Bob Sanders is the DPOY

by Brad Wells on Dec 27, 2007 2:51 PM EST in Colts Analysis

No, there is no official announcement until next week, but Sanders is such a shoe in for this award it isn't even funny; especially when you look at the field of candidates.

I'm sure other players have better stats, like the Pats Mike Vrabel. Then again, if Bob Sanders played in a division with the Bills, Dolphins, and Jets he'd have some pretty impressive stats too. Other candidates like Albert Haynesworth, DeMarcus Ware, and the immortal Patrick Kerney (somewhere, TheSportsGuru is crying) also don't stand up to Bob. While all are fine defenders, they do not have the same effect on a game Sanders has. Haynesworth's candidacy should be immediately dismissed because he's sucked his whole career until now, which just happens to be a contract year. Kerney has a bunch of sacks, but if he's a candidate, then let's just throw in Mario Williams (13.5 sacks) as well.

Oh wait, to do that would make every draft day guru (from Mel Kiper to Sean Salisbury to Jeremy Green to... oh, well just about every other ESPN employee) look like a bunch of babbling idiots for saying Williams has a bust before he ever played a down.

The reason Bob will win this award (and if he doesn't, the award is officially meaningless and falls to Pro Bowl status) is this:

The Colts defense ranked 21st in total yards allowed, 32nd against the run and 23rd in points last season. Sanders missed a dozen games with a knee injury. When he returned for the postseason, the defense tightened, played with an attitude and was the driving force behind the Colts' first world championship in 36 years.

This season, Sanders has stayed on the field -- he missed one game with a rib injury -- and his presence can't be overstated. A defense in constant flux because of offseason free agent losses and in-season injuries is one of the NFL's best: third in total yards, first against the pass, fourth in points allowed.

If and when he wins this award, Bob will be the first Colt ever to win Defensive Player of the Year.

In it's element, the species known as "Bob Sanders" will lurk from his "safety" position, waiting to pounce on ball carriers. His natural attack is so deadly that it induces uncontrolled urination and loss of mental faculties by the recipient.

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Comments

you're back to making me LOL

again BBS, good job. The Christmas week is quite boring, I needed a good laugh.

DeMarcus Ware has a much more dynamic effect on a game than Sanders, much the same way Lawrence Taylor had on the game in the '80s. You have to account for his awesome presence on the filed every snap or risk great harm to your Qb or RB as he can either sack your QB or implode your running game with equal force.

Sanders is a fine safety and great defenser, but he doesn't impact the game like D Ware who will be this years DPOY.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 27, 2007 4:17 PM EST reply actions

You're simply delusional ...

There are so many players outplaying Ware it's ridiculous.

by PaytonMenning on Dec 27, 2007 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

I haven't seen any

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 27, 2007 8:19 PM EST up reply actions

Learn to read ...

Since you obviously can't. I've listed a whole slew of players having better seasons.

Robert Mathis, for one, is having more of an impact on the Colts than Ware has on your little girls JV team.

by PaytonMenning on Dec 29, 2007 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

Note to self ...

in other threads, that is. I have listed a whole slew in other threads.

by PaytonMenning on Dec 29, 2007 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

no you haven't

Ware's season blows Mathis' away. its not even close.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 29, 2007 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

and the little girls JV team

will kick your asses in the SB, thats if you get to the SB. If you can't handle the Pats, we sure as hell will.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 29, 2007 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

he he he...

a little angry are we?

How can you claim to be a honest football fan if you say that the Colts would lose to a "little girls JV team"?

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Dec 29, 2007 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

I can obviously ask you the same question

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 30, 2007 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

wow, that took it to another level

Comparing Ware to Lawrence Taylor. LT changed the game. Not as in he changed the individual games he played in, as in he changed the way football was played. LT is the forefather of the modern blindside rusher and the reaction to him caused the birth of the modern left tackle.

Ware is just a very good linebacker.

my blog http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com/

by shake n bake on Dec 27, 2007 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

and Manning is just a good qb

see how dumb you sound.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 27, 2007 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

I meant very good as more of a compliment

as you took it. As in, looking back 15-20 years later like you would about LT you would say "DeMarcus Ware? Yeah he was really good. My point is even though he's great comparing him to Taylor is way over the top. Taylor was the DPOY as a ROOKIE.

Rookie Lawrence Taylor: 133 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed, two forced fumbles an fumble recovery and a INT

Rookie DeMarcus Ware: 58 tackles, 8 sacks, one pass defensed

He was the NFL MVP in 1986. The most valuable player in the league. 20.5 sacks, 105 total tackles, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.

All-Pro his first nine seasons, 10 Pro Bowls, 1,088 tackles, 142 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions.

Ware is great but LT was the first and the best at what Ware (and Freeney to throw a Colt in there) does today.

my blog http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com/

by shake n bake on Dec 28, 2007 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not necessarily saying he's as good

as LT or will be, I'm saying his game compares to LT in that he's a dynamic impact player who can take over games at times.

Like LT, his physical and athletic ability is absolutely awesome, he simply cannot be blocked by one player. I think at the rate he is playing he certainly looks like a potential HOFer to me.

Its like comparing Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan, of course Jordan was the very best, but Bryant's game is very similar and thats all I was saying when I was comparing Ware to LT. Actually, Bill Parcells made the same comparison and he should know since he coached them both.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 28, 2007 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

reading it that way it makes more sense

but you could make the same "LTesque" comment about any modern elite pass rusher. They are all descended from Taylor.

my blog http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com/

by shake n bake on Dec 28, 2007 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

I disagree

not all modern pass rushers have the same styles. Some do it with speed, some do it with power, some do it with great technique and then some, like Ware and LT, do it with all three.

Also pass rushers come in all shapes and sizes and Ware and LT are basically clones physically.

and of course they are both 3-4 OLB which means they have to be able to cover backs and TEs as well.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Dec 28, 2007 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

Between your explaination and

compensating for an acceptable level of homerism your comments aren't too ridiculous. Not that I agree with Ware over Sanders, obviously.

my blog http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com/

by shake n bake on Dec 28, 2007 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

I believe

if freeney had not gotten the injury and played throughout the whole season, he would probably DPOY. Freeney is one of those players that disrupts entire offensive game plans.

by metalmilitia @ Stampede Blue on Dec 27, 2007 5:26 PM EST reply actions

Sanders should probally win it but...

Patrick Willis should be on this list.

by risy1328 on Dec 27, 2007 5:35 PM EST reply actions

Can we say

Defensive Rookie of the Year? That's more likely for Willis.

by Bullard47 on Dec 27, 2007 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

One other point of contention ...

it is DPOY, so just because Haynesworth has had a bad career doesn't mean you should count him out. He has played well this season, so I think that fits into DPOY.

Sanders is still better, though, IMHO.

by PaytonMenning on Dec 27, 2007 6:08 PM EST reply actions

Ehhh, not to be biased, but I'm gonna go with...

Big "Fat Al" Albert Haynesworth.

Titans Fan

by nvemvp23 on Dec 27, 2007 6:44 PM EST reply actions

Ok i'll give some more reasoning,

even without Sanders last year, the Colts had a 12-4 season. With him, they'll go hopefully 13-3 :).

With Haynesworth Titans are 9-3, and without him they are 0-3.

Defensive Player of the Year is just like the MVP award. Most VALUABLE player, not best player. I agree Sanders is probably a better football player than Haynesworth, but I do not think he is more valuable.

While you gave those stats comparing the Colts defense to last year, regardless of stats you guys still won without him. The Titans do not win without Haynesworth.

And that point you made about his past performance is completely irrelevant and ridiculous, it's DPO the YEAR, not a career.

Titans Fan

by nvemvp23 on Dec 27, 2007 6:48 PM EST reply actions

No, you're wrong...

The Defensive Player of the Year goes to the "Defensive Player of the Year". The Most Valuable Player award goes to the Most Valuable Player.

Not too confusing, eh?

Haynesworth may be the Titans MVP, but he's not the defensive player of the year, for sure.

by the21eraser on Dec 28, 2007 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with MVP

Patrick Willis is a lock for DROTY and the defensive player of the year is between Haynesworth and Bob Sanders, if Haynesworth never got injured at the end of the season with that injury that slowed him down (even know he was dominating vs chargers) but he was not consistently himself, he would of probally won it..but i don't know it's close..damn close.

by risy1328 on Dec 27, 2007 9:12 PM EST reply actions