M-Borg vs. THE Flavortown U Thread, Orig. by Buckeye Paul, absconded w/by talent.

[iam416]

Also, at least per Scout, Paris Campbell #41 and Jalen Hurd #42. I mean, it's nice to have those kind of options. That's the way things go for UFM. We all saw it coming. But, I have to say, for OSU fans, it's even better than the dream, and for M fans it's even worse that their worst nightmare.

[Optimus Prime]

247 has Hurd as a 5-star, # 1 ranked player out of Tennesse.

[WM Wolverine]

I don't think Derrick Green is/was the #1 back in the country either but he's a very, very good one and a perfect fit for what Hoke is looking for at running. Considering there wasn't a whole lot out there in the midwest after Isaac, M is very lucky to have landed him.

[iam416]

Agree 100%, WM.

OSU has two "big" backs already, and they're young -- sophomore and redshirt frosh -- and UFM likes them both. They needed a back like Elliot more than a back like Green.

[WM Wolverine]

Depth behind Green/Toussaint is worrisome but hopefully M can land an elite '14 recruit to solve that issue going forward, for now M is only targeting elite types at RB and it appears they only have room for one RB barring attrition.

[iam416]

Honestly, the depth behind Toussaint is worrisome. I think it's hard to feel real confident starting a true frosh.

Smith and Green are a good start to the RB issue. Keep adding 1 or 2 quality guys and it will be fine.

[WM Wolverine]

Agree, RB certainly is a worry for M in the short-term. Long-term too if they don't land a very good back in '14 or another elite in '15.

[Hannibal]

I'm not too worried about having freshmen there. Probably the easiest place to do it. Green+Toussaint is a pretty darn good rotation if Toussaint returns fully healthy. I don't know that anyone in the conference except for Ohio State would trade that.

[iam416]

I don't, off the top of my head, know what other teams have. I'm not a huge fan of Toussaint. He's a decent back, IMO. Totally serviceable, but, IMO he pales in comparison to what M traditionally has a TB (pre-RichGOD tradition!).

I don't love OSU's backs. Hyde finally started to show something midway through last season. He finally showed SOME vision. He's probably a little above serviceable. Rod Smith has shown flashes, but the light doesn't stay on. Dunn is good and once he learns the offense (as UFM put it, Dunn's problem wasn't pass protection or scheme -- it was left and right) he should be good. And they like Ball.

But on the whole, I'm not enamored with those backs. They're good enough to make a defense pay if they focus on Miller, but they're several time zones away from, say, Alabama's stable.

[hack]

Fitz is wonderful once he gets to the second level, but he can't get there himself.

[lineygoblue]

Exactly. Toussaint is great if he can get thru the hole without a good hit. I'm hoping that Green will be the type that can punish a potential tackler and keep moving forward. Toussaint is not that kind of runner.

And nobody is sure that Toussaint will be ready, or even be able to ever play again. His injury was very serious from what I've read.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Big Ten Tourney Champs again! 5 times for OSU overall, 4 times for Matta.

[hack]

I heard yesterday that Matta is the only coach in the conference willing to ``play in the grey areas''. That aside, it is remarkably frustrating to say but that I have nothing for respect for what happens on the court at least with Matta's program. Am looking forward to the downfall, though.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Thad just about has a job for life as far as I'm concerned. Winning the NCAA is about luck and being hot as much as anything...winning the B1G consistently is not. If he keeps us around the top of the conf (and I see no reason why he won't) he should break through eventually.

He's what? 45? Could be here another 20 years if he wanted.

[hack]

Well what I meant is that as he's the only cheater in the league, he'll get caught soon enough and have to move on.

(God good I hate what being a Michigan fan does to a person these days...)