Heisman Watch 2008 – 9, Week 4
The title defense is over.
Sorry, Tim Tebow. It is just not going to happen this year. So go call Archie Griffin and wish him well. Send him some champagne with the money that you haven’t yet earned from an agent or a pro team.
Yes, your talents weren’t needed against the Tennessee Vols, but you don’t get away with a cheap performance against a conference foe in this race, at least not this season. Last year was a special year, when a soft week could be tolerated.
This year is a different ball game with too many contenders turning in big games when they count.
So, at the top of the heap is one of those top players, Chase Daniel, who didn’t need a huge performance against Buffalo but still produced one, and that is enough in the crowded field to move to the top.
He will have to keep pushing in what looks like it will be a battle of quarterbacks all year long. I don’t expect any of the current rushing leaders to actually make it to New York at this point unless someone turns in ridiculous numbers in the final eight games this year.
Here is how I would rank the candidates on my ballot after Week 4:
1. Chase Daniel (QB Missouri) – 75.9%, 1412 yds, 12 TD, 1 INT, 74 yds rush – Two weeks ago, I thought it was just a matter of time. Those two weeks proved me correct, with Daniel turning in huge games against Nevada and Buffalo. Want even more greatness? Look in front of Daniel. He has only been sacked once this season.2. Sam Bradford (QB Oklahoma) – 79.0%, 882 yds, 12 TD, 2 INT – Bradford is quietly racking up the statistics while Oklahoma surges to the top of the rankings. Look for the trend to continue as defenses in the Big XII should be flummoxed as they try to take him down.
3. Mark Sanchez (QB USC) – 68.3%, 510 yds, 7 TD, 2 INT – Here is where I am skeptical. Despite some thoughts last week that Sanchez might be the top quarterback out there, he is still on a team with too many weapons and too many ways to spread the ball around. This didn’t hurt Matt Leinart or Reggie Bush, but I still have my doubts about Sanchez’s ability to win the game, or carry the team on his own.
4. Tim Tebow (QB Florida) – 59.4%, 489 yds, 5 TD, 118 yds rush – Oh how the mighty have fallen. Tebow could have dropped off the list had a few players had some bigger games this past week. Right now the also-rans are not pushing to get to this list like they might be so he stays here. But be wary Tim, be very wary.
5. Knowshon Moreno (RB Georgia) – 455 yds, 9 TD, 6.6 avg. - Still the belief that this guy is the best runner out there. I am going to hold him at five for now, only because no one else seems to want to challenge him for the title, and Javon Ringer has yet to prove it against a big-time opponent.
People with still a chance to make this list: Javon Ringer (Second in the nation in rushing yards, but yet to push a real opponent – Notre Dame doesn’t count), Max Hall (BYU is smashing opponents thanks to his arm. Can he keep it going?), Dan LeFevour (Two losses will not help. The dreams of Dan the Dark Horse may be finished), Juice Williams (Still throws too many interceptions), Patrick Pickney (Not sure East Carolina will get the pub now that they lost to the worst team in the ACC, but Pickney is decent. That’s decent, not spectacular).
People who may get hype but are done: Chris “Beanie” Wells (The tragedy of injuries, and a team that was overrated), P.J. Hill (Uh, yeah, that was my bad), Pat White (I never thought West Virginia would fall this far when they lost their coach), Jeremy Maclin (The curse of being a wide receiver)
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