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Ok time for this week's installment of the Heisman rankings.
1. Denard Robinson – Beginning with a 72-yard TD on his first carry, this was another huge game for DRob. He finished 10/16 for 277 and 3 (269.8), along with 19 carries for another 218 and 2. It was only the third time in NCAA history that a QB has run and passed for 200 in a game, with the 2nd time also coming from Denard against ND in week 2. This game also featured his second last-minute, game-winning TD this year. With today’s performance, he’s now #3 in QB rating, in addition to leading the league in rushing. As it currently stands, Denard is the frontrunner and it isn’t close.
Other considerations: I think his actual ability as a QB might be a bit overrated. He’s the best running back (in the sense of a back who runs) in the nation, and he has a rocket arm, but his ability to read defenses is probably about average at best. He greatly benefits from coaches who know how to tailor the offense to his strengths (Sigh), and his running ability makes his throws an order of magnitude easier when he does go downfield, because the defense is stacking the box or biting on play-action. He also benefits from YAC by some pretty athletic, if not all-world, receivers. Michigan’s defense is bad, which kept DRob on the sidelines for more than 2/3 of the game (41:47), and will also hurt his campaign as Michigan will certainly lose some games because of it, and probably sooner than later. Michigan also has yet to play against a great defense, so Denard’s production should decrease. If he has another big game against a good Michigan State defense next week, only injury will stand between him and the trophy. Speaking of which, Denard has missed plays due to injury in every game this year. Look for the coaches to continue to reduce his carries as the season goes on.
2. Kellen Moore – Ho hum. He put up efficient numbers (13/18 for 197 and 3) in 2.5 quarters of a blowout victory, but did so against a team that ranks #4 on ESPN’s Bottom 10. It will be increasingly difficult to take him seriously as the season goes on. In his favor is the dearth of decent candidates. This year doesn’t even feature the usual small-school pass-happy QB darkhorse.
3. Terrelle Pryor –He’s been a disappointment to this point in his career. Extremely talented and hyped, he has not developed into a great runner or a great passer. He struggled passing the ball (9/16 for 76, 2, and 1) against a just-okay passing defense today. He was injured in the 3rd quarter, but missed only a few minutes of game time – about what Denard missed. As OSU continues to win, Pryor will stay in the mix, but his coaches don’t ask him to do as much as Heisman winners typically do. He hasn’t proven he can be consistently good, and has very rarely been great. If he doesn’t have a few spectacular games between now and November, beating Denard’s team won’t be enough. Another thing we learned today is that if Pryor doesn’t stay healthy, OSU is screwed.
4. LaMichael James - He missed the first game, but is putting up the numbers to make up for that and then some. Huge performance tonight (31 for 257 and 3) against a good Stanford team. He could be the one who pushes Denard.
Outside looking in:
Mark Ingram – He looked like he might have a shot of getting back to NY after performing well in his first two games back after missing the first two, but he’ll need to do better than what he did today (12 for 48 and 2). His team won and made an important contribution, but he needs to be spectacular and failed to do so. Florida’s defense is one of the best in FBS, so this would have been a great opportunity to make a statement.
Ryan Mallett – Idle. I see him getting back in the mix, but he’ll need a few really good games to make up for the egg he laid last week against Alabama.
Andrew Luck – Good first half, fell apart a little bit in the second. Not a bad performance, but had some chances to keep it close and didn’t do it.
Patrick Peterson – not sure what to do with this guy. I didn’t see most of the game and he hasn’t been mentioned in any recaps I’ve seen. Even assuming he locked down his side of the field, without any picks or big returns he’s got no shot. His reward is waiting in the NFL.
Cam Newton –He’s been very effective this year, and could get into the Heisman mix if Auburn makes noise in the SEC, but I think it’s a year early for him to be a serious candidate.
Dan Persa – More just-for-fun props for this dual-threat QB. He has very quietly led Northwestern to a great start, albeit against weak competition. He leads the NCAA in QB rating in addition to some good scrambling ability. I doubt he’ll end up a serious candidate, but I haven’t heard any talk about him and feel like he could give some Big 10 defenses some serious trouble.
1. Denard Robinson – Beginning with a 72-yard TD on his first carry, this was another huge game for DRob. He finished 10/16 for 277 and 3 (269.8), along with 19 carries for another 218 and 2. It was only the third time in NCAA history that a QB has run and passed for 200 in a game, with the 2nd time also coming from Denard against ND in week 2. This game also featured his second last-minute, game-winning TD this year. With today’s performance, he’s now #3 in QB rating, in addition to leading the league in rushing. As it currently stands, Denard is the frontrunner and it isn’t close.
Other considerations: I think his actual ability as a QB might be a bit overrated. He’s the best running back (in the sense of a back who runs) in the nation, and he has a rocket arm, but his ability to read defenses is probably about average at best. He greatly benefits from coaches who know how to tailor the offense to his strengths (Sigh), and his running ability makes his throws an order of magnitude easier when he does go downfield, because the defense is stacking the box or biting on play-action. He also benefits from YAC by some pretty athletic, if not all-world, receivers. Michigan’s defense is bad, which kept DRob on the sidelines for more than 2/3 of the game (41:47), and will also hurt his campaign as Michigan will certainly lose some games because of it, and probably sooner than later. Michigan also has yet to play against a great defense, so Denard’s production should decrease. If he has another big game against a good Michigan State defense next week, only injury will stand between him and the trophy. Speaking of which, Denard has missed plays due to injury in every game this year. Look for the coaches to continue to reduce his carries as the season goes on.
2. Kellen Moore – Ho hum. He put up efficient numbers (13/18 for 197 and 3) in 2.5 quarters of a blowout victory, but did so against a team that ranks #4 on ESPN’s Bottom 10. It will be increasingly difficult to take him seriously as the season goes on. In his favor is the dearth of decent candidates. This year doesn’t even feature the usual small-school pass-happy QB darkhorse.
3. Terrelle Pryor –He’s been a disappointment to this point in his career. Extremely talented and hyped, he has not developed into a great runner or a great passer. He struggled passing the ball (9/16 for 76, 2, and 1) against a just-okay passing defense today. He was injured in the 3rd quarter, but missed only a few minutes of game time – about what Denard missed. As OSU continues to win, Pryor will stay in the mix, but his coaches don’t ask him to do as much as Heisman winners typically do. He hasn’t proven he can be consistently good, and has very rarely been great. If he doesn’t have a few spectacular games between now and November, beating Denard’s team won’t be enough. Another thing we learned today is that if Pryor doesn’t stay healthy, OSU is screwed.
4. LaMichael James - He missed the first game, but is putting up the numbers to make up for that and then some. Huge performance tonight (31 for 257 and 3) against a good Stanford team. He could be the one who pushes Denard.
Outside looking in:
Mark Ingram – He looked like he might have a shot of getting back to NY after performing well in his first two games back after missing the first two, but he’ll need to do better than what he did today (12 for 48 and 2). His team won and made an important contribution, but he needs to be spectacular and failed to do so. Florida’s defense is one of the best in FBS, so this would have been a great opportunity to make a statement.
Ryan Mallett – Idle. I see him getting back in the mix, but he’ll need a few really good games to make up for the egg he laid last week against Alabama.
Andrew Luck – Good first half, fell apart a little bit in the second. Not a bad performance, but had some chances to keep it close and didn’t do it.
Patrick Peterson – not sure what to do with this guy. I didn’t see most of the game and he hasn’t been mentioned in any recaps I’ve seen. Even assuming he locked down his side of the field, without any picks or big returns he’s got no shot. His reward is waiting in the NFL.
Cam Newton –He’s been very effective this year, and could get into the Heisman mix if Auburn makes noise in the SEC, but I think it’s a year early for him to be a serious candidate.
Dan Persa – More just-for-fun props for this dual-threat QB. He has very quietly led Northwestern to a great start, albeit against weak competition. He leads the NCAA in QB rating in addition to some good scrambling ability. I doubt he’ll end up a serious candidate, but I haven’t heard any talk about him and feel like he could give some Big 10 defenses some serious trouble.
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