Robert Griffin III needs the Heisman
...to salvage the credibility of the award.
The numbers are just astounding (barely shy of 75 percent completions, over 350 passing yards a game, only one interception per 67 attempts and good rushing numbers to boot), he has his "signature win and Heisman moment" now and he is doing this with a program that draws almost no water in recruiting.
The BCS Championship Game has really brought the award down, giving us winners from a team participating in it 9 of the last 10 years. Granted some of those were deserved, but eyes need to creep beyond the top of the BCS poll to make the award meaningful again.
Nobody is better than this guy.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:20 AM ^
I can't disagree that he had a great game. And a great season. But I honestly don't know if he is deserving of the Heisman. I've seen him in a couple games and he has been very impressive. I think he made a case for a first-round selection, but I'm not convinced on his Heisman chances.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:23 AM ^
Who's better?
Surely not Andrew "dink and dunk" Luck.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
The one that comes to mind above anyone is Trent Richardson. Very similar numbers to Mark Ingram the year he won it. I hate all the people on their knees for the SEC, but putting up those numbers on a SEC defense is more impressive IMO.
Also, Case Keenum, if we're talking about players who should get a shot but wont because of the team they are on. He has put up gawdy numbers all season long.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
204 carries, 1200 yards, 5.9 ypc. Severely inflated due to North Texas and Ole Miss. Meh, I say.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^
I know you're not insinuating this, but I;m curious: do you think Ingram deserved it?
November 20th, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^
My theoretical vote would have been Suh, Gerhart, Spiller.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
I agree with Suh. He was the most dominant player in college football. But I was kind of glad he didnt win so that Woodson could keep his record.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
Actually I screwed that up, I only looked at the people who got for real Heisman votes as a refresher and guessed on my #3, but knew it wasn't Ingram. Spiller was someone I thought about, but my #3 pick was actually Rolando McClain, the Alabama linebacker.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
Richardson is a great talent but his gawdy numbers are decent at best when you remove the baby seals. There are two great "SEC defenses" in the SEC. Bama and LSU. Georgia has a good defense. His two best rushing performances in the SEC are against Florida and Ole Miss. Neither one of them is any good.
RG3 balls out every game, with talent well below the pieces Richardson has around him, in the most important postion on the field.
based off value to their individual teams RG3 is a clear winner.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:29 AM ^
You could make a solid case for Richardson over RG3, but not for Case Keenum. He plays in a league with no defense. Not that the Big 12 is a bastion of lockdown pass defense, but it's better than Conference USA.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:21 AM ^
This. The Heisman should not just be the most valuable offensive player in the BCS National Title.
November 20th, 2011 at 4:53 AM ^
AND we beat him in the Capitol One Bowl that year. They were a 3 loss team when he won it.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:21 AM ^
Wait and see. He's in the discussion
What about Richardson
November 20th, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
Richardson, Luck, Griffin III, and Keenum will be invited to new york, and Richardson narrowly beats Griffin.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^
The Heisman is a joke. It almost always goes to either the best RB or QB on the best team, which is ridiculous. It goes to the guy with the best stats and that is not fair either. It is supposed to go to the most outstanding player in college football. While I think Griffin is in discussion, I think others need to be in discussion...on both sides of the ball...like Mathieu (spelling?) from LSU. That guy is the best DB in college football and has been OUTSTANDING this season...isn't the what the Heisman is about? The most outstanding player in CFB?
November 20th, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
unfortunately its about who the media can make the most stories out of in a year to year basis.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
...it sucks. It shouldn't be about the guy with the best stats or the guy who the media talks about all the time. It should go to the most outstanding player in football no matter what team he is on and I think the kid from LSU should be in HIGH consideration.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
with you completly but its like the whole Justin Verlander can't win MVP arguement that he isnt involved in enough plays to be considered a major contributer every time they take the field, do I believe that, hell no but thats what the majority of the people believe, now if he was like woodson and making plays on special teams and offense then he would be a favorite to win it.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
Matthieu lost it when he got suspended. Also, he's not the best DB on his own team.
November 20th, 2011 at 2:28 AM ^
isn't it stupid to complain about the Heisman only going to the QB/RB with the best stats and say it should go to the best player when Mathieu is maybe the third best DB on LSU, he just gets the SportsCenter highlights? Couldn't agree with you more on Mathieu being a poor example.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
Michigan has had the last two non-rb/qb Heisman winners with Woodson and Howard.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
Gino Toretta a QB? Ha!
November 20th, 2011 at 1:17 AM ^
Easily the worst Heisman winner of all time. The nadir of just giving the trophy to the most famous player on the national champion favorite.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
Great thought. I had to go look that up, figured there was a WR in there somewhere in the last 20 years, but shit, it really does only go to QB's and RB's.
November 20th, 2011 at 2:56 AM ^
Honey badger don't cover. Legit if you watch him he's either a highlight reel or taking a play off.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
will have to remove their lips from Luck's dong before RG3 wins the Heisman.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
RG3 and trent richardson are in a close race in my book. These last few games will decide it.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^
Glad to see you're done being the Lloyd Carr grinch on the day he was honored for being inducted into the CFB-HOF...
November 20th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
I can't disagree. He's the last QB I'd want to face. His numbers are awesome. He shines during big games. And he's got that charisma.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:41 AM ^
Kid is a straight baller, A michael vick who takes care of the ball.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:41 AM ^
Personally I say it should be Griffin, Blackmon, and I think I'd put Sammy Watkins third. Maybe Morris Claiborne or Mark Barron.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
Matt Barkley is quietly having a good season.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
postive about this but I think because of the whole USC post season ban or whatever he can't be considered for the Heisman.
EDIT: yeah nevermind im completly wrong about that. my bad.
November 20th, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
the tube,I'm watching this kid...
November 20th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
It stems from Baylor losing badly to Ron Zook in their bowl game last year.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
The Heisman Trust said they would ensure that NCAA eligibility and integrity would be important qualifications for the Heisman after Reggie Bush had to give his back. Thus, players with questionable ethics behind them would no longer be eligible for the award.
Immediately afterwards, the Trust awards the Heisman to Cameron Newton when he was under heavy NCAA scrutiny for getting paid to play at Auburn.
Therefore, the Heisman award is a joke and does not consistently award the most deserving player.
November 20th, 2011 at 8:51 AM ^
Nevermind the fact that he got kicked out of Florida for stealing a laptop.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:26 AM ^
I just dont see how you could say Trent would deserve it over RG3? Trent has the same stats as 10 other guys, and he runs behind one of the best OL's in the country... Robert Griffin has led his team to outstanding wins with a sub-par surrounding cast... His numbers are impeccable.... Keenum is similar except he hasnt beaten Oklahoma and TCU...I guess im just sick of the most popular player on the team that gets the most ESPN coverage winning the Heisman... I also dont think Luck should even be top 3... but oh well... im just on mgoblog
November 20th, 2011 at 1:28 AM ^
...standing on the sideline, and RG3 is the real deal. Hard not to root for a kid doing it at a program that has enjoyed so little success. It was my first trip to Waco and I was pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere. ...Also, it was interesting to note that John Elway was there, presumably taking a peek at RG3 and Landry Jones. So much for Tebow being the QB of the future!
November 20th, 2011 at 1:38 AM ^
This isn't even a serious debate after tonight. RG III is the best player in college football. He dominates games all by himself. He is the reason Baylor is a winning team. His passing stats alone stack him up with the top QBs in the country, and no one else in contention has running stats even in his ballpark. Easiest choice for the Heisman in years, and you KNOW they're going to blow it.
November 20th, 2011 at 1:58 AM ^
If Baylor wins their next two games, they'll be 9-3, which is the same record as Florida the year Tim Tebow won it. He is the best player in the country but I still have a feeling that Luck will win it.
November 20th, 2011 at 2:07 AM ^
RGIII is my Heisman right now, but I think someone that deserves a lot more consideration is Montee Ball. He has 30 total touchdowns and almost 1500 yards rushing...c'mon man.
November 20th, 2011 at 7:49 AM ^
I'd be more impressed with RGIII (who I think is very good) if he didn't play in the Big 12. That conference, for all of the bluster you hear, is having one of the worst defensive seasons as a whole that I've seen recently. After Texas, which is a top-10 defensive outfit but one that benefits from such a conservative, run-happy offense, the next best total defense in that conference is Oklahoma at 62, which is below average for AQ teams. It drops off a cliff from there, to the point that a third of the defenses in the conference are in the 100's.
So while his season is amazing, I'm not buying it as transcendent given the competition he is doing it against. Give him offensive player of the year if you want, but until he does it against elite competition, and he hasn't even faced Texas yet.
November 20th, 2011 at 8:36 AM ^
And if you give RGIII that treatment, you gotta give Kellen Moore and case Keenum the same treatment
November 20th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
I've been saying that all year! I went to a Baylor game earlier in the year and could not believe how accurate this kid is with the rock. Best player in college football BY FAR!
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<br>The Heisman is too much of a political joke. Media members already concluded Andrew Luck was winning it before the season began. If RG3 was playing in the SEC or a more "prestigious" university he would be all you hear about. The dude is a serious stud. The Big 12 comment is dumb. The conference has some very good teams....better than the B1G this year.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
If I had a vote Id definitely have RGIII atop my list. However, why is Montee Ball getting no love? He is a beast. 30 tds should at least get you in the top 7.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Good call re: Montee Ball. Just checked out his stat-line, and he's topping Trent Richardson in every category. Granted Wisconsin's stength of schedule has been weak, but still, he deserves to be in the discussion (the discussion of who should finish 2nd after RG III).
November 20th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
the baylor/oklahoma game was the first of his that i've really watched.....and.....man. i think he's going to be a top 5 nfl qb soon. and i don't get why others don't think so as well?
he's big enough to be an an nfl qb (6-2, 220). he's got a much, much better arm than cam newton. he's much, much faster than cam newton.
i mean, really, he's got about as accurate an arm as anyone i've ever seen at the college level. maybe a little less accurate than than andrew luck, but pretty close. and his arm strength, i'm not sure i've seen anyone that compares.
as far as scrambling is concerned, best i've seen since michael vick, and maybe better. not as ellusive or flat out fast as vick, but probably better at knowing when to stay in the pocket and win to run.
November 20th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
David molk
November 20th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
Justin Blackmon is the best college football player in the nation. Griffin is somewhere right behind him. If a QB wins the thing, I am pulling for Griffin but I think what Blackmon has done is more impressive.