Avon Barksdale

November 18th, 2015 at 11:20 AM ^

In all fairness to Webb, he was right when he was being recruited. Michigan was a place that talent went to die under Rodriguez and Hoke. It worked out for all involved. Webb is barely playing but has a national championship ring. Michigan has one of  the top defenses in the country with said non-developed talent and has Jim Harbaugh.

Joined: 04/27/2013

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EGD

November 18th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^

Lewis was good as a freshman and had his breakout season last year--under Hoke. Other CT players that developed under Hoke included Thomas Gordon, Delonte Hollowell, and arguably Delano Hill and RJS.

Joined: 09/16/2009

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Avon Barksdale

November 18th, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^

Lewis is having a breakout year this season. He was no where near this level a year ago. Hollowell was bad. Richardson hasn't played. RJS is playing for the first time in his career this year, so Hoke does not get credit for that. Delano Hill is playing for the first time ever this season., so Hoke again does not get credit for that.

 Thomas Gordon is a good example, but he was by no means an All Big Ten type defender.

Joined: 04/27/2013

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EGD

November 18th, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^

I agree Lewis is having a better year this season than last, but he should be--he is now a junior, and last season he was a sophomore.  He was still pretty damn good last year.  

Delano Hill made five starts at safety in 2014, so it's just false to say he is "playing for the first time ever this season."  Is he a better player this year?  Sure.  But like Lewis, he also has another year of experience.  Yet he was good enough to start for a good defense in 2014.

RJS was backing up Ross last season at SLB.  This year, he moved to Buck and was backing up Ojemudia.  He would probably still be a backup had MO not gotten injured.  We don't know how RJS would have done last season, had Ross gone down and RJS was needed to step up.  But I think it's at least arguable that he was sufficiently developed by last season.  We'll obviously never know.  That's why I said Hoke could "arguably" be given credit for him.

Delonte Hollowell and Thomas Gordon were not great players, but it's not as though either of those guys had amazing talent and Hoke just wasted it.  Both of those guys had respectable careers given the level of ability they possessed. 

Yeah, Richardson has been a bust.  Some guys don't pan out.  Is that Hoke's fault?  Hell if I know.  I tend to think Richardson was overrated as a recruit and Hoke's mistake was signing him in the first place (though I acknowledge the possibility that Hoke may have felt compelled to pursue him in order to keep the CT pipeline flowing at max capacity), rather than a guy who could've been great and just wasn't properly coached.  But who knows.

 

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Brewers Yost

November 18th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^

The year Woodson won the Heisman may have been the best group of finalists: Woodson, Manning, Moss. Those three are all going to be in the HOF. I might look into it but I can't think of a stronger group of finalists as far as NFL career is concerned.

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Alumnus93

November 18th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^

great for the program that lewis gets that attention, however it is far more likely that peppers wins the heisman, which tends to go to offensive skill players..  defensive players have to be all world, and even charles woodson didn't win it, and did so only because he was a two way player.  having said that, i think lewis has little chance, but peppers far more.

 

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Tex_Ind_Blue

November 18th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^

The way I read it was if the Heisman was given to the truly elite performer, then Lewis would be one of the top five. The PFF article didn't say he is a contender. 

It would be nice for him to get some heisman attention though.

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Don

November 18th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^

PFF's article is stupid with respect to the reality of how Heisman winners are chosen, which is that purely defensive players have never won the award. If Woodson had been entirely a defensive player with some kick returns thrown in, he wouldn't have finished in the top 3. It was his appearances on offense throughout the season that kicked his resume into true Heisman contention.

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OC Alum91

November 18th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^

Cool that he's being mentioned as a candidate--article only mentioned a few names. Probably not a "favorite," though. As others have mentioned, even Woodson, who had some highlight reel interceptions (see MSU one handed), needed offensive and punt return glory to get the attention. Lewis needs more stats to become favorite.

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Committed

November 18th, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^

The heisman is an offensive trophy. Despite the exception to the rule (Woodson), history shows it that way. But even Woodson had offensive highlights.

Peppers has a better chance, hopefully, next year.

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