Jadeveon Clowney: Heisman 2013?

After setting the University of South Carolina’s single-season records for sacks and tackles for losses in his sophomore season, Jadeveon Clowney should be considered a legitimate Heisman contender for the 2013 trophy.

Clowney placed sixth in Heisman voting for the 2012 award, but it’s been over 15 years since the first – and last – primarily defensive player, Charles Woodson, won the Heisman Trophy.  Clowney’s stellar list of accolades speaks for itself and proves why the Gamecock could be the first true defensive player to win the award. 

Surely there’s competition.  Last year’s Heisman recipient, SEC quarterback Johnny Manziel, is seen by many as the favorite going into next year, but if Clowney has as hot of a season this year as he had last, his name is sure to be in legitimate contention.

 The 6-foot-6, 274-pound defensive end was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 (a first for a South Carolina player) and became the first true sophomore to win the Hendricks Award for most outstanding defensive end.  He was named first-team All SEC and statistically, Clowney recorded 13 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, which tied for third and second in the nation respectively.

His freshman season was just as outstanding.  In one of the most highly competitive collegiate divisions, Clowney was awarded the SEC Freshman of the Year award and was named to the second-team All SEC.  

What sets Clowney apart from his peers is his speed and physicality, his ability to get off the ball and on the edge.  His most memorable play, which was recently nominated for a 2013 ESPY for “Best Play”, came in the 2013 Outback Bowl.  Known as “the hit”, Clowney stopped Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the backfield for a loss of eight yards while forcing a fumble and recovering the fumble himself.  His play gave the ball back to the Gamecocks with great field position and led to an eventual touchdown.  In the Outback Bowl broadcast, former NFL head coach now turned ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said, “Not many guys I’ve ever seen can get off the ball and rock people like Clowney.”  His quickness and agility to get off the ball force turnovers is a skill set that is comparable to NFL defensive linemen.

Even though it’s only June, Clowney is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.  Former scout and now NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah called Clowney “on another planet” and gave him the highest grade he’s ever given a defensive lineman.

If there are criticisms of Clowney, it’s that contrary to the Outback Bowl play, he’s had trouble stopping the run and has taken plays off at times, but chances are he’ll make improvements for his junior season.  He’s a game changer.  If he can have more consistently big moments like his Outback Bowl play as well as the blindside sack/strip he had on Tennessee’s quarterback Tyler Bray, his plays will silence his doubters.

Pending Clowney stays healthy this fall, he could set South Carolina’s school sack record.  He only needs nine sacks to break the record of 29 and being that his stats have gone up from his freshman to sophomore year (8 to 13), he should be able to clinch this record during his time as a junior and hopefully hoist the Heisman in December.

- Hayley Elwood

@hayleyelwood

hayley.projectcfb@gmail.com

How Did The USC Sanctions Shift The Balance of Power in the Pac 12?

Back in the mid-2000s the USC Trojans were easily the most dominant program in the country. During that impressive run of national championships and Heisman Trophy winners in quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart as well as electrifying running back Reggie Bush (more on that in just a second) head coach Pete Carroll was on top of the college football world. They looked to be on the fast track to becoming one of the dynasties in college football history. Then after an NCAA investigation regarding what was referred to as "lack of institutional control" from 2004-2009 by not only the football team, but the men's basketball and women's tennis teams as well. But for the sake of this writing, I will not dive into the basketball and tennis aspect of the sanctions and focus on the football side of things, I mean... This is a college football blog after all, right?

The football violations were centered around the aforementioned Reggie Bush and the alleged interaction with several marketing agents and his acceptance of several monetary payments from what would be classified as an agent, not to mention a house purchased for Bush's family as well as a luxury car fitted with high dollar rims and stereo system. In light of the findings the USC football team was penalized severely by the NCAA (partially, in all fairness due to the lack of cooperation on USC's part, many writers feel). The Trojans were banned from post season play following the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and a scholarship reduction of 30 total scholarships over the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, and all wins from December 2004 through the 2005 season, including the USC national championship victory over Oklahoma were vacated, and to top it all off, all of Reggie Bush's records and his Heisman Trophy were vacated. Any images and/or video of Bush also were removed from all NCAA related television and other forms of media.

Since those initial 2010 sanctions we have seen the Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinals become national powers, and UCLA, Washington and Arizona State have all made significant strides in not only recruiting but in the win/loss columns as well. Which brings up the question, did the USC sanctions have a significant impact, if any on the reemergence in the quality of football played out west? Now, let's not beat around the bush, in the mid-2000s the USC flat out dominated the Pac 10 at the time, now Pac 12. During that run from 2003-2009 the Trojans won the Pac 10 championship 6 times. Pure domination. Which obviously makes recruiting relatively easy, especially on the west coast with no significant football program in your region. 

Since the sanctions were handed out, naturally the Trojans have came back to earth with zero Pac 12 championships and Oregon and Stanford have taken control of the Pac 12 and with the hiring of Jim Mora Jr the cross city rivals UCLA have made some noise and expectations are high in 2013 for the Bruins. Washington and Arizona State have also made significant strides since 2010. I truly do believe that the bowl ban and scholarship reductions altered the ability of the Trojans to recruit top level talent. The lack of bowl appearances would obviously scare many top level recruits away and teams in the Pac 12 like Oregon, Washington and UCLA have began the swoop in and take advantage. The scholarship reductions also changed the number of incoming freshmen coach Lane Kiffin and company can bring to campus as well. The sanctions have brought the Trojans back to earth, and now the Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinals have become the class of the Pac 12 and the previously untouchable Trojans are "just another team" with the Arizona State's and Cal's of the conference.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

Can Johnny Manziel Win the Heisman Trophy for a Second Time?

In the seventy-seven year history of the Heisman Trophy, it’s happened one time. Archie Griffin, a former running back from Ohio State is the only repeat winner of the most coveted individual award in collegiate football (‘74-‘75). In recent years, there’s been more talk of possible Heisman repeat winners with Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Mark Ingram hoisting the trophy as sophomores. Yet, none of them were able to repeat Griffin’s feat. Can Johnny Manziel, Heisman’s first freshman winner, raise the trophy for a second time?

At first glance, one might say “Yes! Without a doubt!” Manziel broke the SEC record in 2012 for total offense with 5,116 yards…as a redshirt freshman. As the season progressed, Johnny Football’s prowess on the field grew with each game. He seemed to find pressure situations as a prime opportunity to demonstrate his ability to evade would-be tacklers and scamper for the end zone. In what has been considered his “Heisman Moment” he seemingly made something out of nothing as he fumbled the ball, recovered it himself and subsequently threw a touchdown.

Yet, as with the previous sophomore Heisman winners, the opportunity for repeat becomes an even more daunting goal than escaping a four-man rush. Preseason picks for the 2012 didn’t have Johnny Manziel’s name anywhere in the Top 25. Just as in the year before when Robert Griffin, III, emerged as unforeseen winner, Cam Newton in 2010 and Mark Ingram in 2009.

Does the pressure of being a pre-season Heisman choice affect the player’s ability on the field? Possibly. Opposing defenses study the schemes, breakdown film and hope to be more prepared the second time they face them (Nick Saban anyone?) You can bet first time coaches in the SEC like Arkansas’ Bret Bielema and Gus Malzahn’s Auburn squad will be aiming to prove their worth by doing what very few others could: contain Manziel. What also must be taken into consideration is the loss of A&M’s offensive tackle Luke Joeckel to the NFL and former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s move to the head coaching position at Texas Tech.

Outside pressures also can factor into their ability to focus all their attention on the football field. The target on their backs grows infinitely larger as their name is mentioned more in the media. For Johnny Manziel, this seems to be the case more than ever with past Heisman winners. In the months since his winning the trophy, Manziel has allowed his Twitter feed to become fodder for those questioning his maturity and ability to handle his newfound fame. He doesn’t attend classes with the other students at Texas A&M, choosing rather to take them online. Manziel’s been on the sidelines of NBA games, surrounded by mounds of money at gambling establishments and most recently publically ridiculed College Station over an apparent parking violation.

Of the last five winners of the Heisman Trophy, outside of Manziel, Tim Tebow probably was the most publically revered and scrutinized. Yet, his intense focus on the sport did not wane. But even with his innate ability to motivate his teammates, with his famous “I promise” speech after the Ole Miss loss in 2008, Tebow could never get any closer in winning another Heisman than his third place finish behind Colt McCoy and winner Sam Bradford in 2008.

In order for Manziel to repeat as a Heisman winner his athletic skills are going to have to be as least as proficient as they were in 2012, if not more so. But also his ability to handle the pressure from not only within the confines of the football stadium, but also those outside in the “real world” will have to be more proficient as well. September 14, 2013 at College Station will be the first real test for the former when the Aggies face two-time defending BCS Champions, the University of Alabama. The recent few weeks for Manziel don’t speak well for the latter.

Can Johnny Manziel repeat as a Heisman Winner? Who would’ve thought he would’ve won it as a freshman? Anything is possible, but in reality, seeing Manziel raise the trophy again in 2013 is not very probable.

 

- Amy Norris

@amyjane72

amy.projectcfb@gmail.com

Does Golden Boy Marcus Mariota Have the Midas Touch to Take the Ducks to Pasadena?

The pundits have spoken and have made predictions about what 2013 will hold for college football, specifically a zero-to-hero quarterback from the west coast, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.  

Mariota, a redshirt sophomore from Honolulu, Hawaii, was ranked 123 for quarterbacks in the 2011 rankings.  With a 68.5 completion percentage, 32 TDs, and nearly 3000 passing yards, his #6 ranking at the end of the 2012 season (his redshirt freshman season) caused the college football world to remember the name, Mariota.

Entering the 2013 season, Mariota is one of this year’s golden boys.  But does he have what it takes to lead Oregon to victory at the Rose Bowl this January?

Taking a look back at some of the most recent preseason golden boy quarterbacks leaves one to question if this preseason factor is enough to bring the Waterford football home.

2012: Matt Barkley and his USC Trojans were both ranked #1 in the preseason.  The Trojans made the history books that year, but as the first team since the 1964 Ole Miss Rebels to go from #1 in the AP Poll to unranked.  Needless to say, their 7-6 finish was not what they hoped for, nor the pundits predicted.

2011: Pick a golden boy: Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State), Andrew Luck (Stanford), Kellen Moore (Boise State).  The most successful out of that group was Kellen Moore who led Boise State to a 12-1 season.  Luck and the Stanford Cardinals also did well, ending the season 11-2 and tied with Oregon for first place in the North Division.  They did not get to play in the Pac12 Championship game because of their head-to-head loss to Oregon earlier in the season.  But the top ranked preseason QB that year, Terrelle Pryor, led the Buckeyes to their first non-winning season since 1999.

2010: All of the spring and summer talk was about FSU’s Christian Ponder.  He led the Seminoles to a 10-4 season and a spot in the ACC Championship game.  Which, they lost.  

In fact, the last time a preseason top ranked QB took his team all the way was Tim Tebow in 2009.  The time before that?  Matt Leinart with his 2004 Trojans.

The bottom line is that based on these patterns and despite Mariota’s ideal 6’4” 211 lb. build, his razor-sharp accuracy (only six interceptions last year) and uncanny athleticism (nearly 800 yards rushing, five rushing TDs and one reception for a TD), the Ducks will need more in order to win in Pasadena.

Fortunately, the NCAA sanctions that were filed Wednesday against Oregon will have little effect on their 2013 BCS championship dream.

-Lindsay Simpson

@lindsaysimpson

lindsay.projectcfb@gmail.com

Welcome Our New Team Members!

We finally finished our search for a lady writer, and after a retweet from Samantha Steele, reading a bunch of articles, and much consideration, we have wound up with three!

Everyone please welcome Lindsay, Hayley and Amy to Project CFB.

Lindsay is a former soccer player for the University of Maryland. She currently works on the coaching staff there as Director of Ops. He was also named the first Shirley Povich Scholar for Sports Journalism at Maryland.

Hayley graduated from UCSD in 2010 with a BA in Communication. She has interviewed the likes of JaMarcus Russell, Jeff Garcia and Manti Te'o. She also worked as a reporter for a weekly TV news program called North County News.

Amy loves college football and loves to write. A great combination for our team. She is a diehard Alabama fan. Her uncle was fortunate enough to play for Bama under Bear Bryant. She is also a St Louis Cardinals fan.

We are lucky to have all three of these ladies joining the team. It's an exciting time here at Project CFB. We are looking forward to seeing what articles these ladies come up with here.

College Football Playoff: Will This Fix The System?

Compared to every other major sports' playoff format, the college football bowl system seem the most controversial. If you ask me (and since you are reading this, I assume you are in fact asking) the NCAA basketball tournament is the most fun to watch playoff format to watch, even if you aren't a big basketball fan. The unpredictability and drama makes it second to none in my eyes, and I am not the biggest basketball fan in the world. After years and years of fans wanting it, the college football world is jumping on board.... Well sort of. Unlike the 64... uhh I mean 68 team NCAA basketball tournament, starting in 2014, college football is going to a  4 team playoff. Now college football historians, you do not have to worry about the New Years Day bowl games going away. Instead, the 4 teams will face off in a final four of sorts on New Years Day in the traditional bowl games. With the two winners facing off in the National Championship Game that will be contested in a different city each year.

Since 2009, there have been major rumblings about a playoff being needed to truly crown a national champion. In the 2010 National championship game, in which we saw Alabama begin their impressive run with a win over the Texas Longhorns. Both teams were a perfect 13-0 going into the game, but they weren't the only undefeated teams in the country that season. The Cincinnati Bearcats, TCU Horned Frogs and Boise State Broncos were also undefeated and all ranked in the BCS top 6 at the end of the season with the 12-1 Florida Gators as the only other team in the top 6.

You also had the next year when Oregon and Auburn faced off in the National Championship with an undefeated TCU team on the outside looking in. Then there was the infamous 2011 season in which we saw Alabama play in the National Championship Game, despite not only not winning their conference, but not even winning their division when facing off against the only undefeated team in the nation that year, the SEC Champion LSU Tigers. The 2011 season I feel is what got the ball rolling on the playoff train with 3 one loss teams all with a legitimate case to make the national championship game in Oklahoma State, Stanford and Alabama. Rather than going with a new match up, the BCS decided to go with a rematch of one of the better games of the 2011 season in Alabama vs LSU as it's title game, much to the chagrin of many fans and writers. Then last season you had the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off with the one loss Alabama Crimson Tide who got the title nod over one loss Oregon and Kansas State.

From 2009 to now you really could make an argument that a playoff could have significantly altered the college football landscape. How much differently would it be if BCS busters like Boise State and TCU were given the opportunity to play for a national championship? Would Alabama have became one of the most dominant dyansties in college football history? Now, I don't mean to get into hypotheticals but those are legitimate questions. The biggest knock on the aforementioned TCU and Boise State was that they didn't play in "power" conferences, but with the 4 team playoff I do think that TCU or Boise State would have at the very least PLAYED in one of the national championship games, if not potentially WINNING one.

Now I am not saying that a playoff will fix all the problems in the system though. For example, after the 2009 season we saw 5 undefeated teams in Alabama, Texas,  Cincinnati, TCU and Boise State. With the new 4 team playoff system one team would still be left on the outside looking in. The polls, both computer and coaches, will still play a role in determining who does and doesn't get the opportunity to play for the national championship. But I feel that this new playoff system will do a lot to quiet any discussion of the "best" team not necessarily being the national champion, with the obligatory crazy fan conspiracy theories not withstanding of course. But I am interested, like I'm sure the rest of the college football world is, to see how this playoff plays out. Will this playoff change the 'power' conference mentality? Will the SEC still remain as dominant as they have been in recent years? Only time will tell.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

NCAA Football 14 Preview

* I am not a video game blogger or writer. I decided to write about the new NCAA Football game because it's the exclusive college football video game. Please bare with me on this video game preview.

On July 9, EA Sports' NCAA Foootball 14 drops. NCAA Football has been a huge seller for EA Sports since its inception. This year they look to have their best one yet.

After playing many games on the demo, which was released June 18, I can say that this is definitely going to be a fun game to play. With updated uniforms, physic system, animations and cut scenes this game should be a step above all the previous NCAA Football games.

In the demo, which you can download on your console, you can play three different games. Ohio State vs Michigan, Alabama vs Virginia Tech and Oregon vs Texas A&M. All matchups will actually occur this season, like Alabama vs Virginia Tech in week one.

They can't use actual player names, although once the game is out you will be able to download rosters from the internet, so in the demo it generates fake names. It's kind of weird to see Johnny Manziel or Marcus Mariota have a different name, but it doesn't hurt the game play.

No game is perfect, and obviously this one has flaws like any other. One big gripe is that if a defensive player is playing a zone defense, if the quarterback starts to scramble the defensive player won't leave his zone to take down the QB. Kind of aggravating when Braxton Miller is chugging down the field and you watch Jake Ryan just standing and watching.

I'm sure this issue, among any others will be addressed by EA, and hopefully a patch will be released soon after launch.

After playing all three games several times, I have noticed many different cut scenes, tackle animations and more. I also don't feel like I've had the same game over and over. Each game is a new task. I've won games 49-0 and I've squeaked by 31-28.

The option works a little better as does the stiff arm. There is also a new feature where you can make the ball carrier accelerate, but only for a limited time depending on their stamina. Something to make the game even more realistic.

If you are a college football fan and a video gamer, this is definitely worth a pick up. I am very impressed with this game, and have only played the demo. There are other modes in the actual game, but we won't be able to see how those play out until the game is officially released.

NCAA Football 14 comes out on July 9. You'll be able to pick it up at GameStop, Best Buy, Wal-Mart or many other retailers.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

matt.projectcfb@gmail.com