WiscoSportsTalk

Thoughts from a Crazy Conference Championship Weekend

Florida vs. Alabama Game:  Crimson Tide Dominates

• One of the best weekends in football just wrapped up and there are a lot of things that caught my eye. First though, I want to get to the most anticipated match-up in, well…a year, since the last time Alabama took on Florida in the SEC Championship game. For the second consecutive year, and only the fourth time ever that a #1 ranked team squared off against a #2 ranked team before a bowl game, Alabama showed that they would not be denied. Greg McElroy, a quarterback who has been overlooked his whole life, started as a back-up to Chase Daniel in high school and only got a scholarship offer from Alabama because Tim Tebow declined his.

  McElroy proved his worth to the Tide by being on-time and accurate all night, including a beautiful touch pass to his tight-end from 17 yards out. He also showed an unknown dimension, “gracefully” tight-rope walking the sideline for a key first down to set-up Bama’s first score.

  Demonstrating his toughness, he threw a block, and also scrambled to the three-yard line to set-up Mark Ingram for the third of his three touchdowns. But in spite of all this (including Ingram’s performance which I will touch on later), I was most surprised and disappointed in the play of the nation’s #1-ranked defense.

  The Gators surrendered the most yards ever under Urban Meyer and looked like they thought they could just throw their jock out on the field and waltz into Pasadena. Obviously not having a future first-round pick in defensive end Carlos Dunlap (suspended) on the field hurt the Gators, but it might not have mattered much had he played as poorly as Brandon Spikes and the rest of the Florida front seven played.The Gators’ defense was battered all night as Ingram had over 80 yards after contact and the Tide ran for 251 yards. And yes, Tim Tebow did play in this game. He was OK, totaling 310 yards and a touchdown pass, but for the first time I can remember, he could not will his team to a win. Nonetheless, Bama looked very impressive.

Is his NFL future at Tight End?

Where is Tim Tebow’s NFL Future?

• In the aftermath of the Florida-Alabama SEC Championship game, the question becomes (after the Sugar Bowl), what happens with Tim Tebow? I don’t believe he is an NFL quarterback, despite his legendary toughness and leadership qualities. He has solid arm strength but has an elongated motion, causing his throws to be late and defenders to hit his arm during its backswing.

  Tebow also has average accuracy. Even with those negatives, counting out one of the best college football players of all time will be tough. I think he has a chance to become a similar player to Dallas Clark of Indianapolis with his similar size, strength, and speed. Tight End is his most likely position in the pros. Nonetheless, he has been a great ambassador to college football.

Mark Ingram:  Will Alabama Get its First Heisman?

• Even though no Alabama player has ever won the Heisman Trophy, that streak should end this week. Running back Mark Ingram had a big day with over 180 total yards and 3 TDs against Florida and has done it all year, totaling over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns, both Alabama records.His toughness, vision, and ability to break tackles reminds me of another former #22 from an SEC school, Emmitt Smith. His talent and big-game performance, along with his consistent production all year (when healthy) should result in Bama’s first Heisman winner.
  

  Mark Ingram may be Alabama's first Heisman winner ever

C.J. Spiller:  Best NFL Prospect?

• Clemson finished 8-5 overall with a loss in the ACC Championship Game but C.J. Spiller continues to impress and could be the first running back taken in the NFL Draft next spring. His size, speed, and explosiveness make him a prototypical NFL back.He has had an inconsistent season (18 yards against South Carolina and then 230 against Georgia Tech), but his ability is not in question. Big games against Miami, TCU, and Georgia Tech show that he can get it done against the top teams.

Is Wisconsin football on its Way Back Up?

• Wisconsin football has struggled the past few years, but this season might prove to be the turnaround that the program needs. After a 51-10 whipping of Hawaii in which John Clay ran for 172 yards and 3 TDs, the Badgers are 9-3 and face a 9-3 Miami Hurricanes team in a return trip to the Champs Sports Bowl. The ‘Canes quietly had a good season this year. They won an impressive victory over the ACC winner Georgia Tech.Wisconsin does not have a signature win this season and with the majority of their starters returning, a victory over the ‘Canes could jumpstart them to a strong 2010 and maybe propel Clay to some 2010 Heisman consideration.

Ndamukong Suh May Actually Deserve the Heisman

• I believe Mark Ingram will win the Heisman, but Ndamukong Suh is the best defensive player in college football since the last defender to win the Heisman, Charles Woodson. This guy should be the #1 pick in the NFL draft. Suh turned in the most dominant defensive performance I’ve ever seen in a big game, totaling 12 tackles and 4.5 sacks as he shredded double teams with power and showed lateral quickness to bring down Texas runners. This guy seems like the real deal, an absolute beast at arguably the most important position on defense.
  

  Suh put in the most dominating defensive performance since....(still thinking)....

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Handicapping the Heisman: Top 5 Heisman Candidates

After current Packer and former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson’s dominant performance against the Cowboys on Sunday, I began to wonder who would win College Football’s Most Recognizable Individual Award, otherwise known as the Heisman Trophy.

With dominant, former run-first programs such as Michigan and Nebraska switching to the spread offense, no defense is safe with quarterbacks slinging it around 50+ times a game. That has proved to be the case this decade as 8 out of the past 9 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks. That was a trend expected to continue this season as two former Heisman Trophy-winning QBs (Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford) returned, as well as the NCAA’s all-time leading winner, Colt McCoy of Texas.

However, the chances of a QB winning the Heisman are questionable as both Tebow and Bradford have battled injuries and McCoy has seen his numbers, while still good, slide a bit.

Alabama sophomore RB Mark Ingram and Houston QB Case Keenum have both carried their respective offenses while Stanford RB Toby Gerhart has led a very dangerous Cardinal offense. Clemson’s senior RB C.J. Spiller has had big games against some tough defenses, including over 100 yards against #4 TCU in a 14-10 loss.

It is clear that this season has become more about defense and the running game as the majority of the best teams in the country (Florida, Alabama, TCU, Georgia Tech, Pitt, OSU) have used this as a road to prominence in 2009.

Lets take a closer look at the top 5 candidates (in order 1-5) for this season’s award:

RB MARK INGRAM, ALABAMA – 194 car 1297 yds 6.7 ypc 10 td, 25 rec 225 yds 3 td
• carried offense with little passing game, SEC title game (FLA) looms large, 5th in rushing in NCAA

RB TOBY GERHART, STANFORD – 262 car 1395 yds 5.3 ypc 19 td, 8 rec 87 yds 0 td
• big bruising back, huge games against USC and Oregon, 3rd in nation in rush yds, 2nd in TDs

QB TIM TEBOW, FLORIDA - 128 comp 198 att 64.6 pct 1730 yds 12 td 4 int, 171 rush 604 yds 10 td
• became SEC all-time TD leader, everyone knows what he can do

QB COLT MCCOY, TEXAS – 254 comp 351 att 72.4 pct 2628 yds 19 td 9 int, 81 rush 164 yds 1 td
• most wins by QB in FBS (D-1A) history, run/pass threat, extremely accurate, leads NCAA #2 off

RB C.J. SPILLER, CLEMSON - 153 car 836 yds 5.5 ypc 6 td, 24 rec 382 yds 4 td
• versatile and explosive-big play guy, lacks consistency but has had big games for ACC leader

DARKHORSES: Kellen Moore, QB Boise St; Jordan Shipley, WR Texas; Case Keenum, QB Houston

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