Jonathan Crompton may be the most polarized player in all of NCAAF much less the Southeastern Conference. The QB for Tennessee has thrown for 21 TDs, which ties him for the SEC lead, and 10 INTs. He also averages 216 Passing yards per game, in a season in which he hasn't broken the 100 passing yard mark in two contests and under 150 in another.
All that being said, and in light of the recent off field issues of the UT football program, I pose this question: Is Jonathan Crompton the kind of on and off field leader to take the Tennessee Volunteers to 9 wins in Lane Kiffin's first year as coach. That would require winning out in the regular season and a bowl win, most likely the Outback bowl against a Big Ten team (Wisconsin?).
Follow up: What does Jonathan Crompton's draft status look like? Erik Ainge who started for three and a half seasons at UT didn't go till late in the 2007 draft. Crompton I think has shown much greater physical ability. His ability to move the pocket, scramble, and a very underrated arm causes me to think he could go in the Fifth round of this year's draft. Obviously the season is far from over, and a lot can still happen. But if Crompton continues to lead the nation's "Toughest conference", amid a Heisman winner and current hopeful (Tim Tebow), in TDs, minimize INTs and pick up the yardage, this guy could play on Sundays.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
NFL Mid-Season Review
Hello Sports Fans. Its half-way through this NFL season and its time to hand out first half awards and analysis.
MVP
There are probably ten viable candidates for NFL MVP through the first half. Due to the League's love of offense, only three are really being mentioned thus far, and of course they are QBs. My first half MVP comes after a great deal of deliberation, and a whole lot of hesitation...
Brett Favre. Its true, I have a man-crush on Favre. I think he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest QB of all time. But the fact of the matter is, he's having a career year that shines amongst the luster of an already amazing career. He is j ust 600 yds off pace of Peyton Manning and 400 short of Drew Brees. The statistic that drops my jaw is his 16:3 td/int ratio. I'll admit, as much as I wanted to see Brett play again, I never thought his marraige to the purple and gold would turn out this well. One word of caution for Viking fans and Favre fans alike: Last season after the first half of the season people were talking MVP for Favre. How did that end?
Coach of the Year
There are many great candidates for this award as well. Two new NFL coaches have their clubs undefeated and a very respectable 6-2 (Jim Caldwell and Josh McDaniels respectively). However, My coach of the year through the first half goes to a guy who is somehow flying under the radar after an 8-0 start...
Sean Payton. His New Orleans Saints are 8-0, and all of the credit goes to Drew Brees or Greg Williams defense. Ultimately this guy is calling the shots, and he has yet to be off base this season. We knew his offense would be spectacular, and Williams has definitely improved the defense, but Payton is the one who brought this relationship to fruition and he should receive the credit. If his Saints continue on their regular season tear, its clear who should come out with Coach of the Year honors.
Defensive MVP
As a Denver Broncos fan I thought very hard about Elvis Dumervil. However his league leading 10.5 sacks have largely come in just three games. For this award I look for consistency and leadership.
With those Criteria in mind I award SS Darren Sharper of the NO Saints defensive MVP. He is probably the biggest reason for the Saints defensive surge and undefeated record. He has scored the most defensive touchdowns and is currently tied for the league lead in INTs with 7.
Comeback player of the Year
I thought long and hard about Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati Bengals. But then I realized in order to "comeback" you must be prominent first. Before this season at Cincy the only thing anyone remembered about Benson's career were his cripling fumbles in Superbowl XLI.
The first half CPY is Steven Jackson RB (St. Louis Rams). He won't get the acclaim due to his teams terrible record. However he is currently ranked third amongst the NFL's leading rushers. HE has struggled to find the endzone, but the endgame for this discussion is his career that has been devastated by injuries the past two seasons, and his immense success despite teams stacking the box to stop him.
Disappointment of the Year
My Disappoint this season is the Washington Redskins. After making a huge splash in the free agent market for what seems like the twentieth year in a row, they are once again at the bottom of the NFC East. Jim Zorn clearly isn't the guy at head Coach, and Daniel Snyder is too stubborn to fire him. Injuries are once again plaguing this team, and the 100 million dollar man Albert Haynesworth is not himself this year.
Rookie of the Year
Jerious Byrd of the Buffalo Bills shares the league lead in INTs with the wiley vet Darren Sharper. With number like those Byrd is pretty much a lock through the first half. Other standouts include Knowshon Moreno from Denver who leads rookie runningbacks in rushing yards and Mark Sanchez in New York, who has his club sitting in the thick of the AFC East race.
Surprise of the Year
Cedric Benson is exactly the player who deserves this award. Coming to Cincy out of obscurity being a failed no. 4 pick by the Chicago Bears, he currently sits second in NFL Rushing. Proving not only to be a workhorse between the tackles but also an explosive break away threat. His amazing first half performance has his Cincinnati Bengals in the Driver's seat of the AFC North.
Lets hear it sports fans... what do you think?
MVP
There are probably ten viable candidates for NFL MVP through the first half. Due to the League's love of offense, only three are really being mentioned thus far, and of course they are QBs. My first half MVP comes after a great deal of deliberation, and a whole lot of hesitation...
Brett Favre. Its true, I have a man-crush on Favre. I think he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest QB of all time. But the fact of the matter is, he's having a career year that shines amongst the luster of an already amazing career. He is j ust 600 yds off pace of Peyton Manning and 400 short of Drew Brees. The statistic that drops my jaw is his 16:3 td/int ratio. I'll admit, as much as I wanted to see Brett play again, I never thought his marraige to the purple and gold would turn out this well. One word of caution for Viking fans and Favre fans alike: Last season after the first half of the season people were talking MVP for Favre. How did that end?
Coach of the Year
There are many great candidates for this award as well. Two new NFL coaches have their clubs undefeated and a very respectable 6-2 (Jim Caldwell and Josh McDaniels respectively). However, My coach of the year through the first half goes to a guy who is somehow flying under the radar after an 8-0 start...
Sean Payton. His New Orleans Saints are 8-0, and all of the credit goes to Drew Brees or Greg Williams defense. Ultimately this guy is calling the shots, and he has yet to be off base this season. We knew his offense would be spectacular, and Williams has definitely improved the defense, but Payton is the one who brought this relationship to fruition and he should receive the credit. If his Saints continue on their regular season tear, its clear who should come out with Coach of the Year honors.
Defensive MVP
As a Denver Broncos fan I thought very hard about Elvis Dumervil. However his league leading 10.5 sacks have largely come in just three games. For this award I look for consistency and leadership.
With those Criteria in mind I award SS Darren Sharper of the NO Saints defensive MVP. He is probably the biggest reason for the Saints defensive surge and undefeated record. He has scored the most defensive touchdowns and is currently tied for the league lead in INTs with 7.
Comeback player of the Year
I thought long and hard about Cedric Benson of the Cincinnati Bengals. But then I realized in order to "comeback" you must be prominent first. Before this season at Cincy the only thing anyone remembered about Benson's career were his cripling fumbles in Superbowl XLI.
The first half CPY is Steven Jackson RB (St. Louis Rams). He won't get the acclaim due to his teams terrible record. However he is currently ranked third amongst the NFL's leading rushers. HE has struggled to find the endzone, but the endgame for this discussion is his career that has been devastated by injuries the past two seasons, and his immense success despite teams stacking the box to stop him.
Disappointment of the Year
My Disappoint this season is the Washington Redskins. After making a huge splash in the free agent market for what seems like the twentieth year in a row, they are once again at the bottom of the NFC East. Jim Zorn clearly isn't the guy at head Coach, and Daniel Snyder is too stubborn to fire him. Injuries are once again plaguing this team, and the 100 million dollar man Albert Haynesworth is not himself this year.
Rookie of the Year
Jerious Byrd of the Buffalo Bills shares the league lead in INTs with the wiley vet Darren Sharper. With number like those Byrd is pretty much a lock through the first half. Other standouts include Knowshon Moreno from Denver who leads rookie runningbacks in rushing yards and Mark Sanchez in New York, who has his club sitting in the thick of the AFC East race.
Surprise of the Year
Cedric Benson is exactly the player who deserves this award. Coming to Cincy out of obscurity being a failed no. 4 pick by the Chicago Bears, he currently sits second in NFL Rushing. Proving not only to be a workhorse between the tackles but also an explosive break away threat. His amazing first half performance has his Cincinnati Bengals in the Driver's seat of the AFC North.
Lets hear it sports fans... what do you think?
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