Troy Polamalu - NFL Defensive Player of the year, or so say I.

The 2010 season wasn't really a year of excellent defense. There have been some wonderful individual plays and fantastic individual games, but dominant defensive teams just didn't emerge as they've previously. Nobody was afraid of an opposing defense like they've been in the past. Baltimore was unusually vulnerable at times, the Jets looked repeatedly common, and also the Steelers and Bears have been inconsistent from week to week. In scoring defense, the two very best teams were Pittsburgh and Green Bay. They permitted an typical of 14.5 and 15.0 points per game, respectively. Even when defenses have been dominant in person video games,Ed Reed Jersey, defensive good results is a lot more of a unit achievement than individual good results, or at the very least significantly far more so than on offense.

In considering about defensive player in the year, like any of these year-end awards, selection criteria are crucial. My criteria are:

1. Playing time - how much did the particular person play this year? This really is really a pre-req - if you have been out for 6 video games, you're out. Think Ed Reed, even when he's incredible.
2. Is this player the top defender on his group?
3. Stats and game-to-game steady contributions.
4. What happens to the team and unit when this guy is just not on the area?

From these easy criteria, I came up using a quick list for NFL defensive player with the year with their stats and short argument summary:

1. Troy Polamalu - 14 games played, group permitted two factors fewer in games missed (to be fair,Cole Haan Shoes, one particular of these games was against the Panthers. Within the other, they allowed 7.five more than common against a weak Jets offense), 2nd in league with seven interceptions, 63 tackles, one forced fumble, one particular sack, a single TD. Knack for making huge game-changing plays,Wholesale Tiffany Jewelry, greatest player on very best scoring defense within the league.


2. Clay Matthews III - 15 games played, group allowed eight factors more than season regular against Miami in game he missed, 60 tackles, 13.5 sacks, one INT, one TD, two forced fumbles, very best guy on a surprisingly good and second-rated scoring defense.

3. Ndamukong Suh - 16 games played, 66 tackles, 10 sacks, a single interception, 1 forced fumble, a single TD, five quarterbacks ruined like Jim Everett was ruined (I made that portion up, but it is kind of true, isn't it?), best player on a defense that allowed 125 fewer factors than in 2009.

4. Terrell Suggs - 16 video games played, 68 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and sometimes rampaged LT 1982 style to dominate a game, best player on third-best scoring defense. Did you see Rashard Mendenhall short arm a play when he thought Suggs was about to hit him in the 2nd Pitt-Baltimore game? Seriously.

5. Brian Urlacher - 16 video games played, 125 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT, two forced fumbles, centerpiece of fourth-best scoring defense.

Those are some fairly very good seasons. So, how do we decide in between them? The stats truly line up closely (criterion three), all of those guys played in most or all of their video games (criterion one), and they are all of the greatest defender on their respective teams (criterion 2). Even the fourth item, impact when they are out, is actually a wash since Suh, Urlacher, and Suggs did not miss a game.

So, like all other rating systems and awards in sport, it ends up truly coming down to a feeling, an viewpoint, or possibly a bias. In this case it comes down to all three, in Polamalu's favor. I'm biased for him, in my opinion the Steelers' defense is only slightly above common without having him, and his play,Wholesale Pandora Jewelry, in contrast to any individual other than Ed Reed, is instinctive and timely. The man just can make plays, and he can make the Steelers' D the top within the league. This may possibly be the final year he's in consideration, also,Cole Haan, due to the fact I think father time (he turns 30 this year) and injuries are commencing to take their toll on the Flying Samoan, and I guarantee up coming year Suh will leading everyone's list.

On 1 off topic note: New NFL rule proposal - all defensive scoring, which includes safeties and fumble recovery/INT return TDs, ought to result within the existing security kickoff for the team that just scored. Loads of benefits there. Examine amongst yourselves.

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