NFL Defensive Player of the Year Candidates

[Logicallylethal]

Richard Sherman

- 47 tackles 8 interceptions 15 passes defended
- Signature moment/game: Pick 6 late in the 4th against Houston to tie the game


Luke Kuechly

- 146 tackles 2 sacks 4 interceptions 7 passes defended
- Signature moment/game: 24 tackles 1 int vs the Saints in the Panther's most important game of the season


Earl Thomas

- 103 tackles 2 forced fumbles 5 interceptions 8 passes defended
- Signature moment/game: 10 tackles vs Panthers week 1 including a crucial forced fumble to seal the game when Carolina was driving deep into Seattle territory


Robert Quinn

- 52 tackles 7 forced fumbles 18 sacks
- Signature moment/game: Week 8 MNF vs Seahawks 5 tackles and 3 huge sacks dominating the trenches all game

In my opinion those are the top four candidates this year for DPOY. Who do you think wins it. Personally I think it's between Sherman and Kuechly with Earl and Quinn trailing slightly behind.

 

[Golden Spur]

Tough choice, I'm going to hold off, gotta think about it.

Luke's been great, but struggled a little with coverages. But he's been the difference for our team, in a lot of games. Great D QB.

Quinn is a relentless freak.

Sherman is a force, week-to-week. He allows SEA to do things they wouldn't be able to, otherwise.

 

[JDM]

Sherman.

Keuchly doesn't belong on this list.

 

[Golden Spur]

Sherman.

Keuchly doesn't belong on this list.

You seek to entertain!

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Karlos Dansby.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Karlos Dansby: 109 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 18 passes defended.

Annndddd he's scored 2 TD's.

 

[Logicallylethal]

Karlos Dansby is a beast. Although He should only have 3 interceptions

 

[Clayton]

Quinn is #1 in sacks. Quinn is #1 in sack yardage. Quinn is #3 in 'QB hurries' which means that he could have more sacks. Quinn is tied for #1 in forced fumbles.

My totally unbiased list would be:

1. Quinn
2. Sherman
3. Mathis
4. Dansby
5. Thomas

ninja edit

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Karlos Dansby is a beast. Although He should only have 3 interceptions

:rollseyes:

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Kuechly

 

[Clayton]

I'm amazed the OP was able to find 2 Seattle defenders who haven't gotten suspended for PEDs this year, btw

 

[Tacoma_canuck]

Quinn is #1 in sacks. Quinn is #1 in sack yardage. Quinn is #3 in 'QB hurries' which means that he could have more sacks. Quinn is tied for #1 in forced fumbles.

My totally unbiased list would be:

1. Quinn
2. Sherman
3. Mathis
4. Dansby
5. Thomas

ninja edit

I have no problem with that list. Glad you included Mathis in there too. He is showing everybody that it wasn't Freeney that made him good. The guy has been great, especially in big games vs. contenders. I will say, though, Kuechly will get some votes. The media seems to love the guy.

 

[Clayton]

I have no problem with that list. Glad you included Mathis in there too. He is showing everybody that it wasn't Freeney that made him good. The guy has been great, especially in big games vs. contenders. I will say, though, Kuechly will get some votes. The media seems to love the guy.

Kuechly is a great player for sure. He should get some votes

 

[Tacoma_canuck]

Kuechly is a great player for sure. He should get some votes

Yeah, you're right. I should have said he deserves some votes too. Made it sound as if it was only because of media bias and that is not the case. He is an excellent LB for sure.

 

[Bandwagonbo2]

Sherman.

Keuchly doesn't belong on this list.

Surely you are still butthurt.

He is a beast on the field and one of the best defensive players in the game and its only his second year in the league. Wish we had more players like him on defense and offense, would not lose a game if we did.

Kids on pace for another 160+ tackle season, sounds like he belongs on that list with ease.

 

[BloodType49]

Navaro Bowman

- 111 Tackles 4 Sacks 1 INT 1 TD
Signature Moment :Week 16 Interception for an 89 yard TD return to seal a playoff berth for a third consecutive year.

 

[Uhsplit]

For me, I feel fortunate that the team I root for has 2 of who most likely are top 5 defensive players.

 

[beardown07]

Quinn

 

[tshirt]

One of the voters for defensive MVP has Kuechly #1, Earl Thomas #2, and Sherman, Quinn, and Mathis in his top 6

should be a good race this year unlike last year where 49 of the 50 votes went to JJ Watt

I bet Kuechly wins. Sherman and Thomas will split votes being on the same team (Sherman even says he would vote for Thomas). And Quinn plays for a team eliminated from the playoffs

Kuechly is the undisputed heart, soul and leader of one of the two greatest defenses in the NFL (Carolina and Seattle), is having a ridiculous individual season and has the Panthers in the playoffs for the first time in 5 years

 

[Tacoma_canuck]

One of the voters for defensive MVP has Kuechly #1, Earl Thomas #2, and Sherman, Quinn, and Mathis in his top 6

should be a good race this year unlike last year where 49 of the 50 votes went to JJ Watt

I bet Kuechly wins. Sherman and Thomas will split votes being on the same team (Sherman even says he would vote for Thomas). And Quinn plays for a team eliminated from the playoffs

Kuechly is the undisputed heart, soul and leader of one of the two greatest defenses in the NFL (Carolina and Seattle), is having a ridiculous individual season and has the Panthers in the playoffs for the first time in 5 years

I would say, one of the 3 best defenses and include San Fran in there. Yes Kuechly is deserving of a lot of credit but as I stated earlier, he's a media darling and that plays into it. I don't think Quinn should be left out because the team doesn't make the play-offs in the toughest division in football this year.