MaxwellPundit: Week Eight
What can you say about this week? Sputtering performances from some top contenders, particularly wide receivers, really opened the door for a couple candidates to assert themselves in this Maxwell chase. In my mind, the Maxwell Player of the Year Award is equal parts consistency, big game performance and big plays made. Which is why my ballot is starting to take its current form.
An homage to the late Daily Quickie: Ballot. Now.
1- Troy Smith, Quarterback/Brutally Efficient Killing Machine, The Ohio State University
It's not even so much that Calvin flamed out, it's just that Troy is so steady and good, nay great, that you can't not have him here. 258 total yards and 4 TDs agains Div. I-AAA Indiana on Saturday and was once again secure with the ball as he lead the Buckeyes to their second come from behind win of the season. Technically. Can Michigan stop him in 4 weeks? Judging by historical precedent and Smith's current pace... HELL FREAKING NO.
(Last Week- 1)
2- Steve Slaton, Tailback/Mmm Cupcakes, West Virginia University
Another week, another 120+ yard performance with a TD. This is not a broken record, it's just Steve Slaton abusing the Sisters of the Poor that WVU saw fit to schedule in 2006. In all honesty, though, with all the other contenders dropping down Slaton would've moved up with a bye.
(Last Week- 3)
3- Brady Quinn, Quarterback/Lucky Bastard, University of Notre Dame
I tried not to reward A.J. Hawk's brother-in-law too much here for coordinating a game-winning drive against a UCLA defense that closely resembled air, BUT, I will give credit where credit is due: it's the kinda stuff that puts you among the finalists. Brady's stats have been steadily impressive since the Michigan debacle... and this is college football; better to screw up early than late. And for the record: if Karl Dorrell wasn't a terrible head coach Quinn probably would be off my ballot this week. Just sayin'.
(Last Week- 4)
4- Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver/Serious Injury From Above, Georgia Tech
Downgraded from "Death From Above" to "Serious Injury From Above" after his goose egg in Death Valley. Just like Texas was a Maxwell-maker for Troy Smith, Clemson will likely end up being a Maxwell-breaker for Calvin. The only thing you can say good about Saturday night for #21 is that if Maxwell were an MVP award, that game would've put CJ at the top of my ballot.
(Last Week- 2)
5- Ray Rice, Tailback/Steamroller Impersonator, Rutgers University
Someone give R-Squared a little credit here... his 1,124 rushing yards put him ahead of Slaton at 4th in the country and has been doing this against a schedule that is roughly equivalent to Slaton's (Jeff Sagarin has WVU's schedule at #92 and RU's at #102 of 119). And he had been doing it quietly until ESPN2 saw fit to air his rag-dolling of Pitt for 225 yards and a TD on Saturday so that we could all see exactly why the State University of New Jersey is a top 25 team this year.
(Last Week- NR)
Dropped out- Robert Meachem (5)
Also considered- Erik Ainge, Mario Manningham, Robert Meachem, James Laurinaitis
Still no chance- Chris Leak
An homage to the late Daily Quickie: Ballot. Now.
1- Troy Smith, Quarterback/Brutally Efficient Killing Machine, The Ohio State University
It's not even so much that Calvin flamed out, it's just that Troy is so steady and good, nay great, that you can't not have him here. 258 total yards and 4 TDs agains Div. I-AAA Indiana on Saturday and was once again secure with the ball as he lead the Buckeyes to their second come from behind win of the season. Technically. Can Michigan stop him in 4 weeks? Judging by historical precedent and Smith's current pace... HELL FREAKING NO.
(Last Week- 1)
2- Steve Slaton, Tailback/Mmm Cupcakes, West Virginia University
Another week, another 120+ yard performance with a TD. This is not a broken record, it's just Steve Slaton abusing the Sisters of the Poor that WVU saw fit to schedule in 2006. In all honesty, though, with all the other contenders dropping down Slaton would've moved up with a bye.
(Last Week- 3)
3- Brady Quinn, Quarterback/Lucky Bastard, University of Notre Dame
I tried not to reward A.J. Hawk's brother-in-law too much here for coordinating a game-winning drive against a UCLA defense that closely resembled air, BUT, I will give credit where credit is due: it's the kinda stuff that puts you among the finalists. Brady's stats have been steadily impressive since the Michigan debacle... and this is college football; better to screw up early than late. And for the record: if Karl Dorrell wasn't a terrible head coach Quinn probably would be off my ballot this week. Just sayin'.
(Last Week- 4)
4- Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver/Serious Injury From Above, Georgia Tech
Downgraded from "Death From Above" to "Serious Injury From Above" after his goose egg in Death Valley. Just like Texas was a Maxwell-maker for Troy Smith, Clemson will likely end up being a Maxwell-breaker for Calvin. The only thing you can say good about Saturday night for #21 is that if Maxwell were an MVP award, that game would've put CJ at the top of my ballot.
(Last Week- 2)
5- Ray Rice, Tailback/Steamroller Impersonator, Rutgers University
Someone give R-Squared a little credit here... his 1,124 rushing yards put him ahead of Slaton at 4th in the country and has been doing this against a schedule that is roughly equivalent to Slaton's (Jeff Sagarin has WVU's schedule at #92 and RU's at #102 of 119). And he had been doing it quietly until ESPN2 saw fit to air his rag-dolling of Pitt for 225 yards and a TD on Saturday so that we could all see exactly why the State University of New Jersey is a top 25 team this year.
(Last Week- NR)
Dropped out- Robert Meachem (5)
Also considered- Erik Ainge, Mario Manningham, Robert Meachem, James Laurinaitis
Still no chance- Chris Leak
posted by Paul at 9:03 AM
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