First of all I would like to congratulate all those Browns fans that went down to the game last night. It was FREEZING with subzero wind chills in Cleveland and the Browns had one total win on the year. I think it speaks really well to the true 50,000 or so Die Hard Browns fans who showed up to support their team and clearly the Browns responded with their best performance of the season in the 13-6 win. The Browns sacked Steeler QB Roethlisberger 8 times and had a 255-216 yd edge including a 171-75 yd rush edge. It has been a really tough year in Cleveland but last night true Browns fans could finally be proud of their team.

Here are the five candidates for the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Today, I will give you the PROS and CONS for each winning the Award this year. The Award comes out on Saturday but here is my projections of the order of finish for this years top 5 that have been invited to New York.

PROJECTED WINNER

Mark Ingram, Alabama.

PROS.

1. Did his best vs the toughest defenses.  Ingram had 185 total yards (rush and rec) vs Virginia Tech in the opener. Had 188 total yards vs Ole Miss, 267 total against South Carolina, 99 rush yards vs Tennessee, 174 total yards vs LSU and 189 total yards vs Florida.
2. Alabama has a great tradition with multiple national championships, 22 SEC Championships, and an NCAA-record 57 postseason bowl appearances,  but the Crismon Tide have never had a Heisman winner. QB David Palmer was the closest coming in third in 1993.
3. He had a great game guiding Alabama to #1 in the polls in the SEC Championship a game where everyone was watching and Heisman voters were making their final decisions. The Tide are also the favorite to win the title game.

CONS.

1. Some feel Trent Richardson would have put up the same numbers if he was the feature back.  In limited carries Richardson had 642 rush yards (5.1 ypc) with 6 TD’s.

PROJECTED #2

Colt McCoy, Texas

PROS.

1. If a Heisman voter voted prior to last weeks game, he voted for McCoy who had a great game vs Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night with 304 yards passing (4 TD) and 175 yards rushing (9.7 ypc, 1 TD) while Ingram struggled vs Auburn with 30 yds).
2. Has better season stats with 600+ total yards more than Tebow, the other of the 5 candidates at QB.
3. There was a lot sentiments prior to the year that he should get the Heisman as he was the only one of the Tebow/Bradford/McCoy troika that did not have one but had comparable stats and seasons.

CONS.

1. Came up short in the two games vs the toughest D’s and he only threw for 127 yards vs Oklahoma and had THREE interceptions vs Nebraska and that was when most voters were making their final decisions.

PROJECTED #3

Toby Gerhart, Stanford

PROS.

1. Led nation in rushing and had 238 total yards vs Notre Dame including a 18 yd TD pass and 187 total yards vs USC!
2. Led a Stanford team that had not been in a bowl since 2001 to upsets of USC and Oregon and a win over Notre Dame in the season finale.
3. The Heisman is set up in regions and he should garner almost all of the first place votes from the West.

CONS.

1. Stanford lost 4 games this year and he did not face any premier defenses.

PROJECTED #4

Ndomakung Suh, Nebraska

PROS.

1. Outplayed McCoy in the game everyone watched to make their final decisions on the Hesiman. Had 12 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL and 2 QB hurries in the game.
2. Had dominating defense stats as he led the team in tackles with 82, also had 12 sacks, 11 tfl, 3 blocked FG’s, and 24 QB hurries!
3. Nebraska’s defense did not lose them big games. They held Texas to 202 yards, Texas Tech to 259 yards, Iowa St to 239 yards and Virginia Tech to 278 yards. They should have beaten both Iowa St (8 TO’s by offense) and Va Tech (FD edge of 18-11)

CONS.

1. Nebraska lost four games this year.
2. I went on ESPN radio with Erik Kuselias on October 17^th and proclaimed him my frontrunner for the Heisman and they promptly went out and lost Texas Tech allowing 212 yards and 24 points in the first half.

PROJECTED #5

Tim Tebow, Florida

PROS.

1. Tremendous leader that led team to 22 straight wins after last year’s loss to Ole Miss.
2. Should have won the award last year and ha the vote been taken after the bowl he would have won the 2008 Heisman.
3. He had solid stats vs Alabama with 247 yards passing and 63 yards rushing.

CONS.

1. Florida had an ugly performance against Alabama losing 32-13 when Heisman voters were making up their minds.
2. I have actually talked to some writers who said they were voting Ryan Mallett 1^st team SEC this year over Tebow (that of course means they would not be voting for him for the Heisman.