Aiden for Heisman - why not?
November 7th, 2021 at 11:32 PM ^
Doesn't have the right type of flashy stats
November 8th, 2021 at 6:33 AM ^
A TD in a big game could have helped
hmmm
November 7th, 2021 at 11:34 PM ^
put him in at fullback for a couple of series.
why not? nothing else works in the red zone nowadays anyway.
November 8th, 2021 at 12:05 AM ^
Nothing works in RZ is getting old. We just threw 2 TDs yesterday.
November 8th, 2021 at 1:18 AM ^
Wow! We threw 2 touchdowns in the redzone so now all our problems are solved!!
November 8th, 2021 at 7:17 AM ^
Please read what I wrote. The poster above me said nothing else works. I said we just threw 2 TDs. May be they finally figured out a way to throw it to mismatched TEs. Being positive and not being negative in a thread about Aidan is what I was pointing out.
November 8th, 2021 at 5:53 AM ^
We’re tied for the nation lead in field goals kicked in the red zone… we made it to the redzone 6 times and kicked 3 field goals against Indiana. Throwing for 2 TDs in the redzone is far from solving our issues down there, which directly led to a loss against MSU and will need to be fixed to finish out the season the way we want to.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:54 AM ^
November 8th, 2021 at 7:43 AM ^
3 thirty yard field goals are getting pretty old too.
November 8th, 2021 at 5:22 AM ^
lol. some incisive stuff, right there. really got to the heart of the “hutchinson for the heisman” discussion.
November 8th, 2021 at 7:47 AM ^
Woodson needed to go on offensive to get his hype. Khalid Hill did well for us in the same position.
If you have a solution that solves the Red zone problem, feel free to throttle us with your acumen.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:32 AM ^
Woodson needed to go on offense because our receiving corps was Tai Streets, Russell Shaw and... He filled a legit need.
November 7th, 2021 at 11:42 PM ^
It's purely an offensive award.
If Julius Peppers, Ndamukong Suh, and Terrell Suggs couldn't get Heismans, no pure defensive player ever will.
November 7th, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
...............
November 7th, 2021 at 11:59 PM ^
Keyword there was PURE defensive player, and that's a huge point. Woodson would not have gotten the Heisman if not for his punt return against OSU and offensive plays.
November 8th, 2021 at 12:26 AM ^
I firmly believe that Suh would have won if he had made one final big defensive play to seal a Nebraska win over Texas in the B12 championship game. At one point late Texas was backed up against its own end zone, and I thought at that moment Suh was going to get a big sack/TFL for a safety and run away with the Heisman. But the moment never came.
Keep in mind that Woodson did just have a few offensive plays; he had absolutely monster plays at crucial moments. He was already a serious candidate, but he basically won the Heisman by single-handedly winning the OSU game in 97. Three key plays, all pivotal, in a close game with the Rose Bowl and national title on the line.
Aidan’s problem is that he’s dominant, but there’s nothing to really grab attention and demand votes. And that’s what a defensive player needs. There’s no signature play, and his counting stats aren’t huge, and there are other guys who are also dominant on similarly good teams.
Now If he were to string together a couple of genius performances against PSU and OSU in wins—say, 3-4 sacks in each game, force a couple of TOs, a dazzling athletic defensive play out of position or two, sealing an upset over OSU with an act of sheer dominance—then there’s a chance. It could at least get him in the conversation.
But I’ll trade that for the wins.
His clubhouse leadership appears to be phenomenal, though. Just the act of returning was a demonstration of enormous significance, whose benefit to the team this year and its staff is incalculable. Even if he never made a tackle on the field.
November 8th, 2021 at 12:53 AM ^
This take is spot on. I’ve never said this before, but I need to say it now. I love your posts.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:00 AM ^
Yeah, people have to remember what it took for Woodson to get it. In the OSU game he scored on the punt return, intercepted a pass in the Endzone preventing a touchdown, and made a big play reception that got us down in the red zone to set us up for a score. Without any one of those plays he likely doesn’t win it.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:38 AM ^
Hell, without any of those plays we don’t beat Ohio State and win the National Championship, nevermind the Heisman.
November 8th, 2021 at 9:13 AM ^
I just wanted to remind people that the 1997 Heisman was announced just mere hours after Michigan upset Duke in Crisler Arena.
November 8th, 2021 at 10:53 AM ^
Suh really should have won anyway. Mark Ingram? Even Toby Gerhart had a better year than Ingram, but Suh was an absolute wrecking ball in the Big 12 championship. Texas was lucky to get a second put back on the clock after that dumb Colt McCoy throwaway.
November 8th, 2021 at 9:08 AM ^
"It's purely an offensive award."
Except that Charles Woodson is purely a defensive player. Yes, he returned punts - many corners do. And yes, he played some offensive snaps - some absolutely HUGE offensive snaps throughout the course of the season. His natural athletic ability allowed him to augment a below average WR group during limited parts of games.
I will agree that he doesn't win the Heisman without his contributions on offense and punt returns. But if those plays make him something other than a 'pure defensive' player, I'll stop watching football. He made his hay as a cornerback in college and for 20+ years in the NFL. He is in the NFL Hall of Fame as a cornerback. When people think of Woodson, they think CB. When people think about the GOAT at QB, they think Tom Brady - when speaking CB, they think Charles Woodson. When people think WR, they do not think Woodson.
If the Heisman were for only offensive players 'purely', then Woodson wouldn't have even been in the discussion.
November 8th, 2021 at 9:18 AM ^
You're being overly pedantic here. You know, as well as everyone else, that the implication is that someone who plays ONLY on defensive snaps is very highly unlikely to win the award. By your own admission, it was his versatility in Michigan's offensive and special teams play that put his candidacy over the top. Nobody is saying that his professional legacy should be that of a three-way player b/c he won some award in college.
November 8th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
Just to add a name: Pitt's Hugh Green in 1980 should have won it
November 7th, 2021 at 11:43 PM ^
Hutch has 7 sacks. If he had 20 sacks then maybe. Doesn't matter that he's one of the top few players in college football The media latches on to lazy narratives and stats are the best example. Woodson won it mostly because of the high profile plays (e.g., OSU punt return TD, INT and 37 yard catch). Without those highlight reel plays a guy like Hutch will never win the Heisman, unfortunately.
November 7th, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
Beat Penn St!
November 7th, 2021 at 11:49 PM ^
Because you can't even spell his name correctly.
November 7th, 2021 at 11:51 PM ^
IIRC Chase Young got Heisman hype so there is recent precedent. The difference is he piled up a ton of sacks, was on a national championship contender and was already a known commodity going into his junior year. You need some advance hype and while we all knew what Aiden was going to do this year a lot of national people didn’t have him on their radar
November 7th, 2021 at 11:54 PM ^
A-I-D-A-N
November 8th, 2021 at 12:02 AM ^
No, we will see the next couple of weeks
November 8th, 2021 at 12:08 AM ^
At least mention Aidan. That probably can happen. But, just like all the posts above me said, he is not getting it without some outrageous stats.
November 8th, 2021 at 12:19 AM ^
He's the best outside rusher we've had since LaMarr.
Not going to be in the Heisman talk but maybe other roles.
I was most impressed how he stayed home on the trick play throw back to the QB that could have been a big play.
Just plain old smart and hard working!
November 8th, 2021 at 12:23 AM ^
Even though Hutchinson has been one of the most dominant players in all of CFB this year, he just doesn't have the flashy stat-line that would garner Heisman praise.
In 2019, Chase Young came in 4th in the Heisman voting and was only the 9th defensive player to ever be named a Heisman finalist. Young's stats on the year: 16.5 sacks, 21.0 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles, and 3 pass break-ups.
Hutchinson's stats with 3 games left to be played: 6.0 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass break-ups.
I just don't realistically foresee Hutchinson receiving any attention in the Heisman conversation. If the type of season Chase Young had in 2019 doesn't get a DE/EDGE closer to a Heisman trophy, then it probably will never happen anyways.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:50 AM ^
Was even Reggie White a finalist for the Heisman?
November 8th, 2021 at 7:55 AM ^
Per College Football Reference, no he wasn't
November 8th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
Agree with this take. Manti Teo was the top defensive vote-getter since (checks record books) Charles Woodson.
2012: Manti Teo (2nd) - 55 Solo, 58 Ast, 1.5 Sk, 5.5 TFL, 7 Int
Don't forget that Jabrill Peppers was #5 in the Heisman voting in 2016. Stats: 46 Solo, 20 Ast, 3.0 Sk, 13 TFL, 1 Int ,167 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 310 PR yards, 1 TD
November 8th, 2021 at 1:32 AM ^
No defensive player will win the Heisman unless he has a significant role on offense like Woodson did.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:47 AM ^
Which goes to show how silly the award is, so why care so much about it anyway?
Does he deserve to be in the conversation? Sure. But purely defensive players are never seriously considered, so its prestige as “best overall player” is undermined to the point of triviality.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
Completely agree.
Within the framework of how the Heisman has been awarded over the last ~60 years, Desmond Howard was as deserving of the Heisman as any winner over that time. But, if the Heisman is supposed to be for the "most outstanding player", the only legit winner since offensive players stopped playing on defense was Woodson.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:42 AM ^
There is an asymmetry on both sides of the ball though. On offense you can choose to run a play for your best player, and choose to run a play against the weak point of the defense. So ultimately, having an elite offensive player is more valuable than an elite defensive player.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:17 AM ^
Put him in as a tight end and get him a few touchdown passes. Maybe return punts. Get him some touches on offense.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:39 AM ^
If there was an award for the truly best single player, then he might be on the list. But the Heisman isn't that. Andre Ward may not have even started in the SEC or BIG10. But his stats were berserk at Houston, and he won the Heisman. But he wasn't the best player in college. Though they can actually give it to the best player, Marcus Allen, Hershel Walker, Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders, Charles Woodson, etc.
November 8th, 2021 at 7:13 AM ^
Who is Andre Ward???
November 8th, 2021 at 7:50 AM ^
No idea, but I bet the Lions wasted a high draft pick on him and he was a bust?
November 8th, 2021 at 9:16 AM ^
Correct.
Andre was the #7 overall pick for the Lion's in 1990. He won the Heisman as QB at Houston, where he threw the ball for 4700 yards and 44 TDs. Houston played nobody, but the stats lit up scoreboards - so he won the Heisman.
It's one of the reasons the Heisman has zero credibility as an award for the 'best player in college football', and instead is understood as the award for the most flashy stat line in all of college football.
November 8th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^
Unfortunatley, I am well aware of Andrew Ware. He was suppose to be the Lions newest latest savior. Not so much. I believe he went on to be a mediocre color guy? Just one of many bust for the Lions.
November 8th, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
Andre Ware was such a bad pick that he doesn't even get a room at the Heisman House.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:46 AM ^
Aidan Hutchinson has been among Michigan’s most important players this season, but for those keeping score at home and considering Heisman Trophy candidates among defensive players, the FBS leader in sacks is Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a sophomore defensive end from Kansas State with 11. Aidan Hutchinson has one FEWER sack than David Ojabo.
Anudike-Uzomah also leads the nation in forced fumbles with five. David Ojabo is tied for fourth in the nation.
Will Anderson Jr, Alabama’s sophomore linebacker, leads the nation in tackles for loss with 19.5 for a total of 85 yards. Anderson also is fourth in the nation in sacks with eight.
LINK for NCAA FBS stats.
November 8th, 2021 at 11:29 AM ^
Here's an example of Felix Anudike-Uzomah in action and maybe one of the reasons why TCU's head coach Gary Patterson decided to resign after that game.
November 8th, 2021 at 7:40 AM ^
Why not Hassan Haskins? According to PFF HE'S the #1 running back in the country, not Walker.