DROY candidates head-to-head

[CalPolyTechnique]

A bit surprised I haven’t seen it brought up already but two of the top defensive rookie of the year candidates will be on the same field this Sunday.

Granted these guys are used differently as Leonard I believe mans the WLB for the Colts and LVE serves as our MLB, but let’s see how they compare statistically:

Darius Leonard
135 tackles (combined)
7 sacks
11 TFL
4 FF
4 PD
1 INT

Leighton Vender Esch
109 tackles (combined)
0 sacks
2 TFL
0 FF
7 PD
2 INT

*Sucked to see a sack was taken away from LVE last week due to penalty.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Nod goes to Leonard imo.... LVE is playing great no doubt, but more tackles, TFLs, FFs, and sacks nullifies the extra INT that LVE has

Leonard has just made more game altering plays than LVE.

 

[Sydla]

Outside those two, Derwin James deserves props. I was salivating when he started slipping in the draft.

 

[CATCH17]

Outside those two, Derwin James deserves props. I was salivating when he started slipping in the draft.

Chubb is going off in Denver. 12 sacks. I gotta put him above James.


Vander Esch is probably not going to win DROY but he's probably more valuable to his team then any of the other rookies.

 

[VACowboy]

Nod goes to Leonard imo.... LVE is playing great no doubt, but more tackles, TFLs, FFs, and sacks nullifies the extra INT that LVE has

Leonard has just made more game altering plays than LVE.

I agree, but Leonard has seen more PT and is used differently than LVE.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Outside those two, Derwin James deserves props. I was salivating when he started slipping in the draft.

Derwin James
93 tackles
3.5 sacks
4 TFL
0 FF
12 PD
3 INT

 

[Silverstar]

Leonard has started 4 more games than LVE. That's a quarter of a season...is that really a fair comparison?

James has started 14 games now.

 

[Mobinvans]

Leonard, James, LVE is how i would rank it

cant complain about that, LVE is a stud

 

[Nova]

Chubb is going off in Denver. 12 sacks. I gotta put him above James.


Vander Esch is probably not going to win DROY but he's probably more valuable to his team then any of the other rookies.

I agree that Chubb will likely be placed over Leonard, but I think Leonard's having the more impressive year.

Chubb has 12 sacks with a few games left to play. That's Jevon Kearse-esque who won DROY back in '99.

But Leonard's stat line is so well rounded.

Either guy deserves it over LVE IMO, but I agree that LVE's contribution is more valuable since the defense is carrying this team to a division title.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Leonard has started 4 more games than LVE. That's a quarter of a season...is that really a fair comparison?

James has started 14 games now.

Leonard’s also played in one less game than LVE.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

LVE is probably 2nd or 3rd just going by stats, but I don't think stats will be the only thing that determines who wins. I have to be honest, I've never heard of Darius Leonard until right now. How much does popularity come in to play with the DROY vote? Because LVE has played lights out on several nationally televised games, when everyone including other players are watching. Leonard appears to be a stud, but since he plays for the Colts, many people (like me) haven't seen him play.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

These guys are awesome players, but Bradley Chubb and Derwin James should be in the conversation as well.

IMO - Leonard gets it.

 

[charron]

Darius wins. Both are really impressive.

 

[dallas72]

Nod goes to Leonard imo.... LVE is playing great no doubt, but more tackles, TFLs, FFs, and sacks nullifies the extra INT that LVE has

Leonard has just made more game altering plays than LVE.

LVE didnt even play the first 4 or 5 games and was backup to Lee

 

[John813]

Snap counts per PFR fwiw

LVE has had 603 snaps on defense.157 on STs LINK
D. James has had 886 snaps on defense. 32 on STs
Darius Leonard has had 774 snaps on defense. 11 on STs
Chubb has had 696 snaps on defense. 6 on STs

 

[Avery]

Leonard can and should win. Second place to Chubb.

 

[Direwolf63]

LVE has been a revelation. I'm glad he's on the team.

But he's probably in 4th place in this race behind Leonard, James and Chubb.

 

[DFWJC]

Derwin James
93 tackles
3.5 sacks
4 TFL
0 FF
12 PD
3 INT

That's outstanding for a safety required to also cover

 

[Joe Realist]

Bradley Chubb has 12 sacks for the Broncos

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Outside those two, Derwin James deserves props. I was salivating when he started slipping in the draft.

Yep.

Derwin #1 for me

LVE, Leonard, and Chubb would all have good arguements in a normal year. This year it seems rookies are showing out