I've heard some rumblings on the sports networks lately about the possibility of a defensive lineman ala LSU's Glenn Dorsey or Virginia's Chris Long being considered for a Heisman invitation. A pair of defensive linemen in a year where no offensive player has stepped up to the plate to claim their stake to the Heisman. Intrigued by this possibility, I thought I'd compare some statistics.
Which of these three players would you invite to the Heisman ceremony?
#1:
35 solo tackles, 26 assists, 61 total tackles
11.5 tackles for loss for 48 yards
6 sacks for 40 yards
3 pass breakups, 4 QB hurries
#2:
30 solo tackles, 39 assists, 69 total tackles
17 tackles for loss for 104 yards
12 sacks for 104 yards
1 interception, 7 pass breakups
21 QB hurries
1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick
#3:
47 solo tackles, 57 assists, 104 total tackles
7 tackles for loss for 36 yards
3 sacks for 23 yards
5 pass breakups, 6 QB hurries
2 fumble recoveries, 2 blocked kicks
Looking at the numbers, it's clear that the second two lineman stand head and shoulders above the first, and the numer of tackles and turnovers by the third candidate are truly impressive for a defensive lineman.
So who would you invite?
The #1 candidate is the highly touted LSU lineman Glenn Dorsey, the leader in support for Heisman votes for s D-lineman.
The #2 candidate is Chris Long out of Virginia, who is clearly diruptive in the passing game, but not exactly dominant against the run.
The #3 candidate is our very own Trevor Laws, who has been shut out of this discussion due to his team's dismal record.
I submit that Trevor Laws is quite simply the most dominant defensive lineman in the country, and that if anyone should be invited to New York off the defensive line, it should be him.
Just a little more support for my contention that the Heisman goes to the best player on the #1 team at the end of November, not the truly best player in college football.
3 comments:
Hey, "team achievements play a heavy role in the voting - a typical Heisman winner represents a team that had an outstanding season and was most likely in contention for the national championship at some point in that season." - Wikipedia
This is the functional definition of the Heisman, and a Heisman winner is an instrumental player on a team that was in contention for the Nat'l Champ. Not just the best football player in the NCAA Div. 1A. Only one player ever won the heisman on a losing team. Who? Paul Hornung for the Irish, in a year that the Irish went 2-8. That sounds familiar.
"the most outstanding college football player"
That's the definition according to the Downtown Athletic Club, who awards the trophy.
It says nothing about records or national championship contention.
What was once a truly prestigious award has been diluted into a popularity contest designed to drive television ratings, rather than on the field performance.
The Maxwell Award generally does a better job of identifying the best player in the nation, as compared to the Heisman.
Well, in times gone by, some might have said ND had favor with respect to it's players being considered for the Heisman.... ND used to be smack dab in the middle of that popularity contest.
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