The short answer? Yes. The long answer? Hell yes! Okay, so that's not the long answer. However, that may be the only thing keeping Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel from being a shoo-in for the Heisman Trophy this year. You see, Manziel is a freshman and no freshman has ever won the Heisman Trophy before. There are some voters whom won't vote for a freshman because it's against their religion or something along those lines.
In all honesty, I don't know what voters' reason(s) would be to not believe a freshman is worthy of the coveted award. Do they feel freshmen are undeserving, because if one has a great season, it's more due to beginner's luck than actual skill? Do they feel it's morally wrong to vote for a guy in his first year than another that has been with his team for between two and four years? Was an 11th Commandment added, which says, "Thou shalt not vote for a freshman for the Heisman Trophy"? Whatever the reason, hasn't the Heisman Trophy been about rewarded the best player on a great team? In essence, a hybrid of the best player and MVP?
Johnny Manziel has led the Texas A&M to a 10-2 season, with the Aggies currently ranked 9th in the BCS poll. He led the Aggies to the only win of the season to this point against defending national champion Alabama. That isn't even touching on what Manziel has done individually. The freshman phenom has completed 273 of 400 pass attempts (68.3%) for 3,419 yards (8.5 per attempt), 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 155.9. He's also run the ball 184 times for 1,181 yards (6.4 per carry), for 19 additional touchdowns. The guy has been responsible for 4,600 yards from scrimmage this year and 43 touchdowns. He's in the top 20 in passing and the top 30 in rushing. With his performance in his team's dominating 59-29 win over the Missouri Tigers, Manziel set the SEC record for total offense in a season. Who owned the record previously? Cam Newton of 2010 National Champion Auburn Tigers, who amassed 4,327 yards that year, en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Keep in mind that Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and deservedly so for his 2010 campaign. Newton completed 185 of 280 pass attempts (66.1%) for 2,854 yards (10.2 per attempt), 30 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 182.0. He also ran the ball 264 times for 1,473 yards (5.6 per carry) and 20 more touchdowns.
This is comparing 14 games for Cam Newton to 12 for Johnny Manziel. Since A&M will not be playing in the SEC title game, he'll wind up playing one fewer game this year than Newton did in 2010. As of right now, Manziel has accounted for 272 more yards this year than Newton did a couple years ago. Manziel's on pace to throw for about 3,704 yards; 26 touchdowns; run for another 1,279 yards; and 21 more touchdowns, for a total of 4,983 yards and 47 touchdowns - 656 more yards than Newton accounted for in 2010, but three fewer touchdowns. Again, though - it would be with one less game played for the freshman quarterback. If he played fourteen like Newton did, he'd be on pace for the following numbers: 3,989 yards passing; 28 touchdown passes; 1,378 yards rushing; and 22 touchdowns - totaling 5,367 yards from scrimmage and 50 touchdowns. With those numbers, he'd be at +1,040 yards compared to Newton and exactly even with the former Auburn Heisman winner when it comes to touchdowns. In other words, Johnny Manziel's numbers are superior to those put up by the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. I don't care if the guy is a true freshman or 5th year senior, he deserves to win the Heisman Trophy!
http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/collegeQuarterbackRating/year/2012/group/80
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/cam-newton-1.html
In all honesty, I don't know what voters' reason(s) would be to not believe a freshman is worthy of the coveted award. Do they feel freshmen are undeserving, because if one has a great season, it's more due to beginner's luck than actual skill? Do they feel it's morally wrong to vote for a guy in his first year than another that has been with his team for between two and four years? Was an 11th Commandment added, which says, "Thou shalt not vote for a freshman for the Heisman Trophy"? Whatever the reason, hasn't the Heisman Trophy been about rewarded the best player on a great team? In essence, a hybrid of the best player and MVP?
Johnny Manziel has led the Texas A&M to a 10-2 season, with the Aggies currently ranked 9th in the BCS poll. He led the Aggies to the only win of the season to this point against defending national champion Alabama. That isn't even touching on what Manziel has done individually. The freshman phenom has completed 273 of 400 pass attempts (68.3%) for 3,419 yards (8.5 per attempt), 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 155.9. He's also run the ball 184 times for 1,181 yards (6.4 per carry), for 19 additional touchdowns. The guy has been responsible for 4,600 yards from scrimmage this year and 43 touchdowns. He's in the top 20 in passing and the top 30 in rushing. With his performance in his team's dominating 59-29 win over the Missouri Tigers, Manziel set the SEC record for total offense in a season. Who owned the record previously? Cam Newton of 2010 National Champion Auburn Tigers, who amassed 4,327 yards that year, en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Keep in mind that Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and deservedly so for his 2010 campaign. Newton completed 185 of 280 pass attempts (66.1%) for 2,854 yards (10.2 per attempt), 30 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 182.0. He also ran the ball 264 times for 1,473 yards (5.6 per carry) and 20 more touchdowns.
This is comparing 14 games for Cam Newton to 12 for Johnny Manziel. Since A&M will not be playing in the SEC title game, he'll wind up playing one fewer game this year than Newton did in 2010. As of right now, Manziel has accounted for 272 more yards this year than Newton did a couple years ago. Manziel's on pace to throw for about 3,704 yards; 26 touchdowns; run for another 1,279 yards; and 21 more touchdowns, for a total of 4,983 yards and 47 touchdowns - 656 more yards than Newton accounted for in 2010, but three fewer touchdowns. Again, though - it would be with one less game played for the freshman quarterback. If he played fourteen like Newton did, he'd be on pace for the following numbers: 3,989 yards passing; 28 touchdown passes; 1,378 yards rushing; and 22 touchdowns - totaling 5,367 yards from scrimmage and 50 touchdowns. With those numbers, he'd be at +1,040 yards compared to Newton and exactly even with the former Auburn Heisman winner when it comes to touchdowns. In other words, Johnny Manziel's numbers are superior to those put up by the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. I don't care if the guy is a true freshman or 5th year senior, he deserves to win the Heisman Trophy!
http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/collegeQuarterbackRating/year/2012/group/80
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/cam-newton-1.html
Comments
Post a Comment