Michigan-centric Super Bowl XLIX Preview: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks

New England Patriots

vs. 

Seattle Seahawks

I'm not sure if you know this, but the Super Bowl is going to be played today at 6:30 p.m. EST on NBC. The media have been keeping it on the down-low since nothing exciting has happened. Also, the only person they're contractually allowed to interview is Marshawn Lynch, and since he won't talk, the media just gave up.

I'll be rooting for the Patriots because of Tom Brady. I'm really torn on whom to pick for the win, though. My head is telling me that the Seahawks have their mojo and keep finding ways to win. But oh well, I'll pick the Patriots with a 31-24 victory.

Below is the list of all the Big Ten (and Notre Dame) players you might have watched over the years. Michigan only has two representatives actually playing in the game (Tom Brady and Alan Branch), but there are a couple others who might get Super Bowl rings even though they're injured (Patriots linebacker Cam Gordon or Seahawks guard Steve Schilling).

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Tom Brady - QB - Michigan
Alan Branch - DT - Michigan
Michael Buchanan - DE - Illinois*
Jonathan Casillas - LB - Wisconsin
Alfonzo Dennard - CB - Nebraska*
Nate Ebner - S - Ohio State
Darius Fleming - LB - Notre Dame
Cameron Gordon - LB - Michigan*
Jonas Gray - RB - Notre Dame
Justin Green - CB - Illinois*
Duron Harmon - S - Rutgers
Michael Hoomanawanui - TE - Illinois
Eric Martin - LB - Nebraska*
Devin McCourty - S - Rutgers
James Morris - LB - Iowa*
Rob Ninkovich - DE - Purdue
Greg Orton - WR - Purdue*
Logan Ryan - CB - Rutgers
Joe Vellano - DT - Maryland
James White - RB - Wisconsin
Tavon Wilson - CB - Illinois
Tim Wright - TE - Rutgers

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Cliff Avril - DE - Purdue
Garry Gilliam - OT - Penn State
David Gilreath - WR - Wisconsin*
Jordan Hill - DT - Penn State*
Tony Moeaki - TE - Iowa
Stephen Schilling - OG - Michigan*
O'Brien Schofield - DE - Wisconsin
Mike Taylor - LB - Wisconsin*
Russell Wilson - QB - Wisconsin

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: David Harris

David Harris

New York Jets inside linebacker David Harris had 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 1 quarterback hurry in a 19-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. On the season, he has 51 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 3 quarterback hurries.

Honorable mention: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was 25/43 for 269 yards, 1 interception, and 1 game-winning touchdown in a 30-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Alan Branch had 6 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in the Buffalo Bills' 27-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley had 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 2 quarterback hurries in the Steelers' win over the Jets. Oakland Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson had 3 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery in a 24-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Leon Hall

Leon Hall scored the first touchdown of this year's playoffs on a twenty-one yard pick six during the second quarter of his Bengals' 19-13 loss to the Texans. He also posted four tackles and a pass deflection in the game. The interception was Hall's third in the last four contests and the second that has been taken back for a touchdown.

Leon appears to be fully recovered from tearing his Achilles tendon late last season and is the winner the Ed Block Courage Award for his work and persistence during the rehabilitation process.  The award is voted on by teammates and given to those who "exemplify commitments to the principals of sportsmanship and courage."

Honorable mention:

• Alan Branch recorded five tackles and a sack as his Seattle Seahawks beat the Washington Redskins, 24-14, and advance to play the Atlanta Falcons in next week's playoff game.
• Charles Woodson was voted a playoff captain, despite missing much of the regular season with a shoulder injury.  He made six tackles in his Packers' 24-10 victory over the Vikings; they move on to play Jonathan Goodwin's 49ers in the next round.     

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Tom Brady

Courtesy of Boston.com

The Patriots were down 21-7 in the third quarter to the Buffalo Bills before Tom Brady led his team on six straight touchdown scoring drives to pull out a comfortable 52-28 win.  Brady ended the game with 340 yards through the air and three touchdowns.  The performance put him into 11th place on the NFL's all-time passing list.  The Patriots are 2-2.

Honorable Mention:  Charles Woodson, now back to playing safety full time, tallied eleven total tackles and one pass break up as the Packers rallied for a 28-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints.  His team is also 2-2.

Miscellaneous:

• Stevie Brown keeps giving me reasons to write about him.  Brown stepped in for the injured Kenny Phillips against Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football and ended the game with seven total tackles.
• Mario Manningham isn't putting up gaudy stats, but he's staying consistent.  Super Mario has at least three catches in every game so far this year.  He has 160 yards through four games.
• After catching 61 balls last year, Steve Breaston only has four catches in 2012.
• Alan Branch recorded his first sack of the year.

Wolverines in the NFL: 2011 Regular Season Statistics

David Harris racked up 85 tackles and made 4 picks in 2011

Offense

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady:  5235 yards, 65.6 completion percentage, 39 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 105.6 QB rating

Chad Henne:  868 yards, 57.1 completion percentage, 4 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 79.0 QB rating

Ryan Mallett:  Did not accrue any statistics in 2011

Running Backs

There aren't any former Michigan running backs who play in the NFL.  (Don't be in a rush, Fitz.)

Wide Receivers

Steve Breaston:  61 receptions for 785 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 carry for 25 yards

Jason Avant:  52 receptions for 679 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 fumbles lost

Mario Manningham:  39 receptions for 523 yards, 4 touchdowns

Braylon Edwards:  15 receptions for 181 yards

Adrian Arrington:  2 receptions for 31 yards, 4 games played

Offensive Linemen

N/A (Jake Long, Stephen Schilling, David Baas, Jeff Backus, Steve Hutchinson, Jonathan Goodwin)

Defense

Cornerbacks

Charles Woodson (also played safety):  74 tackles, 7 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 17 pass deflections

Leon Hall:  32 tackles, 1 fumble recovered, 2 interceptions, 7 pass deflections

Morgan Trent:  16 tackles, 1 fumble recovered, 2 interceptions, 4 pass deflections


Safeties

Ryan Mundy:  37 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection

Stevie Brown:  5 tackles


Linebackers

David Harris:  85 tackles, 65 solo, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions

Larry Foote:  47 tackles, 1.5 sacks

LaMarr Woodley:  39 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 interception

Prescott Burgess:  3 tackles, 3 games played

Jonas Mouton:  Did not accrue any statistics (Injured Reserve)


Defensive Linemen

James Hall:  50 tackles, 6 sacks

Alan Branch:  34 tackles, 3 sacks

Tim Jamison:  19 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered

Brandon Graham:  4 tackles, 3 games played

Special Teams

Zoltan Mesko:  46.5 average, 41.5 net (third in NFL), 65 long, 24.1% inside the 20

Jay Feely:  19 field goals made out of 24 attempted (79.4%), 33 for 33 on extra points 

2004 Offer Board

74 total offers

QUARTERBACK (3)
Chad Henne - West Lawn, PA (Michigan)
Blake Barnes - Baldwyn, MS (Georgia)
Rhett Bomar - Grand Prairie, TX (Oklahoma)

RUNNING BACK (11)
Roger Allison - Lake Orion, MI (Michigan)
Mike Hart - Syracuse, NY (Michigan)
Max Martin - Madison, AL (Michigan)
Greg Coleman - Iowa City, IA (Iowa State)
Derron Thomas - Reserve, LA (Miami)
Bobby Washington - Miami, FL (Miami)
Tony Temple - Kansas City, MO (Missouri)
Erik Haw - Columbus, OH (Ohio State)
Ja'Kouri Williams - Plaquemine, LA (Tennessee)
George Bell - Fayetteville, NC (Virginia Tech)
Purnell Sturdivant - Norfolk, VA (Virginia Tech)

WIDE RECEIVER (11)
Adrian Arrington - Cedar Rapids, IA (Michigan)
Keston Cheatham - Pomona, CA (Michigan)
Doug Dutch - Washington, DC (Michigan)
Morgan Trent - Orchard Lake, MI (Michigan)
Lonnell Dewalt - Bowling Green, KY (Kentucky)
Ted Ginn, Jr. - Cleveland, OH (Ohio State)
Cameron Colvin - Concord, CA (Oregon)
Jaison Williams - Culver City, CA (Oregon)
Desmond Tardy - Indianapolis, IN (Purdue)
Chris Ogbonnaya - Houston, TX (Texas)
Ryan Graves - Venice, CA (UCLA)

TIGHT END (4)
Mike Massey - Cleveland, OH (Michigan)
Kellen Freeman-Davis - Adrian, MI (Michigan State)
Dale Thompson - Corona, CA (USC)
Brad Allen - Venice, FL (Vanderbilt)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE (6)
Micah Jones - Mayfield, KY (Kentucky)
Kellen Heard - Wharton, TX (Miami)
Kyle Mitchum - Erie, PA (Ohio State)
Steve Rehring - West Chester, OH (Ohio State)
Gerald Cadogan - Portsmouth, OH (Penn State)
Chilo Rachal - Compton, CA (USC)

OFFENSIVE GUARD (8)
Jeremy Ciulla - Kennesaw, GA (Michigan)
Grant DeBenedictis - Boca Raton, FL (Michigan)
Brett Gallimore - Riverside, MO (Michigan)
Alex Mitchell - Bay City, MI (Michigan)
Dumaka Atkins - Sarasota, FL (Florida State)
Greg Harrison - Shenandoah, PA (Penn State)
Josh Winchell - Southaven, MS (South Carolina)
Thomas Herring - Los Angeles, CA (USC)

CENTER (0)

DEFENSIVE END (8)
Eugene Germany - Pomona, CA (Michigan)
Tim Jamison - Harvey, IL (Michigan)
Charles Alexander - Breaux Bridge, LA (LSU)
Calais Campbell - Denver, CO (Miami)
Dion Gales - LaPlace, LA (Mississippi)
Vernon Gholston - Detroit, MI (Ohio State)
Ryan Baker - Indianapolis, IN (Purdue)
Jeff Schweiger, Jr. - San Jose, CA (USC)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE (9)
Alan Branch - Albuquerque, NM (Michigan)
Will Johnson - Lake Orion, MI (Michigan)
Marques Walton - Chicago, IL (Michigan)
Dwayne Hendricks - Millville, NJ (Miami)
Corey Mills - Memphis, TN (Mississippi)
A.Q. Shipley - Coraopolis, PA (Penn State)
Craig Bokor - Aliquippa, PA (Pittsburgh)
Williams Morrisey - Silsbee, TX (Texas A&M)
Nick Hayden - Hartland, WI (Wisconsin)

LINEBACKER (5)
Chris Graham - Indianapolis, IN (Michigan)
Chris Rogers - Wexford, PA (Michigan)
John Thompson - Detroit, MI (Michigan)
Marcus Freeman - Huber Heights, OH (Ohio State)
Dan Connor - Wallingford, PA (Penn State)

CORNERBACK (2)
Charles Stewart - Farmington Hills, MI (Michigan)
Rod Council - Charlotte, NC (Louisville)

SAFETY (5)
Jamar Adams - Charlotte, NC (Michigan)
Kyle Jackson - Neptune Beach, FL (Florida)
Craig Steltz - New Orleans, LA (LSU)
Devon Lyons - Pittsburgh, PA (Ohio State)
Sirjo Welch - Columbus, OH (Ohio State)

KICKER (2)
David Lonie - Iowa Falls, IA (California)
Dave Brytus - Imperial, PA (Purdue)

A Look at Potential Future Michigan Recruits

Chelsea running back Berkley Edwards breaks outside against Monroe

A post showed up on Tuesday from Jim Stefani's blog.  Stefani is a recruiting "expert" with an encyclopedic knowledge of high school recruiting, and he unleashed his knowledge of the state of Michigan on his readers.

There are many potential 2013 and 2014 prospects with ties to Michigan, including:

• Braylon Edwards' little brother Berkley, a running back from Chelsea
• Harlan Huckleby's son Eddie, a running back/defensive back from Farmington Hills Harrison
• Antonio Bass' little brother Amani, a quarterback from Jackson Lumen Christi
• Rocko Khoury's cousin Jake Khoury, a lineman from Traverse City West
• John Jaeckin's son John, Jr., a lineman from Lakewood St. Edward (Ohio)
• Craig Roh's brother Jake, a tight end from Scottsdale Chaparral (Arizona)
• Paul Heuerman's (Michigan basketball player) son Mike, a tight end from Naples Barron Collier (Florida)
• Greg Skrepenak's son Christian, an offensive lineman from Wilkes-Barre GAR Memorial (Pennsylvania)
• Alan Branch's little brother Desmond, a defensive lineman from Rio Rancho Cleveland (New Mexico)

It will be interesting to see these kids grow and develop in the coming years, although Skrepenak is already supposedly 6'8" and 350 lbs.  His dad was only 6'6", 322 lbs.

Christian Skrepenak (#45), the son of former Michigan lineman Greg.  See
those other guys?  They're jumping.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Mario Manningham

New York Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham had 8 catches for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Unfortunately for him, the Giants lost to the Eagles on a last-second punt return by Desean Jackson.  Final score: 38-31.

Honorable mention: Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Alan Branch had 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 forced fumble, but the Cardinals lost to the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 19-12.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: David Bowens

David Bowens (#6) played defensive end for Michigan
for a couple seasons before running into academic trouble.

This is a blast from the past.  Cleveland Browns defensive end David Bowens had his best career game on Saturday.  Bowens only had 1 tackle in Sunday's victory over the New Orleans Saints, but he made 2 interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns.  One interception was returned 64 yards for the TD, while the other was taken back 30 yards for the score.  Bowens has played 12 seasons in the NFL for the Broncos, Packers, Dolphins, Jets, and Browns.  Altogether, he has 294 tackles, 38 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, and 4 interceptions.  Bowens struggled with academics and personal issues as a Wolverine, although he totaled 12 sacks in his final season in Ann Arbor (1996) before transferring to Western Illinois and playing out his college eligibility.

Honorable mention: Defensive tackle Alan Branch, currently of the Arizona Cardinals, had 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 quarterback hurries in Sunday's 22-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.