Published October 1, 2012 - 12:37pm
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Every week we show love to the top three players over the weekend, but this week we’ll also show some non-love to a few duds.
Studs
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: I’m sure you caught what Johnny Football did on Saturday, right? He set school records for total yards in a game (557 yards) and passing yards in a game (453 yards). Yeah, Arkansas isn’t that great of a benchmark and has probably one of the worst defenses in the country. However, Manziel literally ran circles around them. He’s on pace for Cam Newton-like numbers this season and totals 16 touchdowns through four games. Those are silly numbers no matter what teams you’re playing against.
Georgia running backs, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall: Unlike Georgia’s blue-chip recruits of the past, Gurley and Marshall not only look SEC-ready, but they are having a fantastic year as true freshmen. The duo combined for 294 rushing yards and five touchdowns. They made Tennessee’s defense look invisible and slow, a terrible combination in the SEC. Gurley leads the SEC in rushing (536 yards), and Keith Marshall is fifth overall (428 yards). This is a dynamite duo and a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.
Odell Beckham, WR, LSU: Finally, it’s week five, and we can talk about Odell Beckham. Other than a punt return touchdown in the first week, Beckham seemingly fell off the face of the college football world. But he made his way back against Towson, catching five passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He should be putting up these kinds of numbers every week for the Tigers, but he’s had some drops on big plays through five weeks. Maybe this will get him going for the remainder of the season, because the Tigers will need him heading through the SEC gauntlet.
Duds
Arkansas’ defense: Offensive numbers are staggering each and every week against Arkansas. The team that plays the Hogs every week looks like the best team in college football – ULM, Alabama, Rutgers and now Texas A&M. The Hogs allowed 716 total yards against the Aggies and 58 points. Through five games, Arkansas is giving up an average of 40.6 points per game, 510 yards of offense, 160.8 rushing yards and 349.4 passing yards. Arkansas is ranked 120th out of 124 in total defense.
Georgia and Tennessee run defense and turnovers: The Dawgs and Vols combined for 479 yards on the ground. For a non-Arkansas SEC game, that is unheard of. Georgia, with the electric freshmen, ran for 278 yards and five touchdowns. Likewise, Tennessee moved the football at will on Georgia and rushed for 197 yards and one touchdown. And if that’s not bad enough, both teams combined for seven (seven!) turnovers, in the form of four interceptions and three fumbles.
Of course you had to find a way to ‘insert’ the preseason phenom in your list this week. Hell, if he didn’t do it against Towson, he may have packed his bags and headed over to Southeastern in Hammond … jus’ sayin’ … ;)
I would have at least given the freshman linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche from Ole Miss a nod for his performance against Bama. Nkemdiche, a redshirt freshman from Loganville, Ga., had 11 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack.
No win for the Rebs, but several took notice of the team’s performance after a thumping by Tejas! ;)
I’m impressed greatly by the Rebels level of physicality against the most physical team in the SEC. Nkemdiche is a big part of that, too. Very good looking player and worthy to be a stud, no doubt.