Throwdowns > Closed

And the Prophecy Read said 01/18, 02:03 AM
Obviously RGIII is the clear winner. After that it isn't as clear.
But after going back and forth among the next 3 the order stood out to me as follows:
1. RGIII
2. Andrew Luck
3. Trent Richardson

I don't think you'll change number one so for now i'll leave that untouched.

After III its hard to say a player meant more to his team and performed as such as Andrew Luck. I could see an argument for him being dropped being made but for now I will also leave that untouched because I think the only change there is, is Trent.

Trent didn't put up eye popping numbers like some other candidates but each and every game he performed well if not spectacular. Each week in every game teams gameplanned to stop Trent. Teams knew the Alabama passing attack wasn't going to hurt them as badly as Trent will if they sat back in coverage. Teams loaded the box and Trent still carried the Alabama offense to the number 2 ranking in the final polls and a chance at the BCS championship. I don't think it would be fair to include his performance there so we'll not include that. But after long debate Trent checks in at my number 3 slightly above the 4th I have in mind.

And the Prophecy Read said 01/19, 01:02 AM
Exactly who I thought you'd go and that was my 4th. The difference came down to this for me. Trent led his team to the National Championship game. He had Eddie Lacey and he and his team usually finished games early and often. Ball on the other hand I felt like padded stats. Whenever I saw Wisconsin Ball almost always was getting good carries in the 4th. Trent ended the Kent State game early for example and sat the rest of the time. If Ball was in that game he would have gotten 20+ carries.

I know its hard to fault Ball for that and its Montees numbers really I think vs. Trent getting his team to the National Championship game. Which is more important?

Yes Alabama had a great D but reallly nothing else on O outside of Eddie Lacey who like Trent is another RB. Wisconsin also had a great D but on offense had Nick Toon and Russel Wilson so teams couldn't stack the box. That in theory also hurts Trent in a way but as stated before Trent easily could have put up Montees numbers if given the same situations.

So once again i'll repeat is eye popping numbers more important or how meaningful you are to your team and your teams success. In Trents case a NC appearence.

And the Prophecy Read said 01/21, 04:04 AM
AJ McCarron had a year he had because teams were so focused on stopping Trent Richardson. Russel Wilson opened the field for ball. Teams stacked the box on Bama and McCarron would throw the ball.

In SEC play Richardson averaged 137 yards a game, 6 ypc, and had 12 total TD's. He was a constant rock for an Alabama offense and Alabama responded by getting to the National Title game.

I'm not trying to argue who had the better year. If that was the case then the award would go to Case Keenum he had a terrific year statistically speaking just like Ball. But what neither Ball nor Keenum did was lead his team to the National Title game.

Richardsons team played a different style of football than Wisconsin and thats what hurt Richardson. Alabama played a possession stlye of football and wasted clock while relying on their defense and Trent. Wisonsin ran a high powered offense that was geared to piling up stats and thats what they did.

So i'll say it one last time. Both backs had great seasons, one made it to the National Title game the other like the rest of his team put up great stats.

Advantage Richardson.