Not sure Sanders deserved DPOY

[johnlocke]

Hi,

I've been lurking here for a fews and finally decided to post. Great site.

I'm not really sure why Bob Sanders was voted DPOY.

In previous years, a players defensive statistics played a large factor in determining the DPOY. But not this year.

I think sanders is a great player but his stats are very pedestrian at best.

Tackles 96 33rd
Sacks 3.5 87th
Passes Defensed 8 113th
FF 0 336th
INT 2 71st

I know Sanders has a big impact on his team. I just think someone else deserved the award (maybe Kerney I dunno).

 

[pheenix11]

I was thinking Mario Williams, Demarcus Ware or Patrick Willis myself.

 

[BostonBullit]

Sanders is the most important defensive player ON HIS TEAM, which shouldn't be the same thing as the most important in the NFL....just my opinion of course. Boomer is on EEI right now saying he voted for him because "he's the best tackler out there and such a difference maker to his team".

 

[Wildo7]

Like what was said in the other thread about "dissing" and the english laguage, Sanders numbers are very impressive, but you can't just worship stats like that. Without Sanders the Colts defense goes from being mediocre and porous against the run, to a top 5 defense IMO.

 

[BadMoFo]

The award doesn't go to the person with the best stats.

 

[frankiesfly]

Sanders winning DPOY might be the biggest joke I ever heard. There are plenty of DE's and LB's in the league that were way more deserving of the award than Sanders. Patrick Kerney who finished second derserved it more than Sanders. Kerney is an animal. There were games when Sanders was a no factor in games, where in all games Kerney was a game changer and play maker.

 

[wdkantro2]

There is no one else even close to worthy of DPOY. Sanders is a terrifying player for opposing offenses. You can't really say anything else about him other than the fact that he is just dominating. I can't think of anyone else who you would even put in the same category this season.

 

[wpdougie2180]

I don't think he should be DPOY here's his stats compared to anothers safety:

15 games started 96 tkls 3.5 sacks 0 ff 2 Ints 6 pass defensed
11 games started 68 tkls 2 sacks 1 ff 1 int 7 pass defensed

I don't see a case for one when the other is part of the first team to go Undefeated team in a 16 game scheduled season including against the other guy's team where the othe guy didn't show up other than one play(Rodney had that 1 pick in this game and shut Clark down). Now don't get me wrong I don't think Rodney deserves the DPOY award for no other reason than the HGH but nether does Sanders

 

[Wildo7]

I don't think he should be DPOY here's his stats compared to anothers safety:

15 games started 96 tkls 3.5 sacks 0 ff 2 Ints 6 pass defensed
11 games started 68 tkls 2 sacks 1 ff 1 int 7 pass defensed

I don't see a case for one when the other is part of the first team to go Undefeated team in a 16 game scheduled season including against the other guy's team where the othe guy didn't show up other than one play(Rodney had that 1 pick in this game and shut Clark down). Now don't get me wrong I don't think Rodney deserves the DPOY award for no other reason than the HGH but nether does Sanders

It's not just about stats though, he makes it more dangerous to go over the middle, stuffs the run well and can pressure the QB. Teams gameplan to avoid him, which is why numbers are misleading.

 

[Ring 6]

I think its a joke to name Sanders Defensive Player of the Year.
What he does is play the role he is asked to. That role means that he is often asked to come up and make tackles in a scheme that leaves him unblocked. He does a good job of it, but is merely making the plays the defensive call says he should.
To say the Colt defense is the difference between top 5 and awful because of him is silly. The only evidence of that is that they were awful with an without him last year, and there improvement HAPPENED to coincide with him getting back on the field. What Bob Sanders does is not at all unique. Many defenses have run that type of system, and many safeties have been better at it. If Bob Sanders deserves DPOY then Rodney Harrison should have had about 6 of them when he was in SD. He did EXACTLY the same thing, but in his case he was making 120 tackles.
The truth is that IMO Sanders is very overrated because he is 5'8" so somehow him doing gets more value attached to it than someone else doing it.
Safeties DO NOT control the running game. In the event they are making a lot of tackles in the running game it is due to scheme, and either the fact that the rest of the D isn't doing their job (lots of tackles after big gains) or that they are doing their job, and they control the los, creating the opportunity for the free man to come and make a tackle.
The improvement in the Colts run D is absolutely not about Bob Sanders, but about the other 10 guys.
The Colts have built a good defense. Its kind of insulting to me that the guy who picks up the scraps from the other 10 guys playing much better than they did during 2006, is getting all of the credit when his role is small part of what has happened.

 

[Ring 6]

It's not just about stats though, he makes it more dangerous to go over the middle, stuffs the run well and can pressure the QB. Teams gameplan to avoid him, which is why numbers are misleading.

Disagree. Teams are not gameplanning to account for Bob Sanders. He receives the benefit of gameplan NOT accounting for him in the running game.
His pass coverage is average at best, no one fears going over the middle because Bob Sanders is there.
To say he 'can pressure the QB" is silly to me. Sure, if you blitz and overload a side so one man is free, Sanders can get to the QB unblocked. So can every defensive player in the NFL. He is not going to beat a block by anyone to 'pressure the QB'.

I don't know how you name a player Defensive player of the year for carrying out a scheme that dictates no one will block him.
There are dozens of corners who have to cover WRs one on one, LBs who play the run and pass, and DL who fight through double teams that have a ton more value than the guy who gets the tackel because no one blocked him.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Sanders winning DPOY might be the biggest joke I ever heard. There are plenty of DE's and LB's in the league that were way more deserving of the award than Sanders. Patrick Kerney who finished second derserved it more than Sanders. Kerney is an animal. There were games when Sanders was a no factor in games, where in all games Kerney was a game changer and play maker.

An absolute joke. Sanders is the Roy Williams of the AFC. Can hit with the best of them but is overrated and can be exploited all over the field as the Patriots did earlier this season. You just know the Patriots will target Sanders when they play in a couple of weeks. The Pats love tweaking certain players especially those who win DPOY without deserving it. They'll have a special play of two designed to lure Mr. Sanders into a major mistake by getting him out of position, a routine happening with this "DPOY".
I can hear the Patriots O trash talking already!

 

[wpdougie2180]

It's not just about stats though, he makes it more dangerous to go over the middle, stuffs the run well and can pressure the QB. Teams gameplan to avoid him, which is why numbers are misleading.

This is true because without Rodney we don't beat Baltimore(he makes at least 6 plays on the last three drives including 3 straight on the second to last drive that led to the game-winning TD), Colts(key Int & shuts down Clark), & the Pittsburgh game(2 plays on goal line stand with the game still in doubt. If he is the DPOY then show me where he singlehandly saved or won one game for Indy.

 

[Tommysgirl]

Who's got the picture of Randy's spectacular one hander with Bob looking on about 3 feet below him?

 

[Lampshade]

Tell your Media to ask Pats players what they think about Bob. Theywill likely tell you that you have to know where he is on the field at all times. Its not often that an Offense is more worried about where a safety is rather than the Linebackers(especially the Mic backer). That is why Bob is deserving, and complaining about it doesnt matter because it is DONE. BAD BOB. Careful, he knows where you live.

I said in the other thread that Sanders was deserving, but I don't buy this logic at all. If DPOY was judged on who the Patriots talked most glowingly about during the season then Kerry Rhodes and Ed Reed would both be ahead of Sanders; and that's just at safety.

There are a bucket load of safeties that teams want to identify before each play; just this year the Pats played Sean Taylor, Kerry Rhodes, Bob Sanders, Ed Reed. Polamalu would have been there too if not injured; some might include Roy Williams.

Sanders is a great player, but probably due to his size his exploits have almost become mythologised - "did you see him blow up that 900 pound full back?" etc etc. Like the Bruschi comeback game, it seems a celebration happens in the broadcast booth any time Sanders is around the ball.

Just as an aside, it's amazing that's he didn't force a fumble this year, and has only forced 2 in his career.

 

[BRADY2MOSSS]

Sanders and Addai has to be the most overrated players in the NFL

 

[CarolinaColtFan]

I think it has more to do with a Colt receiving the award than anything. Which I can appreciate. Heck, if Roidney got it, or Vrabel, I would have said the same thing. Fact is, much like league MVP, it is all based on what that individual did to help HIS team, has little to do with stats and numbers as most would like to believe. Sanders adds more to his team than just a safety that needs to be accounted for, much in the way Bruschi (sp?) does for the Pats. Dont hate the player, hate the game. You guys are better than that.

 

[Tommysgirl]

Sanders and Addai has to be the most overrated players in the NFL

Addai? Can I have whatever you're smoking? He's a great back. No need to be that homerish.

 

[sebman2112]

Tell your Media to ask Pats players what they think about Bob. Theywill likely tell you that you have to know where he is on the field at all times. Its not often that an Offense is more worried about where a safety is rather than the Linebackers(especially the Mic backer). That is why Bob is deserving, and complaining about it doesnt matter because it is DONE.
BAD BOB. Careful, he knows where you live.

This is so stupid. Yes, Bob Sanders is one of the best Safeties in the NFL, and he's a large part of that Indy defense. Teams are also trying to account for him, but you talk about the guy like he's the best Safety to ever play the game, and a complete threat in every aspect. News flash, during his prime Rodney Harrison was a much more dangerous and complete Safety. After all, he's the ONLY member of the 30 and 30 club. You know, the only DB in NFL history to record 30+ sacks and 30+ INT's. Heck, Brian Dawkins used to be a better overall Safety, too.

 

[homergreg]

So I wonder why he got all those votes?