Heisman Winners (QB)

**Dade** · 11-07-2007, 02:46 PM

There' alot of you who think Troy Smith should be starting (or at least playing late in games) now. I am not one of you. But I try and figure why you would want him playing now. Is it cause he won the Heisman? The Heisman shouldn't be a guide as to how a player will do in the pros. I not saying Troy doesn't have game but let's try and groom a young QB this time in stead of throwing them to the wolves. Here's a list of QB's I could think of who had long successfull careers, became franchise QBs or capable backups that the Heisman.

Roger Staubach
Doug Flutie
Vinny Testaverde
Carson Palmer

Short list isn't. You probably could throw Matt Leinart in there to, but I think you gotta another year or two. Your thoughts?

**Khaine** · 11-07-2007, 02:57 PM

I think throwing Troy out there would be a mistake. I think he can grow into a good QB for us - hopefully a very good QB. But it takes a very rare breed to get tossed to the wolves - especially with some of the games we have coming up here right quick - and not have his body, and mind crushed.

Look what we ended up doing to Kyle...

**Fanman** · 11-07-2007, 03:07 PM

No way is Smith ready yet. And Leinart seems like he is not quiet there yet.

Now a RB winning the Heisman is a much different story...they have a lot of success.

FM

**4G63** · 11-07-2007, 03:08 PM

He won't play (unless Boller and McNair get screwed up)so this argument is null and void....I'd just like to see him in some pressure situations when he doesn't have to worry about winning the game. Does that make sense?

**ravensfan1996** · 11-07-2007, 03:09 PM

Im not one calling for troy smith. Right now im calling for the "best" qb to play, and right now that person is Boller. right now we are still "in it" although very slim. So we cant just throw troy in there now. Boller deserves the ball now, see what happens. if we are 5-8, Then and only then, let troy play the last 3 games, no pressure of winning since we are out of it anyway, give him some reps, try him out. Unlike Boller who was just thrown out their first game.

**Mista T** · 11-07-2007, 03:12 PM

Add Jim Plunkett to the above list. That's five in 42 seasons. Marginal is Steve Spurrier, who knocked around for a decade but was never a topflight NFL QB.

To round out the list, here are the Heisman Trophy winners who did not become franchise NFL QBs:

2003 Jason White Oklahoma QB
2001 Eric Crouch Nebraska QB
2000 Chris Weinke Florida State QB
1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida QB
1993 Charlie Ward Florida State QB
1992 Gino Torretta Miami QB
1990 Ty Detmer Brigham Young QB
1989 Andre Ware Houston QB
1971 Pat Sullivan Auburn QB
1967 Gary Beban UCLA QB
1964 John Huarte Notre Dame QB

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I believe that a lot of the fascination with Troy Smith relates to his Heisman Trophy. I don't recall much excitement over the guy he beat out, Drew Olsen (now on the Carolina Panther taxi squad), even though Olsen also had good stats and came from a major college with a winning record.

I don't think the undersized Smith will make it in the NFL. He is listed as 6', but I believe that he's closer to 5'10". Next time you see him standing next to another player, draw your own conclusions. I watched him up close in the Landover end zone, appearing to be a good 5" shorter than the 6'2" Steve McNair. And, yes, size does matter!

**highwater** · 11-07-2007, 03:21 PM

I don't think the fascination with Smith is even because he won the Heisman, there just always seems to be a certain small but vocal group of fans who thinks a backup QB should be playing. Usually it's the second string guy, but since both McNair and Boller have been starters, the guy here is Smith. Part of his appeal is the desperate "What have we got to lose" attitude, and part of it is probably is the wishful "So what if he was a fifth round pick, we might have gotten lucky and found a gem!" thinking.

In any event, I don't think we'd be doing him a favor by playing him now, except at the end of a blowout.

**4G63** · 11-07-2007, 03:25 PM

I could give 2 shits about his Heisman, I just want to see if he has some mobility and some accuracy......

Oh, and Charlie Ward was smart and played pro basketball instead of football. He prolly made 3x's more money as a basketball player and will be able to walk when he's 50....

**Fanman** · 11-07-2007, 03:27 PM

and the reverse it true as well. A lot of big time NFL Qbs were not big time in college..meaning national championships, Heismans etc:

Joe Montana
Dan Fouts
Terry Bradshaw
Troy Aikman
Tom Brady
Peyton Manning
Brett Favre

FM

**4G63** · 11-07-2007, 03:37 PM

Brady was the 4th string QB behind John Friesz on the Patriots in 2000. He was the 2nd string backup in 2001 and had a QB rating of 86.5. Damon Huard was the 3rd string QB in 2001, who now plays for KC....

Hopefully, we'll see Smith sometime this year because I don't anticipate having a strong finish and I'd like to know where he stands on this team......but it won't happen and we'll probably release him next year.....

**highwater** · 11-07-2007, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Fanman

and the reverse it true as well. A lot of big time NFL Qbs were not big time in college..meaning national championships, Heismans etc:

Joe Montana
Dan Fouts
Terry Bradshaw
Troy Aikman
Tom Brady
Peyton Manning
Brett Favre

You must be kidding -- they may not have won Heismans, but you don't think guys like Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning were not "big time in college?"

**Losac** · 11-07-2007, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Fanman

and the reverse it true as well. A lot of big time NFL Qbs were not big time in college..meaning national championships, Heismans etc:

Joe Montana
Dan Fouts
Terry Bradshaw
Troy Aikman
Tom Brady
Peyton Manning
Brett Favre

FM

Peyton Manning was a #1 overall pick. He was huge coming out of college.

**AZRAVEN** · 11-07-2007, 06:51 PM

Logically I don't believe it's smart to play Smith (or any other QB) as a rookie but emotionally with the way the season is playing out I think I'm mostly in a "what the hell" mode. I believe, rightly or wrongly that throwing Boller to the wolves as a rookie is at least partially responsible for his inability to develop into a good QB. For me it has nothing to do with his having won the Heisman but more a total lack of confidence in the two guys sitting in front of him.

**Fanman** · 11-08-2007, 08:42 AM

I meant big -time as in national championships and Heismans. Poor wording on my part. I know manning was very good at UT...but he never won anything big.

FM

**4G63** · 11-08-2007, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by AZRAVEN

Logically I don't believe it's smart to play Smith (or any other QB) as a rookie but emotionally with the way the season is playing out I think I'm mostly in a "what the hell" mode. I believe, rightly or wrongly that throwing Boller to the wolves as a rookie is at least partially responsible for his inability to develop into a good QB. For me it has nothing to do with his having won the Heisman but more a total lack of confidence in the two guys sitting in front of him.

My sentiments exactly....We know how Boller does under blitz pressure as well as how McNair can't get out of his own way....

**RavenTD** · 11-08-2007, 12:08 PM

Hey, the only reason people get a excited about Troy Smith or any QB who becomes available.Is the simple reason that the Ravens do not have a QB to lead this team.

Until we do, this try Joe Bloggs at QB will always be the hot topic of conversation with Baltimore fans.

You would think the Ravens have shot the motherload at picking dud QB's, that by percentages they got to strike lucky eventually.

Knowing our luck,the time we find that franchise QB,we will have the 28th ranked defense in the league.