I like Pro Football Focus, I really do.
They give an insight into both the college and professional games and add context to plays and games instead of just looking at a box score. For the most part reading their work makes those who do more informed football fans.
But.
Remember what I said about buts a long time ago. There is always a but (at least after an incredibly complimentary introduction).
PFF released their Heisman Rankings through week four of college football today and I’ve got a problem with it. If you want to, you can read the piece here first and try and guess what my issue is.
In the top ten they feature three players who are yet to play a snap in 2020.
It’s great that Justin Fields was the second best player in college football in 2019. He was the reason I thought Ohio State would beat Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl and I’d have been right had it not been for an awful call by the officials.
But Justin Fields has done literally nothing to win a Heisman Trophy in 2020 to date. His best work, and it was plenty admirable, was pushing for the Big Ten to re-examine their decision to cancel the season. Them putting Fields at two is solely reputation based, something PFF claims they don’t do.
The same goes for Rondale Moore who I just called my favorite player to watch in all of college football. He’s exciting, he’s great and he’s as fun as any player across the country.
He also hasn’t stepped foot in a game yet this fall and is living off a reputation, not actual production in these rankings.
And finally, USC quarterback Kedon Solvis falls victim to the same. A rising star no doubt but again, they’re sourcing his current candidacy off of what he did last year and projects to do this year, not anything he’s actually done.
If you’re going to be the place that looks at advanced stats and does film break-down to give a better understanding to players and teams than go ahead and please be it.
Like I said above, PFF doing what they do makes us better and smarter football fans.
But then don’t come out with a list and base a 2020 award solely on production in 2019 when you’re four weeks into a year.
Also – why not use the opportunity to perhaps push for star defensive players to get a chance at the Heisman? You mean to tell me the top ten best players in the game, what the Heisman Trophy awards annually, are all on offense?
Use your tremendous platform to inform, please! You’re great when you choose to do that!
Oh, and go re-watch the Oklahoma game and please tell me how Spencer Rattler is still in your top four.