Week 3 Review, Week 4 Preview and Heisman Talk

Let’s dive right in!

Last Week

There were a few games last week that carried early BCS implications and those victories and losses may go a long way in determining who’s in and who’s out come season’s end. It’s hard to rate any game as more important than another, but let’s look back at last week’s key matchups and the results.

A red hot Arkansas team came into Tuscaloosa with confidence, only to leave with bruised bodies and egos. I decided to attend that game to see the highly anticipated matchup of unbeatens in the SEC West and I have to say, it was never close, even when the game was scoreless. Kirby Smart had his defense ready to go. They pressured Tyler Wilson almost all game and gave him little time to find open targets and Arkansas’s ground game was nearly nonexistent. Alabama played a complete game using special teams, offense and defense to score its points. Alabama will need another complete effort this weekend when they visit Florida in the swamp in another highly anticipated matchup of unbeatens. This is an Alabama team that has not hit its stride yet on offense and it better find it before LSU visits on November 5^th.

Clemson continued its September to remember with another victory over a ranked opponent. This time it was Jimbo Fisher’s FSU team that was the victim. I have to give it to FSU. They were without their preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and team captain, QB EJ Manual and put up a good fight. Backup Clint Trickett threw for 336 yards and 3TDs. FSU gets a bye week this week to heel and should make a run at the ACC title from here on out. Still, with 2 losses, their national title hopes are all but over. Meanwhile, with his second straight 300 plus pass yard day against a top ranked team, Tajh Boyd placed himself in the thick of a very crowded Heisman race that I will touch on a little later in this entry.

Much like Alabama did against Arkansas, LSU used a combination of defense, offense and special teams to put away West Virginia in the game of the week picked by the College Game Day crew of ESPN. Winning a road game in Morgantown in no small feat for any program, whether they are expected to win or not. This year’s LSU team has survived its share of storms and last week’s WVU game was just another small victory for a team that has shown more resiliency than any other in 2011. Jarred Lee is not receiving enough credit for his huge roll in leading a talented football team that has had every reason to make excuses. I wasn’t convinced after the Oregon game of anything from this LSU team except that they had the best defense in the country. Now I think they are the most complete team as of now and very deserving of their new No.1 ranking.

Texas A&M took a 20-3 lead into half time over Oklahoma State last week before the Cowboys put down their handguns and grabbed their shotguns. The Pokies came out in the second half firing on all cylinders in what very well may be the country’s most prolific offense. QB Brandon Weeden was lights out in the second half, leading Oklahoma State to 27 unanswered points. He went a remarkable 47 of 60 passing, 438 yards 2 Tds and 0 Ints. If the Cowboys want to keep winning, they better find a way to start faster than they did against Texas A&M. Their schedule only get’s rougher, but they took a giant step last week with a win over A&M. Oklahoma State now has two real challenges left that are circled on it’s calendar. This first is a meeting with red hot Baylor in Stillwater on October 29^th and the next is the last game of the season when it host rival Oklahoma in the battle of Bedlam. Those games will go a long way in determining who wins the Big XII this season.

 

This Week

There are several huge games this week that will continue to help shape the championship picture. Get to a television this weekend and check out:

 

Times are CST.

Auburn at South Carolina        2:30pm   CBS                      

Michigan State at Ohio State   2:30pm   ESPN or ABC

Clemson at Virginia Tech       5:00pm    ESPN2

Alabama at Florida                 7:00pm    CBS

Nebraska at Wisconsin           7:00pm    ABC

 

 

Heisman Race

I love this topic. It’s never too early or too late to talk about it. Everyone has their own opinion of who should win it and why. There is no exact formula or set of standards that a player has to meet to win it, with the exception that the player’s team must have a good record. In my estimation, there are 10 candidates that have a legitimate shot at winning the Heisman Trophy in 2011.

 

It was very hard to choose between Kellen Moore (QB) of Boise State and Robert Griffin III (also known as RG3) (QB) of Baylor for a front runner in this blog, so I will highlight both.. They have both enjoyed remarkable seasons to date. Moore is without a doubt the nation’s most underrated and underappreciated player. Kellen, I don’t know if you access to my blog, but as a former college QB, I can appreciate what I’ve seen from you throughout your career. I certainly can appreciate the job that you have done this season. You have actually gotten better, even after losing two receivers to the NFL and throwing to guys who will never make it there. And as for you RG3, you continue to amaze us all every week with your athletism and redamndiculous 85 percent completion percentage at 12 yards per attempt. We know you aren’t throwing bubble screens for that percentage nor are you a product of a system. You are the real deal buddy. Keep it up!

 

Kellen Moore

Through 3 games, Moore is 83 of 105 (79%) for 995 yards, 12 Tds and 0 Ints. But check this; he has not been sacked even once. Yes ladies and gents, ZERO sacks. The last time I checked, Boise State wasn’t sending lineman to the NFL so this guy is getting the ball out of his hands to all of the right people. Kellen Moore is extremely impressive and if I were an NFL GM, I’d take a long, hard look at this kid. If Tebow is a first rounder, then so is Moore. Barring injury, this guy may be standing at the podium giving a speech for the Heisman if he continues to light it up. There is some stiff competition out there though, particularly coming from the next guy.

 

Robert Griffin III

Through 3 games, RG3 is 70 of 82, (85%) for 962 yards 13 Tds and 0 Ints. He is an electrifying player with the ball in his hands that has developed into one of the top passers in the nation. He is as quick as Denard Robinson of Michigan when running and as lethal as Andrew Luck when passing. He has no weakness as he leads Baylor’s poison spread attack into Big XII play. There are several test upcoming, starting this week against undefeated Kansas State, who will put a much improved defense on the field Saturday than it had a year ago. If Baylor can survive October, then RG3 will give us all reason to believe that he is the man for the prize. That’s a tall task for Baylor but I think RG3 and company just may be up for the task.

Other Notable Candidates (In no particular order):

 

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Andrew Luck, QB, Standford

Lamichael James, RB, Oregon

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin

Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

 

I hope you enjoyed this entry. Please leave comments. Thank you.