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  • November 09, 2009 02:18 PM ET

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Prediction

JCholeras (2-7-1) vs The (Un)Official (23-6-0)
7
Votes
11
Votes
7
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11
Votes


Here is the format:

Argument 1: make your pick
Argument 2: give reasons for your pick
Argument 3: bash your opponents pick

Here we go:

My prediction for Defensive Player of the Year is Jared Allen


New Orleans Saints FS - Darren Sharper



Not arguing because of the rules.


I figured someone would pick Sharper and although he is having an amazing season I still think Allen is having a better one for the following reasons:

He currently has 10.5 sacks which leads the NFL even though he didn't play this week. Yes 7.5 of them came against Green Bay but should that discount them? Green Bay is a divisional rival and a big game on the schedule. All that means to me is that he showed up big in those important games and was wreaking havoc on Rodgers and the O-line giving his team a better chance to win.

He also has 3 fumbles forced and a safety meaning he has scored some points on his own and has gotten the ball into the hands of his offense so they can score points as well.

His ability to get into the backfield at will makes him one of the most dangerous defensive players in the NFL and the fact that he seems to have almost unlimited energy means he can play the whole game.

His speed makes him a concern and often teams need to bring over other linemen or tight ends and running backs to help block him. Offenses need to game plan around him.

DPOY for sure.


In 2008 the New Orleans Saints offense led the NFL in scoring and total yards. They finished with an 8-8 record.

In 2009 the Saints offense again leads the NFL in scoring and total yards yet they are currently undefeated 8-0. So what has changed?

Enter Darren Sharper:
- Leads the NFL in Interceptions (7)
- Leads the NFL in Defensive Touchdowns (3)

Week 4
The Jets D held the Saints offense to a pedestrian 10 points. Sharper returned an interception 99-yards for a touchdown. That's
7 points off the Jets scoreboard, and
7 points on the Saints scoreboard.

Saints won 24-10. You can credit Darren Sharper with the 14-point swing.

Week 7
The Dolphins led the Saints 24-10 at halftime. On the Dolphins first drive of the 2nd half, Sharper had a 42-yard Pick Six which swung the momentum into New Orleans favor. The Saints rallied back from a 14-point deficit to win 46-34 on the road.

Week 8
Atlanta's last possession of the game. They need a TD and a 2-Point Conversion to send the game into Overtime. Sharper intercepts Matt Ryan's pass at the 5-yard line allowing the Saints to run out the clock for the win.


Sharper Wins Games.


Sharper is TIED for the lead in interceptions with Jairus Byrd. He has made some big plays this year but is also part of a secondary that ranks 16th in the league giving up 219.5 yards per game. Playing defense is about more than just numbers.

If you actually watch Saints games Sharper is invisible most of the time except for the 7 times he has intercepted a pass. Also if you want to discount Allen's sacks because they were against Green Bay then let's look at Sharper's picks.

2 vs Matt Stafford (rookie)
1 vs Kevin Kolb (back up)
2 vs Jets Mark Sanchez (rookie)
1 vs Chad Henne (rookie)

So 6 of his interceptions were against rookies and back ups not as impressive anymore.

Allen on the other hand is part of a defensive line that hasn't allowed a 100 yard rusher in 31 games. That is impact and stopping the running game gives the Vikings a HUGE advantage.

Sharper has had an excellent season but the impact of Jared Allen cannot be denied. he is on pace for 21 sacks and being the main cog of the best defensive line in football. Sharper and his secondary give up too many yards and make plays vs bad QBs.

Allen for DPOY


Worst 7 Pass Blocking Offensive Lines in the NFL:

31 Sacks Allowed - Packers
27 Sacks Allowed - Chiefs
25 Sacks Allowed - Raiders
24 Sacks Allowed - Lions
23 Sacks Allowed - Bills
23 Sacks Allowed - Redskins
22 Sacks Allowed - 49ers

9.5 of Jared Allen's sacks came against these offensive lines.


"All that means to me is that he showed up big in those important games"
Where was Jared Allen when the Vikings lost to the Steelers? 0.0 Sacks

I disagree that Allen shows up for big games. In fact, he only shows up against weak offensive lines.

"Allen on the other hand is part of a defensive line that hasn't allowed a 100 yard rusher in 31 games"

Crediting Allen with these numbers in beyond wrong.
1. Allen hasn't even been a Viking for 31 games.
2. The Vikings had the #1 run stopping defense for three straight season because of the Williams Wall.
3. The Vikings run defense is starting to slip (Used to be #1, now it's #7) since Jared Allen showed up.

Therefore Minnesota's run stopping success well predates Jared Allen. In all actuality, they stopped the run better without him.

Good TD

Comments (20) Add A Comment

November 9, 2009  02:29 PM ET
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Darren Sharper.. Book it.

November 9, 2009  02:30 PM ET
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Jared Allan has 10.5 but more than half of those came against 1 team. Good player but won't be DPOY.

November 9, 2009  02:30 PM ET
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Feels like such a waste of character space.

November 9, 2009  02:32 PM ET
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Stupid format. Why wait til argument 2 to defend the pick? Why not just do that in argument 1? After all, your defense of the player should not be dependent upon oppositions pick so what difference does this make? All this format serves to do is artificially limit the debate.

November 9, 2009  02:35 PM ET
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QUOTE(#4):
Originally posted 02:32 PM ET  11.09 by BobbyOrrsBastahd

Stupid format. Why wait til argument 2 to defend the pick? Why not just do that in argument 1? After all, your defense of the player should not be dependent upon oppositions pick so what difference does this make? All this format serves to do is artificially limit the debate.

Well said. It's stupid.

November 9, 2009  02:56 PM ET
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?based on arguments?

November 9, 2009  03:12 PM ET
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Left, what Allen's stats show is that in the other 6 games he has played he has a total of 3 sacks which shows inconsistency. Just look at Dwight Freeney, he has at least 1 sack in each game this season making him more consistent. I think the award goes to D. Sharper, he has turned that Defense around..

November 9, 2009  03:21 PM ET
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QUOTE(#7):
Originally posted 03:12 PM ET  11.09 by SaveMeJebus: 9-0 bring on BAL

Left, what Allen's stats show is that in the other 6 games he has played he has a total of 3 sacks which shows inconsistency. Just look at Dwight Freeney, he has at least 1 sack in each game this season making him more consistent. I think the award goes to D. Sharper, he has turned that Defense around..

Gregg Williams has turned that defense around. Sharper has obviously been great but nothing is more important than having a great coordinator. Look at the Giants this year. They improved their defensive personnel but lost Spagnolo to the Rams and now they can't stop anyone. Players are important but coordinators make the difference.

November 9, 2009  03:31 PM ET
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Dumervil

November 9, 2009  03:32 PM ET
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Sharper, hands down. And if this wasn't such a QB driven league, one could argue Sharper as the NFL MVP, imo.

November 9, 2009  03:35 PM ET
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QUOTE(#8):
Originally posted 03:21 PM ET  11.09 by JCholeras

Gregg Williams has turned that defense around. Sharper has obviously been great but nothing is more important than having a great coordinator. Look at the Giants this year. They improved their defensive personnel but lost Spagnolo to the Rams and now they can't stop anyone. Players are important but coordinators make the difference.

Wow. You used 1 team that is suddenly failing to support your boneheaded theory. It isn't as simple as you say as far as importance of coordinators.

And if Spagnolo was the reason NYG defense was so good, why are the Rams awful?

November 9, 2009  03:43 PM ET
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Better bashing on the 3rd argument by Right.

Comment #13 has been removed
November 9, 2009  03:49 PM ET
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So where is Red Hat today?

November 9, 2009  03:52 PM ET
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Jared Allen is a BEAST!

November 9, 2009  03:54 PM ET
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Didnt have room for it but Good TD (Un)Official. Really appreciate how quickly you replied and the quality of your arguments. Nothing worse than 1 line responses and forfeited turns.

November 9, 2009  04:11 PM ET
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Sacks don't tell all the story...haven't either of you heard the Fox guys talk about Allen during the games?

November 9, 2009  05:24 PM ET
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QUOTE(#17):
Originally posted 04:11 PM ET  11.09 by Ivellious and Valai

Sacks don't tell all the story...haven't either of you heard the Fox guys talk about Allen during the games?

Who cares what the talking heads have to say? They gush over too many players. I wouldn't take into account what they have too say.

November 9, 2009  05:50 PM ET
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Good TD. But I would have liked two more args.

 
November 10, 2009  12:28 PM ET
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