Heisman Tonight.....

[1987alum]

thank goodness young didn't take it home. I can't stand the run first quarterbacks.

Yeah that Josh Harris was a loser!

[hammb]

I never got the chance to watch harris play except at OSU his last year. He was a great player and I'm not arguing that. I just would much rather see a QB stand in the pocket and deliver a pass rather than try to take off as soon as possible. Its hard to say which is better really outside of personal opinion, look at the two best teams in the nation, usc:great QB not a run first guy, Leinhart stands there and delivers his passes or sells his fakes. Texas: Young can hurt you at anytime by taking off and getting to the marker. If I had to choose a QB for my team though, I'm going with Leinhart cause I need someone who can throw the ball and take the pressure in the pocket.

Wow. I'm sorry man, but I cannot even comprehend taking Leinart over Young. Young had a better passer rating this year, while at the same time adding the rushing threat. Leinart is like you or me driving a Ferrari, racing against a pro racer in a Geo Metro. Sure I'm gonna kick his ass, but it has little to do with my ability.

Watch the game against UCLA a couple weeks ago? Leinart kept ramming his Ferrari into a tree while Reggie Bush Saved his rear.

Personally I'm hugely biased towards QBs with mobility, because I think they change the game in ways that stats don't indicate. I won't get into that, but if you ask me it's foolish to take Leinart over VY for any reason. Sure Leinart is more likely than Young to stand in the pocket and make the throw...but why should he risk doing that when he can escape the pocket and make something from nothing? Young had a very similar completion % (within 2%), threw only 1 less TD (on more than 100 less attempts), and had a higher yards per attempt ratio. He did throw more INTs, on less attempts, which is bad, but I think more than outweighed by the fact that he added 850 yards and 9 TDs on the ground.

I think when NFL scouts get ahold of these QBs the ONLY way that Leinart stays at the top of the list is because of all his hype. Brady Quinn is better if you want a pocket passer, and Vince Young gives you the stellar athlete that can do it all. Had Omar stayed healthy it's conceivable that he would've been better, in my eyes, than Leinart as well...sorry I'm not real high on the pretty boy from USC.


As an aside...I would not have made these comments 12 months ago. I thought VY was vastly overrated coming into this season, but he has proven me wrong time & time again this year. I said I like running QBs, but I like them to still be able to efficiently pass the ball, and Young has proven that ability this year.

[Falconfreak90]

A month ago I would have said Vince Young without hesitation, but after watching Reggie Bush a couple times on TV and the way he played against Fresno and UCLA, the last two games of the year, I think he will win and I don't think it will be close. The only way it is close is if voters sent their ballots in before the USC-Fresno game. Bush is an amazing player and, not that it matters for the Heisman, but he will be a far better pro than Young or Leinart.

I'm glad I was able to see USC play a few times this year on the tube. Bush was a man among boys. Simply an amazing player.

[kdog27]

I think when NFL scouts get ahold of these QBs the ONLY way that Leinart stays at the top of the list is because of all his hype. Brady Quinn is better if you want a pocket passer, and Vince Young gives you the stellar athlete that can do it all. Had Omar stayed healthy it's conceivable that he would've been better, in my eyes, than Leinart as well...sorry I'm not real high on the pretty boy from USC.

I tend to think the same thing but then that is the way I felt about Carson Palmer too. I never expected him to be this good.

[hammb]

I think when NFL scouts get ahold of these QBs the ONLY way that Leinart stays at the top of the list is because of all his hype. Brady Quinn is better if you want a pocket passer, and Vince Young gives you the stellar athlete that can do it all. Had Omar stayed healthy it's conceivable that he would've been better, in my eyes, than Leinart as well...sorry I'm not real high on the pretty boy from USC.

I tend to think the same thing but then that is the way I felt about Carson Palmer too. I never expected him to be this good.

I liked Carson, but thought that Leftwich was the better QB. Palmer's been amazing and Leftwich was having an outstanding season before his injury. I think if you give Byron the Johnson boys (Rudi & Chad) you'd see his numbers right there with Palmer's.

The guy that cracked me up from that draft was Kyle Boller. When I read that he threw the ball 50 yards on his knees in his workout I KNEW somebody would take him high. When asked about it Leftwich joked, "Why would I do that? I'm supposed to stay on my feet in the games." Sure enough Baltimore trades up to draft him even though the guy's career completion % was < 50% in college and he was NEVER a good player...strong arm though.

I think the big difference, IMO, between Palmer & Leinart is pedigree. Palmer was a HUGE prospect, and had a very good Freshman campaign. Then they went through multiple coaching changes before he finally had the same coach 2 years in a row (his Jr-Sr year). After disappointing SO & JR years, he stepped up with the big heisman year. With Leinart we've never seen him have to overcome any adversity. Hell, when USC gets in trouble they don't ask him to save the day they give the ball to Reggie Bush. Perhaps Leinart really is awesome, and will still be the #1 pick, but I find it hard to get a real good read on him playing on that all star team. Individually I've just never been that impressed...I watched the first half of the UCLA game before going to the hockey game that day, and he was TERRIBLE. He rebounded for a good 2nd half (which I didn't see), but man was he awful when I was watching.