Who's the Heisman favorite now?

• End of Line

  

  That's not to say that Te'o hasn't made some big plays, because he has. His seven interceptions are immediately cited when somebody questions his tackle numbers, and for good reason. Interceptions are shiny, after all.
  
  [LEFT]His two interceptions against Michigan made him a household name even more than he had already been. But as the Irish showed in that game, intercepting a Michigan quarterback wasn't exactly difficult.
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]Of Te'o's seven interceptions, only two were in Notre Dame territory, and none closer than the 27-yard line, so it's not like he stopped a sure touchdown drive. Both of those interceptions were then turned into Notre Dame punts, by the way.
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]In fact, four of his seven interceptions led to Notre Dame punts. The Irish converted his seven turnovers into just 13 points.
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]Over the weeks, I have been critical of Te'o's candidacy and have spent too much time on Twitter comparing Te'o to Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier. I only do this to compare Te'o's numbers to Shazier's, who is not any type of award candidate and was recently voted a second-team All-Big Ten player by the Big Ten's coaches.[/LEFT][LEFT]Shazier forced just two turnovers this season. One was an interception return for a touchdown against Penn State, and the other was a forced fumble against Wisconsin inside the one-foot line. In essence, Shazier's two turnovers were worth 14 points to the Buckeyes, and they meant more to Ohio State than Te'o's seven meant to Notre Dame.[/LEFT][LEFT]
  Te'o has all kinds of defenders, citing the fact that he has low tackle numbers because the Notre Dame defense isn't on the field as much as most defenses, and that's true. But since when is lack of production a legitimate defense for an award based in most part on statistics?
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]There are a ton of statistics from Shazier that I can give you that dwarf Te'o's, but the detractors will simply go back to Notre Dame's low number of defensive snaps.[/LEFT][LEFT]I could cite the fact that Shazier finished with 13 more tackles than Te'o, or 11.5 more tackles for loss, or 3.5 more sacks, or three more forced fumbles, but I won't.
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]Instead, I'll give you a stat that isn't based on number of snaps. Manti Te'o's average tackle took place after 5.1 yards had already been gained by the opponent. Ryan Shazier's average tackle took place after 4.3 yards had already been gained, and that's including a tackle 74 yards down the field against Nebraska as Shazier tracked down receiver Kenny Bell.[/LEFT][LEFT]Over the second half of the season, Shazier cut that number down to just 2.4 yards. Te'o allowed more than twice that over the course of 12 games.
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]Simply, Shazier made more plays, and made them closer to the line of scrimmage than Te'o, and yet nobody (including myself) is saying Shazier should be a Heisman contender.
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]People point to the fact that Notre Dame is undefeated and Te'o is the leader of the defense. How is that different than Shazier?
  
  [/LEFT][LEFT]Being a leader doesn't make you a Heisman candidate, you also have to produce numbers that are well above average. Te'o hasn't done that.
  
  [/LEFT]Yes, he has seven interceptions. Go talk to the Thorpe Award committee.

  http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2012/postseason/heisman_defense.html
• j_crazy

  

  Manziel is the new tebow.
• sleeper

  

  I think most people outside of South Bend know Te'o is only there because he's a popular player with a good story on an undefeated team. He isn't the best player in the country; he isn't even the best LB on an undefeated team in the country.
  
  With that said, no chance he wins the Heisman over Manziel or Klein. Zero.
• Automatik

  

  j_crazy;1336994 wrote:Manziel is the new tebow.

  How so?
• karen lotz

  

  End of Line;1336990 wrote:http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2012/postseason/heisman_defense.html

  
  
• Crimson streak

  

  End of Line;1336990 wrote:http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2012/postseason/heisman_defense.html

  
  That might be the dumbest article I have read. Considering they don't even play the same position. Who wrote that article? sleeper?
• Tiernan

  That guy is the next Hemingway he's such an excellent writer and purveyor of the truth.
• WebFire

  Crimson streak;1337041 wrote:That might be the dumbest article I have read. Considering they don't even play the same position. Who wrote that article? sleeper?

  Yes, we get it. But don't you think that excuse is a bit overplayed?
• Crimson streak

  

  WebFire;1337062 wrote:Yes, we get it. But don't you think that excuse is a bit overplayed?

  
  How is it an excuse? It's a fact. They don't play the same position, and the fact that people compare them is retarded.
• WebFire

  Crimson streak;1337075 wrote:How is it an excuse? It's a fact. They don't play the same position, and the fact that people compare them is retarded.

  I still think you are overblowing it though.
• GoChiefs

  

  sportswizuhrd;1336041 wrote:LOL at Erin Andrews, Skip Bayless, Jim Lampley and OJ Simpson (I know, he won the Heisman, but I dont think he watched much CFB this year) all getting Heisman votes. It looks like if you appeared on TV and uttered a phrase about college football you get a vote.

  
  Kudos to Mike Greenberg. Watching Mike & Mikbe this morning and he said he's been asked to be a voter but turns them down because he doesn't watch every game and he feels if he voted it would be unfair.
• Rotinaj

  

  That's a stupid reason to turn it down. Nobody watches every game and he knows that.
• GoChiefs

  

  Rotinaj;1337110 wrote:That's a stupid reason to turn it down. Nobody watches every game and he knows that.

  
  He thinks he can't give an opinion of the best player in college football because he doesn't see all the players. I don't see how thats a stupid reason when he's voting for the best player in college football.
• Classyposter58

  

  GoChiefs;1337092 wrote:Kudos to Mike Greenberg. Watching Mike & Mikbe this morning and he said he's been asked to be a voter but turns them down because he doesn't watch every game and he feels if he voted it would be unfair.

  Christ you don't need to be an expert to have an opinion. What a pillow biter
• GoChiefs

  

  Classyposter58;1337196 wrote:Christ you don't need to be an expert to have an opinion. What a pillow biter

  
  Guess we'll just disagree. When they let any Joe Schmo vote, it's ridiculous IMO. Why do they need over 1,000 voters? As was previously mentioned, its laughable when Erin Andrews is getting a Heisman vote.
• Pick6

  

  Classyposter58;1337196 wrote:Christ you don't need to be an expert to have an opinion. What a pillow biter

  People that vote without knowledge of players lowers the validity of the award more than it already is.
• vball10set

  Wasn't sure where to put this, and didn't want to start a new thread...
  
  
  
  [h=5]Jadeveon Clowney, Manti Te'o, Jarvis Jones and Braxton Miller enjoying lunch at the College Football Awards Show.
  [/h]
• Tiernan

  They must have been trying to get the autograph of next two year's Heisman winner.
• dlazz

  Manti T'eo is this years Honey Badger.
• Laley23

  

  Tiernan;1337471 wrote:They must have been trying to get the autograph of next two year's Heisman winner.

  I agree. Manziel must have been taking the picture.
• sleeper

  

  dlazz;1337520 wrote:Manti T'eo is this years Honey Badger.

  I'd take Te'o over Honey Badger all day every day.
• Tiernan

  sleeper;1337541 wrote:I'd take Te'o over Honey Badger all day every day.

  Not if you needed a CB / PR you wouldn't. Neither one will be in the NFL in 3 yrs anyway so it really doesnt matter.
• dlazz

  sleeper;1337541 wrote:I'd take Te'o over Honey Badger all day every day.

  I was saying it in terms of productivity on the field/unnecessary buzz regarding his Heisman status.
• sleeper

  

  dlazz;1337582 wrote:I was saying it in terms of productivity on the field/unnecessary buzz regarding his Heisman status.

  word. :thumbup:
• cats gone wild

  Mathieu was twice the player T'eo is this year, and against the most ranked teams anyone has played in one season. TM7 was a game changer in many ways, led his team to an undefeated season, and he couldnt place no better than 4th. T'eo's stats arent that great anyhow. I can think of 2 SEC players this year that put up similar stats.