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Tag Archives: Ken Dorsey

The Best UM and NFL RBs of All time.

By the time Alabama and LSU concluded their sloppy, boring, and one-sided excuse of a BCS championship game, I could not wait for Miami’s battle against Carolina in hoops. Well about halfway through that disaster, I was longing for college football yet again. Since signing day is still three weeks away, and because I got such tremendous feedback on my all time QB list(mostly negative I might add), here are my Top 5 UM running backs of all time:

 

#5 Melvin Bratton.  If not for a devastating knee injury in the Orange Bowl that shortened Bratton’s career in 1988, he may be higher on the list, perhaps even # 1.  Bratton was a force in the red zone as well as an outstanding receiver. At the time Bratton left UM he held the all time Hurricane touchdown record with 33.

Melvin Bratton skied over Seminole defenders in 1987.

#4 Frank Gore. Like Bratton, Gore’s potential was cut short by injuries. Nonetheless Gore finished his UM career with 1,975 yards (a 5.7 rushing average) and seventeen touchdowns. Gore was an especially explosive force during his 2001 freshman campaign when he averaged a whopping 9.1 yards per carry. Gore also makes the list for the inspirational way he returned not once but twice from major knee surgery during his stay with the ‘Canes.

#3 Clinton Portis. Portis was a key cog in Miami’s 2001 National Championship team rushing for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns on 220 carries (5.5 avg.). Portis was shifty, had great vision, and ran with power when needed. He also was a dangerous check down for Ken Dorsey and displayed great hands out of the backfield.

#2 Willis McGahee.  McGahee was only a starter for one year at UM, but what a year!!  In 2002, he demolished school season records, carrying the ball 282 times for 1,753 yards (6.2 yards avg.) and 28 TDs. Perhaps the best combination of speed and power to ever carry the ball at UM, McGahee was in my opinion easily the best player in all of college football in 02′.

#1 Edgerrin James.  Edge is the only running back in UM’s history to post two consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards, and he ranks first in school history with the most 100-plus rushing games (14).  What made James so good? He ran just as well between the tackles as on the perimeter, he picked up blitzes exceptionally well, and had sure hands receiving. In a nutshell Edge was the epitome of a complete back.

 

Here is some of the best of James, Gore, McGahee, and Portis:

 

Perhaps a much much more difficult list is my all time greatest NFL RBs. This is a list that definitely needs to be longer. Here is my all time Top 10:

 

#10 Ladainian Tomlinson. In 2003 he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and record 100 receptions in the same season.  Not to mention the all-time NFL record for single season touchdowns (31) in 2006. Tomlinson was deadly in the red zone, and a great receiver, blocker, runner, and occasional passer.

#9 Marcus Allen. The Super Bowl XVIII  MVP finished his career with 145 TDs. Allen used long graceful strides to pick up most of his 12,243 rushing yards, but Allen was also surprisingly powerful. My lasting memory of # 32 will always be his signature reverse of direction run against the Redskins in the Super Bowl.

#8 Earl Campbell. Campbell finished his career with 9,407 yards in 7 highly productive years. More than anything Big Earl makes my list because he freakishly fast and big at 5-11, 244-pound frame, coupled with 4.5 speed.

Earl Campbell was a big bad dude!

#7 Marshall Faulk. Perhaps most impressive about Faulk are his 6,875 career receiving yards to go along with 12,279 rushing yards. Marshall Faulk may be the best all-purpose threat the NFL has ever seen.

#6 Eric Dickerson. In just his second season in 1984 ED assaulted the record book on his way to an NFL record 2,105 yards. Dickerson was a workhorse between the tackles, but once he got into the secondary no one was catching him. Dickerson may have had the best straight line speed of any RB ever.

#5 Gayle Sayers.  Sayers’ career was cut dramatically short by devastating knee injuries, or he may have been even higher on the list. During his 4 years he racked up a lifetimes worth of highlight reel runs. Sayers scored a remarkable 22 TDs as a rookie in 1965 and was a threat to take it all the way as a return man as well.

#4 Emmitt Smith. Smith is the NFL’s all time leading rusher with 18,355 yards. You can find his name all over the record book, but my lasting memory of him is his inspirational one-armed performance against the Giants in 1993 when he rushed for 170 yards and caught 10 passes with a separated shoulder. It remains the gutsiest and one of the most clutch performances I have ever seen in football.

Emmitt Smith played through the pain.

#3 Barry Sanders. Words can’t describe # 20.  Maybe video can?

 

 #2 Jim Brown. Many will argue Brown is not only the greatest RB of all time but the best football player to ever step on a field, period. No doubt #32 was as tough as they come. A tremendous athlete who was also an All-American in Lacrosse at Syracuse, legend has it Brown never stepped out-of-bounds on his way to 12,312 yards in just 9 seasons.

Many call Jim Brown the best of all time.

 

#1 Walter Payton. To me “Sweetness” is the best there ever was. No one ran harder, not even Brown or Campbell. Payton rushed for 16,726 yards and also caught 492 passes, passed for 8 TDs,  and kicked extra points (just kidding, though he probably could have).  Check out some of # 34′s best work here:

 

Please feel free to leave plenty of feedback.

The Best NFL and UM QBs of all time.

When Drew Brees hit Darren Sproles for a nine yard touchdown and surpassed

Drew Brees passes his way past Dan Marino.

Dan Marino’s all time single season passing total of 5,084 yards, it was a bittersweet moment for South Floridian football fans. The legendary Marino now took a back seat, but Dolphin fans everywhere were reminded how great he was in an era where the rules weren’t as slanted for the offense. So who was the better QB? And where does each rank all time? Here is my all time top 10 modern QBs. (Note this list only includes players I have seen play live, post 1980)

 

10. Drew Brees.  Perhaps Brees will be higher on the list by the time he retires. For now a Super Bowl MVP, the all time single season passing record, & 276 TDs/145 INTs land him as my #10.

 

9. Brett Favre.  Favre is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 70,000 yards, over 500 touchdowns, over 300 interceptions, and over 10,000 pass attempts.  The 3 Time NFL MVP most remarkable accomplishment maybe his 297 consecutive starts. Too many INTs to be higher on the list though.

 

8. Dan Fouts. Fouts never won a championship, and had great talent in Kellen Winslow, Wes Chandler, and Charlie Joiner surrounding him. But he makes my list at #8 due to the pure beauty of his throws, and 43,040 career yards.

 

7. Tom Brady. One can argue Brady should be higher on the list, perhaps #1. But his three championship seasons were not his best statistical seasons, and he was blessed to play with great defenses and a Hall of Fame Head Coach in Bill Bellichick. Nonetheless Brady makes the list because of incredible clutch play and a TD/INT ratio that is currently 297/114.

 

6. Steve Young. Young could be higher on this list, had he not been a #2 for a portion of his career. Yes he was blessed with great talent around him, but his passer rating of 96.8 (second all time) and his incredible athleticism make him my # 6 QB of all time.

 

5. Peyton Manning.  399 TDs, 54,828 yards, and a 94.9 career passer rating

Peyton Manning is perhaps the smartest QB of all time.

speak for themself. But to me Manning changed the game with his intelligence and mental approach. It seems like every QB in the league now mimics Manning’s cat and mouse games with the defense at the line of scrimmage.

 

4. Dan Marino. While a Super Bowl win eluded Marino for his entire career, Marino left his mark on the record books and Dolphin fans’ memories forever. Armed with the quickest release in NFL history “Dandy Dan” finished his career with 61,361 yards and 420 TDs.

 

Dolphin fans will argue Dan Marino as the greatest QB of all time

 

 

3. Aaron Rodgers. Some may say it is too soon to put Rodgers this high. But to me more than anything he passes the “eye test”.  His 45/6 TD to INT ratio this year is just plain sick.

 

2. John Elway. Numbers will not sum up Elway as well as some of the other QBs on this list.  But two stand out, 148 career wins (second all time only to Favre) and 47 come from behind victories. No QB in NFL history was more feared in the fourth quarter.

 

1. Joe Montana. 4 Super Bowl starts, 4 Super Bowl wins. “Joe Cool” was

Joe Montana, the best QB of all time?

maybe the most clutch QB ever. And in my opinion no one was as graceful in the pocket.  A 273/139 TD to INT ratio isn’t too shabby either.

 

 

 

 

Ok, so no UM alums made the all time list. Since UM is after all “QB U”, here are my top 5 Hurricane QBs of all time.

 

 

5. Jim Kelly. Kelly just missed out on the list above.  At UM  he compiled 5,233 yards and 32 TDs, and was the first in a long great line of ‘Cane QBs.

 

4. Gino Torretta.  Torretta was spectacular in the 1991 National Championship season and followed it up with a Heisman in ’92. He finished his two year run with over 6.000 yards and 39 TDs.

 

3. Vinny Testaverde. Testaverde will always be remembered for the 5 INTs in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. But we need not forget he was the QB on the ’86 National Championship squad and won a Heisman Trophy.

 

2. Bernie Kosar.Kosar led UM to a national championship in 1983-84 as a

Bernie Kosar led UM to its first National Championship.

first year started and followed it up the next year with  3,642 yards and 25 touchdowns.

 

1. Ken Dorsey. The greatest UM QB of all time was 38-2 as a starter. If not for a bad pass interference call at Washington in 2000, and a worse one in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, Dorsey could have gone 40-0. He finished his career setting UM career records for total offense (9,486 yards), passing yards (9,565), passing touchdowns (86) as well.

 

Please feel free to leave lots of feedback. Please also enjoy these great Ken Dorsey highlights:

 

 

 

 

Category 6 Football Simulation: Miami Hurricanes (2001-2002) vs. Auburn Tigers (2010-2011) Part 2

Welcome back for the conclusion to this epic simulated game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Auburn Tigers. When we last left off, the Hurricanes had jumped out to a 26-14 halftime lead over the Tigers. To read about the first half, click here.

 

Darryl Jones (1) snagged two passes from Dorsey to get the 'Canes rolling in the 2nd half.

Willis McGahee (2) is having a great season in the NFL despite playing behind a QB who is completely inept for the first 3.5 quarters of every game.

THIRD QUARTER: Miami deferred so they received the ball to start the second half. Miami returned the ball to their own 35 and Dorsey immediately hit Darryl Jones on passes of 15 and 16 yards. This took the ‘Canes into Tiger territory and Miami went to the ground game.

 

Auburn fans in attendance hoped the intermission would help recharge their defensive front, but Miami’s offensive line was firing on all cylinders. Portis, Willis McGahee, and Frank Gore (wow, what a backfield) took turns punishing Auburn’s defense with Portis finally plunging in on a 3rd and goal from the 1-yd line.

 

Matt Walters (91) wonders "What's that sound?" Casey Printers (1) thinks "Ouch! My spine shouldn't bend like that!"

RIP Sean Taylor (26).

After the converted PAT, Auburn’s returner was demolished by Sean Taylor, pinning the Tigers deep in their own territory. Newton dropped back on a 3rd and short and Matt Walters leveled him for a drive-killing sack. Miami took the punt to their own 38 where Johnson made an amazing one-handed diving grab for a 25-yd gain.

 

Todd Sievers (16) reacted strongly to his missed FG. Shortly after, Ed Reed consoled him on the sideline and told him the D would get the ball back.

William Joseph (94) didn't get a sack, but his run defense on 3rd downs was big in the simulated match-up.

The ‘Canes ran the ball and with the aid of a couple of Auburn penalties moved into position for a Sievers’ 35-yd field goal attempt which sailed wide-left. Auburn took over and after a 5-yd run by Mario Fannin and a Dyer run that was blown-up at the line of scrimmage by William Joseph, Reed kept good on his promise and sacked Newton on a safety blitz.

 

 

 

Miami took yet another Auburn punt and returned it to their own 48. After a Portis run that went nowhere, Dorsey found Johnson for a gain of 25. With the Tiger defense on its heels, coverage was rolled to Johnson’s side and Miami had a draw called at the perfect time. Portis gashed through a gaping hole and trucked two defenders at the goal line for the score. Miami’s defense continued to dominate Auburn’s offense. After another 3 and out time expired on the clock. END OF THIRD QUARTER: MIAMI 40 AUBURN 14.

 

FOURTH QUARTER: Miami took the punt back to their 33 and three-headed monster of Portis, McGahee, and Gore helped guide the ‘Canes into Auburn territory. On a 4th and 4, Larry Coker elected to go for it instead of a long FG try by Sievers. Dorsey dropped back and Dee Ford sacked him for a 6-yd loss, firing up the Tigers.

 

Dee Ford (95) got to Dorsey for a big sack on 4th down.

Onterio McCalebb (23) looked good in a limited role.

Auburn took over and Onterio McCalebb busted through the Hurricane front line on a draw for a 37-yd gain, taking Auburn deep into ‘Cane territory. Miami’s defense held the Tigers in check, forcing a 4th a 13. Bynum was called on and he drilled a 41-yd FG.

 

Kodi Burns (18) dropped a sure TD pass from Cam Newton which would have received an emphatic "C'mon Man!" from Keyshawn Johnson. Keep your head up, young man, it's only a simulated game.

Cam Newton (1) is consoled by Coach Gene Chizik.

The teams then traded 3 and outs. Auburn missed a golden chance to get back into the game when a blown coverage left Kodi Burns alone behind the secondary. Newton put the ball on the money and Burns dropped it, staring at his hands in disbelief.  Miami had a little more success on their next drive, but Stevens sacked Dorsey on a 3rd and 2, forcing a punt.

 

With 6:19 left in the game, Auburn took over from their own 34. On 3rd and 10, Netwon escaped the pocket and picked up nine yards. Auburn converted the 4th and short on a toss to McCalebb. 3 plays later Auburn was back in a must-convert 4th down. Newton tried to get to the marker but was stopped short by Jerome McDougle and Phillip Buchanon.

 

Jerome McDougle (95) is ready to smash poor #20 after 50 other 'Canes get their chance.

Phillip Buchanon (31) celebrates after helping to bring Newton down.

Miami took over with 4:12 on the clock. A few Portis runs ate up a minute and a half and seemed to seal the victory for the ‘Canes. With 2:13 left in the game Miami was once again in Tiger territory. Again denying a long FG attempt, the ‘Canes went for it on 4th down. Portis didn’t make it and the ‘Canes were flagged for holding which was declined.

 

Newton scrambled effectively against a prevent defense. The NFL star mixed in a few dump offs that took the Tigers down to the ‘Canes 28. Mike Rumph was sent on a blitz and inexplicably delivered a late hit to Newton. With 48 seconds left the ‘Canes sideline was well into its celebration as Dyer took an option pitch from Newton and scored from 13-yds out.  Newton kept it himself on the 2-pt conversion and scored. Auburn tried an onside kick, but Miami recovered. The offense came out and downed the ball to end the game. END OF GAME: MIAMI 40 AUBURN 25

 

This concludes our fantasy match-up of what many consider the best college football team in history with last year’s undefeated Auburn team. The results of this game take nothing away from what the Auburn Tigers accomplished last season.

 

A few notes: the first simulation run was picked to be the focus of the analysis. If Auburn had won, I would have written that game up. We ran the simulation a total of ten times with Auburn getting its only win in a very close game #6. The result: Miami 9, Auburn 1. The scores: 40-14, 47-17, 45-12, 62-21, 43-40 Auburn, 45-30, 41-10, 39-27, 43-30. The game was simulated at a neutral location and the simulated weather was a perfect 70 degrees F.

 

Our final post for this game will be a stat-dump from the game, so look for it the next day or two. If you have any suggestions for historical match-ups (from 1996 on in football or basketball) please comment below.

 

The 'Canes celebrate a hard-fought simulated win against a tough Auburn Tigers squad.

Category 6 Football Simulation: Miami Hurricanes (2001-2002) vs. Auburn Tigers (2010-2011)

Somewhat inspired by Jerry’s sudden desire to post about football, I contacted the computer programmers at Category 6 and gave them this challenge: What would a game between the 2001-2002 undefeated national championship Miami Hurricanes team and the Cam Newton-led Auburn Tigers who took home the bacon last season look like?

 

Ken Dorsey (11) looks for a future NFL star to throw the ball to.

Cam Newton (2) stiff-arms a defender face-first into the turf.

Ken Dorsey was a  mentor to Cam Newton before his scintillating rookie season. Netwon is poised to be a future NFL superstar and Category 6 thinks that Dorsey has a career as a head coach somewhere in his future. Maybe at the U.

 

FIRST QUARTER: Auburn won the toss and elected to receive. After a modest return to their own 31, the Tigers sputtered on offense, despite a 28-yd hookup from Newton to Darvin Adams. Ed Reed blew up a draw play on 3rd and 2 to force a punt. Miami fared better on their first possession, despite some silly penalties. Dorsey hit Andre Johnson with a 32-yd strike. Locked-in, Dorsey hit Kevin Beard and Jeremy Shockey for a succession of first downs moving the ‘Canes into the red zone.

 

Ed Reed (20): making life difficult for opposing defenses one play at a time.

Clinton Portis (28) had a monster simulated game with 238 total yards and 4TD's.

The drive stalled after Dorsey was sacked by Ryan Smith on 3rd and 2, resulting in a 27-yd field goal by Todd Sievers. After a quick 3-and-out, Miami took possession again and Clinton Portis went to work, busting a 16-yd run on a draw on 3rd and long to keep the drive going.

 

Dorsey then hit Shockey, Robert Williams, and finally, Ethnic Sands in the end zone for the game’s first TD. Nick Fairley blocked the PAT and showed why he was the Lions 13th pick in last year’s NFL draft.

 

Nick Fairley (90) blocked a PAT and was held to only a single sack in the simulation.

Michael Dyer (5) was Auburn top player, rushing for 141-yds and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries.

After a return to their own 41-yd line, the Tigers went to the option on their first play. Netwon made the first defender miss with his strength and pitched to Dyer who bolted down the sideline for a 59-yd score. The Hurricanes only needed one play to answer after a short return to their own 16.

 

 

 

Dorsey faked an end-around to Andre Johnson which confused Auburn’s linebackers. Portis leaked into the flat and Dorsey floated a pass that just missed the outstretched hand of LB Craig Stevens who was struggling to recover. Portis caught it and turned on the jets, streaking for 84-yds and a score. END OF FIRST QUARTER: MIAMI 16 AUBURN 7.

 

Wes Bynum (18) wishes via leaning and contorting that his simulated kick was 18-inches further to the left.

SECOND QUARTER: After a return to the 20, the Tigers struggled to move the ball until Netwon hit Terrell Zachery for a 28-yd gain. Netwon then used his legs to scramble for a couple of first downs. Newton continued to press his luck and the ‘Canes corralled him for two consecutive losses bringing up a 41-yd field goal attempt by Wes Bynum that sailed wide-right. Usually, this kind of effort is reserved for Seminole kickers. On their first play of the drive, Miami went to the screen pass.

 

Bryant McKinnie got out in front and leveled Stevens, freeing up space for Portis to operate. Portis made three additional defenders miss before being forced out of bounds. Dorsey hit Andre Johnson with a short pass. Johnson shed tacklers turning a short gain into a 39-yd pass play that took the ‘Canes into the red zone.

 

Bryant McKinnie (78) was a pancake machine.

Andre Johnson (5) = BEAST

However, the drive stalled there and the ‘Canes called on Sievers who converted a 24-yd try. Auburn returned the kickoff to their own 35 and went back to the ground game. After converting a couple of short first-down opportunities, the Tigers went back to the draw and Dyer didn’t disappoint.

 

He darted past an overzealous defensive front and sped 42-yds to the promised land. The ‘Canes tried to answer with Portis but the Tigers stopped a 3rd and short plunge forcing a punt. Auburn faced the same fate, going 3-and-out. Miami returned the resulting punt to their own 35 and Dorsey went to work hitting Beard, Shockey and Williams for first downs to lead the ‘Canes deep inside Auburn territory. Auburn defenders were gassed and Miami called on Portis to score on a 7-yd run. After this score both defenses stiffened. Auburn went 3 and out and Miami did the same as Fairley sacked Dorsey on a big 3rd and long pass attempt. Auburn tried to get something done in the 2-minute drill, but the ‘Canes defense stopped the Tigers in their tracks. END OF HALF: MIAMI 26, AUBURN 14.

 

As the teams headed into the locker room, Netwon implored his offensive line to give him more time to look down field. Auburn appeared fired-up, despite being down by 12 at the half. The ‘Canes appeared confident and looked to continue to stifle Auburn’s offense. Before vanishing into the tunnel, Portis gave “The U” salute and nodded his head confidently.

 

Tune in later this week for the 2nd half and the conclusion of the game.