Jerod Mayo Ranked #72

[NEGoldenAge]

Mayo is a solid player, but what is working against him in polls like this is that he doesn't make a lot of big plays. Mayo is a rock in the center of the field, but rare does he make that big gamechanging play that people who do rankings like these look for.

The players did these rankings. They will be less likely to confuse flashy plays with big plays.

 

[Rob0729]

The players did these rankings. They will be less likely to confuse flashy plays with big plays.

Players are just like everyone else. They don't break down game film of every player in the league. Just the players they play against. Players have intimate knowledge about players they play against frequently, but a player they may play against every four years they may not know any more about the player than you or me and what they see on Sportscenter. It is the flashy plays that get people noticed and stick out not the solid 6-8 tackle per game performance with no outstanding plays.

 

[patfanken]

any way you look at it, its pretty clear he's well thought of by his peers. If you look at it from a 4-3 construct, his peers think he's the 3rd best ILB in the league. If you look at it from a 3-4 construct, he is one of the top 6 ILBs - Either way he's in good company and we ALL should be glad we have him.

 

[randomk1]

any way you look at it, its pretty clear he's well thought of by his peers. If you look at it from a 4-3 construct, his peers think he's the 3rd best ILB in the league. If you look at it from a 3-4 construct, he is one of the top 6 ILBs - Either way he's in good company and we ALL should be glad we have him.

He's definately a cornerstone for our defense. If i'm not mistaken, he is also the youngest ILB in that list. Can't think of anybody who should be ahead of him.



Does anybody think that McCourty should be on that list?

Suh will get ranked but why not McCourty ? He had one of the best rookie CB years in recent memory imo.

 

[Deus Irae]

The "Big plays" requirement from an inside linebacker in the 3-4 is, generally speaking, a lot of nonsense. In a 13 year career, Bruschi amassed a combined total of 29 INTs/FFs, never getting more than 3 of either in any single season. Farrior, who's been a mainstay for the Steelers for 9 years and has played 15 years in the league, has the same 29 INTs/FFs.

 

[Rob0729]

Mayo is a solid player, but what is working against him in polls like this is that he doesn't make a lot of big plays. Mayo is a rock in the center of the field, but rare does he make that big gamechanging play that people who do rankings like these look for.

The "Big plays" requirement from an inside linebacker in the 3-4 is, generally speaking, a lot of nonsense. In a 13 year career, Bruschi amassed a combined total of 29 INTs/FFs, never getting more than 3 of either in any single season. Farrior, who's been a mainstay for the Steelers for 9 years and has played 15 years in the league, has the same 29 INTs/FFs.

Bruschi backs up my point. Bruschi never got his due nationally because he wasn't a playmaker except in 2003 and 2004. That is why he only went to one Pro Bowl in his career. Bruschi started to get national attention after he went on a string of INTs for TDs.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bruschi backs up my point. Bruschi never got his due nationally because he wasn't a playmaker except in 2003 and 2004. That is why he only went to one Pro Bowl in his career. Bruschi started to get national attention after he went on a string of INTs for TDs.

Bruschi also only had 4 excellent "big play" years in his career, and 2 of those years were accompanied by low tackle numbers, which is a large part of why it took time for him to get that national attention. He only had 1 interception in his first 5 seasons, but he also only had 2 seasons with more than 50 tackles during that time. Bruschi's career high was 81 tackles. Mayo's had 98, 70 and 114 in his first three seasons, meaning he's been 'better' than Bruschi (as far as tackle accumulation) ever was. For Bruschi, the true excellence was in a relatively small window.

Mayo, however, won DROY and is being listed in the league's top 100 players this year, so I wouldn't say that he's not gotten his due. He has problems in coverage, and he needs more help around him so that he can be the beneficiary of pressured opponents. Get those issues solved, and he'll move up higher on the list.

 

[Rob0729]

Bruschi also only had 4 excellent "big play" years in his career, and 2 of those years were accompanied by low tackle numbers, which is a large part of why it took time for him to get that national attention. He only had 1 interception in his first 5 seasons, but he also only had 2 seasons with more than 50 tackles during that time. Bruschi's career high was 81 tackles. Mayo's had 98, 70 and 114 in his first three seasons, meaning he's been 'better' than Bruschi (as far as tackle accumulation) ever was. For Bruschi, the true excellence was in a relatively small window.

Mayo, however, won DROY and is being listed in the league's top 100 players this year, so I wouldn't say that he's not gotten his due. He has problems in coverage, and he needs more help around him so that he can be the beneficiary of pressured opponents. Get those issues solved, and he'll move up higher on the list.

Bruschi only had two and a half big play years 2003, 2004, and about half of 2002 (he missed 5 games and only started 9). But even then, they were not really big play type of years. He had some big plays with a consistent solid performance, but he was never considered a playmaker. Even if I agree that he was excellent for 4 years, he only got his due the last year of those 4 years since his only Pro Bowl appearance was the 2004 season.

As for Mayo, I think he should be higher on the list. How much, I don't know. I was just reacting to the original post that says he was way too low. I think he should be in the top 50, but towards the end of that list.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bruschi only had two and a half big play years 2003, 2004, and about half of 2002 (he missed 5 games and only started 9). But even then, they were not really big play type of years. He had some big plays with a consistent solid performance, but he was never considered a playmaker. Even if I agree that he was excellent for 4 years, he only got his due the last year of those 4 years since his only Pro Bowl appearance was the 2004 season.

As for Mayo, I think he should be higher on the list. How much, I don't know. I was just reacting to the original post that says he was way too low. I think he should be in the top 50, but towards the end of that list.

I agree with what you're saying, although I was a bit more generous with my Bruschi 'grade'. I think what fools people is the notion of "big plays". You get "big plays" from the OLBs in a 3-4. The ILBs are like the DEs, in that they're generally the grinders. One look at the Patriots and Steelers ILB histories in the 2000s shows that. The two best 3-4 teams, with the two best LB corps, and ILBs that rarely stand out because of scheme.

 

[OldNEPatsFan]

175 tackles and 5 were for losses. Anybody can make a ton of tackles past the line of scrimmage.

 

[Deus Irae]

175 tackles and 5 were for losses. Anybody can make a ton of tackles past the line of scrimmage.

And, yet, you're not out there doing it, while Mayo was doing it well enough to be voted as first team All-Pro.

 

[USCPatriot]

Wow, sometimes it really is incredible how spoiled some of you fans are. Mayo had a fantastic season last year, he tore through 300 pound blockers, hardly missed any tackles and provided fantastic leadership. Who were Mayo's fellow Linebackers? oh yeah, Banta-cain, Ninkovich, other rookies. With the exception of Cunningham and Spikes he has a very weak supporting cast. When 2 or 3 blockers are dedicated to stopping Mayo when he blitzes, EVERYTIME, I am sure any player would have a hard time making a play.
Ray Lewis has Bart Scott among others, the Steelers have Woodley, Harrison, Farrior AND Timmons. They all compliment each other, much like Adalius Thomas was great with a good set of LB but was average with a an average set. Make sense?

 

[Ring 6]

If you say so andy

OK. I thought you would at least try to back up your argument, but, whatever

 

[Ring 6]

175 tackles and 5 were for losses. Anybody can make a ton of tackles past the line of scrimmage.

You should take a remedial course on the understanding a 2 gap 34 defense.
Tackles for loss basically happen when a player is unblocked or blitzes. The first never happens in our D, and the second is extemely rare for an ILB.
I guess you think he should have had more rushing yards too.

 

[ausbacker]

175 tackles and 5 were for losses. Anybody can make a ton of tackles past the line of scrimmage.

If so many can do it how come so few do with the same regularity as Mayo? Mayo is a gun. There is no doubt about that.

Perhaps he should jump onto the pile after the play is finished and give interviews talking about "the evil" and "war" to get his dues.

 

[Patjew]

That ranking seems right to me. It indicates that all other teams have 2 or 3 guys on their team equal to or better than Mayo. That ain't bad.

 

[BritPat]

175 tackles and 5 were for losses. Anybody can make a ton of tackles past the line of scrimmage.

How many of them were for no gain, or a minimum gain?

Tackles is a pretty subjective stat, but it should not be dismissed.

 

[Rob0729]

I agree with what you're saying, although I was a bit more generous with my Bruschi 'grade'. I think what fools people is the notion of "big plays". You get "big plays" from the OLBs in a 3-4. The ILBs are like the DEs, in that they're generally the grinders. One look at the Patriots and Steelers ILB histories in the 2000s shows that. The two best 3-4 teams, with the two best LB corps, and ILBs that rarely stand out because of scheme.

I am not disagreeing with that. My only point is these guys get overlooked because they are not "big play" playmakers. Many times the workhorse guys never get their due. I think Seymour will struggle to get into the Hall (although eventually make it) because he won't have the numbers. I think guys like Bruschi, Bobby Hamilton, Roman Phifer, Ty Warren, etc. never got/get the recognition they deserved because of the positions they played and system they were in. This is why the Pats will be the football dynasty with the fewest HOFers in 40 years.

 

[randomk1]

I am not disagreeing with that. My only point is these guys get overlooked because they are not "big play" playmakers. Many times the workhorse guys never get their due. I think Seymour will struggle to get into the Hall (although eventually make it) because he won't have the numbers. I think guys like Bruschi, Bobby Hamilton, Roman Phifer, Ty Warren, etc. never got/get the recognition they deserved because of the positions they played and system they were in. This is why the Pats will be the football dynasty with the fewest HOFers in 40 years.

You think Seymour will struggle? The guy has been the best D-lineman in football and one of the key players on a dynasty. To me he should be a 1st ballot HoF-er. The NFL also named him the all time best #6 overall pick and the all-decade team. That's gotta count for something,right?

The thought that we will probably have the fewest HoFers than any dynasty is pretty interesting. Can't really disagree with it. We never had guys putting up monster numbers...everybody just did their jobs and we won more than anybody.

 

[Deus Irae]

You think Seymour will struggle? The guy has been the best D-lineman in football and one of the key players on a dynasty. To me he should be a 1st ballot HoF-er. The NFL also named him the all time best #6 overall pick and the all-decade team. That's gotta count for something,right?

The thought that we will probably have the fewest HoFers than any dynasty is pretty interesting. Can't really disagree with it. We never had guys putting up monster numbers...everybody just did their jobs and we won more than anybody.

I think Rob's point about Seymour is that his numbers won't overwhelm because he's been playing 2-gap 3-4 DE for most of his career. Seymour was, perhaps, the best defensive lineman of the last decade, but HOFs look for numbers, first and foremost.