Heisman Trophy 2015

[T Town Tommy]

Fair enough. Cook only played in 11 games to Henry's 13 (and Cook only had 2 carries in another game), and they averaged almost the exact same yards per game despite Cook having about 7 fewer carries per game. I also think their performance against a common opponent is illustrative (in back to back weeks):

Cook @ Florida: 26 carries, 183 yards, 7.0 YPC, 32 yard LNG, 2 TDs
Henry v. Florida: 44 carries, 189 yards, 4.3 YPC, 21 yard LNG, 1 TD

Henry's a beast, don't get me wrong, but I think Cook was -by a fairly wide margin- the most dangerous player in CFB this year. If he hadn't been nursing a hamstring injury all year, he probably would have had a similar number of carries as Henry and numbers that would have blown his out of the water.

Again, Henry's a beast, but if he wins the Heisman it's a team achievement trophy.

Cook was held in check for over three quarters against a Gator DL that wasn't even at full strength. He got almost 150 in the fourth when the game was out of hand. Nothing against Cook... he is a beast and a much better pro prospect than Henry. But I don't think he should be ahead of Henry for the Heisman. If the award was for most dangerous player, then the WR from Baylor would probably get my vote.

 

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Well that settles it. You've convinced me.

 

[ickythump1225]

Cook is a better RB than Henry and I don't really think that is debatable. Henry has a lot of yards because the dude has an enormous amount of carries. He reminds me of every Wisconsin RB to come out that school in the past 15-20 years. A lot of carries and a lot of yards.

Nobody stopped Henry because A) he averaged almost 30 carries a game and B) Alabama might have the best run blocking line in the country. Is he good? Of course, the dude is a workhorse and I love workhorse RB's but Cook is just a better player. He only had 300 less yards on 130 less carries. Even assuming a drop off in production at a higher number of carries for his next 130 carries (we'll say 5 YPC) at 339 carries Cook would have 2300 yards on the ground.

As for the argument of "well Henry is their whole offense," hello, what do you think Cook was all year? EG and Maguire<<Coker .

None of this is really relevant because voters love bulk stats (that is why system QBs like RGIII win) and Henry will blow everyone out. No knock on him, he can't help it that Alabama has been so great, but Henry is a system RB. Perhaps the best one to come along yet, but he is a product of a machine that has been set in place by Nick Saban.

 

[ickythump1225]

Cook was held in check for over three quarters against a Gator DL that wasn't even at full strength. He got almost 150 in the fourth when the game was out of hand. Nothing against Cook... he is a beast and a much better pro prospect than Henry. But I don't think he should be ahead of Henry for the Heisman. If the award was for most dangerous player, then the WR from Baylor would probably get my vote.

The Heisman isn't supposed to be the "best" player though either. The mission of the Heisman is to: "The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."

Under those conditions perhaps Kennan Reynolds best embodies that spirit. Of course with Johnny Football and Jameis Winston winning it, that Heisman statement really rings hollow.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Cook is a better RB than Henry and I don't really think that is debatable. Henry has a lot of yards because the dude has an enormous amount of carries. He reminds me of every Wisconsin RB to come out that school in the past 15-20 years. A lot of carries and a lot of yards.

Nobody stopped Henry because A) he averaged almost 30 carries a game and B) Alabama might have the best run blocking line in the country. Is he good? Of course, the dude is a workhorse and I love workhorse RB's but Cook is just a better player. He only had 300 less yards on 130 less carries. Even assuming a drop off in production at a higher number of carries for his next 130 carries (we'll say 5 YPC) at 339 carries Cook would have 2300 yards on the ground.

As for the argument of "well Henry is their whole offense," hello, what do you think Cook was all year? EG and Maguire<<coker .

None of this is really relevant because voters love bulk stats (that is why system QBs like RGIII win) and Henry will blow everyone out. No knock on him, he can't help it that Alabama has been so great, but Henry is a system RB. Perhaps the best one to come along yet, but he is a product of a machine that has been set in place by Nick Saban.

Don't think most would argue that Cook is the better pro prospect. But that isn't what the Heisman Award is given for. And comparing Alabama RBs to a system like a Baylor, TCU, etc., isn't really accurate. Ingram, Lacy, and Yeldon are all pretty solid pro RBs. Richardson has been a bust. Henry as a pro? Don't really know. But the same thing was said about Henry coming out of high school. I think he did pretty well shutting that criticism down. As I have said, I do think Cook is the better pro prospect.
</coker>

 

[T Town Tommy]

The Heisman isn't supposed to be the "best" player though either. The mission of the Heisman is to: "The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."

Under those conditions perhaps Kennan Reynolds best embodies that spirit. Of course with Johnny Football and Jameis Winston winning it, that Heisman statement really rings hollow.

Totally agree. That's why I just don't care as much about the Heisman any more. It actually started years ago for me. The award has always been politicized and many former winners were questionable at best.

 

[Grahambo]

Derrick Henry

His game vs Auburn sold me.

 

[BGIF]

Completely agree with you, but anytime someone breaks a record held by Barry Sanders it's worth taking note of.

If I had a ballet, it would look like this:

1. Dalvin Cook
2. Deshaun Watson
3. Derrick Henry
4. McCaffery
5. Kennan Reynolds

Casting for Swan Lake?

 

[philipm31]

I voted for a McCaffrey and it is not even close for me. McCaffrey is an all around weapon and broke the single season yardage record held by Barry Sanders. Anytime you're breaking one of Barry Sanders' records you had a historic season. Sure Henry broke Walker's record but Sanders>>Walker to me and I'll vote for the guy who can do it all.

Sure teams game planned to stop Henry but they game planned to stop McCaffrey too and McCaffrey doesn't have the luxury of playing behind an elite offensive line either.

Those records being broken is almost meaningless.

Look at YPG and break THAT, then I will be impressed.

Sanders and Walker played in far fewer games and set those records.

That being said, Henry and McCaffrey had impressive years. I guess one of them has to win, but the HT has been devalued since even before Torretta won it.

 

[BGIF]

Derrick Henry

His game vs Auburn sold me.

I wonder how many yards/TDs he would have rushed for behind Navy's OLine.

 

[GoldenDomer]

I wonder how many yards/TDs he would have rushed for behind Navy's OLine.

I know you were trying to knock him, but I could actually see him doing insane things in a Veer offense.

 

[MNIrishman]

Derrick Henry

His game vs Auburn sold me.

You mean the same Auburn that needed a miracle to beat an FCS team this season? Is that the Auburn you're talking about? Probably the least impressive of Alabama's cupcake opponents.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Henry by a land slide. If you selected Christian, it's because you just don't like Alabama. There is now way Henry is not the clear cut winner.


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[NDWorld247]

I wonder how many yards/TDs he would have rushed for behind Navy's OLine.

Henry ran for more yards (12,124 + 153 TDs) in his HS career than any other player in the history of HS football (that's a lot of players...). He was a 5-star recruit and the top ranked RB (247 comp) in the '13 class, winning several National Player of the Year awards his senior year. Obviously none of that has anything to do with a college award, but let's not pretend he was a "system" running back and wouldn't have been productive in another offense.

Stats aside, he put Alabama on his back this season. They wouldn't be in the playoffs without him. McCaffrey, who had a phenomenal season, wasn't even the most outstanding player on his team's offense when we played them 8 days ago. Watson probably has a better case for #2 but I'm not going to waste any time on that. Henry is going to win.

 

[irishff1014]

Henry hands down. It is good when you load the box and you can't stop him. he is a very durable guy. The last 2 weeks he had like 86 carries or something.

Christian is very good player but the Reason he is returning punts,kick offs is because they don't have the other enough talent to be game changers. SC did a terrible job Containing him last night.

 

[MNIrishman]

Henry ran for more yards (12,124 + 153 TDs) in his HS career than any other player in the history of HS football (that's a lot of players...). He was a 5-star recruit and the top ranked RB (247 comp) in the '13 class, winning several National Player of the Year awards his senior year. Obviously none of that has anything to do with a college award, but let's not pretend he was a "system" running back and wouldn't have been productive in another offense.

Stats aside, he put Alabama on his back this season. They wouldn't be in the playoffs without him. McCaffrey, who had a phenomenal season, wasn't even the most outstanding player on his team's offense when we played them 8 days ago. Watson probably has a better case for #2 but I'm not going to waste any time on that. Henry is going to win.

Henry didn't elevate his team over their statistical average though. Alabama did the same thing it's always done over the last five years. He's 34th in YPC, behind, for example, CJ Prosise, Zeke Elliott, and Elijah Hood. Dalvin Cook is #2 on that list. TJ Yeldon beat his YPC...as a freshman. Sure, he's a great back. But there are many great backs who would get his numbers behind an all-world o-line with 339 carries. I'd much rather see someone who gave his team something historic rather than just continue a well-worn path.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Yeah, giving it to Henry seems like calling Cal Ripken Jr. the best ball player ever or calling Gordie Howe the best hockey player ever. It's not crazy, but only if you value durability >>>> everything.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Yeah, giving it to Henry seems like calling Cal Ripken Jr. the best ball player ever or calling Gordie Howe the best hockey player ever. It's not crazy, but only if you value durability >>>> everything.

How? Lol.

Give him Stanford's O-line. He's still gonna do that much damage.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

How? Lol.



Give him Stanford's O-line. He's still gonna do that much damage.

Right Stanford has a nasty oline also and the best guard in college football.


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[IrishinSyria]

How? Lol.

Give him Stanford's O-line. He's still gonna do that much damage.

Yeah, I'm not arguing for the stanford dude. I'm saying Cook, who had 2.0 YPC more than him behind a crappy O-line and was literally FSU's offense this year was the best RB in CFB this year.

 

[Legacy]

Derrick Henry is awesome, but 3 other players deserve the Heisman more - SBNation.com

Henry is the clear betting favorite. But if I had a vote, it might look like this:

Watson
McCaffrey
Cook
Henry
Mayfield

 

[kmoose]

Watching the three Heisman finalists on the halftime show of the Army/Navy game.....

Watson and McCaffrey are really articulate guys who are making it hard for me to hate them. And then it occurred to me: ND's two losses this year were both on the road, by 2 points, to teams with a Heisman finalist.....

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Didn't want Henry, but he is a battleship. Congrats to him.

 

[Booslum31]

Didn't want Henry, but he is a battleship. Congrats to him.

I think he's going to have a pro career like Lacy. Grats to him!