2006 Heisman Discussion (merged all)

[OSU_Buckguy]

plenty of games are to be played, but the heisman race is really a two-man race: troy versus himself. if he holds serve, he'll win it. if he plays below his potential versus michigan and quinn plays well and beats usc, the voting will be too close to predict.

troy smith controls his path just as ohio state controls its.

 

[BB73]

Yes, but I'm sure your opinion of Quinn didn't change much in the interim.

I ranked him 11th last week when he was 31st in passing efficiency. He's now 35th, and I ranked him 12th. Seems reasonable to me, based solely on performance, that he shouldn't move much.

Ainge, on the other hand, deserved to be dropped a long way.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Brennen is little more than a Caucasian Timmy Chang.

I'm not going to pretend I know more about Hawaii football than you but how can you say that? Chang never completed more than 61% of his passes and basically had a 1/1 td/int ration.

 

[sandgk]

I'm not going to pretend I know more about Hawaii football than you but how can you say that? Chang never completed more than 61% of his passes and basically had a 1/1 td/int ration.

Not being one to let facts get in the way of an argument, here are some facts.
2004 Chang, T. TDs 38, INTs 13, rating 135
2005 Brennan, C. TDs 35, INTs 13 rating 155
2006 Brennan, C. TDs 28, INTs 5 rating 183 (Thru 10/21/06)

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Not being one to let facts get in the way of an argument, here are some facts.
2004 Chang, T. TDs 38, INTs 13, rating 135

I didn't realize he had such a good season last year but you forgot to mention he only completed 59% of his passes, nowhere near as good as Brennan.

In '00 he had a 19/19 ratio and in '04 he had a 29/20 ratio. I don't have stats from his other years.

 

[Best Buckeye]

OK we can all assume that Chang isnt going to win the Heisman this year.
Smith is unless he blows it and I don't think he will.
WIRE TO WIRE !!
How close Quinn comes is up to him and the few others who have a chance to stay close to Smith or close the gap

 

[NFBuck]

Troy is the most obvious Heisman frontrunner in some time. There is no way he loses it. He will continue to pad his numbers the next three weeks leading into THE GAME. November 18 is when he'll slam the door shut. NO WAY does Troy lose at home to M*ch*g*n as a Senior in his final game in the shoe. The Wolverine D is light years better than the past couple years, but Troys game matches up quite well with them. There biggest strength is a tremendous line which is where Troys escapability/mobility come in. All the weapons he has to throw to will also be able to take full advantage of a suspect scUM pass defense. The key will be to establish a running game. Doesn't have to be dominant, just enough to keep them honest. I think this is where a bruiser like Beanie will come in to play with Pitt bouncing a couple outside. TS wins the Heisman on November 18...mark my words.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Heisman watch

October 23, 2006
Michael Hart Michigan, junior RB
The Heisman is still Troy Smith's to lose. But Hart, who ran for 126 yards and two TDs in a 20-6 victory over Iowa on Saturday, has a unique position in the race -- a chance to make a statement to voters when Ohio State and Michigan go head-to-head in Columbus.
Calvin Johnson
Georgia Tech, junior WR
Talk about bad timing. Just when stories were starting to appear about whether Johnson could win the Heisman as a wide receiver, he had no catches in the Yellow Jackets' 31-7 loss at Clemson. It was the first time in his career he was shut out.
1. Troy Smith, Ohio State, senior QB
2. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, senior QB
3. Michael Hart, Michigan, junior RB

 

[Thump]

I'm not ready to give Troy the award b/c he's one injury away from being out of the race.

Here's my question, say Troy get's injured in the next to last game versus NW, say the 1st quarter, and doesn't play in the scUM game.

Does he still win the Heisman trophy?

 

[Dryden]

I'm not ready to give Troy the award b/c he's one injury away from being out of the race.

Here's my question, say Troy get's injured in the next to last game versus NW, say the 1st quarter, and doesn't play in the scUM game.

Does he still win the Heisman trophy?

I think he'd go to New York no matter what, but whether or not he still had a shot to win it would depend on 1) what Brady Quinn does against USC and 2) Whether the OSU offense suddenly looks inept with Zwick at the helm, causing voters to say, "No shit, it wasn't all that talent ... it really was Troy being Troy the whole time."

 

[Bleed S & G]

the only thing troy has to worry about is scUM. If they come in here and hart has a big day against us he could take it from troy, as well as our national championship bid.. this years scUM game is for ALL the marbles.. heisman, NC, and the big10

 

[BB73]

si.com by Gene Menez

Where are all the QBs?
Smith still leads way, but running backs dominate list

In compiling this week's list, one thought kept bothering me: Where did all the quarterbacks go? Aside from Troy Smith and Brady Quinn, who could both very well be in New York on Dec. 9, few passers are making a case to be included in the discussion. Some were lost to injury (Louisville's Brian Brohm), others to interceptionitis(Tennessee's Erik Ainge), but that alone can't explain why running backs have been the more impressive group this year. Maybe it's time to dust off Florida's Chris Leak again or look into Texas's Colt McCoy, Missouri's Chase Daniel or BYU's John Beck? Maybe next week.

1. Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB, Sr.

Last week: 15-of-23 passing, 220 yards, 4 TDs; 4 rushes, 38 yards in a 44-3 victory over Indiana
Season: 131-of-193 passing, 1,715 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs; 36 rushes, 126 yards
Heisman-o-meter: It seems like Smith adds a did-you-see-that highlight to the Heisman resume every week. This time it was a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn during which he escaped a sack, rolled left and threw -- across his body -- a perfect pass to Ginn in the end zone. More impressive than his athleticism is his 21-to-2 touchdown to interception ratio.
Up next: Saturday vs. Minnesota

2. Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Soph.

Last week: 19 rushes, 128 yards, 1 TD in a 37-11 victory at Connecticut
Season: 151 rushes, 1,059 yards, 9 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: For the second straight week Mountaineers quarterback Pat White controlled the game, but Slaton didn't leave without making an impact, breaking off a 56-yarder late in the fourth quarter. To this untrained eye, it looks as if defenses recently have been preoccupied keeping an eye on Slaton, allowing White to roam free. Good for White, bad for Slaton and his Heisman hopes.
Up next: Nov. 2 at No. 6 Louisville

3. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Jr.

Last week: 31 rushes, 126 yards, 2 TDs in a 20-6 victory over Iowa
Season: 214 rushes, 1,032 yards, 8 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: There's no way to prove this, but the Watchman is willing to bet that no running back gets more tough yards than this mighty mite. (See his 9-yard touchdown run against Iowa.) Unlike Slaton or Adrian Peterson (before the injury), Hart never seems to be running loose in the secondary, making the numbers he generates even more impressive.
Up next: Saturday vs. Northwestern

4. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, QB, Sr.

Last week: 27-of-45 passing, 304 yards, 2 TDs in a 20-17 victory over UCLA
Season: 175-of-278 passing, 1,938 yards, 18 TDs, 4 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: After Quinn engineered the amazing comeback against the Bruins, my friend and all-around-good-guy John turned to me and said, "Quinn's back in the race!" I'll admit that I may have been a bit harsh on Quinn after his outings against Georgia Tech and Michigan -- two good defenses after all -- so I have moved him up considerably, but, regardless what the stats say, he still has been outperformed by Smith.
Up next: Saturday at Navy (in Baltimore)

5. Marshawn Lynch, Cal, RB, Jr.

Last week: 21 rushes, 150 yards, 2 TDs; 4 receptions, 53 yards in a 31-24 victory over Washington
Season: 132 rushes, 907 yards, 8 TDs; 19 receptions, 216 yards, 3 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: A member of this list last month, Lynch had been flirting with making a return. He finally does so after an impressive effort against the Huskies. Though he didn't start because of two sprained ankles, he dominated in the second half, once turning an aborted halfback pass into an impromptu cross-country tour that ended just shy of the goal line. He's here to stay.
Up next: Nov. 4 vs. UCLA

6. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RB, Fr.

Wisconsin freshman P.J. Hill is averaging 191.3 rushing yards per game in October.
AP

Last week: 29 rushes, 161 yards, 2 TDs; 2 receptions, 17 yards in a 24-3 victory at Purdue
Season: 202 rushes, 1,172 yards, 13 TDs; 15 receptions, 172 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: I love watching this 5-foot-11, 242-pound beast run. Because of his size, glancing hits don't take him down, yet he has the shifty moves of a running back 50 pounds lighter. On his best carry of the day, which also proved to be his last carry of the day, he first cut to the right, then cut three times to the left and raced 46 yards, almost outrunning two defensive backs to the end zone.
Up next: Saturday vs. Illinois

7. Ray Rice, Rutgers, RB, Soph.

Last week: 39 rushes, 225 yards, 1 TD in a 20-10 victory at Pittsburgh
Season: 201 rushes, 1,124 yards, 12 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Rice should get extra credit considering that Scarlet Knights quarterback Mike Teel, ranked 82nd in passing efficiency, gives defenses little reason to respect the pass. I get the feeling Rice is still not respected nationally, but that could change with games remaining against Louisville and West Virginia.
Up next: Sunday vs. Connecticut

8. James Davis, Clemson, RB, Soph.

Last week: 21 rushes, 216 yards, 2 TDs in a 31-7 victory over No. 13 Georgia Tech
Season: 139 rushes, 961 yards, 16 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: One half of the best running back tandem in college football, Davis, who gutted through a dinged left shoulder, wrecked a Yellow Jackets defense that came into the game ranked seventh against the run. The scariest part in all of this is that dynamic backup C.J. Spiller, a freshman, may be better.
Up next: Thursday at Virginia Tech

9. Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, RB, Sr.

Last week: 17 rushes, 45 yards in a 43-21 victory over Temple
Season: 191 rushes, 1,413 yards, 13 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Good night, Garrett. The running back who just three weeks ago had the college football world buzzing couldn't break 50 yards against the nation's worst team. After the game, Huskies coach Joe Novak praised the 0-8 Owls' game plan, something I thought would happen long after a MAC running back had won the Heisman trophy.
Up next: Saturday at Iowa

10. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, WR, Jr.

Last week: 0 receptions; 1 rush, minus-4 yards in a 31-7 loss at No. 12 Clemson
Season: 35 receptions, 559 yards, 8 TDs; 2 rushes, 17 yards
Heisman-o-meter: Not only did Clemson stunningly shut out Johnson for the first time in his college career, but it also seemed as if quarterback Reggie Ball hardly even looked Johnson's way. Johnson may be the most talented player in college football, but unless his quarterback gets him the ball and allows him to produce, Johnson won't be on this list for long.
Up next: Saturday vs. Miami

 

[HundedLane]

si.com by Gene Menez

Where are all the QBs?
Smith still leads way, but running backs dominate list

In compiling this week's list, one thought kept bothering me: Where did all the quarterbacks go? Aside from Troy Smith and Brady Quinn, who could both very well be in New York on Dec. 9, few passers are making a case to be included in the discussion. Some were lost to injury (Louisville's Brian Brohm), others to interceptionitis(Tennessee's Erik Ainge), but that alone can't explain why running backs have been the more impressive group this year. Maybe it's time to dust off Florida's Chris Leak again or look into Texas's Colt McCoy, Missouri's Chase Daniel or BYU's John Beck? Maybe next week.

1. Troy Smith, Ohio State, QB, Sr.

Last week: 15-of-23 passing, 220 yards, 4 TDs; 4 rushes, 38 yards in a 44-3 victory over Indiana
Season: 131-of-193 passing, 1,715 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs; 36 rushes, 126 yards
Heisman-o-meter: It seems like Smith adds a did-you-see-that highlight to the Heisman resume every week. This time it was a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn during which he escaped a sack, rolled left and threw -- across his body -- a perfect pass to Ginn in the end zone. More impressive than his athleticism is his 21-to-2 touchdown to interception ratio.
Up next: Saturday vs. Minnesota

2. Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Soph.

Last week: 19 rushes, 128 yards, 1 TD in a 37-11 victory at Connecticut
Season: 151 rushes, 1,059 yards, 9 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: For the second straight week Mountaineers quarterback Pat White controlled the game, but Slaton didn't leave without making an impact, breaking off a 56-yarder late in the fourth quarter. To this untrained eye, it looks as if defenses recently have been preoccupied keeping an eye on Slaton, allowing White to roam free. Good for White, bad for Slaton and his Heisman hopes.
Up next: Nov. 2 at No. 6 Louisville

3. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Jr.

Last week: 31 rushes, 126 yards, 2 TDs in a 20-6 victory over Iowa
Season: 214 rushes, 1,032 yards, 8 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: There's no way to prove this, but the Watchman is willing to bet that no running back gets more tough yards than this mighty mite. (See his 9-yard touchdown run against Iowa.) Unlike Slaton or Adrian Peterson (before the injury), Hart never seems to be running loose in the secondary, making the numbers he generates even more impressive.
Up next: Saturday vs. Northwestern

4. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, QB, Sr.

Last week: 27-of-45 passing, 304 yards, 2 TDs in a 20-17 victory over UCLA
Season: 175-of-278 passing, 1,938 yards, 18 TDs, 4 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: After Quinn engineered the amazing comeback against the Bruins, my friend and all-around-good-guy John turned to me and said, "Quinn's back in the race!" I'll admit that I may have been a bit harsh on Quinn after his outings against Georgia Tech and Michigan -- two good defenses after all -- so I have moved him up considerably, but, regardless what the stats say, he still has been outperformed by Smith.
Up next: Saturday at Navy (in Baltimore)

5. Marshawn Lynch, Cal, RB, Jr.

Last week: 21 rushes, 150 yards, 2 TDs; 4 receptions, 53 yards in a 31-24 victory over Washington
Season: 132 rushes, 907 yards, 8 TDs; 19 receptions, 216 yards, 3 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: A member of this list last month, Lynch had been flirting with making a return. He finally does so after an impressive effort against the Huskies. Though he didn't start because of two sprained ankles, he dominated in the second half, once turning an aborted halfback pass into an impromptu cross-country tour that ended just shy of the goal line. He's here to stay.
Up next: Nov. 4 vs. UCLA

6. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RB, Fr.

Wisconsin freshman P.J. Hill is averaging 191.3 rushing yards per game in October.
AP

Last week: 29 rushes, 161 yards, 2 TDs; 2 receptions, 17 yards in a 24-3 victory at Purdue
Season: 202 rushes, 1,172 yards, 13 TDs; 15 receptions, 172 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: I love watching this 5-foot-11, 242-pound beast run. Because of his size, glancing hits don't take him down, yet he has the shifty moves of a running back 50 pounds lighter. On his best carry of the day, which also proved to be his last carry of the day, he first cut to the right, then cut three times to the left and raced 46 yards, almost outrunning two defensive backs to the end zone.
Up next: Saturday vs. Illinois

7. Ray Rice, Rutgers, RB, Soph.

Last week: 39 rushes, 225 yards, 1 TD in a 20-10 victory at Pittsburgh
Season: 201 rushes, 1,124 yards, 12 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Rice should get extra credit considering that Scarlet Knights quarterback Mike Teel, ranked 82nd in passing efficiency, gives defenses little reason to respect the pass. I get the feeling Rice is still not respected nationally, but that could change with games remaining against Louisville and West Virginia.
Up next: Sunday vs. Connecticut

8. James Davis, Clemson, RB, Soph.

Last week: 21 rushes, 216 yards, 2 TDs in a 31-7 victory over No. 13 Georgia Tech
Season: 139 rushes, 961 yards, 16 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: One half of the best running back tandem in college football, Davis, who gutted through a dinged left shoulder, wrecked a Yellow Jackets defense that came into the game ranked seventh against the run. The scariest part in all of this is that dynamic backup C.J. Spiller, a freshman, may be better.
Up next: Thursday at Virginia Tech

9. Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, RB, Sr.

Last week: 17 rushes, 45 yards in a 43-21 victory over Temple
Season: 191 rushes, 1,413 yards, 13 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Good night, Garrett. The running back who just three weeks ago had the college football world buzzing couldn't break 50 yards against the nation's worst team. After the game, Huskies coach Joe Novak praised the 0-8 Owls' game plan, something I thought would happen long after a MAC running back had won the Heisman trophy.
Up next: Saturday at Iowa

10. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, WR, Jr.

Last week: 0 receptions; 1 rush, minus-4 yards in a 31-7 loss at No. 12 Clemson
Season: 35 receptions, 559 yards, 8 TDs; 2 rushes, 17 yards
Heisman-o-meter: Not only did Clemson stunningly shut out Johnson for the first time in his college career, but it also seemed as if quarterback Reggie Ball hardly even looked Johnson's way. Johnson may be the most talented player in college football, but unless his quarterback gets him the ball and allows him to produce, Johnson won't be on this list for long.
Up next: Saturday vs. Miami

The only question I have for this list...Where is Ginn?
If Calvin Johnson is on the list, then Ginn should be above him.

 

[Cornerback6]

Here's an interesting question. Say Slaton or Quinn blow up big time the next couple of games. For the sake of recruiting, a little extra university media love and JT's overall great relationship with Troy, do you think JT would dare let Troy throw a little more (say 35 attempts like Quinny gets every game) for a game or two? I doubt it knowing JT's character, but the thought snuck into my mind and a Heisman is a SERIOUS recruiting benefit let alone a great way to send Troy out to go with his (fingers crossed) NC.


Any thoughts?

 

[BB73]

It's very risky to leave somebody in just to pile up stats. An unnecessary injury in a late-game situation could ruin the season. And Troy doesn't need a lot of yards as long as he's getting the TD's with almost no interceptions.

On the other hand, I want to see Troy get at least 3 TD passes and 200 yards passing in each game before he comes out, in order to retain the large Heisman lead that he's built up. Hopefully that can happen by the middle of the third quarter in each of the next three games.

tOSU's red zone efficiency has been excellent this season. I'm hoping that JT keeps calling passes in the red zone in order to keep Troy's TD rate going, without having to leave him in after the outcome's been decided.