In this post, I'll break down all the statistics of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy to determine who gets the slight edge for the Heisman Trophy. All statistics are from ESPN.com player profiles. After Oklahoma edged Texas in the Red River Battle for the BCS... is anyone surprised the Heisman would come down to these two? Expect a battle here similar to that of the Big Twelve South tiebreaker/ Oklahoma versus Texas saga.
Oklahoma - Sam Bradford.
Class - Sophomore (#14)
TCU (10-2) (35-10 win) ; 19/34, 411 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Nebraska (8-4) (62-28 win) ; 19/27, 311 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Texas Tech (11-1) (65-21 win) ; 14/19, 304 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT
Oklahoma State (9-3) (61-41 win) ; 30/44, 370 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, rush TD
Missouri (9-3) (results pending)
Best Game (Rating Wise): at Washington (55-14, W)
18 of 21 (85.7% completion rate)
304 yards, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
1 yard rushing TD; 285.88 rating
Worst Game (Rating Wise): at Kansas State (58-35, W)
13 of 32 (40.6% completion rate)
255 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
1 yard rushing TD; 138.50 rating
Statistics compiled for 2008 (so far)
268 of 393
68.2 completion percentage
190.97 quarterback rating average
10.38 yards per completion average
46 touchdowns
6 interceptions
5 rushing touchdowns (58 rushing yards, for reference)
BCS Recognized Strength of Schedule - #1
Overall Notes: Pretty impressive statistics for a sophomore, no? Though not his highest rated (which is incredible considering the score) - his performance at Texas Tech I would rate as the most outstanding. A 277.56 quarterback rating against the #2 team in the country is something to die for. Let's not forget his obvious leadership skills on the field at Oklahoma State, with a couple of Heisman worthy highlights here and there. How many touchdowns did they score on 4th downs? Even in Oklahoma's loss to Texas - he performed effeciently. The two interceptions sting a bit in a game of that magnitude, but his 5 touchdown passes and 187.20 rating suggests this loss was not on him (yes, I am glaring at the OU defense). I expect him to add another boggling stat performance against a lackluster Missouri defense for the Big Twelve crown and secure Oklahoma's first trip to the title game since 2004 - and their fourth under Bob Stoops in 10 years (absolutely incredible...).
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Texas - Colt McCoy.
Class - Junior (#12)
Performance Against Bowl Eligible Teams
Rice (9-3) (52-10 win) ; 19/23, 329 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 1 rush TD
Oklahoma (11-1) (45-35 win) ; 28/35, 277 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Missouri (9-3) (56-31 win) ; 29/32, 337 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 2 rush TD
Oklahoma State (9-3) (28-24 win) ; 38/45, 391 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 rush TD
Texas Tech (11-1) (33-39 loss) ; 20/34, 294 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Kansas (7-5) (35-7 win) ; 24/34, 255 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 1 rush TD
Best Game (Rating Wise): Rice (52-10, W)
19 of 23 (82.6% completion rate)
329 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
1 rushing TD, 8 rushes for 83 yards, (260.15 rating)
Worst Game (Rating Wise): at Texas Tech (33-39, L)
20 of 34 (58.8% completion rate)
294 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
0 rushing TD, 13 rushes for 16 yards, (144.99 rating)
Statistics Compiled for 2008 (so far):
291 of 375
77.6 completion rate
179.20 quarterback rating average
9.19 yards per completion average
32 touchdowns
7 interceptions
10 rushing touchdowns (576 rushing yards)
BCS Recognized Strength of Schedule - 5th
Overall Notes: After a trying sophomore year, McCoy has played as well as he has at any point in his previous two years. McCoy offers a slight variation to the game plan that Bradford does not - he can and will flush out the pocket and mow you over if necessary (why I focused more on the rushing stats of McCoy rather than Bradford). Because McCoy doesn't have as much offensive star power as Sam Bradford, he is capable of putting the team on his shoulders if necessary (see Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech performances). Thus, I would give McCoy a slight edge in the "intangibles and leadership" category - though Bradford has made significant strides as the year has progressed (see - Oklahoma State). Let's not even get started on Colt's absolutely astounding completion percentages. Try this - 82.6% against Rice (19/23), 89.5% against Arkansas (17/19), or 90.6% against Missouri (29/32). In seven of his twelve games this regular season, he had a 80.0% completion rate or higher, including against arch-rivals Oklahoma (80.0%, 28/35).
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The verdict - There is no final verdict. Until the Oklahoma State - Oklahoma game, I had a slight edge to McCoy because of his "intangibles". However, after the fact - I have them about dead even. Should Bradford put up another excellent performance in the Big 12 Title game - give him the hardware. If not, it's McCoy's for the taking. Just like deciding between Oklahoma - Texas, this is another one of those "you can't go wrong but the loser gets shafted" type scenarios. It would have really been nice to see Missouri banished from the title game for an Oklahoma - Texas rematch. Good luck to them both, they should both be congratulated and applauded for highly successful years. Here's to a hopeful rematch of these two in 2009.
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Comments (13) Add A Comment
Which one does the NFL want the most........who made a mistake during the T Tech game that was fatal? McCoy % may be higher but i dont think he has thrown as many deep balls as Sam.
Objective1
Total Comments (72)
I think the when the NFL gets ahold of a running QB , it is only a couple of years to he stops running and learns to be a pocket Q.B. I can not think of a running QB that stayed that way. So I think when he is ready ( I hope not for at least two years) Sam will go high in the draft!
OU Boomer Sooner
Lake Forest , CA
Total Comments (6)
Look at the stats!
Yds Passing Bradford 4080 McCoy 3445
T.D.'s 46
OU Boomer Sooner
Lake Forest , CA
Total Comments (6)
Look at the stats!
Yds Passing Bradford 4080 McCoy 3445
T.D.'s 46 32
Int's 6 7
quarterback rating average 190.97 179.20
______________________________
Yes McCoy leads in completion rate.
Heisman To Bradford
OU Boomer Sooner
Lake Forest , CA
Total Comments (6)
Sam Bradford is pretty disgusting, none can deny. It is incredible to believe he was only a 3 star recruit coming out of high school (raised to a four after signing day by some services). As I analyze the data more... it is hard not to side with Bradford. A good performance in the Big Twelve title game, and the hardware is his. Given Missouri's performance last week against Kansas, it's certainly not insurmountable.
FOOTBALL REIGNS…
Total Comments (219)
The problem for these two is that the Big12 voters will split their #1 votes between Bradford, McCoy, and Harrell, leaving Tebow taking home the trophy.
yuck.
SoonerGirl
Total Comments (3178)
i think politics dictate mccoy will get it. im not saying he doesn't deserve it, though sam bradford deserves just as much if not more...but essentially, since OU got the glory again in the Big 12 conference, people won't want to put all their eggs in one basket. so they'll spread it out. send Bradford and the Sooners to the National Title game, and let UT have a heisman winner, esp. since vince didn't get it in 05.
soonergirl, not a big fan of the tebownator i see..
DoIt4Johnny
Total Comments (250)
I agree with #6 and #7... though I've always had the odd man out as Harrell. I think Florida plays much more as a team this year, and though Tebow is undeniably a great leader (even if you hate him it's hard to argue that) - I feel Bradford and McCoy have done more and are more deserving. Tebow has had his time. As for the political debate, I do agree. I consider Bradford and McCoy on a parallel plane, but I've always leaned McCoy for the trophy, even after Bradford usual machine like performance for the Big Twelve crown last night. I don't have a full explanation why, I just have. Could that be a subconscious factor - I think it can. Bradford puts up better numbers, but it seems like everyone on the Sooner offense is destined for an NFL career... seriously, so that helps.
FOOTBALL REIGNS…
Total Comments (219)
The argument I don't like is that "Bradford has more weapons" or "McCoy does more with less."
The OU offense is a machine, but that machine revolves around Bradford. Would the running game be doing as well without Bradford? What are the odds that the WR's would look so good without a QB of his caliber? It's an old scenario. To say they would be the same machine without Bradford would be like saying Florida would be just as motivated without Tebow.
Scoregasm
Tulsa , OK
Total Comments (179)
yeah, no. I don't think he's the best QB in the game. I'm not even sure he's top five. And further, I can't stand when guys start post-game interviews by saying, "I just want to thank my Lord and Savior." Well, alrighty then -- go thank Him. You don't need tv cameras for that.
SoonerGirl
Total Comments (3178)
I know you boomers like to overlook the head to head matchups, but Colt beat Sam, neutral field.
BurntOrangeAndWhere?
Total Comments (427)
so hilarious how horn fans overlook the texas tech loss.
"but it was a last play, and plus, we were on the road. and we had played some hard games up to that point. and my tummy hurts."
DoIt4Johnny
Total Comments (250)
No BurntOrange, honey. Colt did not beat Sam. See quarterbacks play on offense, and the Longhorn offense plays against the Sooner defense. And see, the Sooners controlled the game until we lost our middle linebacker to a torn ACL. Can you say three-and-out? It was only after Reynolds went down that Colt was able to become even somewhat effective against the Sooners.
Does that invalidate UT's win? No. But the truth is, Colt needed some luck to pull off the win to begin with, and further, anybody who knows anything about the gridiron knows that Colt certainly didn't beat Sam, unless perhaps there was some kind of barroom brawl after the game.
SoonerGirl
Total Comments (3178)
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