That could be true CB. His size would indicate that. But what sets him apart from other guys his size is his quickness and his agility. Having a big guy that can react to a receiver's moves and change directions like he can is a rarity. I can't imagine how his absence this year would have impacted USC's defense considering that they lost most of their starters as it is.
this whole thread is just Conan trying to mess with me, its really a dumb question to even ask - as the answer is obvious.
heres a writers opinion - not only does he like Berry but he has Berry as waaaay above the rest of the players at his position. 2 yrs ago Berry was in high school..now he has 12 int's and needs 12 yards to break the all time int return yardage record.
i do respect Mays - hes probably a top 20 pick next year
the cool thing is Berry has twin brothers in the 8th grade
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Monday, April 13, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry
<!-- begin free preview text -->Even though the Heisman Trophy is supposed to be awarded to the country's top college football player, that doesn't always prove to be the case. In fact, there are plenty of instances where the best player has no real shot of winning the stiff-arm trophy. I know it's early, but this week's Top 10 list is best players with no shot of actually winning the Heisman:
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heres a writers opinion - not only does he like Berry but he has Berry as waaaay above the rest of the players at his position. 2 yrs ago Berry was in high school..now he has 12 int's and needs 12 yards to break the all time int return yardage record.
i do respect Mays - hes probably a top 20 pick next year
the cool thing is Berry has twin brothers in the 8th grade
<TABLE class=cols cellSpacing=0 sizset="106" sizcache="1"><TBODY sizset="106" sizcache="1"><TR sizset="106" sizcache="1"><TD colSpan=2 sizset="106" sizcache="1"><!-- begin table 2 --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="75%" border=0 sizset="106" sizcache="1"><TBODY sizset="106" sizcache="1"><TR sizset="106" sizcache="1"><TD vAlign=top rowSpan=3 sizset="106" sizcache="1"><!-- begin entry -->Top 10 best players with no shot at the Heisman
Monday, April 13, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry
<!-- begin free preview text -->Even though the Heisman Trophy is supposed to be awarded to the country's top college football player, that doesn't always prove to be the case. In fact, there are plenty of instances where the best player has no real shot of winning the stiff-arm trophy. I know it's early, but this week's Top 10 list is best players with no shot of actually winning the Heisman:
- Eric Berry, Tennessee safety: The past few seasons have been dismal for Vol fans, but at least they have Berry. The guy is a ball-hawking, playmaking, vicious-hitting DB that probably would've been a top-five NFL draft pick had he been eligible to come out this year. Last season he not only had seven INTs for an amazing 265 return yards, he also proved to be an intimidator in the back of the UT defense. It's not a stretch to say Berry is better at his position than his competitors by a wider margin than anyone else in the country is at theirs.
- Brandon Spikes, Florida LB: Here is a great player on a great team. Spikes is a leader and he comes up big in big games. The snag, linebackers don't really have much hope of being awarded the Heisman, especially linebackers on the same team as Tim Tebow.
- Taylor Mays, USC safety: Every wide receiver's nightmare, Mays is a shocking blend of size (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) and burst (4.3 40 speed). It's a combination that often has a wicked effect. Just ask Arizona. Last year, when the Trojans played the Wildcats, according to one UA assistant, Mays knocked three 'Zona players out of the game. While Mays is the most recognizable name on the USC team and that could get him some generous preseason Heisman hype, in his first three seasons his game hasn't been snaring lots of INTs and that's probably the only way he'd have to really get in the discussion.
- Rob Gronkowski, Arizona TE: A 6-6, 265-pound junior, The Gronk is a matchup nightmare for defenses and the biggest reason why 'Zona went from having the Pac-10's No. 9 red zone offense to No. 1 last season. Their bread and butter was to line up three receivers on one side of the formation and split Gronkowski out to the other and just let him beat his man inside. Ten of his 47 catches went for TDs and that was with him missing three games due to mono.
- Todd Reesing, Kansas QB: It's not hard to overlook a QB in the Big 12 when you have Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy and a whole bunch of others putting up ridiculous stats. It's also not hard to overlook a QB when he's 5-9 and playing for a non-traditional power, like Reesing at Kansas. Still, no one is grittier than the little Texan, who last year passed for almost 4,000 yards and had 32 TDs against just 13 INTs.
- Jerry Hughes, TCU DE: Nobody had heard of this guy at this time last year, but Hughes had a breakout 2008 season, forcing six fumbles and leading the nation with 15 sacks for a very good Horned Frogs defense. Scarier still is that when teammates are asked who has been the biggest surprise this spring, some say Hughes because they feel like he's worked so hard to get that much better in 2009.
- Rolando McClain, Alabama LB: A Butkus Award finalist last season as a sophomore, McClain plays in a storied program coming off a very good season. He should be in the mix for Butkus honors again, but it's a long shot he would generate much Heisman traction.
- Colin Kaepernick, Nevada QB: One of the more exciting players in the country, Kaepernick is a dual-threat QB unlike any other around. At 6-6, 215, he is running threat somewhat in the mold of former Arkansas QB Matt Jones yet he is a better passer. Last season, Kaepernick threw for 22 TDs and just 7 INTs and passed for 370 yards in a 42-35 bowl loss to Maryland. Heady stuff for a guy who also has run for 240 yards in a game (UNLV) and had two runs for over 60 yards last season and a bunch over 30.
- Mark Herzlich, Boston College LB: A rangy 6-4, 238-pound do-everything linebacker, Herzlich, the ACC's reigning Defensive Player of the Year has been aided playing behind two great defensive tackles in Ron Brace and B.J. Raji. Both are gone now, but word out of BC is that Herzlich looks like an even bigger force for the Eagles, making plays all over the field. Last season, Herzlich shined in all facets of play, leading BC with 110 tackles, had six INTs, eight passes broken up and 13 tackles for loss.
- Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT: This guy emerged last season as a star for the Huskers, becoming the first lineman to lead the team in tackles in 35 years. The downside is even if the Huskers somehow come out and have a storybook 2009 and win the Big 12, it's crazy to think a defensive lineman would get most of the credit.
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yeah ive seen him play. i watch USC a lot, i wont lie. as ive said before USC > Florida ..or anyone else. they would have won a playoff last year probably
Mays is an all-american. Everson Griffin is a crazy athlete too
Berry is once a generation, seriously. he was the SEC defensive player of the year as a true sophomore. dont think thats ever happened before. he averages like 45 yards per return on ints. i doubt anyone will throw anywhere near him this year.
even USC beat writers would say Berry >Mays. go look at youtube..for real , spend 5 minutes looking at eric berry on youtube and then come say you still think Mays is better..would be like me saying Erik Ainge was better than Leinhart..
Conan,
You can be very right about Mays. WR's are getting bigger and bigger these days. In the 80's most NFL WR's were 5'10-6'1 and around 180-205. There are still plenty around that size...however, there are plenty in the 6'2-6'6 range and above 210-225lbs. It only makes sense that Safties will get bigger as well. We are starting to see plenty of 6'-6'1 CB's, which used to be very rare (most are still in the 5'10 range).
In 1988 there were 8 players in the NFL that weighed 300lbs or more. Now almost every team in the NFL has 8 players that are 300+.
Human beings are getting bigger....and there are a lot of freaks of nature out there. I still see Mays moving up to the OLB position. If he gets to 240lbs he'd be a liability in coverage at Safety....but, there are plenty of liabilities in the NFL at Safety. Donovan Darius was very poor in coverage, but he could drop the hammer at any given time which gave him an advantage against WR's going over the middle....but he got burned deep quite a bit. It's a give and take thing. Mays seems to have better coverage skills however (at this point). But what happens if he gets up over 240? It has to have an impact on his coverage skills.....
This is a good debate and good question. Don't know why CP has to turn it into another pissing contest.....
CB, I don't mind. He's entitled to voice his opinion. And I think he's right that a player like Berry doesn't come along often. But I'm right that Mays is an athletically gifted freak of nature, a human specimen that plays football who could be the first of many of his kind.
I am in agreement with you 100% that these giant WR's that have been showing up more and more (e.g. the Randy Moss type) have a physical advantage over your typical safety. Maybe one day there will be a Mays or 2 in every NFL backfield because everyone without one will get burned often by a 6'6" WR in the corner of the end zone.
Good discussion.
I am in agreement with you 100% that these giant WR's that have been showing up more and more (e.g. the Randy Moss type) have a physical advantage over your typical safety. Maybe one day there will be a Mays or 2 in every NFL backfield because everyone without one will get burned often by a 6'6" WR in the corner of the end zone.
Good discussion.
in case you missed it this weekend - Mel Kiper said during the draft that Eric Berry will be the #1 overall pick in next years draft
personally i dont think a safety ever goes #1, but top 5 no doubt
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personally i dont think a safety ever goes #1, but top 5 no doubt
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haha same guy that made that video made a vandy tribute video....its damn funny
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They all sucked down the stretch. (USC) I credited the Senior leadership problems they were having with such gem comments by Mays as... "so we lost 3 games in conference, that's no big deal." Then they proceded to lose a 4th and finish 5th in the Pac. With seniors like that leading the team, who needs to show up at all? I lost faith in him a long time before the NFL scouts knew what was up with the kid.
Try being more objective next time and you won't hear so much crap. You act as if nothing changes and last year's spring news is more important than what happened during the season. All the while changes are happening, and that includes times when you spiral downwards like teams that wind up with a WAC coach running an SEC program. But then again if Derek Dooley winds up winning the SEC in 6-7 years, you'll pull up this post just to prove me wrong.
Try being more objective next time and you won't hear so much crap. You act as if nothing changes and last year's spring news is more important than what happened during the season. All the while changes are happening, and that includes times when you spiral downwards like teams that wind up with a WAC coach running an SEC program. But then again if Derek Dooley winds up winning the SEC in 6-7 years, you'll pull up this post just to prove me wrong.
