MaxwellPundit Heisman Ballot -- Week 4
Week Four featured a Saturday full of lackluster performances and weak opponents so my pre-concieved notions heading into the action were certainly challenged as the day progressed. That said, it turned out that the bottom of my ballot turned out to be a bit tougher to diagnose than the top. Without further ado... my MaxwellPundit Heisman Top Five!
1- Troy Smith, Quarterback/Stone Cold Killer, The Ohio State University
What wins the Heisman: a big play or a big game? Or is it the context thereof? Smith did not have a Heisman kinda game statistically (12/22 passing for 115 yds, TD, 2 INT, 3 rushes for 18 yds) but his game-breaking drop-back-scramble-oh-crap-reverse-field-stop-and-launch TD bomb to Brian Robiskie two minutes into the fourth quarter was a Heisman kinda play that changed the landscape of the entire contest. Oh yeah, they also played Penn State.
2- Adrian Peterson, Tailback/Steamroller/Put All 11 In the Box I Don't Give a Damn, Oklahoma University
Big game in the box score for big number 28 in just over one half of football: 27 rushes for 128 yds and 3 TD; doubly nice because the other two of the emerging "Big Three" in the Heisman chase had sub-par statistical performances. Huh? What's that? They played Middle Tennessee State? I see. Second place.
3- Steve Slaton, Tailback/Destroyer of Double-digit Underdogs, West Virginia University
The last of the Big Three had a sub-par day against a craptastic opponent (24 rushes for 80 yds and 3 catches for 35 yds, 0 TD). I'm not trying to overreact to one so-so week but when you're playing EAST CAROLINA you're going to have to at least score a touchdown to not get passed by a guy who had three TDs in just over one half (isn't that normally Slaton's line?). He stays in the top three because, I mean, just look at WVU's schedule. Look at it.
4- Brady Quinn, Quarterback/Dreamboat/Savior of NBC Saturday Ratings, University of Notre Dame
Left for dead by Prescott Burgess, Lamarr Woodley and the national media hungry for Golden Dome schadenfreude, The Other Quarterback Who Wears #10 paid a visit to the ND team proctologist at halftime, got his head pulled out his ass, and proceeded to lead the Irish to a stunning comeback win (with just a little bit of help from the D). 20/36 for 319 yds, 5 TD and one INT in a win that the Irish absolutely had to have? Well done, Brady, the Downtown Athletic Club just fished your pre-printed invitation out of the dumpster.
5- James Laurinaitis, Outside Linebacker/Road Warrior/Eater of Babies, The Ohio State University
For awhile I kinda thought that using my 5th place vote on the Little Animal was a bit of a throwaway and a homerish pub-grab for the guy that's been making it happen for the defense of the team Cleveland fans often claim as their own. But then upon further review I realized that James Laurinaitis flat-out deserves Heisman recognition. 36 tackles so far this season is good for 5th in the Big Ten (good luck finding the aforementioned Woodley anywhere in the Top 50) to go with an astounding 6 turnovers created (3 INT and 3 FF) and you've got yourself a sophomore who is meriting consideration for more than just the Butkus.
1- Troy Smith, Quarterback/Stone Cold Killer, The Ohio State University
What wins the Heisman: a big play or a big game? Or is it the context thereof? Smith did not have a Heisman kinda game statistically (12/22 passing for 115 yds, TD, 2 INT, 3 rushes for 18 yds) but his game-breaking drop-back-scramble-oh-crap-reverse-field-stop-and-launch TD bomb to Brian Robiskie two minutes into the fourth quarter was a Heisman kinda play that changed the landscape of the entire contest. Oh yeah, they also played Penn State.
2- Adrian Peterson, Tailback/Steamroller/Put All 11 In the Box I Don't Give a Damn, Oklahoma University
Big game in the box score for big number 28 in just over one half of football: 27 rushes for 128 yds and 3 TD; doubly nice because the other two of the emerging "Big Three" in the Heisman chase had sub-par statistical performances. Huh? What's that? They played Middle Tennessee State? I see. Second place.
3- Steve Slaton, Tailback/Destroyer of Double-digit Underdogs, West Virginia University
The last of the Big Three had a sub-par day against a craptastic opponent (24 rushes for 80 yds and 3 catches for 35 yds, 0 TD). I'm not trying to overreact to one so-so week but when you're playing EAST CAROLINA you're going to have to at least score a touchdown to not get passed by a guy who had three TDs in just over one half (isn't that normally Slaton's line?). He stays in the top three because, I mean, just look at WVU's schedule. Look at it.
4- Brady Quinn, Quarterback/Dreamboat/Savior of NBC Saturday Ratings, University of Notre Dame
Left for dead by Prescott Burgess, Lamarr Woodley and the national media hungry for Golden Dome schadenfreude, The Other Quarterback Who Wears #10 paid a visit to the ND team proctologist at halftime, got his head pulled out his ass, and proceeded to lead the Irish to a stunning comeback win (with just a little bit of help from the D). 20/36 for 319 yds, 5 TD and one INT in a win that the Irish absolutely had to have? Well done, Brady, the Downtown Athletic Club just fished your pre-printed invitation out of the dumpster.
5- James Laurinaitis, Outside Linebacker/Road Warrior/Eater of Babies, The Ohio State University
For awhile I kinda thought that using my 5th place vote on the Little Animal was a bit of a throwaway and a homerish pub-grab for the guy that's been making it happen for the defense of the team Cleveland fans often claim as their own. But then upon further review I realized that James Laurinaitis flat-out deserves Heisman recognition. 36 tackles so far this season is good for 5th in the Big Ten (good luck finding the aforementioned Woodley anywhere in the Top 50) to go with an astounding 6 turnovers created (3 INT and 3 FF) and you've got yourself a sophomore who is meriting consideration for more than just the Butkus.
posted by Paul at 3:09 PM
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