns. A good season but I am fine with him not making it. I do think the defense deserved more recogntion though. Miami getting anything more than a couple of players is insane.
hammb wrote:I thought our secondary as a whole played pretty well this year. Brown, Mahone, Lewis, and Smith all had pretty good seasons, IMO. Maybe none of them were first team all MAC, but I would definitely figure at least one of these guys deserved a mention, no? Seems to me that our defense didn't get really passed on to big numbers that often this year...when it did it was mostly scheme (backing way off in the Buffalo game), more than it was the play of the individuals.
For comparison sake, take a look at our defensive stats compared to Miami and see who you felt deserved more honors individually.
Miami was DEAD LAST in run defense while we were second in total defense.
I just don't get it...in what way are the picks for these teams justified. It's not even just BG. The fact that Lefevour was over Hiller is ridiculous when you look at their stats. It's embarrassing