ESPN Big Ten Position Rankings

[Saunders]

On Friday, we wrapped up our preseason position rankings series, which you can view in its entirety here. What do the rankings as a whole tell us about the teams in the league in 2012?

 

Ohio State-Kansas: In an effort to find out, we added up all of our unit rankings to see which teams looks the strongest overall. A first-place finish in one of the rankings was worth one point, a second-place showing was two points and so on. Like golf, lower scores are better here.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/55745/tallying-up-our-preseason-position-rankings

[hskerholic]

"In an effort to find out, we added up all of our unit rankings to see which teams looks the strongest overall. A first-place finish in one of the rankings was worth one point, a second-place showing was two points and so on. Like golf, lower scores are better here.

 

Here's what we came up, along with the extreme highs and lows for each team:

 

1. Nebraska -- 29 points

 

(High: Special teams: 1. Low: Linebackers: 7)

 

T-2. Michigan -- 35 points

 

(High: Quarterbacks and offensive line: 2. Low: Defensive line and special teams: 7)

 

T-2. Ohio State -- 35 points

 

(High: Defensive line: 1. Low: Wide receivers/TE: 9)

 

T-4. Michigan State -- 36 points

 

(High: Secondary and linebackers: 1. Low: Wide receivers/TE: 11)

 

T-4. Wisconsin -- 36 points

 

(High: Offensive line and running backs: 1. Low: Quarterbacks and defensive line: 8 )

 

6. Purdue -- 38 points

 

(High: Quarterbacks: 1. Low: Linebackers: 9)

 

7. Penn State -- 56 points

 

(High: Linebackers: 2. Low: Quarterbacks: 12)

 

8. Iowa -- 60 points

 

(High: Quarterbacks and wide receivers/TE: 4. Low: Running backs: 11).

 

9. Illinois -- 65 points

 

(High: Defensive line: 5. Low: Special teams: 12)

 

10. Northwestern -- 70 points

 

(High: Wide receivers/TE: 1. Low: Linebackers and secondary: 11)

 

11. Minnesota -- 79 points

 

(High: Quarterbacks and special teams: 6. Low: Running backs, wide receivers/TE and defensive line: 12)

 

12. Indiana -- 85 points

 

(High: Running backs and wide receivers/TE: 8. Low: Offensive line, linebackers and secondary: 12). "

 

Go Big Red!

[Saunders]

Pretty sure we're not supposed to post whole articles.

[Mavric]

Gotta love the reasoning that went with the rankings:

 

<snip>

The Spartans probably would have finished on top if not for their low scores at quarterback and receiver. And, of course, those are the real question marks for this team. ... <snip> ...

Iowa was surprisingly low but consistently scored in the bottom half of the league in many rankings. ...

Northwestern's defense and Illinois's special teams and offensive skill positions proved costly, just as they might this season. ... <snip

 

So, MSU scored low in 25% of the rankings but if they would have been better there, they would have finished higher.

Iowa had a lot of low scores so it was surprising that they finished ranked low.

Half of NW and Ill's teams might cost them some games.

 

I feel enlightened now.

[Jaybird]

I like it. Hope it ends up being true.

 

They were talking about this team the other day on local sports talk radio. One of the hosts was talking about his views of this team and how he thinks it may be a tougher season than most fans think. The other guy said ok lets break down the team by position groupings. They looked at whether each grouping would be better, the same or worse this season as compared to last season. Despite losing Crick, David and Dennard one could make an argument that we could be better or at least the same at almost every position group.

 

Quarterbacks- Should be markedly better. Healthy Tmart and hopefully a quality back up or two

 

Running back/Fullback- Should be better. Sr in Burkhead. Heard, Abdullah, Cross, Marrow, etc all vying for playing time.

 

WR/TE- Should be better. Probably the most athletic and deep Wr corps we have had in a long time. Thunder and lightning with Cotton and Reed.

 

OL- This is a bit of a question mark. Should be fine as long as they stay healthy and we get the Center position locked down. Could make arguments for better, same or worse.

 

DL- Same or better? if some of the young guys like V Valentine or Aaron Curry can provide depth could be solid.

 

LB- the 3 starters are sr's. Lots of athleticism and young depth here. Hope we can get some of the young guys some experience to see what we really have here. Could be better?

 

Secondary- From what has come out of camp so far it seems like this group should be much better despite losing Dennard. Pretty deep and very talented hope it all comes together for them. I like what Joseph seems to be doing on the back end.

 

 

Over all should be better or the same at all levels if we can just stay healthy and get a few breaks who knows!!!! GBR!

[sd'sker]

Gotta love the reasoning that went with the rankings:

 

<snip>

The Spartans probably would have finished on top if not for their low scores at quarterback and receiver. And, of course, those are the real question marks for this team. ... <snip> ...

Iowa was surprisingly low but consistently scored in the bottom half of the league in many rankings. ...

Northwestern's defense and Illinois's special teams and offensive skill positions proved costly, just as they might this season. ... <snip

 

So, MSU scored low in 25% of the rankings but if they would have been better there, they would have finished higher.

Iowa had a lot of low scores so it was surprising that they finished ranked low.

Half of NW and Ill's teams might cost them some games.

 

I feel enlightened now.

rittenberg/bennett? more like woodward/bernstein.

[California Husker]

Pretty sure we're not supposed to post whole articles.

pretty sure nobody posted a whole article.

[California Husker]

On Friday, we wrapped up our preseason position rankings series, which you can view in its entirety here. What do the rankings as a whole tell us about the teams in the league in 2012?

 

Ohio State-Kansas: In an effort to find out, we added up all of our unit rankings to see which teams looks the strongest overall. A first-place finish in one of the rankings was worth one point, a second-place showing was two points and so on. Like golf, lower scores are better here.

 

http://espn.go.com/b...sition-rankings

Did I miss something in this article? What does Kansas have to do with the B1G?

[NUance]

B1G position rankings: QB (individual)

9. Caleb TerBush, Purdue: Though he's being pushed by veterans Robert Marve and Rob Henry, TerBush got the vote of confidence as the starter from Danny Hope after spring ball.

B1G position rankings: QB (units)

1. Purdue: Do the Boilermakers have one of the top quarterbacks in the league? No. But they have something no other Big Ten team can claim: three players with significant starting experience.

WTF? Three experienced mediocre QBs push Purdue to the top QB unit ranking?? That is just incredibly stupid. Pull your head out of your butt Brian Bennett.

[True2tRA]

I think Minnesota could surprise some people this year. Our Lb'ers could prove to be one of the top units in the Big Ten when all is said and done. 7th is probably low for this group. A lot of unknowns, but we have the talent here for sure. Can this coaching staff develop it and utilize it's potential. That has yet to be seen.

[shyndy]

Our OL is 4th and it says "usually reloads" and "like wisconsin." Meanwhile the DL is 6. not to be a negative nancy, personally I think husker fans are over critical of our line play but this seems kinda eyebrow raising to me. And lol, Vanderberg is no 2 QB

[Mavric]

B1G position rankings: QB (individual)

9. Caleb TerBush, Purdue: Though he's being pushed by veterans Robert Marve and Rob Henry, TerBush got the vote of confidence as the starter from Danny Hope after spring ball.

B1G position rankings: QB (units)

1. Purdue: Do the Boilermakers have one of the top quarterbacks in the league? No. But they have something no other Big Ten team can claim: three players with significant starting experience.

WTF? Three experienced mediocre QBs push Purdue to the top QB unit ranking?? That is just incredibly stupid. Pull your head out of your butt Brian Bennett.

Just about how Martinez is the #4 QB individually but apparently the other QBs on our roster who have a grand total of 0 meaningful snaps move us up to #3 as a "unit". And Iowa drops from #2 individually to #4 as a group. I have no idea.

[Bradr]

This article, while with it's flaws, points out to what a lot of people on here are saying. That we may not be the best in every category, or might not have the name brands across the board, but top to bottom, Bo is building a darn fine program.

 

These position ranking just testify that pundits believe in Bo too and what is being done to our team. And that if we can be good in all areas, maybe we can put it all together into something special this season or next.

[BigRedBuster]

Makes as much sense as any other preseason poll.

[BigRedBuster]

This article, while with it's flaws, points out to what a lot of people on here are saying. That we may not be the best in every category, or might not have the name brands across the board, but top to bottom, Bo is building a darn fine program.

 

These position ranking just testify that pundits believe in Bo too and what is being done to our team. And that if we can be good in all areas, maybe we can put it all together into something special this season or next.

 

 

Good comment and I agree.