The Most Exciting Player of 2005

[Carmen Ohio]

My list is based on how much I expect/fear the player will take it to the house when they have the ball... not just make an exciting play:

1) Ginn - I've never seen anybody exactly like him in S&G
2) Bush - Could be #1 because he's done it for two years.
3) Breaston - Be honest
4) Holmes - Remember me?
5) Hester - Best of the rest based on my criteria

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

... so there's the stage... (Sure the Michigan Game was too, but, everyone else had their own games to watch)...

What other games were on when The Game was on? It was the national game on ABC. Even with another ABC game, and ESPN game, and ESPN2 game, along with GamePlans, I would bet that 40-50% of those watching college football at the time were tuned to The Game. That would be quite a stage.

 

[thackattack]

Zurp, you have a point. Maybe we are just biased, and TGII isn't as good as we make him out to be........naaaaaaaaaah!

But seriously, I think a tie between Bush and Ginn at the top is about right. I think Bush is one of those "Shit, he's got the ball again, what's he gonna do now?" kinda guys. Earlier last season, when we were still undefeated and looking for that #1 or 2 BCS spot, I was cheering so hard for USC to bite it against anyone, anyone they played. In those games, every time Bush got the ball, I held my breath and prayed that he wouldn't go all the way. He is that type of player, IMO. Teddy is too, and I've got to think that every team we play this year gets freaked every time he even lines up, but he and Bush are pretty even, if you ask me. (For some reason it seems to me that having 2 players tied at the top takes some luster off how exciting they are-no way is that the case!).

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

As far as individual skill, it's hard to pick between the two, but it seems that the USC scheme does a better job getting Bush the ball in a position where it is easier for him to get single coverage. I don't envy anyone the task of trying to cover Bush on a swing pass or wheel route. For that matter, I don't envy anyone the task of trying to cover Teddy, either.

 

[High Lonesome]

However, neither Bush nor Hester make opponents think, "Oh, fuck, he's got the ball..." like Ginn does.

I agree with you about hester but Bush does just what you said, every time he touches the ball the entire crowd gasps. Ted Ginn is an amazing tallent but to put him infront of Bush, at this point, is probably biased.

my list as of now

1. reggie bush
2. Ted Ginn jr.
3. Adrian Peterson
4. Vince Young
5. Reggie Mc Neil

Obiviously i am biased as well, no way the big 12 has 3 of the top5 but those are who i see day in and day out and they are very impressive.

Hester to me isn't all that much diffrent from steve breston. He is a great returner but kick it away from him and your fine.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I agree with you about hester but Bush does just what you said, every time he touches the ball the entire crowd gasps. Ted Ginn is an amazing tallent but to put him infront of Bush, at this point, is probably biased.

I'm not so sure about that. Here's some comparative stats:

Bush
186 touches, 13 TDs (6 rushing, 7 receiving) for 1 TD every 14.3 touches
He had five TDs of 50+ yards:
65 and 81 runs at UCLA
69 yard TD pass against Notre Dame
66 yard run at BYU
53 yard pass at Virginia Tech

Ginn
54 touches, 8 TDs (2 rushing, 2 receiving, 4 punts) for 1 TD every 6.75 touches
He had six TDs of 50+ yards
65 yard punt return against Wisconsin
59 yard pass against Indiana (and all yards were after the catch)
67 yard punt return against Penn State
60 yard punt return and 58 yard pass against Michigan State
82 yard punt return against Michigan
Also, keep in mind he was forced to play temporary QB in the Alamo Bowl which limited his use as a WR.

I'd say putting him ahead of Bush isn't necessarily biased.

 

[High Lonesome]

I stand corrected, maybe its not biased, regardless, I think that we can all agree that it will be interesting to see what bush and leinahrt and the gang do without norm. I think what those stats really show you though is that tOSU needs to get Ginn the ball much more often

 

[bucknut11]

Mili, I'd say Bush's TD per 14.3 carries is skewed a little bit. Although he doesn't do it much, Reggie takes the ball in between the tackles on some carries to keep the defense(s) honest, and I'd assume not many of those are taken to the house. Ginn didn't really get the ball where he was in a situation where he couldn't take it all the way. Does that make any sense?

I'd still say they're about equal. It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini. You can't lose either way.

 

[AKAK]

I stand corrected, maybe its not biased, regardless, I think that we can all agree that it will be interesting to see what bush and leinahrt and the gang do without norm. I think what those stats really show you though is that tOSU needs to get Ginn the ball much more often

First, I think Bush And Leinart will probably be okay without Norm... its the next crop of Skill players that will probably show the drop off. (not saying they won't lose a game, but Rivers did fine without him until he left NCSU)

Second, we'll be getting the ball to TGII more... it was more of a question of being sure he knew what he was doing out there... so we used him much more later in the saeson... he was a True Freshman after all.

Third, Not to get into a big stat v stat thing... but both Ginn and Bush would scare the hell out of me if I were a DC... they are truly "take it to the house, anywhere, anytime" type guys... they don't come around often... nevermind having two in college football at the same time....

 

[High Lonesome]

First, I think Bush And Leinart will probably be okay without Norm... QUOTE]


You are probably right they will be fine, but i think that it speaks volumes about chow when Leinart says that if he would have known that norm was gone it would have seriously influenced his decision to stay. Norm's system gets the absolute max out of every player on the feild. I would guess that Leinart and bush know how much the system helped them.

 

[jwinslow]

I'd still say they're about equal. It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini. You can't lose either way.

Good comparison, except the lamborghini results in dinged doors if you try to park it in a normal garage (since the doors open upwards).

Anyway, we'll get Ginn the ball a lot more this year... but expect to see him get similar touches as the Michigan game... a star that Smith looks for often and early but will be used tons more as a decoy... also expect his TD per touches to drop off a little... his skill will not decrease but those stats are almost impossible to repeat

The USC trio will be fine. It's kind of like saying that the LB's at tOSU would have a dropoff in performance with a new DC. It will be interesting to see what happens in 06 at USC.

 

[BB73]

I'm not so sure about that. Here's some comparative stats:

Bush
186 touches, 13 TDs (6 rushing, 7 receiving) for 1 TD every 14.3 touches
He had five TDs of 50+ yards:
65 and 81 runs at UCLA
69 yard TD pass against Notre Dame
66 yard run at BYU
53 yard pass at Virginia Tech

In order to save Methomps the trouble - other big TD plays for Bush:

52-yd TD pass to Jarrett against Ariz. St.
57-yard punt return TD at Wash. St.
65-yard punt return TD at Oregon St.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Mili, I'd say Bush's TD per 14.3 carries is skewed a little bit...Ginn didn't really get the ball where he was in a situation where he couldn't take it all the way. Does that make any sense?

You saw the Alamo Bowl, right? How about those eight carries from the QB position? Not exactly a prime highlight material situation. And that catch and run for 40 some yards where he took it the opposite way clear Across the Field...he was trapped by at least five guys and still busted loose. Or how about his catch and run TD against Indiana on the tipped ball? That was pure Ginn, as he avoided about five tackles. I wonder how many plays like that Bush made.

 

[jwinslow]

Bush did make a number of plays like that actually, as can be seen in this video (not here to say he's better than ginn, but definitely did a lot of field reversing and juking):

http://www.trojanfb.com/usc_adr_wmv.php