Defensive Player of the Year

[purple.n.black]

If Reed didn't miss so many games I think he could be right there with Matthews. Matthews has sacks but Reed does a lot more than get picks. Matthews gets sacks and frees up other guys well. Other things he is not great at.

[ravensconvert]

Ngata is currently a better player then Ed or Ray, and is the only person that could seriously be considered for DPOTY.

[XxSizzleXx]

Lets bring this question up again, who takes DPOY now? As much as I hate to say it I would give my vote probably to James Harrison. He put up double digit sacks yet again, was the only one close to 100 tackles who accomplished that feat, as well as 2 picks and 6 FF's to make 8 turnovers.

Umenyiora also had a helluva year, 10 forced fumbles is incredible.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

Harrison does make a good case, and in all honesty, I'd rather see the award go to him than Matthews now. I don't think he made enough of an impact after their bye week to justify being the 'lock' he was earlier.

Clay's stats:

Pre-bye : 31 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 INT, 1 TD.

Post-bye : 29 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 1 pass defended, 0 INT, 0 TD.

He had a considerable drop off. I think that others were more worthy than him.

[ROH522155]

Imagine if Ed played all 16 games...he could have had at least 11 or 12 picks

[RivenHale]

Not really. He skipped those games because he was injured; he wouldn't have played as well and would have been susceptible for further injuries to put him out of more plays, or maybe to miss games altogether. I think he came back a touch early, if anything. (Not that we didn't somehow need him against the Bills; just saying injury-wise.)

[Ed_Reed20]

Tamba Hali deserves some consideration. He led the league in sacks despite being the only true pass rushing threat on his team and forced four fumbles.

[PuRock]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1294260913' post='594039']
Harrison does make a good case, and in all honesty, I'd rather see the award go to him than Matthews now. I don't think he made enough of an impact after their bye week to justify being the 'lock' he was earlier.

Clay's stats:

Pre-bye : 31 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 INT, 1 TD.

Post-bye : 29 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 1 pass defended, 0 INT, 0 TD.

He had a considerable drop off. I think that others were more worthy than him.
[/quote]

I'm putting my foot down. You can't take steroids to the face/neck/head and get away with it. What sort of bad examples are we setting for our youth?

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1294262741' post='594066']
I'm putting my foot down. You can't take steroids to the face/neck/head and get away with it. What sort of bad examples are we setting for our youth?
[/quote]

We.... is this a confession?

But true, it sometimes looks as though he is on some sort of HGH or something.

[The King]

Ed Reed, as the league's leader in INTs, deserves some serious consideration for the award, especially considering that he did it in just ten games. However, I think that the fact that he missed the first six weeks will be counted against him by a lot of voters. If they wanted until the playoffs to vote, I'm sure that Ed Reed would get even more votes, since he leads all active players in postseason picks and averages one per playoff game.

Clay Matthews was the favorite, but his drop off since the bye is not helping him at all. Tamba Hali would be a great choice with his impressive stats.

On the Ravens, Haloti Ngata is still a solid contributor. More teams started to alter their game plan to account for his ability as the season progressed, and he saw only double teams pretty much from the Patriots on. He is possibly the best defensive player in the league, and a lot of voters are aware of his ability. Terrell Suggs had a good season with a near career best in sacks and might garner a few votes. Though Ray Lewis is still the best ILB in the league, he probably won't get any votes for the award.

[FerrariFan87]

If Ngata wins it, his asking price goes up $10-20 million lol... but he's much-deserved.

[MKdave]

I think it's pretty much wide open. I think the way Ed's closed out the season gives him a shot. If it were me I'd give it to James Harrison, though it so pains me to say.

[Bltravens]

Theres been no truly dominant defensive player week in week out this year, its been odd. Much like the 06 season.

[CapoRocky]

I can only imagine the numbers that Ed would have put up if he had played all season long. Give the award to Ray and solidify his Hall of Fame career.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='CapoRocky' timestamp='1294267320' post='594157']
I can only imagine the numbers that Ed would have put up if he had played all season long. [b]Give the award to Ray and solidify his Hall of Fame career.[/b]
[/quote]

Ray doesn't need another DPOY award to solidify his HOF career.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1294267530' post='594162']
Ray doesn't need another DPOY award to solidify his HOF career.
[/quote]

No, but it would look very nice looking back in a few years time, after he's retired and seeing that he's the first (I might be wrong here) player to achieve 3 DPOTY awards. Certainly fitting of his career I think.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1294267640' post='594163']
No, but it would look very nice looking back in a few years time, after he's retired and seeing that he's the first (I might be wrong here) player to achieve 3 DPOTY awards. Certainly fitting of his career I think.
[/quote]

Agreed. And Ray has certainly been a force in a number of games this season but I think there are a number of more deserving candidates this season.

[Jabara]

I'd say, for only playing 10 games and leading the NFL with 8 INT's is impressive, but the fact he missed so many games puts him out of the talk, just like Vick for offensive MVP.
Ray, sure, but not really.
If there is anyone that would deserve it on the Ravens I'd say Ngata would have a shot.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1294267886' post='594170']
Agreed. And Ray has certainly been a force in a number of games this season but I think there are a number of more deserving candidates this season.
[/quote]

Agreed here also, but I would barely say that Matthews is one of them now. I think Ed deserves it more than Ray, but others more than him also.

[PuRock]

I just like how the poll only includes two Ravens and Clay Matthews. Not much of an option for a big league wide award.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1294268068' post='594175']
Agreed here also, but I would barely say that Matthews is one of them now. I think Ed deserves it more than Ray, but others more than him also.
[/quote]

Agreed on both counts. Matthews really tailed off and what Ed's interceptions, fluky as some of them have been is darn impressive.

[Ravens Lover]

It wouldn't shock me at all if Mathews wins it but I wouldn't rule out Reed at all yet, missing almost half of the year and still leads the league in picks is awesome

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1294268530' post='594184']
Agreed on both counts. Matthews really tailed off and what Ed's interceptions, fluky as some of them have been is darn impressive.
[/quote]

While Matthews did tail off, that can be attributed to injury, and the fact that teams began to double team him with an RB. In addition, who does he have opposite to help him out? And even though his production reduced, he still made a noticeable impact.

Yes, it's impressive that Reed has so many picks in so few games. However, its not that impressive considering the picks came against Colt McCoy, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chad Henne, the dude from carolina, and Carson Palmer. Did he pick off Ben, Schaub, or anyone else worth acknowledging? I'm not dissing Reed at all, he's a phenomenal player, but most of his picks were a product of playing against bad QB's or being in the right spot at the right time. Still love him, and I'm not trying to knock him.

I would put Ngata in the poll. Although he too tailed off in the pass rush, thats attributed to being double teamed all the time.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1294269726' post='594204']
While Matthews did tail off, that can be attributed to injury, and the fact that teams began to double team him with an RB. In addition, who does he have opposite to help him out? And even though his production reduced, he still made a noticeable impact.

Yes, it's impressive that Reed has so many picks in so few games. However, its not that impressive considering the picks came against Colt McCoy, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chad Henne, the dude from carolina, and Carson Palmer. Did he pick off Ben, Schaub, or anyone else worth acknowledging? I'm not dissing Reed at all, he's a phenomenal player, but most of his picks were a product of playing against bad QB's or being in the right spot at the right time. Still love him, and I'm not trying to knock him.

I would put Ngata in the poll. Although he too tailed off in the pass rush, thats attributed to being double teamed all the time.
[/quote]

To your point about Matthews, getting injured is an unfortunate but it doesn't change his production declined. Hali and Wake don't have much pass rushing help on their teams but continued to rack up sacks.

You're right about Ed.

[MKdave]

Ed only has picks on bad QBs because good ones know not to throw it near him. It's the same as Revis and Aso not getting picks; they don't get thrown at.

[wayne]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1294267640' post='594163']
No, but it would look very nice looking back in a few years time, after he's retired and seeing that he's the first (I might be wrong here) player to achieve 3 DPOTY awards. Certainly fitting of his career I think.
[/quote]
Lawrence Taylor won it 3 times. I feel Ed should win it though factoring in leading the league in Ints after missing almost half a season ( 6 games ), people are sleeping on how amazing that is to do that. Also, with him coming off of major hip surgery, its makes it even more amazingg.

[flynismo]

Where's the love for Suggs? I think he should get at the very least the team's DPOTY.

[wayne]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1294269726' post='594204']
While Matthews did tail off, that can be attributed to injury, and the fact that teams began to double team him with an RB. In addition, who does he have opposite to help him out? And even though his production reduced, he still made a noticeable impact.

Yes, it's impressive that Reed has so many picks in so few games. However, its not that impressive considering the picks came against Colt McCoy, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chad Henne, the dude from carolina, and Carson Palmer. Did he pick off Ben, Schaub, or anyone else worth acknowledging? I'm not dissing Reed at all, he's a phenomenal player, but most of his picks were a product of playing against bad QB's or being in the right spot at the right time. Still love him, and I'm not trying to knock him.

I would put Ngata in the poll. Although he too tailed off in the pass rush, thats attributed to being double teamed all the time.
[/quote]
I can feel you about Ed getting his Ints off of poor quality Qbs but the same can be said about every player that ever played the game and if we judged Ed off that then a recall on all DPOY winners need to take place. We need to judge Matthews sacks on the qualtiy of O-Lineman he have faced or Wake or the quality of Qbs Polamalu faced when he racked up his stats. Also ( this will turn a few heads ), I guess we need to have a recall on the 2000 Ravens entire D that year with the quality of qbs they faced that year which is a reason why on the NFL Network on the Top 10 Greatest Ds of All Time segment, they have that squad rated in the high Top 10 b/c of the quality of qbs they faced but if you were to get our take on it, that was arguably the greatest D ever as the offense didnt score a TD in a span of 4 games, yet the Ravens won every game along with other record breaking achievements that year. You just can't make your judgement off of that, you just can't do it.

[True]

I believe Troy Polamalu deserves it. He has made big plays all throughout the year, and the biggest came when he caused the fumble sack against Flacco which pretty much gave the Steelers the advantage of winning game and leading to the division + getting a 1st round bye at the end of the season.

I think he is more valuable to that Steelers team than Ben actually is just because of the drop off they have when he is not playing.

[True]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1294268139' post='594176']
I just like how the poll only includes two Ravens and Clay Matthews. Not much of an option for a big league wide award.
[/quote]
Well I made it a couple months ago so their weren't many clear options. I updated it now with some more candidates.