Defensive Player of the Year

[percyhoward]

Top 5 in Sacks (total tackles)
Allen 15.5 (64 tackles)
Kerney 14.5 (60)
Ware 14 (84)
Williams 14 (59)
Umenyiora 13 (52)

Ware's tackle total shows that he's more than just a sack specialist. Not only does he have the most tackles of the top 5 sack leaders, he has the most tackles of the TOP 20.

 

[superpunk]

I love DWare, but I'd give it to Patrick Willis, LB above DWare...that kid deserves D rookie and player, imo.

4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 174 tackles...wow. Compared to Ware's 14 sacks, 4 fumbles, and 84 tackles, I have to overlook the sacks from a pass rusher who is great at it and compare the 84 tackles to Willis's 174. That's quite a year.

I don't see how that makes any sense. Tackles are an unofficial stat, to begin with, I believe, so it's possible Willis' numbers are slightly inflated. You compared tackles...well the ratio of Ware's sacks to Willis' sacks is 3:1 and the ratio of Willis' tackles to Ware's tackles is only 2:1. So, who has distanced himself from the other more with respect to what it is they do well?

In addition, Ware had 9 stuffs to Willis' 7, which makes 23 negative plays for Ware (behind only Allen and Cole, I believe) and 11 for Willis. Willis plays MLB on a terrible defense - he's gonna make alot of tackles. If there was an award for best player on a terrible defense, Willis would probably take the cake. But it's pretty clear which player has more of an impact on his team.

 

[mitchell2254]

But... tackles are an un-official stat. It would be hard to give it to a guy based on that alone. Recently the DPOY has came from a winning team.

 

[percyhoward]

Recently the DPOY has came from a winning team.

I wish, but Taylor won it on a 6-10 team last year.

 

[mitchell2254]

I wish, but Taylor won it on a 6-10 team last year.

I thought they went 8-8? I apolgize for my lack of memory/research.

 

[percyhoward]

I thought they went 8-8? I apolgize for my lack of memory/research.

No biggie. But I agree that Willis doesn't deserve it, mostly for that reason.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Demarcus Ware > Patrick Willis

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I wish, but Taylor won it on a 6-10 team last year.

but he had a ****-load of sacks

 

[the kid 05]

You're saying what Im saying. I said if you debate his value to his team, you're a hater. He's the leader of his defense.

wrong, the leader of the colts defense is Dwight Freeney

 

[The Panch]

wrong, the leader of the colts defense is Dwight Freeney

He hasnt suited up since mid season, now has he?

 

[AdamJT13]

4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 174 tackles...wow.

As has been mentioned, tackles are an unofficial stat and cannot be compared between players on different teams or in different games. Besides, inside linebackers on bad teams often pile up tackle numbers. (Just ask Eugene Lockhart.) Their opponents run the ball so much, and their teammates are so bad, that they can't help but make a lot of tackles.

A DPOY should be a guy who makes impact plays, not just piles up tackles downfield or magically inspires teammates with his mere presence.

 

[Manster68]

As has been mentioned, tackles are an unofficial stat and cannot be compared between players on different teams or in different games. Besides, inside linebackers on bad teams often pile up tackle numbers. (Just ask Eugene Lockhart.) Their opponents run the ball so much, and their teammates are so bad, that they can't help but make a lot of tackles.

A DPOY should be a guy who makes impact plays, not just piles up tackles downfield or magically inspires teammates with his mere presence.

Adam, will you please stop making sense and be a moron once in a while?

 

[Jarv]

What about the tackles for loss stat ?

 

[peplaw06]

Wow, that entire post flew right over your head.

Sure...

Touche. I don't see how you can argue with that theo.

 

[the kid 05]

He hasnt suited up since mid season, now has he?

dont necessarily have to suit up to be a leader. So when Ray Lewis sat out 2 or so years ago w/ a broken wrist he still wasn't the leader of their defense? Dawkins was still the leader of the Eagles defense when he was out with his back injury, were they not or since they were injured they stopped caring about the teams?

 

[TNCowboy]

Bob Sanders will win easily. He makes all the plays that so many Cowboy fans pretend that Roy Williams does.

But because Sanders doesn't have big stats, many Cowboy fans won't understand or appreciate his play.

 

[AdamJT13]

Bob Sanders will win easily. He makes all the plays that so many Cowboy fans pretend that Roy Williams does.

What plays does Sanders ever make? If he wins the award, no DPOY ever will have made FEWER big plays than Sanders did this season.

Every defensive back who has ever won DPOY has had AT LEAST a combined nine interceptions and touchdowns when they won the award. Sanders has two. And he has made almost no other big plays, either.

 

[AdamJT13]

What about the tackles for loss stat ?

Also not official, but somewhat easier to judge (there are a lot fewer pileups behind the line of scrimmage, so they usually can tell who made the play). They're like sacks, but because they're not official, they're not reviewed and corrected.

The whole solo/assisted-solo/solo-assist/assist thing is the bigger problem there.

 

[percyhoward]

but he had a ****-load of sacks

Taylor didn't win it on sacks alone. He actually had fewer sacks last year than Ware had this year. But Taylor defended 10 passes and forced 9 fumbles. (BTW, Ware isn't credited with any passes defended at nfl.com, which has to be a mistake.)

Taylor 2006
13.5 sacks...60 tackles...9 forced fumbles

Ware 2007
14 sacks...84 tackles...4 forced fumbles (2 in last game)

 

[AdamJT13]

BTW, Ware isn't credited with any passes defended at nfl.com, which has to be a mistake.

I'm not sure where you're looking, but NFL.com has Ware with four passes defended.

http://www.nfl.com/players/demarcusware/profile?id=WAR350675