BTB Preseason Awards Show is Like Hiter

Just like the Boston Celtics and Hitler, the BTB's preseason awards show marches along, blindly destroying everything in its path, except instead of Poland, it's the aspirations of every Big Ten school except Ohio State.

The awards, kindly hosted by our friends Lake the Posts, now move from preseason team standings to preseason All-Conference performers, first and second team. Every blogger submitted their picks for first team all-conference, and LTP is currently tabulating the results, and throwing together a coherent (hopefully) output. In an attempt at spreading content out, we'll dole out our own picks for 1st team Offense today, Defense tomorrow, vicious attack on any idiotic picks on Friday.

Cruise over to Lake the Posts tomorrow morning for the consensus 1st and 2nd teams.

BEAUFORD'S 1st TEAM ALL CONFERENCE OFFENSE

QB: C.J. Bacher NW
RB: Chris Wells OSU
RB: Javon Ringer MSU
WR: Arrelious Benn IL
WR: Brian Robiskie OSU
WR: Brian Hartline OSU
TE: Travis Beckem WI
OT: Alex Boone OSU
OT: Gerald Cadogan PSU
OG: Jon Skinner OSU
OG: Steve Schilling UM
C: Ryan McDonald IL

Eyebrow Raisers:

The biggest and baddest of the "huh?" picks here is C.J. Bacher at QB. I know, I know - he plays for a Northwestern, and no, this isn't a shameless attempt to get linked by LTP. Take a look at his stats from last year:

304 YPG (1st in conference)
19 TD's (6th in conference)
19 INT's (Um...worst in conference)
3656 total yards (2nd in conference)
61% completion (3rd in conference)

That, my friends, is a rather impressive junior year. Take into account that Northwestern has a new OC, as well as the natural improvement anyone not named "Henne" makes from junior to senior seasons, and C.J. could have an incredible "why the heck is this guy at Northwestern" type season. If he does anything in the way of leading Northwestern over a "traditional powerhouse" then the media will latch onto him like that crazy freshman girl you "dated" in college. Since I'm overweight and live in my mom's basement, I can only assume that metaphor fits. Also of note is the fact that there is a relative dearth of talent at the QB position in the Big 10 this year. Boeckman and Hoyer can both expect to have better team success than Bacher, but my guess is that Bacher will have better stats when it's all said and done. Oh - and Juice doesn't have his Mendenhall shaped blanket anymore - so I count him out as well.

The other eyebrow raiser in Steve Schilling on the line. I already know what you're saying: Isn't he the kid who got abused last year by nearly everyone he lined up against? The short answer is yes. The long answer is that he is an athletic beast who will prosper under the new tutelage of the Rich Rod staff. He is also in sink or swim territory as the most experienced dude on the entire Michigan line. I'll be the first to admit that this is a stretch, and he's got to do everything right. But if he does, he's going to be a manbearfreak.

Fringe Picks

I will also admit that I don't know much about the offensive lines of any team not named Michigan, so some of these picks may indeed turn out to be total crap. Cadogen and Skinner are picks based on experience and team-success. They are 2 of a bevy of options here.

My guess is that Robiskie and Hartline won't both be on the final cut - but one will emerge as Boeckman's go-to-guy. I thought they both deserved mention, so I created a 3rd WR spot.

Well Duh

Wells and Ringer are both obvi. Benn's big-play potential will put him on the first team despite the fact that I have zero confidence in his QB's throwing ability. If Juice turns into a decent thrower this year, it will be because of Benn's brilliance. Beckem is awesome and will be one of Wisky's primary targets this year. Anytime a tight end turns himself into a primary offensive weapon, they're really really good. McDonald is on the Rimington Award watch list, and Alex Boone is one of those Buckeyes who could have easily went to the NFL, but returned to get curb-stomped by the SEC one more year (but only after beating Michigan. Again.).