Defensive Player of the Year
2011 PFF Defensive Player of the Year
As passing records fell with the regularity of a Tim Tebow incompletion you could speculate that defenders in the 2011 season weren’t up to much. It’s true that some pass rushers struggled to get pressure and certain defensive backs had horrendous problems even getting close to receivers, but at the other end of the scale, things were pretty much as normal. The top end guys, the ones on this list, excelled to the same level as you would normally expect from the best players at their respective positions. So to be absolutely clear these are not default selections in a down year for defense; they are players that would have been at or close to these ranking after any season.
So after giving our definitive positions on Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year here are the ten best players from the defensive side of the game.
Player of the Year Candidates – the PFF Perspective
We may be in the holiday season right now but there’s a far more interesting, and even more stressful season coming on.
Awards season in the NFL.
This is the time to make those near-impossible personal preference decisions as to who the best players are at each position. A thankless task but one that often opens up some worthy debate. Pro Football Focus’ core group of analysts have each picked a guy they think warrants consideration for the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Offering these names for discussion, we invite your thoughts on the matter. In the comments field below, let us know who you’d pick and why.
Defensive Player of the Year: Wrapping up
Editor’s Note: As the NFL releases its major awards this week we’ll re-run our choices for comparison’s sake. This originally ran Jan. 7.
After weeks and weeks of telling you Kyle Williams was the defensive player of the year I had a change of heart. The last two weeks Williams struggled while another defensive lineman who doesn’t get the credit he deserves surged on.
But while my vote went out to the 49ers’ Justin Smith after watching him bully Alan Faneca in Week 17 (capping off a great season), I was overruled by my colleagues, who had Williams as the best defensive player they’ve seen throughout the year. And I’m okay with that.
The top guys in our Defensive Player of the Year awards were in a class of their own. They didn’t get the media hype or the highlight-reel plays shown over and over again. No, what they did was show up — whether the eyes of a nation were on them or not. They put in some of the best performances we’ve ever seen, and we can do nothing but salute them and the rest of the guys who made this list for some truly fantastic football.
Defensive Player of the Year: Snubs edition
While we’ve taught ourselves never to be shocked by the Pro Bowl, we couldn’t help but raise our eyebrows when the roster was announced. Three of our top five contenders from last week’s Defensive Player of the Year didn’t make the roster.
What is that all about?
So we’ve put together another list of our candidates for Defensive Player of the Year, and as ever it’s proved the toughest of lists to do. So many legitimate candidates, and all deserving of a mention. If only my editor would let me change it to the top 20 candidates, my life would be guilt free and I’d sleep easy.
Alas he won’t, so here’s the top 10. Read the rest of this entry »
Defensive Player of the Year: Send us the Bill
I love it when my schedule comes in and the Bills are one of my games of the week. You want to know why? Because it means I get to watch Kyle Williams play. And that means I’m in on a secret that not many people seem to be aware of and that makes me feel a little bit (more) special.
Williams is the best defensive player in football this year. I’ve seen him beat up on guards and centers all year round. He’s pushed them over, bull rushed them or just thrown them to floor. He just won’t allow himself to be stopped. And though I doubt he gets the end-of-season honors he deserves I implore everyone to pay him some attention — in a year where there are some truly impressive defensive performers, he’s the best.
Offensive Player of the Year: AFC West power
The AFC West was supposed to be a weak sister of the NFL, but we’ve seen some pretty darn good football from the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders — and a lot of standout individual performances.
As the Chiefs and Chargers battle for the division title (with the Raiders a longshot), they’ll be leaning on our two top offensive players — Jamaal Charles and Philip Rivers, either of whom would be a deserving award winner.
It’s so close right now that the most marginal of poor performances can drop you down the rankings, and an All-Pro display can jump you into contention.
Defensive Player of the Year: ‘Tis the season for slumps
Are defenses beginning to tire? Our top contenders to the throne of Defensive Player of the Year didn’t produce quite the performances we’ve become accustomed to.
But that’s OK, we’ll let this week go by safe in the knowledge every last one of them will be back to their best this week. Right?
And if not, they can expect the kind of treatment Clay Matthews received after a shocking display of run defense against the Lions that sees him not even receiving a mention as he struggles to replicate his early heroics.
Defensive Player of The Year: The King has been dethroned
Since we started doing these lists one name has been at the top of the pile. Trent Cole has looked cool and calm, and fended off all challengers.
Until now.
After a frankly shocking display off the short week by Cole against the Texans, he was in jeopardy of losing his top spot — and with a good performance, Bills DT Kyle Williams just did enough against Minnesota to overtake him. Look for more on Williams’ season from Sam Monson on Saturday.
But Kyle can’t rest easy at all, because Cole is bound to be looking for redemption, and a number of other challengers are making this contest extremely close as we head into the final few weeks of the season.
Read the rest of this entry »
Defensive Player of the Year: Look out behind you, Trent!
So there’s no change at the top. But it’s looming close!
Trent Cole had to produce another stellar performance to retain his edge for DPOY after one of the best defensive displays we’ve ever seen as Kyle Williams destroyed the Steelers’ offensive interior. And he did, because time and time again that is what Cole does.
Those two men remain head and shoulders above the rest in a top 10 dominated by front-seven players (though Eric Weddle very nearly joined Brandon Flowers with a superb display against the Colts that summed up his season), as we’re getting to see a lot of truly elite play right now on defense.
There’s some controversy still as there is no place for Clay Matthews, while two Steelers defenders drop out of the top ten for different reasons (another penalty for James Harrison was the straw that broke this camel’s back, while Lawrence Timmons’ impact has dwindled with his playing time). Read the rest of this entry »
Defensive Player of the Year: Never gets old for Cole
It’s hard to see anyone surpassing Trent Cole even at this stage. He just consistently keeps outperforming everyone and is the definition of relentless.
But the real controversy in our rankings come from looking below. Where is Clay Matthews? Have you forgotten about Haloti Ngata? What are you smoking and can I have some?
Yes, I hear the questions, but essentially this is about looking beyond the numbers. Matthews may lead the league in sacks, but he doesn’t get as much pressure per play as Tamba Hali and he’s not as good in run defense as James Harrison. So while he’s very good (make that very, very good), in such a tight race those kind of gaps in his resume are what sees him on the outside.
Not buying it? Well then, essentially, I’m just jealous of his flowing locks. Read the rest of this entry »
 |
|