Tag: polls

#OnePride Q/A: Fan reactions to the Lions’ 2020 draft class

We asked #OnePride nation how they felt of the Detroit Lions’ 2020 draft class ranging from favorite player to biggest reach

With the 2020 draft in the books, we are inching closer to the training camps and getting to see the drafted players in action.

Many analysts and fans gave the Detroit Lions glowing reviews on their draft haul, as they addressed many of their most significant weaknesses, but to get an even deep look at fan’s perspectives, we at Lions Wire gauged the #OnePride fanbase’s thoughts on the Lions’ draft class via Twitter polls.

Favorite pick?

Zack’s take: I omitted Jeff Okudah because I wanted to get thoughts outside of the first round.

This was tight back-and-forth between D’Andre Swift and Julian Okwara, but eventually Swift ran away with it. This result really shouldn’t be overly surprising as many fans were begging for a running back early and even general manager Bob Quinn was excited Swift was still on the board in the second round.

Swift will look to be a compliment with Kerryon Johnson in the backfield and give Matthew Stafford a new dynamic weapon. I was surprised the Lions took a running back this early, but after seeing what they did later in the draft, the more this pick made sense.

Least favorite pick?

Zack’s take: After the Lions drafted Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg at guard along with Swift earlier, the Lions focus on improving the running game was evident. Most thought they were finished, but Quinn doubled down on running back in the fifth round by selecting Jason Huntley.

Adding Huntley did feel like a luxury pick but Quinn is always looking for competition amongst the roster and Huntley will likely compete with Ty Johnson at running back and possibly Jamal Agnew on returns.

Best value?

Zack’s take: After rarely addressing the pass rush in previous drafts, Quinn tagged EDGE Julian Okwara in the third round. If it wasn’t for Okwara breaking his leg last season, expectations were he would have gone significantly sooner. Luckily for the Lions, he dropped, making Quinn a happy man.

Okwara was PFF’s No. 28 overall player, and the Lions were able to land him with the 67th overall pick, nabbing one of the better value picks in the draft.

Fun fact: Using PFF’s big board, the best value pick for the Lions wasn’t Okwara, it was John Penisini, who was their 104th overall player, and the Lions selected him at pick 197.

Biggest reach?

Zack’s take: It was challenging to nitpick the Lions draft class. Up and down, the Lions seemed to nail value with position needs with their selections. Some would’ve preferred to wait on running back, but as the draft progressed, running backs quickly became a hot commodity on Day 2. Doubling up on guard was a head-scratcher at first, but with a focus on the running game, the Lions needed maulers. As I mentioned before, as the draft progressed, it was clear Quinn had a plan in mind and executed it almost flawlessly.

The player that got a few mentions as a possible reach was Huntley for the same reasons that were mentioned above. Beyond that, the majority agreed the Lions got players who fit perfectly into the plan both Quinn and coach Matt Patricia were looking to execute.

Keep your eyes open for future questions. We would love to hear your thoughts. If you have any questions, you’d like to see answered, send a message, or leave a comment with your question. Thank you to all Lions fans and the #OnePride nation.

POLL: Grade the Lions’ 2020 NFL draft class

Most analysts seemed to like what the Detroit Lions did on draft day, but how would grade their draft class?

Now that we’ve had time to catch our breath and maybe some sleep, we were able to fully take in the Lions’ 2020 draft.

For all accounts and purposes, most analysts liked what general manager Bob Quinn might’ve had one of his more successful drafts filling in the major holes that were sinking this team. Some may believe he might’ve reached a few picks, but all in all, he was able to land great value with a majority of the selections.

He drafted Jeff Okudah, Julian Okwara, John Penisini, and Jashon Cornell to shore the weakness on defense. For the offense, he got D’Andre Swift, Jonah Jackson, Logan Stenberg, Quintez Cephus, and Jason Huntley.

On the surface, it looks like the Lions are putting a premium on improving the run game with the selection of two running backs and two guards. Even though the picks were later, they got a few players that should help the defensive line and pass rush.

Make your voice heard! How would you grade the 2020 Lions draft class?

[polldaddy poll=10543587]

2020 FIW Tournament: Grotto Region First Round Voting

Voting for the Grotto Region of the 2020 FIW Tournament to determine Notre Dame’s greatest game is underway!

Voting for the Grotto Region’s first round is open from 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15 until Wednesday night, March 18 at 6 p.m. ET.  Be sure to vote for all eight regional match-ups here and see the bottom to click links and vote for the other three regions as well.

First Round Match-ups:
The 1993 “Game of the Century” gets a somewhat surprisingly difficult opponent for a 16 seed as the Lou Holtz-led upset of No. 9 Michigan in 1987.
[polldaddy poll=10520738]

Another comeback win over a blue-blood from that 1999 season meets a memorable win over a Drew Brees-led Purdue team in 1998.
[polldaddy poll=10520739]

Arnaz Battle strikes early as Notre Dame remains unbeaten at Florida State while Alabama’s last trip to South Bend results in a 1987 Notre Dame win.
[polldaddy poll=10520740]

Gary Godsey beats eventual Big Ten Champ Purdue and Drew Brees (with the help of Nick Setta and some great special teams play) in 2000 while a 1990 trip to Tennessee ends in a top-ten victory.
[polldaddy poll=10520741]

Glenn Earl blocks a field goal to force overtime and Joey Getherall scores on an end-around in the extra period to save what turned into a BCS berth.  That meets a tough 2012 win over Michigan in which Tommy Rees scored Notre Dame’s only touchdown.
[polldaddy poll=10520742]

The Rocket strikes twice in an early-season No. 1 vs. No. 2 win over Michigan while Mike Goolsby’s pick-six helps lead the way in a 2004 upset win at then top-ten Tennessee.
[polldaddy poll=10520743]

A couple of wins over Stanford both kept undefeated Notre Dame seasons alive in mid-October.
[polldaddy poll=10520744]

Perhaps Brian Kelly’s biggest win to date at Notre Dame meets up with that opponents biggest rival, just three years later in a game that the 2015 Fighting Irish made an impressive, blowout debut.
[polldaddy poll=10520745]

Links to vote for the other three regions first round match-ups:

Basilica Region
Hesburgh Region
Golden Dome Region Region

2020 FIW Tournament: Hesburgh Region First Round Voting

A great 1989 season concluded with a win over then number one Colorado in the Orange Bowl takes on the win where things started to turn around for Brian Kelly in year one, the 2010 victory over Utah.

Voting for the Hesburgh Region’s first round is open from 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15 until Wednesday night, March 18 at 6 p.m. ET.  Be sure to vote for all eight regional match-ups here and see the bottom to click links and vote for the other three regions as well.

Round One Matchups:
A great 1989 season concluded with a win over then number one Colorado in the Orange Bowl takes on the win where things started to turn around for Brian Kelly in year one, the 2010 victory over Utah.
[polldaddy poll=10520729]

A couple of early-season upsets of Michigan kept things unbeaten for a couple of coaches in their first years at Notre Dame.
[polldaddy poll=10520730]

A blowout of what wound up being a Rose Bowl Champion USC team and a win over a 2013 Michigan State team that would win every other game they played that season.
[polldaddy poll=10520731]

The first of two-straight Cotton Bowl wins over Texas A&M sets the tone for a remarkable 1993 season.  It meets up with Notre Dame’s first ever trip to Virginia Tech, a night we all learned how overrated the “Enter Sandman” entrance really is.
[polldaddy poll=10520732]

The conclusion of the 1993 season wound up being a thriller over Texas A&M while Halloween 2015 ruined an upstart Temple team’s unbeaten season in what was a thriller of it’s own in Philadelphia.
[polldaddy poll=10520733]

Pat Dillingham found Arnaz Battle to keep Tyrone Willingham’s start an unbeaten one while Brian Kelly’s first season at Notre Dame ends with a dominating effort against Miami in the Sun Bowl.
[polldaddy poll=10520734]

A win over a top-five Michigan team to start the 1990 season meets up with a destruction of Michigan in 2014 that was, at the time, scheduled to be the final meeting between the two old rivals.
[polldaddy poll=10520735]

Has there ever been a more photogenic game at Notre Dame Stadium than the 1992 Snow Bowl win over Penn State?  That just so happened to be Jerome Bettis, Rick Mirer and Reggie Brooks final home game.  It matches up with the shocking 2004 Week Two upset of No. 8 Michigan.
[polldaddy poll=10520736]

Be sure to vote in all other first round match-ups here:

Basilica Region
Grotto Region
Golden Dome Region

2020 FIW Tournament: Notre Dame’s Best Games Since 1986 (Introduction)

Who is ready for a tournament that will consume your life for the next three weeks?  Come hang out with us and check back often as we determine the best Notre Dame football game since in the last 34 years.

Who out there is ready for a tournament that will consume your life for the next three weeks?  Aren’t we usually used to that this time of year?  Since we’re all on lock down anyway, let’s have a tournament of our own —

For Notre Dame fans it was already looking like a March to forget.  The women’s basketball team had an incredibly rare off year and the hockey team saw their season end last weekend after dropping two straight in Minnesota to get eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament.  Neither was tournament bound.  Unless Notre Dame went on a miracle run and won the ACC Tournament, the men’s basketball team wasn’t going to be participating in March Madness, either.

What we have for you here at Fighting Irish Wire though is a tournament to remember some of the good and hopefully start some (mostly) friendly debates.

What is the best Notre Dame football game since 1986?

A couple of facts for this bracket and what the selection committee is thinking as we finalize the bracket before it’s Sunday evening release:

  1.  It was put together by Nick Shepkowski and Jeff Feyerer.  The two used a draft type format to come up with seeds for the majority of it, aside from the very top seeds.
  2. It doesn’t matter if the game had national championship implications or not, was it a great game?  It’s worth at least remembering and discussing.  There will be some of the classics you will easily recall and hopefully more than a couple that make you think “oh man, I entirely forgot about that…how in the bloody hell did the Irish win that?!?!”
  3. The only real rule for this is that it had to have occurred since Lou Holtz took over (starting in 1986) and Notre Dame had to have won.  Sure, 2000 Nebraska was a thriller as was 2014 Florida State and 2005 USC.  They were losses though and I’m fine with not having to relive those for now.  Let’s just hope this Coronavirus goes away so we don’t have to start bringing up some of the painful heartbreak and analyzing it too thoroughly (let’s obviously hope Coronavirus goes away for the obvious reasons, too).

We will unveil the bracket on what is normally “Selection Sunday”.  You the Fighting Irish Wire community will then be in charge of voting for the games you think most-deserve to move on and you’ll come right to FIW to do just that.

If you’re not following us on Twitter, be sure to do so and if you’re not following our Facebook page be sure to give it a like.  We’ll post the rounds on both of those and share reminders to vote on each round of action.

Here’s the plan for voting for the games:

First round voting will start on Monday, March 16 at 9 a.m. ET and go through Wednesday, March 18 at 6 p.m ET.

Second round voting then starts Thursday, March 19 at 9 a.m. ET and goes through Sunday evening, March 22 at 6 p.m. ET.

Sweet 16 voting will then be conducted March 23 at 9 a.m. ET and go until Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. ET.

Elite Eight voting will be held then from Thursday, March 26 at 9 a.m. ET and go until Sunday evening of March 29 at 6 p.m. ET.

We’ll then conduct Final Four voting starting Monday, March 30 at 9 a.m. ET and have it go through the evening of Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. ET.

Championship voting will finally take place starting Thursday, April 2 at 9 a.m. ET and go through Monday night, what would have been the night of the NCAA Men’s Basketball national championship.  We’ll close voting at 11:30 p.m. ET to go right along with when “One Shining Moment” usually is hitting the air.

Check back here Sunday night to see the bracket and be sure to share it with your Notre Dame fan friends all March long.  We may not have live sports but we’ll still have plenty of fun in the coming days and weeks.

In the meantime, what games that you fear we may be forgetting need to be included on this bracket?  Get your last minute submissions in before the committee unveils the bracket Sunday night!

Where Michigan football ranks in final Amway Coaches Poll of 2019

Where the Wolverines rank in the final Amway Coaches Poll and which ranked teams they won and lost to.

[jwplayer QP4qX9BN-XNcErKyb]

There’s very little difference in the final AP Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll as it pertains to Michigan.

The Wolverines came in at No. 19 in the final AP Top 25 of 2019, and likewise, that’s where they ranked in the final Amway Coaches Poll, powered by USA TODAY Sports.

Also, just like in the AP Top 25, Michigan finished the 2019 season having played six ranked teams, going 2-4 in those games. The maize and blue beat No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 15 Iowa, but lost to No. 3 Ohio State, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 Penn State and No. 13 Wisconsin.

With four losses on the season, Michigan finished ranked below both teams that it beat, as Notre Dame had but two losses on the season while Iowa had 3.

Full rankings:

1 Louisiana State 15-0 1625 65 1 — 1/6
2 Clemson 14-1 1558 0 3 1 1/3
3 Ohio State 13-1 1497 0 2 -1 2/6
4 Georgia 12-2 1395 0 5 1 3/10
5 Oregon 12-2 1314 0 6 1 5/18
6 Oklahoma 12-2 1275 0 4 -2 4/9
7 Florida 11-2 1250 0 7 — 6/12
8 Alabama 11-2 1198 0 9 1 1/9
9 Penn State 11-2 1080 0 12 3 5/14
10 Minnesota 11-2 962 0 16 6 7/NR
11 Notre Dame 11-2 932 0 14 3 7/16
12 Baylor 11-3 929 0 8 -4 8/NR
13 Wisconsin 10-4 901 0 11 -2 6/17
14 Auburn 9-4 703 0 13 -1 7/16
15 Iowa 10-3 686 0 19 4 14/22
16 Utah 11-3 673 0 10 -6 5/19
17 Memphis 12-2 553 0 15 -2 15/NR
18 Appalachian State 13-1 474 0 20 2 18/NR
19 Michigan 9-4 437 0 17 -2 7/20
20 Navy 11-2 396 0 21 1 20/NR
21 Cincinnati 11-3 382 0 22 1 17/NR
22 Boise State 12-2 273 0 18 -4 13/NR
23 Air Force 11-2 265 0 24 1 23/NR
24 Central Florida 10-3 72 0 NR 6 16/NR
25 Virginia 9-5 47 0 25 — 18/NR

Schools dropped out:

No. 23 Southern California.

Others receiving votes:

Texas 42; Florida Atlantic 32; Washington 29; UL Lafayette 26; Texas A&M 26; Southern California 23; San Diego State 20; Southern Methodist 14; Louisiana Tech 9; Tennessee 8; Kentucky 5; California 4; Louisville 3; Kansas State 3; Hawaii 3; Oklahoma State 1.

Where Michigan finished in final 2019 AP Top 25 poll

Where the Wolverines came in to finish the 2019 season according to the AP Top 25

[jwplayer QP4qX9BN-XNcErKyb]

Turns out, there’s little shame in losing to Alabama.

The Wolverines couldn’t survive a second-half against the Crimson Tide in the VRBO Citrus Bowl, with Michigan unable to find any offense being shut out in the final two quarters after its halftime lead.

But with the final AP Top 25, Michigan only fell one spot to No. 19 while Alabama rose one to No. 8.

Ultimately, the maize and blue faced six teams that finished in the AP Top 25, having gone 2-4, with the wins being against No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 16 Iowa at home. The losses came to No. 3 Ohio State, Alabama, No. 9 Penn State and No. 11 Wisconsin.

Full rankings below:

RANK TEAM PV RANK CONFERENCE POINTS
1 LSU (15-0) 1 SEC 1,550
2 Clemson (14-1) 3 ACC 1,487
3 Ohio State (13-1) 2 Big Ten 1,426
4 Georgia (12-2) 5 SEC 1,336
5 Oregon (12-2) 7 Pac-12 1,249
6 Florida (11-2) 6 SEC 1,211
7 Oklahoma (12-2) 4 Big 12 1,179
8 Alabama (11-2) 9 SEC 1,159
9 Penn State (11-2) 13 Big Ten 1,038
10 Minnesota (11-2) 16 Big Ten 952
11 Wisconsin (10-4) 11 Big Ten 883
12 Notre Dame (11-2) 14 IA Independents 879
13 Baylor (11-3) 8 Big 12 827
14 Auburn (9-4) 9 SEC 726
15 Iowa (10-3) 19 Big Ten 699
16 Utah (11-3) 12 Pac-12 543
17 Memphis (12-2) 15 American Athletic 528
18 Michigan (9-4) 17 Big Ten 468
19 Appalachian State (13-1) 20 Sun Belt 466
20 Navy (11-2) 21 American Athletic 415
21 Cincinnati (11-3) 23 American Athletic 343
22 Air Force (11-2) 24 Mountain West 209
23 Boise State (12-2) 18 Mountain West 188
24 UCF (10-3) American Athletic 78
25 Texas (8-5) Big 12 69

Where Michigan basketball ranks in latest AP Top 25

Despite a loss to No. 1 Louisville, the Wolverines remain in the Top 5.

[jwplayer eAQGqTzC-XNcErKyb]

After beating two top ten teams in the AP Top 25 during Thanksgiving, Michigan basketball vaulted up from unranked to No. 4 overall. But after losing to No. 1 Louisville, could it hold onto a high-end ranking?

Turns out, the answer is yes.

After the loss in Kentucky, the Wolverines managed to take down a solid Iowa team in Ann Arbor, meaning that the maize and blue remained one of the few teams either in the one-loss category or unbeaten. Thus, Michigan only dropped one spot to No. 5 in the latest AP Top 25.

But the road doesn’t get much easier. Though it takes on an unranked Illinois on the road on Wednesday, the Wolverines host No. 10 Oregon on Saturday. There are no ranked teams for the rest of the month, as is usually the case in mid-to-late December, but in January, Big Ten conference play resumes, with No. 16 Michigan State, the former No. 1 team, starting the schedule gauntlet in earnest, with the game being in East Lansing on Jan. 5.

Full rankings:

  1. Louisville
  2. Kansas
  3. Ohio State
  4. Maryland
  5. MICHIGAN
  6. Gonzaga
  7. Duke
  8. Kentucky
  9. Virginia
  10. Oregon
  11. Baylor
  12. Auburn
  13. Memphis
  14. Dayton
  15. Arizona
  16. Michigan State
  17. North Carolina
  18. Butler
  19. Tennessee
  20. Villanova
  21. Florida State
  22. Seton Hall
  23. Xavier
  24. Colorado
  25. San Diego State

After Championship Week, Michigan takes small step up in Amway Coaches Poll

The Wolverines made a small move up despite being idle.

[jwplayer MfLEtgwV-XNcErKyb]

In the latest Amway Coaches Poll, powered by USA TODAY Sports, something weird happened.

Boise State played in a game, which it won handily, but Michigan was idle. Yet, the Wolverines and Broncos traded places, as the maize and blue moved up to 17 from 18.

Otherwise, there was a little movement. The top three stayed the same. Oklahoma rose up to No. 4. Georgia dropped a spot. Oregon rose to No. 6 after beating Utah — who dropped to 10. Wisconsin, Penn State and Auburn all dropped a spot.

But Notre Dame and Iowa — two teams that Michigan beat, stayed ranked at 15 and 19, respectively.

Full rankings:

Rank School (record) Points Last Week’s Rank First-Place Votes
1 Louisiana State (13-0) 1605 1 46
2 Ohio State (13-0) 1562 2 14
3 Clemson (13-0) 1513 3 5
4 Oklahoma (12-1) 1430 6 0
5 Georgia (11-2) 1294 4 0
6 Oregon (11-2) 1189 13 0
7 Florida (10-2) 1172 7 0
8 Baylor (11-2) 1161 8 0
9 Alabama (10-2) 1092 9 0
10 Utah (11-2) 1005 5 0
11 Wisconsin (10-3) 988 10 0
12 Penn State (10-2) 967 11 0
13 Auburn (9-3) 962 12 0
14 Notre Dame (10-2) 771 14 0
15 Memphis (12-1) 667 16 0
16 Minnesota (10-2) 654 15 0
17 Michigan (9-3) 592 18 0
18 Boise State (12-1) 566 17 0
19 Iowa (9-3) 485 19 0
20 Appalachian State (12-1) 375 20 0
21 Navy (9-2) 234 23 0
22 Cincinnati (10-3) 233 21 0
23 Southern California (8-4) 189 24 0
24 Air Force (10-2) 151 25 0
25 Virginia (9-4) 73 22 0

Schools dropped out:

Others receiving votes:

Oklahoma State (8-4) 64; Southern Methodist (10-2) 61; Kansas State (8-4) 20; Indiana (8-4) 10; UL Lafayette (10-3) 6; Florida Atlantic (10-3) 6; Central Florida (9-3) 6; San Diego State (9-3) 5; Tennessee (7-5) 4; Kentucky (7-5) 3; Iowa State (7-5) 3; Arizona State (7-5) 3; Virginia Tech (8-4) 2; Hawaii (9-5) 1; California (7-5) 1;
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1361 tag=1366]

Michigan with only slight fall in final regular season College Football Playoff ranking

The Wolverines only took a slight fall in the second-to-last College Football Playoff ranking.

[jwplayer 12emauIf-XNcErKyb]

It turns out, when it comes to the College Football Playoff rankings, the selection committee didn’t punish the Wolverines all that much.

There will be but one more ranking before the bowl games, shuffling around the teams that are playing in the conference championship games. But for Michigan, which played in its final game of the regular season — a 56-27 blowout loss to Ohio State at home — the committee seemingly took notice that the maize and blue were No. 13 going up against the No. 1 team in the country.

As a result, the Wolverines fell just one spot, from No. 13 to 14, making it the second-highest rated three-loss team in the poll.

Michigan finishes with losses to No. 1 OSU, No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 10 Penn State, and with wins over No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 16 Iowa.

The next time the rankings are released, it will be on Sunday, in a reveal of where each school will be going to play in their respective bowl games. Michigan is rumored to either the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl in San Diego or the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl.

Full rankings:

  1. Ohio State
  2. LSU
  3. Clemson
  4. Georgia
  5. Utah
  6. Oklahoma
  7. Baylor
  8. Wisconsin
  9. Florida
  10. Penn State
  11. Auburn
  12. Alabama
  13. Oregon
  14. MICHIGAN
  15. Notre Dame
  16. Iowa
  17. Memphis
  18. Minnesota
  19. Boise State
  20. Cincinnati
  21. Appalachian State
  22. USC
  23. Virginia
  24. Navy
  25. Oklahoma State

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]