Today: Preseason WAC players of the year
Tomorrow: Preseason conference standings
Thursday: a nap
The official preseason players of the year in the WAC will be revealed in the next couple days, and they are sure to reek of predictability and groupthink. Ian Johnson, anyone?
Our picks are a little different. We know from experience that a college football season rarely plays out as planned, which is why we've done our best to think outside of the box with preseason prognosticating. Does Chadd Cripe know any better than we do about what will happen this season? Of course not.Will his ballot reflect a stuffy assuredness of safe answers and false modesty? We hope not.
To be sure, we know the right answers to the preseason players of the year questions; they are obviously outlined in every preview magazine on the shelves. However, we stand by our decisions for players of the year, and we're more than happy to eat crow when things start falling apart in Week Three.
So without further ado, here are the picks:
Who? What? Are San Jose State linemen even eligible? These same questions ran through our heads, too, but we put peer pressure and good sense aside and went with Schweiger anyway.
Perhaps a little background would help: Schweiger is a 6'5", 255-pound transfer from USC. He owned SJSU's spring practice, and he was so good that 2007 all-WAC DE Jarron Gilbert has moved inside to tackle. Obviously, Pac-10 competition is a step above WAC play, so we're expecting Schweiger to really be an animal this fall. San Jose State is supposed to be one of several strong WAC defensive teams, and Schweiger will be the reason.
Don't let us down, Jeff Schweiger. Although, from a San Jose State Spartan, we may be asking the impossible.
What the media will say: Solomon Elimimian or Adam Leonard, Hawaii LBs
Other candidates we considered: Ryan Winterswyk, Derrell Acrey, Jake Hutton, David Veikune, Moses Harris, Elimimian, Leonard, Marty Tadman
The Nevada Wolfpack have tangible hype going into the season, which could be dashed in an instant by a 4-for-26 Colin Kaepernick quarterbacking performance.
The funny thing is that you probably didn't even flinch at the absurdity of those numbers. Kaepernick completing one-sixth of his passes is a very real possibility, and thusly Kaepernick finding the bench is just as plausible. When it happens, we could see former starter Graziano stepping in and saving the Pack's season.
He'll have a wonderful running back behind him in Luke Lippincott. The offensive line will be solid. He'll have every chance to put up big numbers, and he could bring stability to an offense that will become fairly predictable once Kaepernick starts breaking the pocket immediately on passing plays. You may be thinking, "Then why not pick Lippincott for player of the year?" Because we're idiots. But only time will tell.
FYI: We were thisclose to picking Idaho RB Deonte Jackson, but we couldn't bring ourselves to openly support anything that has to do with the Vandals or anyone who shares a backfield with Nathan Enderle.
What the media will say: Ian Johnson, Boise State RB
Other candidates we considered: Jackson, Malcolm Lane, Ian Johnson, Titus Young, Ryan Mathews, Taylor Bennett, Lippincott, Ryan Dinwiddie
What do you guys think? Who would get your vote? Do you agree with our picks? Are we idiots? Actually, don't answer that last one.
Posts
I like your picks guys. A few observations.
ReplyDelete1.) I cannot believe Solomon Elimimian is still freakin there. Hasn't it been like 9 years now?!
2.) Deonte Jackson is the real deal. He's even getting some national love.(in full disclosure, I'm marrying a Vandal in a month, so I have seen him play more than I might have otherwise. Hey, nobody's perfect).
3.) Most Overhyped Player? Simple. "Touchdown" Tommy Brandstater. The next time he comes through in a big spot will be the first.
A few observations of your observations.
ReplyDelete1. Kellen Moore remembers watching Elimimian when he was a kid.
2. Don't slip too far into the darkside, JHabers. Jackson will be a good one, indeed. Curious to see if any WAC media members recognize it.
3. How many Fresno media members do you think will vote him as offensive player of the year? Too many, at any rate.
Update... ok, I'm not totally nuts. Solomon Elimimian hasn't been there forever... his brother Abraham was there before him. That's what threw me. Not being a student of Hawaii football (*yawn*) I was not up on my Elimimian progressions.
ReplyDeleteI just remember hearing the name WAY back when I went to the game on the islands in 2003.
I didn't pick up on it either. You wouldn't expect there to be that many Elimimians around, so I'm sure we get a pass.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sportales.com/Football/2008-Western-Athletic-Conference-Pre-Season-Picks.207003
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