Since before the start of the 2009 football season (college...is there any other?), I've been ranting and raving to anyone who would listen that Greg McElroy is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in years at Alabama. No more feeling like there is no hope of putting the opposition away. No more waiting for the game to slip away because of a Bama QB's inability to adjust or to get the ball downfield. McElroy is the real deal. He has the confidence of his coaches and his teammates and he has a hell of an arm. As an announcer said during last Saturday's Arkansas game, McElroy seems to have been "given the keys" to the offense. It appeared to the announcer (and to anyone who watches Bama football) that the coaches have much more faith in this guy who's s started all of 4 games than they did in his predecessor. I feel it and I think most observers do as well: the kid's a winner.
Anyway, I've heard a lot of talk about early Heisman candidates. I don't give a rat's ass about a Tide player winning the Heisman and I don't think the university is concerned about it either. At Alabama, it's always been about the team, not an individual. Regardless, one of the names I constantly see mentioned is Jimmy Clausen, the QB at Notre Dame. He's having an excellent season, no doubt. But after week three I started looking at his and McElroy's numbers. If Clausen is to be considered an early Heisman front-runner, then I submit that McElroy should be considered as well. As of the Alabama-Arkansas game and the Notre Dame-Purdue game this past Saturday, here is where the two stand in the official NCAA stats:
Among QBs with a minimum of 15 passes/game, Greg McElroy ranks 3rd in the nation with a passer rating of 175.15 and Clausen ranks fourth with a rating of 172.86. Heck, the much-maligned (last year) and finally healthy Chris Todd (Auburn) is 6th. Note: McElroy's numbers have been accomplished with Julio Jones missing two games.
Official NCAA Stats
And, if you wanna throw a big IF out there: if any of Alabama's 4 capable-of-starting-anywhere-in-the-nation running backs were to get 20 carries a game, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Roy Upchurch or Terry Grant would be putting up numbers similar to Jahvid Best (California), who may now be the leading Heisman candidate. Richardson and Upchurch both average more yards per carry than Best right now.
Anyway, I've heard a lot of talk about early Heisman candidates. I don't give a rat's ass about a Tide player winning the Heisman and I don't think the university is concerned about it either. At Alabama, it's always been about the team, not an individual. Regardless, one of the names I constantly see mentioned is Jimmy Clausen, the QB at Notre Dame. He's having an excellent season, no doubt. But after week three I started looking at his and McElroy's numbers. If Clausen is to be considered an early Heisman front-runner, then I submit that McElroy should be considered as well. As of the Alabama-Arkansas game and the Notre Dame-Purdue game this past Saturday, here is where the two stand in the official NCAA stats:
Among QBs with a minimum of 15 passes/game, Greg McElroy ranks 3rd in the nation with a passer rating of 175.15 and Clausen ranks fourth with a rating of 172.86. Heck, the much-maligned (last year) and finally healthy Chris Todd (Auburn) is 6th. Note: McElroy's numbers have been accomplished with Julio Jones missing two games.
Official NCAA Stats
And, if you wanna throw a big IF out there: if any of Alabama's 4 capable-of-starting-anywhere-in-the-nation running backs were to get 20 carries a game, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Roy Upchurch or Terry Grant would be putting up numbers similar to Jahvid Best (California), who may now be the leading Heisman candidate. Richardson and Upchurch both average more yards per carry than Best right now.
Fact: 75% of the defenses Alabama has faced to date consist of Arkansas, North Texas, and Florida International, which are ranked 91st, 84th, and 118th defensively. Virgina Tech is 38th. Arkansas and FIU are ranked 107 and 111 respectively in pass defense.
ReplyDeleteYou do this after I give your precious AU boy some respect? I'm hurt.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel like looking up the defensive rankings of Auburn's and ND's opponents for comparison. I would suspect that Ball State and Purdue don't have the greatest pass defenses either!
Who said anything about Auburn? I just thought your readers might like to see what great competition this year's supposed eventual Heisman trophy winner and the mighty Tide has gone up against so far.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I looked it up for you. Ball State currently has a better ranked pass defense than Florida International, North Texas, and Arkansas.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ball State has played who?
ReplyDeleteNorth Texas. Sound familiar?
ReplyDeleteDid you really just say that McElroy should be up for the Heisman?
ReplyDeleteNo. What I said was that if Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) is being touted as a potential Heisman winner, then McElroy should also be considered. I don't care if any Bama player is ever a Heisman candidate...the team is what matters in Tuscaloosa...not individuals. However, based on the numbers and the team's performance, at this point Mac's numbers are better than Clausen's. So, his name should be tossed in there in any discussion of candidates. Todd's as well.
ReplyDelete