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DEL.ICIO.USAssessing the Heisman candidates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An early handicap on the Heisman Trophy Race:
Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State: Take a good look at the acrobatic play he made against Penn State last week. You’re going to be seeing it for the rest of the season and so will the 900-plus Heisman Trophy voters. Remember that stats are important, but making the highlight package on SportsCenter on Saturday night is even more important if you want to win the Heisman.
Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame: Quinn’s Heisman hopes were all but dead going into the fourth quarter of last Saturday night’s game with Michigan State. But he led the miraculous comeback on national television while throwing for five touchdowns. Given Notre Dame’s easy schedule, Quinn should be in the hunt all the way to the Sept. 25 game.
Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia: Averaging 6.8 yards per carry on a team that is going to roll up some big numbers against a less than challenging schedule. But don’t let the lack of competition fool you. This guy is really, really good.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma: Ran for 211 yards against Oregon in a game the Sooners should have won. Has four straight 100 yards games and a total of 625. That puts him on pace to come close to 2,000. If he comes up big next week against Texas, Peterson will be in it the rest of the way.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech: Johnson is the best wide receiver in college football and you can make a strong case that he is the best player in the game, period. He won’t get the gaudy numbers but once people see him play the “wow” factor is hard to ignore. Needs a big game to jump on everybody’s radar. Saturday at Virginia Tech would be a good place to start.
Comments
By Scooter11
September 27, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
Troy Smith, if he takes Ohio St. to the promised land. Otherwise, Troy Smith. But Slaton will get his soon.
By Geoff
September 27, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this
Calvin Johnson is a special talent and it’s actually a shame that he doesn’t play for a team where he could be more effectively utilized. He could have added a lot of fun and excitement to college football in general if he had a quarterback who could consistently get him the ball and a running game that would force teams to cover him one on one. The guy’s like Randy Moss with more upper body strength and less attitude.
By Jason
September 27, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this
Calvin Johnson is an amazing athlete. Do not feel sorry for Calvin because he plays for Tech. He chose Tech over Georgia and just about any other place in the country. Calvin chose education first then football. He felt like Georgia Tech was a place that could give him both. This is a guy with all of his priorities in order. Do not be surprised if he shocks the world and comes back for his senior season, not for college football, but to earn his Tech degree.
By mcdwag
September 27, 2006 04:58 PM | Link to this
Quinn has been consistiently missing high percentage completion passes in the GT game, Michigan game and 3 quarters of the MSU game-simple 3yd passes-perhaps the heisman hype has affected him-if he doesn’t get it together its Troy Smith in a cake walk b/c nobody is beating OSU before the BCS
By lbsmash31
September 27, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this
Question.. would Smith start over Pat White in the WVU offense? NO, but that’s not my point. Meanwhile White would equal Smith’s success in the Ohio State offense.
Steve Slaton would run wild in the Oklahoma offense. Nobody can catch him anywhere and he runs strong inside the box. Now, would Peterson have Slaton like numbers in the WVU offense? I doubt it. Peterson is real good, but not the threat Slaton is.
My order is Slaton, Smith then Peterson.
By Bailey
September 27, 2006 05:40 PM | Link to this
No mention of Garrett Wolfe!! The kid is on pace to break Barry Sanders rushing record, and before you say he doesn’t deserve credit because of the competition, keep in mind he ran all over Ohio State for 178 rushing while catching passes for over 100 yards. Things could change quickly this week, especially if the Buckeyes get upset Saturday night and Quinn torches Purdue. Bailey www.sportscrack.com
By Tracy
September 27, 2006 06:42 PM | Link to this
So Calvin Johnson has 2 TD’s for 165 yards on ESPN and that’s not a big game? What does he have to do?
By Brian
September 27, 2006 07:24 PM | Link to this
Calvin Johnson hands down!!! Next year. The race is between Troy Smith and Adrian Peterson. How can Quinn even still be in the running he has lived up to nothing. One more thing week and week out everybody knows when they play Oklahoma that the ball is going to Peterson and the guy is still producing even against 8 and 9 men fronts. The WVU guy doesn’t even add up to him. White has not even played in a game besides the Georgia game last season. A game in which he could do nothing in the second half even when Georgia did come back it took a fake punt for them to pull it off cause they was whipped. Troy Smith lives up to his hype and would have been top dog last season if not for the showdown between Vince…Young that is.
By GadawginTN
September 28, 2006 07:20 AM | Link to this
My vote goes to Kenny Irons. Auburn back that beat LSU. I thought the Heisman was awarded to the player that contributes to the TEAM, not one who builds awesome stats. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
By brewerfaninATL
September 28, 2006 07:31 AM | Link to this
I truly believe this will be the last year you Tech fans will see Calvin Johnson wearing the gold, white, and black! He’s already putting up staggering numbers and once he faces the powder-puff defenses of Duke, UNC, and Maryland those stats will just skyrocket. Once that happens and Mel Kiper and co. hype his Top 5 pick in the draft, he’ll be wearing the Green and Gold in Lambeau next year…hey, one can hope, right?!
By Hick from the sticks
September 28, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this
Anyone who has read my prior posts, knows my affiliation.
That being said, Quinn nor the Irish have produced a sixty minute game. Not once.
As an Irish fan, I can smile upon the beatdown of Penn State. I’m always pulling for JoePa, but not when it’s against the Irish.
Outside of that, what else has Quinn done? He is currently leading in touchdown passes and total yards over Troy Smith.
He is, also, less on his completion pass percentage as well as higher on his INTs.
Dear God, I’d love to see a game where Quinn doesn’t throw a pick to a defensive back twenty yards or less away from the opposition’s end zone.
Could Purdue be the game? I’m certainly not holding my breath. Compared to last year, the Irish’s offense has been pedestrian, at best.
I’m not convinced on Quinn. I’m not convinced on Smith. I’m more convinced on Slaton. Could you make the feasible argument that it’s because of the teams that West Virginia plays that makes Slaton look good?
Certainly. However, in a game of numbers and stats for trophy presentation at the end of the year, consistency should be kept in mind when casting ballots as well.
For my money, true believers, these two darling quarterbacks better step up before we exit September if they expect to remain viable candidates.
As in, this Saturday.
Hey Tony, do you have future television? What game did the Irish play on September 25th?
Did I miss sometihng?
God bless and keep Irish football.
By Dawg_gone_truth
September 28, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this
How could you leave Matthew Stafford off the list? HA!!!! I hate to admit this but Calvin Johnson will not be in the hunt. Brady has one thing that no other person in the race has, Touchdown Jesus. Yeah just cause he is a gold domer he will win it. He is not the best player in college football, I personally think that CJ is. I wish the Dirty Birds could get him but picking with the 32nd pick that is not going to happen. Go Vols and Whoever is playing Alabama!!
By Matt
September 28, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this
I love Georgia fans!! Quinn will only win it because he is a domer. What a brilliant statement.
By dreadgator
September 28, 2006 07:02 PM | Link to this
By JZ
October 1, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this
I’m suprised Tony didn’t pick Mike Bo-Bo to win the Heisman. Maybe Terrance Edwards who couldn’t catch a cold. Tony, please leave the ajc, you make me sick.
By Will
October 6, 2006 09:52 AM | Link to this
Troy smith will get heisman he just needs to get some more passing yards and he will get heisman no dought