Heisman Trophy Watch 2010: 2-Man Race between Cam Newton and LaMichael James?
Cam Newton and LaMichael James are the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy in 2010.
But is it a two-man race? If the season ended today, the answer would be yes.
Of course, the season ends in about two months, so there are plenty of players out there who can still claim the title.
Inside we debate which of the two favorites deserve it more, as well as a few outside contenders.
Cam Newton: The SEC Trumps the Pac-10
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Oregon, as well as Arizona and Stanford, have gone a long way this season in making the Pac-10 a serious threat to the SEC as the best conference in the nation.
But the Pac-10 just doesn't have the type of depth, top-to-bottom, that the SEC does. (I expect plenty of comments on this article for that claim).
The SEC is not quite as awesome as it was a few years back: the East is a bit down, with both Georgia and Florida in the middle of down seasons. But Mississippi State, Arkansas, and South Carolina have helped make up for that.
Newton isn't "better" than James because the SEC is better than the Pac-10. But because the SEC boasts a slight edge in defensive prowess over the Pac-10, and because both are offensive players, Newton has one advantage.
LaMichael James: Oregon Will Finish No. 1 in Both Polls
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Let's assume (crazy to do) that each of the main contenders—Oregon, Boise St., Auburn, Ohio State, Michigan State, Missouri—all win out, including their Conference title games.
It will still be very hard for the Ducks to relinquish their position atop both human polls. They certainly could bounce around the BCS from week to week, depending on how they play and the other teams' performances.
But—again, assuming they win out--it will be very unlikely that they fall out of the top spot, no matter what happens.
Now winning out is going to be very difficult, they have very tough tests in USC, Arizona and Oregon State. But they are the most likely team to do so.
Cam Newton: One Extra Audition
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Both teams have 12 regular season games. And both teams have incredibly important regular season finales: The Civil War, between Oregon and Oregon State. And the huge Auburn-Alabama game a week earlier.
But the fact that the SEC has a conference title game—which the Tigers are in the driver's seat to appear in—gives Newton an edge.
Not only will he play in that game, right before the voting, but he will be playing a team that still has a good shot at playing in a BCS Bowl. Oregon State will probably be unranked by their December 4 game with the Ducks.
South Carolina or whomever else comes out of the East won't be a national championship contender either. But no matter the opponent, an Auburn win in the SEC Title game will have more influence on voters than an Oregon win over Oregon State.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
LaMichael James: Less Is More
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Cam Newton touches the ball on every offensive play for the Tigers. That would seem to give him an edge over James but it might not.
Let's look at this way: between pass attempts and runs, Newton has 295 touches. Runs and catches, James has 138 touches.
In less then half as many opportunities to contribute, James has been arguably as vital to the Ducks as Newton has to the Tigers.
Cam Newton: One-Man Show
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It's hard to argue that the Ducks wouldn't be a Top-25 team without James. They've have a good tradition of runners in recent years: someone would fill in and grab 1,200 yards in that offense. And Darron Thomas is a star in the making. He could be in James' place atop the Heisman race at this time next year.
Auburn hasn't had a transcendent player like Newton since the Ronnie Brown-Cadillac Williams-Jason Campbell trio. And since Gene Chizik and Gus Malzahn have put this Tigers team together in less just two years, it's been an impressive resurrection.
But without Newton, Auburn's offense wouldn't be anywhere near as good as it is today.
In short, James has Darron Thomas to loosen things up. Newton has Michael Dyer. Edge: Newton.
LaMichael James: Longing for the Classic Running Backs
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Plenty of great running backs come out of college every season, from big schools (Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma) smaller schools (Chris Johnson, East Carolina) even Division II programs (Danny Woodhead, Chadron State).
But throughout the decade of the 2000s, quarterbacks dominated the Heisman voting as never before. In the nine-year stretch from 2000-2009, Reggie Bush was the only player (sort-of) to win the Heisman that wasn't a quarterback. (And Vince Young is the defacto winner.)
With more and more quarterbacks running the read-option—Tim Tebow being the prime example—elite running backs seemed to become slightly less essential to programs.
Last year, Mark Ingram won the award; maybe the voters are starting to re-discover the value of true running backs, and not quarterbacks who double as running backs.
Other Candidate: Kellen Moore, Boise State
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A starting quarterback who finishes the season with an undefeated record, and is not blessed with loads of All-American skill players, deserves major consideration for the Heisman.
The Broncos are the safest bet to finish the season undefeated: Fresno State and Nevada are the only decent opponents they have left.
Moore is having an unbelievable season statistically: 69.5 percent completion, 10.38 yards-per-attempt, 16-1 touchdown-interception ration.
And he is doing all that without a dominant tailback or a dominant receiving option.
Other Candidate: Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
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The biggest fear regarding the BCS this season would be an undefeated team from one of the "power" conferences missing out on the BCS Champtionship Game.
Another near-crime would be if an undefeated Big 10 quarterback, who is essential to his team's offense—were to not get a sniff of the Heisman.
Cousin's isn't Craig Krenzel on the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes or even Michael Robinson from the 2005 Penn State team.
His numbers are among the best in the nation: 14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 1,948 yards, 67 percent completion rate.
If the Spartans go to Iowa City next week and defeat a very good Hawkeyes team, Cousins should spring into the bronze medal spot for the Heisman race.
Other Candidate: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
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Missouri's win over the BCS No. 1-ranked Sooners is enough alone to get Gabbert noticed.
The stats aren't overwhelming: only 1,899 yards, and an 11-3 touchdown-to-interception ration.
But look what he has done in the past two weeks. Two weeks ago, on the road at College Station, he completed 31 passes for 367 yards, and three touchdowns.
And in the huge win over Oklahoma, he completed 30 more for 301 yards.
He still has to do a lot in the second half to make a serious run at the Heisman, but a win at Nebraska next Saturday would be a great start.
Other Candidate: Taylor Martinez, QB
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Losing to Texas—and not playing well in the process—caused Martinez to drop significantly in any "power rankings" for the Heisman.
But last week, he padded his passing numbers for the first time this season, in addition to his run stats. Against Oklahoma State, he three five touchdowns and was 22-of-33 for 323 yards.
Doing that against a rival in the Big 12—and a previously undefeated rival at that—shows that the freshman can be a serious duel threat.
If the Cornhuskers defeat Missouri (and Heisman candidate Blaine Gabbert), then win the Big 12 title, he will definitely be in New York City for the trophy presentation.
Other Candidate: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, WR
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Every year the Heisman voters should at least consider a player who is not a contender in the national championship race.
The Cowboys got off to a nice 6-0 start, but the loss to Nebraska, and three more games against Kansas State, Texas and Oklahoma, will likely lead to at least a two-loss season, no Big 12 championship appearance and only a mid-level bowl.
But Oklahoma State's offense is thrilling to watch, and it's largely because of Blackmon—although Brandon Weeden is a great passer.
Blackmon is a game-changing type receiver and although he'll only touch the ball a dozen-or-so times, he is one of the best players in the nation.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
