My point is it's not just about sacks, and my bet is most or all of those DE's are RDE's, not LDE's. And some of them have other quality pass rushers to help take the pressure off and minimize double teams. In any case out of 32 NFC starting DE's, if only 6 have more sacks that means 25 have fewer, so I wouldn't call that mediocre. That's better than 78% of the NFC DE's. And, again, you have to factor in that he is being double teamed every passing down. What I would say is he is a very good pass rusher, but a little outside elite status.
And let's look at some of these being called better pass rushers based on this one season. Lawrence had 14.5 last year and is on pace for 11.5 this year. Before this season Donald never had more than 11. Hunter's high was 12.5. Iodonnis previous high was 4.5. Clark's high was 10. JPP hasn't had a double digit sack season since 2014 and has only had 2 in a 9 year career. Addison's previous high was 11 in 8 years. Bottom line is, while I agree at least some of these guys should get more Pro-Bowl consideration this season (not all of them because some just aren't in the ballpark of Lawrence as an all around DE), they have not historically been better.
I dont know where people get that thought from that he is double teamed most of the passing plays. In fact he is not.
Just look at the first 2 drives against philly:
1. Drive
1. Play pass blocked by a TE.
2. Play run blocked by a TE
3. Play pass blocked by the RT.
2. Drive
1. play pass blocked by RT.
Thats 3 of 3 pass plays. With 50% of the plays not even being blocked by the best blocking option.
Thats just an example to show just because some people talk about something someone else explained to them doesnt mean it is true.
I do think too Lawrence is an all around DE. Just no RDE. He is a good run player and a medicore pass rusher. And thats all there is needed to be a good LDE.
Your argument that players like JPP or Mack havent been historically been better is true only partly and could be very well said about Lawrence too: He including 2017 had 8 great games. But then faltered in the last 8 games of last season. He needed 3 years to get there and this year shows more of the Lawrence he was in those last 8 games then in his first 8.
Aaron Donald is a DT and plays in a different league.You cant compare him with someone like DLaw. Thats just unfair. Donald is by far the best defensive player in this league right now and for the last 2 seasons. If not the best player overall.
There are also only so many spots to give away for the pro bowl roster. And to be voted to one is not what your career was in 2017 or 16. Its what you do this season for this years pro bowl. And if you had to select players how would you justify not to take those others ? Just because they were worse the year before ? With that argumentation Lawrence shouldnt have gone to the PB last year too.
Dont misundertand me. Overall i think DLaw is good player. But this thread is not about him and his career. Its about who would i vote for the PB this year. And i think there right now are some players who are doing better then him.
