QB a no-brainer for All-Tubs team

By Joe McAdory

The easiest decision on the All-Tommy Tuberville team was choosing a quarterback. QBs to start for Tuberville at Auburn include Gabe Gross, Ben Leard, Jeff Klein, Jason Campbell, Daniel Cobb, Brandon Cox, Blake Field and Kodi Burns. Obviously, one name sticks out. The strange thing is, it took this dude a year and a half to finally secure the starting job.

The toughest decisions came at defensive back. It was a toss-up between Rodney Crayton and Larry Casher. David Irons, Travaris Robinson and Eric Brock are worth considering also.

Here we go:

Quarterback: Jason Campbell
Running backs: Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, Heath Evans
Receivers: Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Ronney Daniels
Tight ends: Robert Johnson
Offensive line: Kendall Simmons, Ben Nowland, Marcus McNeill, Ben Grubbs, Tim Duckworth
Defensive line; Tommy Jackson, Quentin Groves, Stanley McClover, Jay Ratliff, Reggie Torbor
Linebackers: Dontarrious Thomas, Karlos Dansby, Travis Williams
Defensive backs: Carlos Rogers, Junior Rosegreen, Will Herring, Rodney Crayton
Punter: Kody Bliss
Kicker: John Vaughn

Of the four all-coaches teams, which one is best? Any thoughts?

All-Bowden team loaded with firepower

By Joe McAdory

Before creating an All-Terry Bowden team, I wasn’t sure it would have the same firepower others (Jordan, Dye, etc) would have mostly because Bowden’s tenure wasn’t more than five seasons. I was wrong. There is plenty of firepower here and some tough cuts to be made. Speaking of tough cuts, great players barely missing the team included linebacker Jason Miska, offensive lineman Anthony Redmond and defensive lineman Alonzo Etheridge. Those guys were pretty darn good. Here we go:

Quarterback: Dameyune Craig
Running backs: Stephen Davis, Fred Beasley
Receivers: Frank Sanders, Tyrone Goodson, Karsten Bailey
Tight end: Andy Fuller
Offensive linemen: Shannon Roubique, Wayne Gandy, Victor Riley, Willie Anderson, Jeno James
Defensive linemen: Willie Whitehead, Mike Pelton, Jimmy Brumbaugh, Gary Walker
Linebackers: Anthony Harris, Takeo Spikes, Marcus Washington, Marcellus Mostella
Defensive backs: Brian Robinson, Calvin Jackson, Chris Shelling, Brad Ware
Punter: Terry Daniel
Kicker: Jaret Holmes

Friday I’ll release my All-Tuberville team. The toughest decisions were in the defensive backfield and at tight end. And who are the running backs? Cadillac? Ronnie Brown? Rudi? Irons? Or maybe we’ll throw a fullback into the mix. Maybe one that plays for the unbeaten Patriots.

Long day on the road

By Joe McAdory

Made my All-Bowden and All-Tuberville picks today on the 8-hour journey to Daytona Beach. Earlier I said I’d post them, but the darn things are locked up in the car and I ain’t going back outside tonight. It’s late. I want to sleep. The teams are very potent and I must say that at first I didn’t think the All-Bowden team would measure up to the other ones. I was wrong. There’s big-time talent on all of these teams. Which is best. I dunno. You can debate. I’ll post the All-Bowden team Thursday and the All-Tubs team Friday.

I’m going to bed now.

Tough cuts on All-Dye team

By Joe McAdory

Creating the All-Pat Dye team presented problems. What problems? Tough choices at a number of positions, especially defensive line and linebacker. Somehow, Craig Ogletree, Dowe Aughtman, Benji Rowland and Gerald Williams failed to make my team. Those guys were too good not to make the cut. Que sera.

I chose to use three running backs and just two receivers for this team. Why? I felt there was an awful steep talent drop after the first two WRs, so why name a third for the sake of having one? If it did have a third, it would have been Freddy Weygand or Greg Taylor. Brent Fullwood missed making the cut at RB by a hair.

Here’s the team:
QB: Reggie Slack
Running backs: Bo Jackson, Lionel James, Tommie Agee
Receivers: Alexander Wright, Lawyer Tillman
Tight end: Walter Reeves
Offensive line: Steve Wallace, Ben Tamburello, Ed King, Stacy Searels, David Jordan
Defensive line: Doug Smith, Gerald Robinson, Tracy Rocker, Donnie Humphrey
Linebackers: Gregg Carr, Aundray Bruce, Kurt Crain, Quentin Riggins
Defensive backs: Corey Barlow, Tom Powell, Kevin Porter, Bob Harris
Punter: Lewis Colbert
Kicker: Win Lyle

I’m driving to Florida tomorrow, so I’ll release my All-Terry Bowden and All-Tommy Tuberville teams Thursday or Friday. Off the top of my head, I’d say Bowden’s top players were Dameyune Craig and Takeo Spikes. Tubby’s top dogs were Cadillac and Carlos Rogers. Will there be room for Ronnie Brown in a crowded backfield?

Sullivan, Frederickson, Smith headline All-Shug team

By Joe McAdory

Creating the All-Shug Jordan team wasn’t easy because many players prior to 1965 played both ways. Some are even listed as an “E.“ I assume this means end. Split end. Defensive end? Both? Also, does my team have a three-wideout set, or go with three RBs and run the wishbone? Maybe I’ll list three of each. Will it use a tight end?Regardless, here’s what I came up with:

QB—Pat Sullivan
Running backs—Tucker Frederickson, Fob James, Ed Dyas
Receivers—Terry Beasley, Red Phillips, Jim Pyburn
Offensive line—Jackie Burkett, Tom Banks, Ken Rice, Mac Lorendo, Gusty Yearout
Defensive line—Zeke Smith, Jack Thornton, David Campbell, Benny Sivley, Frank D’Agostino
Linebackers—Mike Kolen, Ken Bernich, Bill Cody
Defensive backs—Mike Fuller, Larry Willingham, David Langner, Buddy McClinton
Kicker—Gardner Jett
Punter—Tommy Lunceford (can be used at defensive back too)

Some tough decisions here. Many great players almost made the list, including QB Jimmy Sidle, WR Freddie Hyatt, OL Chuck Fletcher, LB Bobby Strickland, and DL Dave Edwards. Would Tucker Frederickson best be suited in the defensive secondary? How about Red Phillips at defensive end?

How would this team have matched up against Pat Dye’s squads of the 1980s? I’ll release my All-Dye team on Christmas