QB Troy Smith (2006 Heisman Trophy Winner)

[OSU5NC]

Haha, Troy may have a better arm, and comparable pocket-presence and late-game heroics, but as far as scrambling ability, VY wins easily. VY is extremely fast, elusive, and hard to bring down. Also being 6'5 doesn't hurt.

 

[Cornerback6]

Is it, or is it NOT fun to have a Heisman candidate QB??? Just take a step back as a Buckeye fan and think about it. We have always had efficient and good quarterbacks, but the Heisman attention has generally come to the RB position for us.

I remember in 98 when Germaine was pushing his way up the Heisman charts (top 3-4ish) until we got knocked off by scUM st.

If Troy plays anywhere near the level he played against ND and scUM for the great majority of next season, there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be in that top 3.

 

[JXC]

I can't remember, at least in my lifetime, there ever being THIS MUCH Heisman hype for a tOSU quarterback.

Can anybody else?

 

[buckeye247]

I can't remember, at least in my lifetime, there ever being THIS MUCH Heisman hype for a tOSU quarterback.

Can anybody else?

I also cant remember heisman hype for a qb at tOSU. But remember Tressel runs a different offense that tOSU is used to.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

But remember Tressel runs a different offense that tOSU is used to.

And how is that?

 

[JXC]

And how is that?

It's an offense that sets all-time records against Notre Dame...that's how it's different :):):)

 

[Zurp]

I guess my comment got split from this thread and put on the NFL thread (Peter Warrick). Ok. I just commented that an off-field situation can (and I believe it SHOULD) effect the Heisman voters. In my opinion, though, what Smith did before the 2004 season should not effect the 2006 Heisman. What Smith did was illegal for college athletes, but not against any federal or state or local laws. That, to me, is different from, say, stealing a car. (I'm not picking that crime as a specific example to any particular past or current Heisman hopeful - just picking it out of my brain.)

 

[jwinslow]

I also cant remember heisman hype for a qb at tOSU. But remember Tressel runs a different offense that tOSU is used to.

I doubt we would have heard this phrase in late september. Only difference is that the QB, OL and WRs are executing better now.

Tressel ran a spread offense most likely b/c he was not capable of succeeding with a traditional offense with Ross/Joe in the backfield, Ginn getting jammed at the line, etc. Our vastly improved execution in the running game and playaction passing has allowed Tressel to revert back to big formations with success. The spread is here to stay, but I wouldn't expect to run as many shot-ginn formations now that we have the horses to run big formations as well.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

From CNNSI.com....

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=756 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=cnnGalleryImgHdr width=586>Best College Football Players of 2006</TD><TD class=cnnGalleryTopEndorse width=170><!-- ad photo_gallery/bottom.160x41 --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1>document.adtile = (document.adtile||0) + 1;document.random = document.random || Math.ceil(1+1E12*Math.random());document.write('<scr'+'ipt language="JavaScript1.1" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/si.pg.dart/;sz=160x41;ad=yes;tile='+document.adtile+';ord='+document.random+'?"></scr'+'ipt>');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/si.pg.dart/;sz=160x41;ad=yes;tile=2;ord=933218617161?"></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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</TD><TD align=middle width=170><INPUT onclick=cnnNextSlide1() type=image src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/.element/img/2.0/sect/photogallery/next_gallery.gif" border=0>
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=cnnGalleryRanking>No. 5</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Troy Smith
QB, SR, Ohio State

<TABLE class=cnnGalleryRightRail cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=160 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>A poor man’s Vince Young … for now. Smith finished fourth in the nation in passing efficiency -- throwing for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions -- and rushed for 611 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith has a penchant for the big game, as evidenced by his combined stats the last two years against Michigan (541 yards passing with three touchdowns and 182 yards and two touchdowns on the ground) and his MVP performance in the Fiesta Bowl (342 yards passing and two touchdowns and another 82 yards on the ground).
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Steve19]

I guess my comment got split from this thread and put on the NFL thread (Peter Warrick). Ok. I just commented that an off-field situation can (and I believe it SHOULD) effect the Heisman voters. In my opinion, though, what Smith did before the 2004 season should not effect the 2006 Heisman. What Smith did was illegal for college athletes, but not against any federal or state or local laws. That, to me, is different from, say, stealing a car. (I'm not picking that crime as a specific example to any particular past or current Heisman hopeful - just picking it out of my brain.)

Zurp, that's a good point. Smith did NOT break any laws. He violated NCAA regulations. NCAA rules are there for a purpose and so are the penalties. He paid. Ohio State paid. If he lights it up next year, he deserves as much as anyone else to be considered for the Heisman, without reference to that incident.

Right now, he needs to be out there helping kids in need, helping little old ladies cross the street, etc, if he really wants to be considered. Because, like it or not, it will count unless he has things since that show he has "grown from the experience." People love an underdog.

 

[EdDantes22]

The Smith Bandwagon...

It was extremely satisfying to watch Troy Smith come into his own this year. After his near-legendary performance in the '04 scUM game, we seemed to all forget that he was still a very young, unseasoned QB with only a handful of starts under his belt. His suspension for the Alamo Bowl and that crucial first game of '05 only hindered his development. Smith's problem was never athletic ability; like any young player--much like Ginn--he struggled with consistency and decision making. There were times against Texas and Penn State's talented, blitzing defenses where Troy simply looked confused. In the Texas game he threw passes directly into defender's chests twice. At that point, Zwick may have been a slightly better quarterback, which is why I supported and still support Tress's decision to run Justin out there for the two minute drill. Remember: if it hadn't been for Hamby's drop in the end zone, Zwick would have been the hero of the Texas game and this whole season might have gone differently.

However, it's clear now that Smith is the best option at QB; his ability not just to run but also to scramble in the pocket and buy time for our other playmakers to get open gives defenses fits. He's made Michigan linebackers look pathetic for the past two seasons (that's what Burgess and Woods deserve, traitors). Now that his head has caught up with his feet and that rocket of an arm, the sky's the limit for the OSU offense in '06.

As for a potential Heisman run, all the conditions are right. We'll have a young defense that may force Tressel to open things up even more on the offensive side of the ball (though, as always, we'll reload and still be plenty effective defensively); the running game shouldn't miss a beat with the two-headed monster of Pittman and Wells running behind Boone & co.; the departure of Holmes at WR means Ginn, Gonzalez and hopefully Roy Hall and Marcel Frost will all step up, and I think they can, not to mention Dukes and Robiskie. And while Smith may have a black mark in his past, the guy's so likeable in interviews that I really don't see that continuing to haunt him. Everyone loves the great athlete who makes a few mistakes as a kid, then matures.

I'm just glad I slipped him that $10,000 so he wouldn't leave for the NFL early.

Just kidding. Seriously. Easy everybody.

 

[Steve19]

I'm just glad I slipped him that $10,000 so he wouldn't leave for the NFL early.

Just kidding. Seriously. Easy everybody.

Keep that up and we'll be telling Keira the truth about you and that other floozie. :tongue2:

 

[BB73]

I can't remember, at least in my lifetime, there ever being THIS MUCH Heisman hype for a tOSU quarterback.

Can anybody else?

Here's the 1969 voting:

<TABLE borderColor=#623d1c cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=1>The Voting
<TBODY><TR><TD id=content colSpan=5> </TD><TD id=content align=middle colSpan=3>Points </TD><TD id=content> </TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>Place</TD><TD id=content>Name</TD><TD id=content>School</TD><TD id=content>Class</TD><TD id=content>Pos.</TD><TD id=content>1</TD><TD id=content>2</TD><TD id=content>3</TD><TD id=content>Total</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>1st</TD><TD id=content>Steve Owens</TD><TD id=content>Oklahoma</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>FB</TD><TD id=content>294</TD><TD id=content>218</TD><TD id=content>170</TD><TD id=content>1,488</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>2nd</TD><TD id=content>Mike Phipps</TD><TD id=content>Purdue</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>226</TD><TD id=content>230</TD><TD id=content>196</TD><TD id=content>1,334</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>3rd</TD><TD id=content>Rex Kern</TD><TD id=content>Ohio State</TD><TD id=content>Jr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>154</TD><TD id=content>134</TD><TD id=content>126</TD><TD id=content>856</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>4th</TD><TD id=content>Archie Manning</TD><TD id=content>Mississippi</TD><TD id=content>Jr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>120</TD><TD id=content>76</TD><TD id=content>70</TD><TD id=content>582</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>5th</TD><TD id=content>Mike Reid</TD><TD id=content>Penn State</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>DT</TD><TD id=content>61</TD><TD id=content>39</TD><TD id=content>36</TD><TD id=content>297</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>6th</TD><TD id=content>Mike McCoy</TD><TD id=content>Notre Dame</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>DT</TD><TD id=content>31</TD><TD id=content>65</TD><TD id=content>67</TD><TD id=content>290</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>7th </TD><TD id=content>Jim Otis</TD><TD id=content>Ohio State</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>FB</TD><TD id=content>12</TD><TD id=content>27</TD><TD id=content>31</TD><TD id=content>121</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>8th</TD><TD id=content>Jim Plunkett</TD><TD id=content>Stanford</TD><TD id=content>Jr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>21</TD><TD id=content>16</TD><TD id=content>25</TD><TD id=content>120</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>9th</TD><TD id=content>Steve Kiner</TD><TD id=content>Tennessee</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>LB</TD><TD id=content>14</TD><TD id=content>20</TD><TD id=content>27</TD><TD id=content>109</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>10th</TD><TD id=content>Jack Tatum</TD><TD id=content>Ohio State</TD><TD id=content>Jr.</TD><TD id=content>DB</TD><TD id=content>13</TD><TD id=content>22</TD><TD id=content>22</TD><TD id=content>105</TD></TR></TBODY>
</TABLE>

Here's 1970. Rex had a lot of attention as the leading returning vote-getter, but it became a 3-way race as the season progressed:

<TABLE borderColor=#623d1c cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=1>The Voting
<TBODY><TR><TD id=content colSpan=5> </TD><TD id=content align=middle colSpan=3>Points </TD><TD id=content> </TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>Place</TD><TD id=content>Name</TD><TD id=content>School</TD><TD id=content>Class</TD><TD id=content>Pos.</TD><TD id=content>1</TD><TD id=content>2</TD><TD id=content>3</TD><TD id=content>Total</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>1st</TD><TD id=content>Jim Plunkett</TD><TD id=content>Stanford</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>510</TD><TD id=content>285</TD><TD id=content>129</TD><TD id=content>2,229</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>2nd</TD><TD id=content>Joe Theismann</TD><TD id=content>Notre Dame</TD><TD id=content>Sr. </TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>242</TD><TD id=content>255</TD><TD id=content>174</TD><TD id=content>1,410</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>3rd</TD><TD id=content>Archie Manning</TD><TD id=content>Mississippi</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>138</TD><TD id=content>133</TD><TD id=content>169</TD><TD id=content>849</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>4th</TD><TD id=content>Steve Worster</TD><TD id=content>Texas</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>FB</TD><TD id=content>47</TD><TD id=content>81</TD><TD id=content>95</TD><TD id=content>398</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>5th</TD><TD id=content>Rex Kern</TD><TD id=content>Ohio State</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>17</TD><TD id=content>39 </TD><TD id=content>59</TD><TD id=content>188</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>6th</TD><TD id=content>Pat Sullivan</TD><TD id=content>Auburn</TD><TD id=content>Jr.</TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>24</TD><TD id=content>37</TD><TD id=content>34</TD><TD id=content>180</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>7th </TD><TD id=content>Jack Tatum</TD><TD id=content>Ohio State</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>DB</TD><TD id=content>8</TD><TD id=content>48</TD><TD id=content>53</TD><TD id=content>173</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>8th</TD><TD id=content>Ernie Jennings</TD><TD id=content>Air Force</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>WR</TD><TD id=content>18</TD><TD id=content>20</TD><TD id=content>24</TD><TD id=content>118</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>9th</TD><TD id=content>Don McCauley</TD><TD id=content>North Carolina</TD><TD id=content>Sr.</TD><TD id=content>RB</TD><TD id=content>6</TD><TD id=content>10</TD><TD id=content>19</TD><TD id=content>57</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>10th</TD><TD id=content>Lynn Dickey</TD><TD id=content>Kansas State</TD><TD id=content>Sr. </TD><TD id=content>QB</TD><TD id=content>6</TD><TD id=content>6</TD><TD id=content>19</TD><TD id=content>49</TD></TR>

</TABLE>

 

[DDOTT]

QB comparison

Over the years Troy reminds me of a couple of undersized QBs, Woodrow Dantzler, Tommy Frazier, and Michael Bishop. Are there any others that come to mind?

 

[DDOTT]

I agree, I simply think it could hurt his draft spot a little.

If you are refering to Troy, he is not even 5'11.