I fully understand the difference between 1 and 2 gap systems.
To destroy the 1gap/2gap argument even further.... Look at Tedy Bruschi's numbers during the SuperBowl Era 2001-2004..... He played in the same system as Mayo, and he was known as a playmaker. That alone ends the whole argument and shows that an ILB in BB's 2gap system can still be a playmaker.
Bruschi played the same position and system that Mayo plays and had 10 INTs, 4 TDs, 12 Sacks, 10 Forced Fumbles in those 4 years.
In 4 Years, Mayo only has 2 INTs, 0 TDs, 4.5 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles.
Showing how much of a playmaker Bruschi was in the Pats 2 gap system proves that you can't use the 2gap system as an excuse for Mayo's lack of splash plays.
Mayo isn't known as a playmaker because he flat out has NOT been a playmaker yet. It took him 4 seasons to make his first INT, he doesn't force many fumbles, has never scored a defensive TD, he doesn't even make a lot of tackles for loss.
While many other posters have exposed your weakness since I last read this thread, this post is a perfect example of why you need to gain some knowledge before posting.
The difference between a 1 gap and 2 gap system for an ILB shows up statistcally in tackles, because the 2 gap player is relegated to a smaller area of the field, and in tackles for loss, because 2 gap player is almost by the nature of the defense unable to make tackles for loss. If you understood what everyone was trying to get across to you, you would concede that comparing these 2 statistic across those schemes is foolhardy.
Related to this is sacks. ILB cannot get sacks unless they blitz. The 49ers often blitz Willis, the Patriots rarely blitz Mayo. While, in the area of sacks Willis 'makes more plays' that is an incomplete comparison, because Mayo is not given the opportunity to do so. Willis' sack totals may in fact be less impressive given the amount of blitzing he does than Mayos are given the limited opportunites he has.
While it is a poor source in almost every way, Pro Football Focus does tabulate the number of times a player rushes the QB. Maybe someone who has access to that could add those numbers for a little insight.
Trying to include pass coverage statistics as part of 1gap/2gap debate is simply ignorant.
Cherry picking Bruschi's top years was disingenuous and indicative of your circling the bowl state in this debate.
Check back with me when you take the homer glasses off and can admit you're wrong.
There is nothing 'homerish' about you misusing statistics. I would be having the same discussion if the limited and poorly comparable stats you are trying to turn into a conclusion were reversed and you were arguing Mayo is a better player than he is because he happens to be in a system that puts him in a position to accumulate, in fact requires him to accumulate, the narrow statistics that you want to call the complete analysis of an NFL LB.
^Tedy Bruschi making an INT and returning it for a Touchdown.... being a playmaker as an ILB in the Patriots 2gap system.
If he can be a playmaker in our system, theres no excuse for Mayo not being a playmaker.
Mayo is a good player. A tackling machine. But he hasn't been much of a playmaker at this point in his career.
Wow, you included a picture, that must make your argument better